Stakes never higher for No. 3 Boise State

No. 3 Boise State has in many ways never played a more important game than it will Monday night, when the Broncos face No. 10 Virginia Tech at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

For all Boise State has accomplished in the last decade - more wins than any major college team and two BCS victories - never before have the Broncos been a serious national championship contender.

That changes if Boise State beats the Hokies at the home of the Washington Redskins, a far from neutral field far away from their home blue turf.

With a win, the Broncos take a giant first step toward becoming the first team from a conference without an automatic bid to the Bowl Championship Series to reach the BCS title game.