Why Boise State losing is for the best

So, there was a heck of a game last night. Nevada won an overtime thriller with Boise State, which ended Boise's hopes of competing in a BCS game of any sort. It's very possible that, in fact, Boise isn't as good as we had thought. This is a good thing, and let me tell you why.
Money. Not long ago, when the Big Ten was prepared to add another team, Steve and I got into a debate on what the Big Ten divisions would look like. As much as I didn't want it to happen, Steve was right and money ruled the day, and many rivalries were split so those rivalries could eventually be replayed as conference championships.  Michigan and Ohio State are the cash cows, and having them in a championship game is a big deal.
And so it would be with any potential change in structure atop the college football landscape. The teams that make the money have the power. The teams that make the money are the ones in the power conferences in big markets, the Big East, the SEC, the ACC, the Big 12, the Pac 10 and of course, the Big 10. They have the current structure in place because it allows them to make the most money. Every time a Boise State makes it into the BCS, it means a lot of money is lost by a major conference team.
The thought process behind the chairmen of those major universities isn't "how can we make sure the smaller schools are included" it's "How can we cut the smaller schools out and make more money for us?". The more Boise State or TCU win, the more a large state school looks for a solution that makes sure those schools can't take money away from them in the future. Sure, there could be a tournament, but you better believe not all 120 teams would be eligible.
It's convoluted, but by losing their chance, Boise State preserved their chance at BCS contention in years to come.