Breaking Down the Best BCS Championship Games at Week 3

It’s only Week 3, but it’s never too early to start fantasizing about the best potential BCS title matchups.

Will Alabama get the opportunity to win its third-straight championship and fourth in the last five years? Or will the SEC’s seven-year reign atop the college football landscape finally come to an end?

These are the questions every fan wants to know.

With 20 teams in the Top 25 still undefeated, the door is wide open as far as contenders go. But when all of the smoke clears, only a handful of teams will remain unscathed.

Here are the tastiest championship-game possibilities thus far.

The Long Shot: Ohio State vs. Miami

Head-to-Head: 3-2 Ohio State (Last meeting Sept. 17, 2011, 24-6 Miami)

The Lowdown

While this is certainly the most unrealistic matchup of the bunch, there’s no doubt that every college football fan would love to see this rematch of the 2003 BCS title game.

With 14 returning starters from the squad that went 12-0 last season, Ohio State looks to be in good shape. Led by Heisman-hopeful quarterback Braxton Miller, the team entered the year as the No. 2 team in the nation. However, it could be the play of senior running back Jordan Hall—234 yards and three touchdowns—that could help carry the Buckeyes to the championship game.

On the other hand, Miami is coming off a stunning 21-16 upset of Florida last Saturday. It was a game that returned the program to reputability.

While the quarterback play has been iffy, sophomore running back Duke Johnson has already shown he’s capable of handling the load. He’s rushed for 245 yards and two scores during the Hurricanes 2-0 start. Not to mention, the team only has one ranked opponent remaining on the schedule.

It’s highly unlikely that we see these two in the BCS title game. Then again, stranger things have happened.

In the Running: Stanford vs. Louisville

Head-to-Head: N/A

The Lowdown

With the departure of Andrew Luck and Jim Harbaugh, everybody counted Stanford out in 2012.

Instead, the team went 12-2, winning a Pac-12 title and the Rose Bowl. It was a season that saw the Cardinal go 5-1 against ranked opponents—including then-No. 2 USC and then-No. 2 Oregon.

This season, quarterback Kevin Hogan will have to take on a lot more responsibility as the team tries to break in a new running back. In Stanford’s 31-13 Week 1 victory, the junior looked more than capable, throwing for 207 yards and two touchdowns while guiding the team to a 12-of-15 mark on third-down conversions.

Backed by a stifling defense that returns eight starters, the Cardinal should have a good shot at earning their first BCS title bid.

On the other hand, Louisville will hope quarterback Teddy Bridgewater can help the team build on an 11-2 campaign in 2012 that was topped off by a 33-23 victory over No. 3 Florida in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. A Heisman favorite, Bridgewater is already off to a quick start—46-of-60 for 752 yards with nine touchdowns and just one interception.

If the Cardinals can avoid last year’s late-season slip up, there is not a single team on the remainder of their schedule in 2013 that should give the team issues.

In the Running: Ohio State vs. LSU

Head-to-Head: 1-1-1 (Last meeting Jan. 7, 2008, BCS Championship, 38-24 LSU)

The Lowdown

In 2008 Ohio State and LSU duked it out with all the marbles on the line. This year, both teams have the talent and the coaches that can help lead them back.

The Tigers proved in Week 1 that they’re more than capable of winning big games, topping then-No. 20 TCU 37-27. The team then flexed some muscle, thrashing UAB 56-17.

While quarterback Zach Mettenberger has received flak in the past for his inefficiencies, he’s already gotten off to a sizzling start. The senior has completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 533 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions.

Sure, the defense has looked shaky thus far. However, expect head coach Les Miles to get the unit primed for a national-title run sooner rather than later.

On the opposite sideline, the Buckeyes are led by one of LSU’s old foes in Urban Meyer. The ball coach spent most of his time at Florida getting under the skin of Miles and the Tiger faithful.

It’s pretty safe to say that there’s no love lost between these two teams.

In the Running: Florida State vs. Texas A&M

Head-to-Head: 4-0 Florida State (Last meeting Aug. 31, 1998, Florida State 23-14)

The Lowdown

Boy, would this be a fun one to watch.

Florida State has something special in Jameis Winston. The freshman quarterback dazzled in his collegiate debut, throwing for 356 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 25 yards and another score. More impressively, he only threw two incomplete passes, going 25-of-27 through the air.

Winston not only gives the Seminoles an edge, but he also makes them the favorite in every remaining game on the schedule—including the Oct. 19 visit to No. 3 Clemson.

But let’s not forget Johnny Manziel, who set the bar for impressive collegiate debuts. Last year, the sophomore threw for 3,706 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for another 1,410 yards and 21 scores on his way to winning the 2012 Heisman Trophy. This season, although he’s sizzled down, Manziel has still been tough to contain—552 total yards and seven touchdowns.

Sure, the Aggies will have a tough path to navigate through in the SEC. However, when the going gets tough, A&M has the quarterback that can pull them through.

This would certainly be a high-scoring affair.

In the Running: Alabama vs. Ohio State

Head-to-Head: 3-0 Alabama (Last meeting Jan. 2, 1995, Citrus Bowl, 24-17 Alabama)

The Lowdown

Ohio State was the only FBS team to finish undefeated in 2012. Yet it was Alabama, not the Buckeyes, who were crowned national champions of the college football landscape.

It would only make sense for these two to battle it out in 2013.

The Crimson Tide will be led by two-time BCS champion A.J. McCarron at quarterback. While he may not garner Heisman-type respect, he was quite deadly last year, throwing for 2,933 yards and 30 touchdowns to just three interceptions. In fact, McCarron’s 175.3 QB rating was tops in the nation.

