I will admit this about this season's bowl games: Either they've left me gagging or left me speechless. Either way, we have found ourselves in a conundrum of trouble in regards to Thursday night's BCS Championship Game.
So what do we have to say after the past week's Sugar Shocker?
The USC Trojans handily defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions in the annual Rose Bowl, and afterwards, everyone in California was bidding for them to at least "share" a piece of the BCS Championship. A day later, the Mountain West Conference got arguably its biggest win of the year when the undefeated Utah Utes defeated the former #1 team in the country, The Alabama Crimson Tide (sorry Joe B.) in the Sugar Bowl.
So if USC wants to beg its case for the BCS Crown, Utah may have added their name to the list as well.
While everyone is focused on the screwjob that Texas suffered at the end of the season, people were shying away from the thought of Utah even making it a fight against Alabama. But those seven or eight people who asked, "What if Utah beats Alabama?" can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that it's happened.
Despite being in a "weaker" conference, Utah not only proved that they belong in the BCS, they belong in possibly the talk of the possible tie for the BCS Championship. The Utes were better than Alabama on this night. Just like that '06 Boise State Team that shocked Oklahoma, Utah showed that just because they aren't in a stronger conference doesn't mean they won't show up to play.
But we all know that Texas will make its case when they play Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl this Monday night. So here's how it looks heading into Thursday night's game.
USC defeats Penn State 38-24 in annual Rose Bowl Game
Utah defeats Alabama 31-17 in Sugar Bowl
Texas plays Ohio State in a game that many feel is beneath the Horns. The Horns wanted the National Championship, but were rudely denied entry to the game by the BCS Committee. Florida plays Texas' replacement Oklahoma in Miami for the National Championship. But after all that has happened, we now have six teams vying for a shot at the crown...and even when it's over, there may not be a clear cut winner.
Oklahoma is #1 in the country heading into the game (just like Ohio State the last two years). Oklahoma has a Heisman Trophy Winner in Sam Bradford leading them into battle (just like Ohio State's Troy Smith back '06). But unlike 2006, Florida has a tougher defense and a more potent offense leading them into battle.
So...if Florida beats Oklahoma, does that give them the NC outright? In a way yes, but in a way no.
But USC doesn't have the biggest argument for the NC. That debate actually belongs to Utah. So, since they won't give the playoffs a legitimate shot, they should have a one game playoff between Utah and Florida. It's a game where Urban Meyer never thought he would see while in Gainesville, pitting his former team against his current.
And...it would make for some good football. Sorry, USC, but thanks to Utah, your objection is overruled.
25 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Jonny Solovy 6 months ago
I am one of the biggest USC fans ever.... Utah deserves it!
Edit Comment Cancel
Iceman 6 months ago
i dont want a playoff, but the bcs needs to go. the only reason Utah isnt playing Florida in a few days is because of their conferense, they should replace washigtion in the pac 10. I want to see usc and Utah play, that would make a killer game.
Edit Comment Cancel
Paul 6 months ago
Instead of dropping Washington, why not add Utah and Boise St then have a championship game? IF I were you, I wouldn't be too quick to dump a charter member of the PAC 10. It wasn't too long ago that the Oregon teams were considered the worst programs among the major conferences.
Edit Comment Cancel
C L 6 months ago
End the BCS by simply saying all conferences will be treated equally. Thats all that needs to be done. Maybe give each conference an autobid to a BCS game if it has a conference championship AND its conference champion is in the top 20 or so. So 6 BCS games plus a national championship game. If the Sun Belt can recruit players on the same conditions as the SEC (i.e. 'we CAN go to a BCS game') the gap between conferences will diminish.
Unfortunately its a pipe dream....so lets hope Utah pulls out an AP championship if only to expose the flaws of the current system.
Edit Comment Cancel
Lou Vozza 6 months ago
This is childish. Of course every time a champion is named by voters or a computer it is subject to dispute. Grow up, man up and accept the fact that you lost out.
Of course, all the Florida and Oklahoma fans are quiet as church mice about how "unfair" and "stupid" the BCS is. Why? Because they are in. You USC and Utah fans would be no different if you had been ranked one and two after the first week of December.
The worst thing about the BCS is it exposes most college football fans as immature, whiny bad sports.
Edit Comment Cancel
Ron Johnson 6 months ago
Lou, for your own personal fulfillment, I am a Florida fan. I wrote this as an unbiased writer looking at it from a different perspective. I'm not being as quiet as church mouse, and I believe that it's unfair and stupid. I've been saying that for years, but I've been called an ass because I disagree with him.
But since we're on the subject, what's your standing on it? What do you think is the actual truth? Or are you going to be as quiet as that church mouse in Norman?
Edit Comment Cancel
Lou Vozza 6 months ago
I posted my opinion in my blog a couple of weeks ago.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/90356-congratulations-to-the-oklahoma-sooners-2008-national-champions
Edit Comment Cancel
Silver Fox 6 months ago
Under the stupid current BCS system, Utah is the most logical choice for #1 soley, not in half, simply that are 13-0 and decisively beat a highly ranked BCS team (Alabama), regardless of the outcomes of Texas-Ohio St. (if TX blows them out) and Oklahoma-Florida.
Edit Comment Cancel
Lou Vozza 6 months ago
Unfortunately for Utah, the season ended the first week of December. According the the rules agreed to by all 11 conferences, including the Mountain West, at that time the top two teams in the BCS rankings were selected to play against each other in a two team playoff to determine the NC. Utah's game against Alabama was an exhibition game. To claim Utah is the NC now is trying to change the rules of the game after you have lost. That's called bad sportsmanship.
