The last straw came in 2019, when a 12-1 Boise State, winners at Florida State, their only loss by three on the road at BYU with a backup quarterback, was mysteriously left out of a New Year’s Six bowl. Figuring his team was bound for the Cotton Bowl, Harsin sat stunned as the pairings were revealed. He then grew angry and, finally, frustrated enough to realize that as fierce of a competitor as he is, he couldn’t compete for his sport’s top prize at his alma mater, even in the most perfect place in America.