The Front Row with MARK NELKE October 24, 2010

Don't you just love those campaign attack ads on TV?

Nobody tells you to vote for them because of how they stand on the issues anymore - they ask for your vote because, they claim in essence, their opponent is such a low-lying scumbag.

In a way, the BCS is similar nonsense. Teams are judged not only how they are on the field, but also how good a case they can state for their worthiness. The only thing that's missing is discrediting the other teams to help their own cause.

Imagine if Boise State used that approach.

The Broncos are good enough on the field to be considered one of the top teams in the country, but because they play a weak schedule and are not in one of the power conferences - the independent party, as it were - their chances at getting elected - er, making it to the BCS championship game are considered slim.

So their best bet, other than to sit idly by and watch the other top teams knock each other off, is to campaign against them, and try to knock them down a peg that way.

Oklahoma: "C'mon, they've been unimpressive all year. Besides, we beat them in that memorable Fiesta Bowl a few years back. Doesn't that still count for something?"

Oregon: "Yeah, right. They can't even wear the same colors two weeks in a row. They're usually good for one stinker a year - remember last year at Stanford, and in 2007 at Arizona? And besides, we beat them last year and the year before. That should count for something."

Auburn: "Oh, sure, just because they're an SEC team. Aren't they usually on probation?

TCU: "Right. We whipped them last year in our bowl game rematch, and we'll continue to thump on them from next year on in the Mountain West. ... they still plan to stay in the Mountain West, don't they?"

LSU: "See Auburn, except for the probation part. Plus, they get mulligans in the SEC."

Mark Nelke is sports editor of the Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via e-mail at mnelke@cdapress.com.