By Harry King

LITTLE ROCK — Long-range BCS implications of Boise State 33, Virginia Tech 30 obscured the every-game truth about the importance of special teams.

Both quarterbacks made plays, but nothing influenced the outcome more than the good and the bad of the kicking game on Monday night.

Even Boise’s winning drive was born in the kicking game. A 52-yard punt was perfect, out of bounds at the Va. Tech 7.

Boise gave up two first downs before the Hokies’ punt was returned 25 yards to the Boise 44. The Broncos covered the distance with four Kellen Moore completions and a penalty.

From the opening kickoff, there were gaffes on special teams:

—The Hokies’ return man came out of the end zone and did not get to the 20. From there, a fumble led to a field goal.

—Tech’s outside blocker ignored a rusher and the blocked punt set up a touchdown.

—Running into the punter led to another touchdown for 17-0.

—After its first touchdown, Tech kicked off out of bounds. From its 40, Boise only needed one first down to set up a field goal for 20-7.

—Trailing 20-7, Tech missed a 34-yard field goal.

—Leading 26-21, Boise ran into the kicker on a 51-yard field goal attempt. On the next play, Tech took the lead.

—Kicking for the lead, the snap skittered and Boise missed a 30-yard field goal attempt.

Somebody pointed out that the last two teams to score more than 30 against Virginia Tech went on to win the national championship. Neither Alabama in 2009 nor LSU in 2007 received the gifts that the Hokies handed to Boise. In fact, Virginia Tech did not top 160 yards against either Southeastern Conference school.

Not this week against Louisiana-Monroe, but maybe the next week at Georgia or the following week vs. Alabama, special teams will turn an Arkansas game.

About the kicking game, Arkansas special teams coach John L. Smith once elocuted: “It’s one-play battles for giant chunks of land.”

In the opener, Alex Tejada proved he has the leg to reach the end zone consistently, freshman Zach Hocker made all six of his extra points, Dylan Breeding never had to punt, and Joe Adams only had one opportunity to catch a punt. Each will be called on to perform when it matters.

Usually an ambivalent spectator, I wound up hoping Boise State would win just to stir the pot. If Boise goes unbeaten for the second straight year and gets bumped from the BCS title game by a once-beaten conference champion, there will be another round of railing against the system.

The silver lining is that dual national champions could be the final straw that brings about a plus-one game for the title.

If Boise wins another BCS bowl game and finishes 13-0 and both teams in the title game finish with one loss, the Broncos could easily be No. 1 in the final AP poll. At USC, Lane Kiffin is trying to sell his bowl-banned Trojans on being the media’s No. 1. team.

Boise is No. 3 and TCU No. 4 in both polls so the argument about whether a team from a non-BCS conference is title game worthy could be season-long. All it takes is a stumble by No. 1 Alabama or No. 2 Ohio State.

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Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media’s Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com.