Edit Comment Cancel
Ray Zepeda 6 months ago
Let's take a closer look at Utah's "wins":
2 pts. over Michigan (3-9),
7 pts. over Air Force (8-5, no W's ovr ranked teams),
3 pts. over Oregon St. @ home,
3 pts. over New Mexico (4-8),
3 pts. over TCU .
So dominant! Vote 'em #1 now!
Edit Comment Cancel
C.W. O'Brien 6 months ago
If beating a high ranked BCS team in a BCS bowl in a tight race for National Champion is the standard...then you should probably retroactively award the University of Kansas a share of last year's national title. They were the only one loss team from a BCS conference AND beat a high ranked team in a BCS bowl game.
Do I think that KU deserved a share of last years title? No chance in hell. BUT if that is the standard...
Edit Comment Cancel
Silver Fox 6 months ago
If one buys into the BCS, you are right. I don't. I know my argument falls short. The problem is a lack of a clear standard that logically leads to a tournament or playoff in which the champions is truly decided on the football field, not via some b.s. beauty contest based on opinionated rankings. Because of the BCS we don't know who the true champion is. We just know who the BCS says is the mythical champion.
Edit Comment Cancel
Gil HHH 6 months ago
I am a huge USC fan and based on this year's result Utah deserves to be ranked #1. I do think that USC would be Utah but since we will be unable to find out, Utah earned its #1 ranking. Aside from Utah fans, nobody gave them a chance against Alabama.
Edit Comment Cancel
Robert Matthews 6 months ago
As a Bama fan I will put it in words anyone can understand. Utah kicked Bama's ass up and down the field all night long. At first the feeling was hell its Utah how is Utah winning. Then as the game wore on it became more obvious. Its not that Bama's having a bad game. Its that Utah is that damn good. I would love to see Utah v Florida.
Edit Comment Cancel
Bernie 6 months ago
Good article. The Utes looked impressive.
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 6 months ago
I love USC, but the Utes got my vote. I hope the AP mucks up everything and hands them the crown. Someone needs to right this grave injustice!
Edit Comment Cancel
blackjackjackson 6 months ago
i think the ap should sell their vote to the highest bidder.
that would naturally make usc ap national champ.
i see no way that utah has the money, and even tho texas has lots of money, with bush going out of office, the power has shifted away from texas.
but the ap asswipes will always hope for a movie deal to the novel in their desks and vote for usc.
but, then, again, i might be opionated.
but, i am not a whiner,
i am a pragmatist.
Edit Comment Cancel
blackjackjackson 6 months ago
p.s.
i'd just like to note to usc, utah and texas......
auburn didn't whine 1/10 th of what all yall have been crying your asses off at.
auburn was undefeated and then ok lost to usc.
and no self respecting ap writer will ever question the house that usc gave to reggie bush.
no, the ap writers will keep their mouths shut b/c they gave a tainted n.c. to usc the year before.
don't laugh at the bcs when you have to depend on the lowly bought off shills of big corp america, the ap.
Edit Comment Cancel
Jack Peck 6 months ago
Blackjack, you have every right to complain but I've see the post calling the Utah fans a bunch of whiners on more than one blog. Auburn got shafted four years ago and you are still at it? You're beginning to sound like a whiner to me. BTW, all those people beating Utah's drum are not necessarily Utah fans.
Utah's a lot better than the scores of all the games they played prior to the BYU game might suggest. We had an offensive cooriinator who didn't know how to exploite Utah's potential in those earlier games. It wasn't until the BYU game when someone finally clued him in.
Even though I don't really know just how good they are, I don't think they could beat every team out there so I'm OK if they don't get a #1 ranking, however, I'll bet previous #1's weren't necessarily the best team in all of college football either.
Edit Comment Cancel
blackjackjackson 6 months ago
jack, thank you.
i agree with you.
the previous systems sucked and that is why the bcs w/ the strongest conferences having the power.
remember when ... there are only a few consensus n.c. in the history of college football.
the bcs now tries to make a better system, and the loosers are crying for the old days....or....
or, the new days, when they can make up the rules to suit themselves.
this is the bcs, not the ap, which is a bunch of WRITERS voting on who looks the best.
neither is head to head, but without the bcs, usc and notre dame would be n.c. every year.
and that would definitely leave utah out of the picture.
p.s. i'm not an auburn fan, but they did not complain like the whiners this year.
they played the rules that were agreed to.
Edit Comment Cancel
Steven Johnson 6 months ago
Every Utah fan I have ever known (Including myself) has been calling for a playoff (as are most college football fans who want a real champion). I am not looking to be given the NC for beating Alabama or going undefeated, just looking for my team to have a legitimate chance to prove what they are on the field. If they could then win out in a playoff against the other "big boys" there would be no argument. This would go for every other team who under the current system still has a legitimate claim. A playoff is the only way to pick a champion, which is probably why ALL other major sports have one.
Edit Comment Cancel
Isaac Luber 6 months ago
They didn't handily beat us. They beat us, but we had a bad second quarter that put them ahead. We played head to head with them in the first and third quarters, and dominated the fourth. We had the ball in scoring position with plenty of time left to make it 38-31 and an onsides kick and a score away from OT, but USC's defense held. It was actually closer than most think.
Still, Utah is the true National Champion, regardless of what happens with UF vs. OU.
Edit Comment Cancel
Ron Johnson 6 months ago
True. Penn State gave a fight, but the lack of execution in the second quarter did kill their chances.
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy Belle 6 months ago
Hey the year Auburn went undefeated and didn't get to play for the NC there was another undfeated team.... Utah, they went on and whipped Pitt
Edit Comment Cancel
Matt Fleck 6 months ago
didnt read the article, but I would like to point out that it is linked on the igoogle homepage under the sports tab...
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.