I have had an epiphany of sorts looking at the BCS selection rules.  Essentially I have found a new twist that I have not seen anywhere else that would force the BCS to accept both TCU and Boise State. 

This motivated me to go back through the selection rules and carefully consider the implications for the case where TCU and Boise State go undefeated.  I found three ways the BCS would be forced to select TCU and Boise State, two I knew of and one I did not.

The new one looks to be much more in reach than the other two.

Lets now go through the automatic qualification procedures again with a fine toothed comb.

1) The top two teams in the BCS standings

If TCU and Boise State end up #1 and #2 they would play each other in the NCG.  It is unlikely that either will get to #2, much less both to #1 and #2.  Completeness is good though.  This is one.

2) The six automatic qualifying conferences. 

Neither will win an automatic qualifying conference.  With Oregon having a solid lead in the PAC 10 and Clemson looking strong in the ACC Atlantic both Boise State and TCU still have a chance to be able to claim a win over an automatic qualifying conference champion.

3) The higher ranked team, with some strings.

It is apparent that one will get in, or maybe Utah if they upset TCU and Boise State loses.  This rule can't get two in.  If one qualifies under rule #1 they would be counted for this rule as well.

4) Notre Dame strings

These don't apply to TCU and Boise State and are not likely to become a factor this year.  Notre Dame's best shot is to earn an at-large spot.

[Note: It is possible to get here with no more spots left, though not this year]

5) The #3 team, if it would not make a third team selected from a conference.

6) The #4 team, if it would not make a third team selected from a conference.

These are the rules I had forgotten to consider.  Consider this scenerio:  Iowa, Cincinnati and LSU all lose a game.  This would leave the top three above the next group consisting of TCU, Boise State and Oregon.  If the loser of the SEC championship game falls below #4, TCU and Boise State would likely become #3 and #4 in the BCS standings.

If TCU and Boise State both finish in the top 4 the final BCS standings both would earn an automatic qualification.  This may be the most likely route this year by the path just outlined.  This is two.  Thank you Kansas State.

Consider this wrinkle: Suppose this same scenario happens and Oregon jumps Boise State making Oregon #4 and Boise State #5 and #9 USC is selected as an at large over Boise State.

One spot away from an automatic qualification, passed by a team they beat convincingly and over looked for a team that team beat soundly - the outrage for Boise State would be heard loud and far.

I promised three, didn't I?  We have reached the end of the automatic qualifications.  Well dern, I guess we will need to visit the at-large selections.  The BCS could go ahead and select them both.  It would do wonders for their PR and undermine those seeking to present legal challenges to the system.  I am not going to count on this.  This is still two.

With only the six conference champions and one non-AQ team earning an automatic qualification there would be three at-large spots left.  If only two additional teams from conferences with automatic qualification earn a spot in the top 14 the BCS would be forced to take an additional team from any other conference in the top 14.  There could be as many as three such teams for the BCS to select from at this point, as Utah and Houston could find their way into this picture.  This is three.

The SEC will have one spot.  This would require only one other conference qualifying a second team.  Let's examine each one, and recognize that if two of these scenarios don't happen this option evaporates.

ACC: Georgia Tech needs to win the ACC and Miami(FL) needs to lose a game.
Big East: Pittsburgh needs to lose a game or Cincinnati needs to lose two games.
Big 10: Penn State and Ohio State need a loss here.  Even that might not be enough to knock them out and Wisconsin could move up into the vacant spots.
Big 12: Oklahoma needs to handle Oklahoma State.
Notre Dame: A loss by Notre Dame would seal them out of the top 14 this year.
PAC 10: USC and Arizona need another loss.  A California loss might also become necessary.

So the Big 10 and PAC 10 look to be the most formidable obstacles to this path.