Nhat V. Meyer / McClatchy Tribune

The Spartans host the Broncos and will look to get their first win over a ranked opponent since 2000 season

Here they are again, the feisty home underdog facing a ranked team. Under the Friday night lights. On national television. With Bowl Championship Series implications.

Is there any reason to think the San Jose State Spartans, who haven̢۪t beaten a ranked team in nearly a decade, won̢۪t endure another gut-wrenching loss?

Is there any reason to believe the Spartans are better equipped to topple No. 13 Boise State than they were two years ago, or four years ago?

And is there any reason to think the Spartans won̢۪t implode in the final minutes, as they did last year against Hawaii?

“We’re building a culture of winning here,â€Â coach Dick Tomey said. “The guys expect to win, but we have a long way to go if we want to get to Boise State’s level.â€Â

So close to major upsets of Boise State in 2004 and ‘06 and Hawaii in ‘07, the Spartans instead took painful paths to defeat, losing in the final seconds, in overtime and in double overtime. (Three-game point total: Ranked opponents 121, SJSU 104).

The Spartans haven̢۪t beaten a top-25 team since they took down No. 9 Texas Christian eight years ago. How can they understand what it takes to win Friday night if none of the players has done it?

“When you’re playing a champion, you have to double-beat them,â€Â Tomey said. “They’ll come back if they’re behind. They’ll make all the plays down the stretch.â€Â

Boise State is accustomed to facing amped-up opponents and hostile crowds, to playing on national television and handling the adrenaline that comes with night games. With the possible exception of USC, nobody in the West handles the spotlight better than the Broncos, who are chasing their second BCS berth in three years.

Joe Jaszewski / McClatchy Tribune

“It’s just about playing hard, you keep playing to the final snap and then look at the scoreboard,â€Â Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. “I know that sounds very cliche-ish, but that’s the bottom line. You can’t tell them they’ve got to win games. You can’t give them confidence. You just have to earn it and make plays when it matters.â€Â

That’s precisely where SJSU came up short against Boise State in ‘06 and Hawaii in ‘07.

The Spartans led Boise State in the fourth quarter, then watched the Broncos reel off 11 points down the stretch to remain undefeated with a 23-20 victory.

They led Hawaii by 14 points in the final four minutes, then faltered as Colt Brennan rallied the BCS-bound Warriors to a 42-35 overtime victory.

“It hurts like hell,â€Â Tomey said afterward.

A year later, has anything changed?

Tomey believes it has. He believes SJSU̢۪s victory at Hawaii late last month, while not a headline-grabber, the Brennan-less Warriors have a losing record, was a perfect big-game primer.

Facing the defending league champs on their home field, SJSU rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit, made all the big plays in the fourth quarter and left Honolulu with one of the most significant victories of the Tomey era.

“We made it happen in the fourth quarter,â€Â he said. “It was a wonderful feeling for the guys, and I think it makes us more prepared to fight off discouragement.

“You have to believe you’re going to win, and you have to understand that there will be ups and downs and not pay attention to them. That’s what the best teams do. We’re getting there.â€Â

There is another difference this week, and it has nothing to do with SJSU̢۪s opponent.

In each of the bitter losses, the Spartans played the role of wide-eyed spoiler, hoping to knock their foe out of the BCS race, energize their fan base, impress recruits and gain recognition for the program.

This time, the Spartans (5-2, 3-0) are playing for something far more palpable: They̢۪re playing for the Western Athletic Conference title.

SJSU holds a half-game edge over Boise State (6-0, 2-0) and a one-game lead over Fresno State. A victory Friday would give the Spartans control of the race with a month remaining.

“I’ve heard people down here say, ‘You have a chance to spoil Boise State’s BCS,’’’ Tomey said. “That’s the furthest thing from my mind. We have a chance to win the championship.

“We’re going to find out a lot about ourselves.â€Â

WAC on National TV

The Broncos and the Spartans will be playing tonight at 6 p.m. on ESPN2, Comcast channel 33 or on ESPN360.com.

̢ۢ San Jose State 5-2 (3-0 in WAC)

̢ۢ Boise State 6-0 (2-0 in WAC)

By Jon Wilner / McClatchy Tribune