Of course, if Clemson upsets GT for ACC title, Orange Bowl will want to avoid rematch w/ TCU, so will probably take Cincinnati or, if the Bearcats lose to Pitt, either the Panthers or Boise State. Which would leave TCU playing Iowa in the Fiesta Bowl. Again, not much potential for perceived “validation” there.
*Ahem*
I want to see BSU v. Iowa in the Fiesta.
That’s pretty likely to happen, provided Georgia Tech beats Clemson and Texas beats Nebraska.
And I’m not saying it won’t be a good game, or that Iowa isn’t a good team. But you know what people will say if Boise wins. “Whoopdee do, another Big Ten team lost a BCS bowl.” The level of respect Boise would gain from such a win is closer to Utah vs. Pitt 2004 than Utah vs. Alabama 2008. (And if the Broncos LOSE, to a BIG TEN TEAM, it would just PROVE they were never legit. Not saying this is fair, to either Boise or Iowa, but it’s how the conventional wisdom would play out.)