5 Keys To The 2009 BCS National Championship

The Bowl Championship Series field is debatable, the outcry for respect and the demand for a playoff system is high, and teams are coming out with chips on their shoulders, ready to prove a point to the nation.

But above all, two teams have emerged from the submission that we as college football fans have come to know: the computers, the percentages, the countless polls, and most importantly, the BCS.

Amidst the controversy and chaos of the 2008-2009 campaign, we have the Big XII's Oklahoma Sooners and the SEC's Florida Gators squaring off in Miami, Florida, to be crowned 2009 National Champions.

The college football world hasn't seen such an immense and entertaining buildup such as this one since possibly 2005, when Vince Young's Texas Longhorns faced Southern California's Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush.

It's no secret that this game will be a hard-fought, highly contested and determined football game, possibly going down to the wire. Unlike the past two National Championships, many figure this one will be a lot closer and competitive down the stretch.

Here are 10 keys to watch for on January 8, most of which will decide who hoists the Championship Trophy and be donned "the best" in college football.

1. ) "Big Game Bob"

One factor that's been highly documented in this game's buildup is Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops' struggles when it comes to BCS Bowl games, and coaching in them.

Since taking over as Oklahoma head coach in 2000, Stoops is 4-4 overall in bowl games. However, the record that burns in the back of Sooner fans minds is the atrocious 2-4 BCS record.

That includes a 1-2 record in the National Championship game, and an average margin of defeat in those championship games of 21.5 points. (The Sooners lost to LSU 21-14 in 2003, and lost to Southern California 55-19 in 2004)

Stoops has lost four of his last five bowl games, the one he didn't lose being the non-BCS Holiday Bowl against Oregon.

Oklahoma has beaten ranked opponents by an average margin of 28.8 points per game this season, beating five on the season. During the stretch of their last five bowl games, Oklahoma has lost by an average of 16 points.

It's apparent by the numbers that the Sooners struggle come bowl season, despite succeeding during the regular season.

2. ) The Heisman 'Curse'

Heisman trophy winners are 2-6 in their respective bowl games since 2000, including 1-5 in the National Championship game.

Jason White, who won the Heisman for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2003, lost the National Championship game to LSU.

Heisman Winners have lost three consecutive bowl games, and are 1-4 when their teams score under 20 in a bowl game since the start of the BCS era in 1998. The Florida Gators, Sam Bradford's opponent, allows 12.85 points per game.

Since 2000, Heisman winners whose teams are in the top five overall in scoring offense are averaging 22.25 points in their bowl games, but that includes Chris Weinke's Seminoles scoring only two in a loss to Oklahoma in 2000, as well as the 2003 Oklahoma Sooners and Jason White producing only 14.

Matt Leinart's USC Trojans had 38 points in a bowl loss to Texas in 2005, and Tim Tebow's Florida Gators had 35 points in a bowl loss to Michigan last season.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?