Paired with sophomore running back T.J. Yeldon—1,108 yards and 12 touchdowns while splitting carries—Alabama has the duo that can propel them to their third-straight appearance in the BCS title game.

It would be the first meeting between these two teams in over 18 years.

The Rematches: Georgia vs. Clemson

Head-to-Head: 38-16-4 Georgia (Last meeting Aug. 31, 2013, 38-35 Clemson)

The Lowdown

In a grueling Week 1 matchup, Clemson bested Georgia 38-35 in a contest that is an early contender for game of the year. Who wouldn’t want to see a rematch between these two?

Led by Heisman-hopeful quarterback Tajh Boyd—who accounted for five touchdowns against the Bulldogs—the Tigers are off to a fast start. The team then showed off its depth in a 52-13 pummeling of South Carolina State, with backup Cole Stoudt tossing three touchdowns while going 19-of-20 through the air.

If Clemson can fix a defense that got exposed against Georgia, expect them to have a good shot at making it out unscathed the rest of the way.

On the other hand, the Bulldogs rebounded quite well, recording a 41-30 victory over a South Carolina team that came in ranked No. 6. Quarterback Aaron Murray also bounced back after being held without a touchdown against the Tigers, throwing for four on 17-of-23 passing.

With the dynamic Todd Gurley in the backfield—288 yards and three touchdowns—Georgia will be a tough out for any opponent.

Every victory by Clemson only helps the Bulldogs’ resume look better. But you can guarantee that will change if these two teams meet up again.

The Rematches: Alabama vs. Texas A&M

Head-to-Head: 3-2 Alabama (Last meeting Nov. 10, 2012, 29-24 Texas A&M)

The Lowdown

A loss to Texas A&M was the only thing preventing Alabama from a perfect record in 2012. Could it also be what prevents the Crimson Tide from winning its third national title in a row?

The two teams will face off in College Station this Saturday. Given the Aggies’ struggles on defense, Alabama is a favorite to come away with a victory. Then again, Johnny Manziel and the 12th Man should never be underestimated.

Texas A&M will hope that last bit proves true. That’s because the team needs to win for this dream-BCS title matchup to have any chance of becoming a reality.

With a loss, the Crimson Tide shouldn’t drop down any more than a couple spots in the rankings. If they win out, along with the Aggies, it’ll be hard to prevent such a rematch from happening.

Sure, the fact that both are in the West Division of the SEC makes things difficult. However, Alabama and LSU proved that didn’t mean much in 2012.

Could history repeat itself this year?

Heavyweight Bouts: Clemson vs. Oregon

Head-to-Head: N/A

The Lowdown

In 2011, Oregon came within three points of a BCS title. This season, the team looks poised to make up for that shortcoming.

Entering this week, the Ducks boast the nation's second-best rushing attack, averaging 425 yards per game. The team’s scoring average of 62.5 points also ranks No. 3 in the country.

Oregon has two Heisman hopefuls to thank for that in quarterback Marcus Mariota and running back De’Anthony Thomas.

Mariota, a sophomore, has thrown for 433 yards and three touchdowns while adding another 235 yards on the ground to go along with three scores. Thomas, a junior, has rushed for 252 yards and five touchdowns on just 29 carries (8.7 YPC).

Together, the duo have made the Ducks one of the toughest offenses to shut down in all of college football. Backed by a defense that allows just 6.5 points per game, Oregon should be well in the title mix when it gets to November.

Out of the top four teams in the rankings, these two certainly have the easiest road to the BCS title.

No better place for Clemson to meet the Ducks for the first time.

Heavyweight Bouts: Oregon vs. Alabama

Head-to-Head: N/A

The Lowdown

Oregon has arguably the best offense in the country while Alabama has arguably the best defense. When these two meet, something’s got to give.

On their way to their second-straight BCS title, the Crimson Tide limited opponents to just 250 yards per game. The team recorded four shutouts and held opponents under 15 points in 11 of their 14 contests—including a 42-14 victory over Notre Dame in the BCS Championship.

That same kind of success will be hard to repeat against a Ducks offense that has been held under 30 points just once since 2010.

Last year, Oregon topped 50 points seven times. In two games this season, the team has scored 66 and 59 points, respectively.

It will be interesting to see if the Ducks three-pronged rushing attack—the team has three players over 100 yards on the ground—will be enough to expose a usually stiff Alabama defensive line.

Then again, we all saw how Johnny Manziel’s mobility created problems for the Crimson Tide. Could Mariota duplicate that performance?

Heavyweight Bouts: Alabama vs. Clemson

Head-to-Head: 12-2 Alabama (Last meeting Aug. 30, 2008, 34-10 Alabama)

The Lowdown

If any team is going to put an end to the SEC’s hold atop the college football landscape, it’ll be Clemson.

After upsetting then-No. 9 LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl last season, the Tigers added another victory over a Top 10-SEC foe to their resume by beating No. 4 Georgia 38-35 in Week 1. The team will have a chance to add a third when it travels to face a very good South Carolina squad in the last game of the year.

Sure, the most recent meeting between these two teams—a 34-10 Alabama victory in 2008—wasn’t close at all. However, that Clemson team didn’t have Tajh Boyd leading the charge.

He has just the versatility to create problems for the Crimson Tide’s defense.

Did we mention that Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney is an Alabama alum? Or that Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban is going for an unprecedented fifth BCS Championship?

A lot will be on the line in this potential matchup.

All stats used in this article are courtesy of NCAA.com.

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