All those coaching cliches about the equal value of every game became impossible to argue when divisional play swept across college football.
Boise State plays in the six-team Mountain Division of the Mountain West — creating a schedule where five games are far more important than the other seven.
Win all five division games and lose the other seven, and the Broncos would have a fighting chance to win the division and play for the conference title.
Go 11-1 and lose to the wrong division foe, and the Broncos would be in danger of finishing second in their division.