How Penn State Will Play for the BCS Championship

Senior Analyst Written on November 12, 2008

Iowa may have derailed the Nittany Lions' shot at a national championship, but crazy things happen in college football and that is why all hope should not be lost. While many will tell you that Penn State needs to just focus on the the Big Ten championship and earning a berth in the Rose Bowl, I will tell you that the Nittany Lions should not be counted out of the BCS Championship picture just yet. It will take a lot to happen for Joe Paterno and his team though, but nothing is out of the question.

Don't count Penn State out of the BCS picture yet...

First things first. Let us examine the current top ten in the BCS rankings [link];

Alabama
Texas Tech
Texas
Florida
Oklahoma
Southern California
Utah
Penn State
Boise State
Georgia

Clearly some teams (many in fact) will have to stumble along the way and Penn State must win their remaining two games against Indiana and Michigan State. For argument's sake let us assume the Nittany Lions close out their home season with two home victories and Penn State wins the Big Ten, with a record of 11-1. Let's go down the rankings and explore what Penn State fans will be rooting for team by team.

#1 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
There is no love lost for Alabama, dating back to the 1979 Sugar Bowl...

Like many college football fans outside of the Crimson Tide fan base, they do not like Nick Saban either. Alabama controls their own destiny to the BCS championship game though so a loss, maybe two would have to happen. Alabama will play Mississippi State and Auburn at home and has locked up a date with the Florida Gators in the SEC title game. I believe Florida is going to win that SEC Championship so let us mark down a loss for Saban and company. Another game to watch will be the Auburn game. Auburn has beaten Alabama six straight times and they may very well be fighting for bowl eligibility of their own entering that game. The Tigers are sitting at 5-5, one shy of becoming bowl eligible and face Georgia this weekend. Plus you know Auburn will be fired up to trash their bitter rival's chance at a national championship. As Lee Corso might say, this one will be closer than the experts think.

Two losses for the Crimson Tide? Entirely possible, although Auburn's offense is almost non-existent.

2. TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS
When discussing the Big XII we need to have some patience. Who represents the Big XII South can be hard to figure out depending on how this week's game between Tech and Oklahoma fares. Texas Tech, like Alabama, controls their own destiny. If they beat Oklahoma in Norman this weekend, the picture is a lot clearer. Naturally, if the Raiders win out they will play for the BCS Championship. I don't think that will happen.

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written on November 12, 2008 Sports