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Call it the National Championship for the non-BCS-conference schools. When Boise State and CU face off in the Fiesta Bowl in a rematch of last years Poinsettia Bowl, both teams will be attempting to prove that they are as worthy of national recognition as any team from the SEC or Big 12.

While TCU may still harbor a grudge that they did not get to face off against Florida a wish they may be rethinking after Florida throttled TCU Boise State has to be thrilled to be the first at-large school to play in a BCS Bowl that is not from a BCS conference.

While it is arguable after TCU defeated Utah and BYU and dominated a Mountain West conference that has had the best bowl showing of any conference that they can play with anyone in the country and deserve a shot at a national title, we are not at the point yet where an undefeated team from a non-BCS conference can leap two undefeated teams from two of the countrys best conferences.

IF TCU wants to finish number two in the country and prove they are worth of some first place AP votes, however, they best not cry over spilled milk and focus on the task at hand. While Boise State had a rather easy schedule after beating Oregon at the beginning of the season, they still possess one of the best offenses in college football.

The Broncos are going to have their hands full trying to free up RBs Jeremy Avery and Doug Martin, both of whom have benefited from exotic blocking schemes that allow them to attack defenses from inside and outside. The Frogs defense has been nearly impossible to run against, giving up only 80 yards per game. While their pass rush has gotten some national attention, their linebacker corps has been equally impressive, using speed to contain running games that go to the outside and getting into the backfield to break plays at the line.

The Broncos offensive line will be at a disadvantage Monday, as tackle Garrett Pendergrast will miss the game after breaking his ankle recently. That should give the Frogs front four an opportunity to put pressure on QB Kellen Moore. While Moore has done a good job of protecting the ball, he will be forced to make even quicker decisions Monday night, as he faces a defensive weapon unlike anything he has seen this season (or probably any other). Jerry Hughes is a special talent at defensive end and his ball rushing up in the middle and around the corners will have Moore on the run. If the Broncos have trouble establishing their run, Moore will be forced into some third-and-longs, a terrifying prospect when Hughes is rushing from the end. Its hard to pick up eight yards when there is not time for a play to develop before Hughes is in your face.

While AP Coach of the Year Gary Patterson has made a name for himself nationally as a defensive genius, his offense has been nothing to sniff at this year. Putting up over 400 yards a game this season, the Frogs got national attention as a complete team.

Although he was dissed by the Davy OBrien committee, a move that caused longtime sports scribe and Horned Frog Dan Jenkins to resign from the selection committee, QB Andy Dalton has proven to be one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country.

While Dalton has the similar ability of Moore to make quick reads and place the ball accurately to a wealth of weapons, the thing that separates the fiery red head from Moore is his ability to make plays with his feet when under duress or out of a called play. Daltons scrambling ability an option-keepers will force the Broncos to give him a little space and stay back on their heels, which could open up plays downfield for Dalton. This game could very much be his coming-out party on the national scene. If so, dont expect many award snubs next year for the main Frog.

Dalton is protected by one of the best offensive lines in football, which should be able to blow the faster but weaker Broncos front seven off the ball and create downhill running opportunities for the Frogs trio of running backs (Joseph Turner, Ed Wesley and Matthew Tucker).

Some in Ft. Worth may be disappointed to see the Frogs not get a shot at a big boy, but the Broncos should prove enough of a challenge to make things interesting. The Frogs defense should prove too stout for the Broncos to do much damage, but the Frogs will have their own problems with the speed of Boise States defense. By games end, however, TCU should prove to be the best team on the field and one of the best in the country, even if they dont get the exact chance they wanted to prove it.