Broncos send statement to BCS with romp over Fresno State

Undefeated Boise State has a message for the BCS: Compute this.

The No. 9 Broncos put together a dazzling audition for college football’s big-money bowls in a 61-10 blowout of Fresno State (7-5, 4-4 WAC) on Friday night.

Kyle Wilson returned a punt 90 yards, wide receiver Tanyon Bissell threw for another touchdown on a smooth reverse pass, and now all the Broncos can do is hope it’s enough to impress the computers and pollsters who produce the Bowl Championship Series pairings.

“I think it’s an obvious statement what we’d like to do,” normally evasive coach Chris Petersen said with a wry smile after accepting the trophy for Boise State’s sixth WAC championship that the Broncos (12-0, 8-0) had clinched a week earlier.

Petersen knows the odds of his team becoming a second undefeated champion of a non-BCS conference to make the BCS is remote. Utah (12-0) is ranked three spots higher than the Broncos in the BCS. The series is required to select only one non-BCS team ranked in its top 12 – the higher-rated one.

“I’d probably say our record speaks for itself,” Petersen said. “And people have to make a decision.”

Ian Johnson ran for 128 yards and scored two touchdowns as scouts from three BCS bowls watched. The senior tied the WAC record of 57 rushing touchdowns set by Marshall Faulk at San Diego State from 1991-93.

Representatives of the Rose, Orange and Fiesta bowls perhaps were pondering whether to choose Boise State over one-loss Southern California or two-loss Ohio State for a final at-large spot to be announced Dec. 7.

Arizona State 34, UCLA 9: At Tempe, Ariz., the Sun Devils (5-6, 4-4 Pac-10) scored a school-record four defensive touchdowns in a 34-9 victory over Bruins, keeping alive the Sun Devils’ bowl hopes while eliminating the Bruins (4-7, 3-5) from postseason contention.

Troy Nolan, Travis Goethel and Mike Nixon each returned interceptions for scores – Nolan’s went for 100 yards, matching a school record – and Paul Unga returned a fumble for a touchdown.

Arkansas 31, LSU 30: Casey Dick threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to London Crawford on fourth-and-1 with 22 seconds remaining to give the Razorbacks (5-7, 2-6 SEC) a victory over the Tigers (7-5, 3-5) in Little Rock, Ark.

Nebraska 40, Colorado 31: Alex Henery kicked a school-record 57-yard field goal with 1:43 left and defensive end Ndamukong Suh returned a tipped pass 30 yards for a touchdown seconds later, giving the Cornhuskers (8-4, 5-3 Big 12) a victory over the Buffaloes (5-7, 2-6) in Lincoln, Neb.

Pittsburgh 19, West Virginia 15: LeSean McCoy scored his second touchdown with 52 seconds left to finish off a career-high 183-yard rushing performance, and the Panthers (8-3, 4-2) beat the rival Mountaineeers (7-4, 4-2) in Pittsburgh to make Cincinnati the Big East champions.