Boise State makes case for BCS

No. 22 Boise State backed up early speculation that it could be in line for an at-large Bowl Championship Series berth by routing Utah 36-3 Saturday in Salt Lake City.

Boise State (5-0) scored 33 straight points and forced five turnovers and handed the Utes (3-2) their worst home loss in 17 years.

What was widely expected to be the biggest challenge for Boise State turned into a blowout more typical of a Western Athletic Conference game on the Broncos’ renowned blue turf.

“I think there’s a stigma about us that we may not be a very good road team and we may not have the talent that some of those big-time schools have,” quarterback Jared Zabransky said. “But if you look at our roster from top to bottom, the starters, and you match us up, we can go against anybody.”

Boise State held Utah to 178 yards of offense and Zabransky had a relatively easy day.

Zabransky completed 15 of 21 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score and Anthony Montgomery kicked three field goals for the Broncos, who gained 398 yards and only missed out on topping 400 yards because they downed the ball to run out the clock.

(18) Clemson 51, Louisiana Tech 0: At Clemson, S.C., James Davis ran for 143 yards and two touchdowns to lead three Tigers rushers with more than 100 yards as the Tigers (4-1) beat the Bulldogs (1-3).

The Tigers posted their first shutout in six seasons and are off to their best start in five years. Davis wasn’t alone on the Tigers with a big performance. His backup, freshman C.J. Spiller, finished with 127 yards and a touchdown, and Demerick Chancellor added 113 yards out of the backfield.

San Jose State 31, San Diego State 10: At San Jose, Calif., Adam Tafralis threw for two touchdowns in leading the Spartans to a victory over the Aztecs and matching their best start in 20 years.

John Broussard caught touchdown passes of 47 and 68 yards as the Spartans (3-1) snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Aztecs, and won their third straight.

Tafralis completed 17 of 21 passes for 234 yards and has completed 77 percent of his passes on the season. Broussard caught five passes for 167 yards.

Atiyyah Henderson rushed for 98 yards on 24 carries for the Aztecs.