Boise State doesn’t have it easy

What’s happening with Boise State right now is remarkable on several phony fronts.

By virtue of a dramatic 33-30 victory over Virginia Tech on Monday, the Broncos have emerged as the team America loves to … what?

People watched — that’s a fact. ESPN’s 6.8 overnight rating for the game was up 21% from last year’s Miami- Florida State game on Labor Day.

Imagine that, an “upstart” program outgunning one of college football’s major marquees.

It was the network’s highest prime-time rating since it began airing college football on Labor Day in 2003.

Eyes are peeled on the Potato State team, but hoping to see what — Boise go down in the deep fryer?

What should be excitement over the prospect of a terrific story line is already tinged with backlash.

Does Boise State really deserve to be No. 3 in the national polls on Sept. 9?

The curmudgeon USA Today voting coaches, who live in the world of secret handshakes, had no choice really but to move Boise State up two spots, to No. 3 this week.

That’s not to suggest Boise State picked up any first-place votes — it didn’t. Those are still being hogged by No. 1 Alabama, which opened with a win over San Jose State — one of the schools Boise State gets criticized for beating every year.

Boise State also stayed put at No. 3 in the Associated Press poll, although the Broncos picked up seven first-place votes.

My inbox is getting cluttered by the neurotically nervous.

“So winning one game puts them in the national title hunt?” one guy wrote.”Now, they get to play their skirt schedule and go undefeated.”

This is after one game.

Some nattering media nabobs are even suggesting Boise State, because it plays in a weaker league, must be held to a different standard.

Here’s a news bulletin: Boise State already is.

It went undefeated three times in the regular season in the last decade and didn’t get a sniff, one reason the Broncos are upgrading next year from the Western Athletic Conference.

You remember the WAC, the football league that can barely tie its shoes?

Last weekend, Fresno State pummeled Cincinnati, the two-time defending Big East champion.

Boise State, on the road, defeated the defending Atlantic Coast champion.

Hawaii amassed 588 yards against USC — considered by many “the” team of the last decade.

Utah State went to Norman and nearly shocked Oklahoma.

If Boise State keeps winning, come Thanksgiving, your leftover turkey won’t be as picked over.

It’s funny, America fully embraces the underdog in every team sport except college football.

It’s OK for Boise State to reach a Bowl Championship Series bowl game and shock Oklahoma, but don’t think about trying to beat out my alma mater for a coveted BCS title shot.

Most people wanted to see Butler shock Duke in last year’s NCAA basketball championship game, yet many don’t want to give Boise State a shot at Alabama?

Despite the Broncos’ lofty early poll stature, getting from there to No. 1 or No. 2 is going to be the toughest job interview anyone has ever endured.

To reach the Jan. 10 title game, Boise State has to go above and beyond and over the top.

What some people don’t get is that the weaknesses in Boise State’s profile are being mitigated.

The power conference schools already get every benefit of doubt. Florida lost at home to Mississippi two years ago and came back to win the national title.

Louisiana State lost two games in 2007 and has a BCS national title trophy in its case.

Alabama’s near-loss at Tennessee last year didn’t count against the Crimson Tide one bit.

Ohio State, in 2002, pulled out one close win after another on its way to the BCS title.

Nebraska got to the title game in 2001 after a 62-36 loss at Colorado.

Boise State probably can’t afford to trail in any of its remaining games this year, except maybe Oregon State on Sept. 25.

It would be a BCS death sentence for the Broncos to wobble against Wyoming in Laramie after this bye week, even though that’s what Texas did last year at Laramie.

The Longhorns trailed, 10-6, just before halftime — and ended up in the BCS title game.

Other than playing in the watered-down WAC, don’t worry about Boise State getting any breaks along the way — it won’t.

The Broncos won’t make it to the BCS title game unless power conference schools lose — maybe more than once.

Even though, in its last two games away from the blue turf, Boise State has defeated two top-10 teams, Texas Christian and Virginia Tech.

Boise State’s first victory, if nothing else, extends the possibility of compelling drama.

Boise plays Hawaii on Nov. 6. Will it matter if the Broncos’ defense gives up 200 fewer yards than the 588 USC allowed?

Boise State plays at San Jose State on Oct. 16. Alabama beat San Jose State, 48-3. Will it matter if Boise wins 63-3?

Boise State hosts Fresno State on Nov. 19. Will it get credit for beating the team that beat up Cincinnati?

Boise State hosts Utah State on Dec. 4. Will it matter if the Broncos don’t need to hold their breath in the end the way Oklahoma needed to last week?

Here’s the real Boise bottom line: If it was to somehow reach No. 1 or No. 2, no team in BCS history would have worked harder to get there.

And no team would have deserved it more.

Boise State isn’t going to get a free ride.

The way it looks now, it might not even be a joy ride.

chris.dufresne@latimes.com