Gus Malzahn Is Urban Meyer's New Favorite Person in the Whole World

Now there is no doubt. The Ohio State Buckeyes are in the driver's seat for a berth into the BCS National Championship, and Urban Meyer can thank Gus Malzahn and the Auburn Tigers for it.

Auburn's miraculous (if there's a better word than miraculous, let me know) upset over the previously top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide leaves just two undefeated BCS conference teams in college football: Ohio State and Florida State.

The Buckeyes barely squeaked by archrival Michigan on Saturday 42-41, intercepting a two-point conversion in the game's final minute to hold onto a one-point lead. That win completed a perfect 12-0 season for Ohio State and gave Meyer a 24-0 record as the Buckeyes' head coach.

That means, with Alabama's loss, the Buckeyes should end up at No. 2 in tomorrow's BCS standings, as Florida State dispatched Florida on Saturday and thus should move up to the top spot.

And with the Buckeyes at No. 2 in the BCS rankings, a Big Ten Championship with a win over the Michigan State Spartans should be all that stands between them and a much-deserved trip to Pasadena, Calif.

The craziest thing about this turn of events is that just one year ago, the Iron Bowl between Auburn and Alabama was a laugher that the Crimson Tide won 49-0.

But Malzahn, in his first year as head coach after Auburn fired Gene Chizik, has turned the program back around to its 2010 form in 2013 and turned the Tigers into contenders once again in the nation's best conference.

Auburn's turnaround has been a complete one on both sides of the ball. The Tigers are a gritty team that ranks second in the nation in rushing yards per game (320.3), 17th in scoring (39.0) and 31st in scoring defense (22.0).

Because of the turnaround, Auburn will now play in the SEC title game for the first time since that 2010 season that saw it win the national title. The Tigers' turnaround also likely knocks the Tide out of contention from defending their back-to-back national titles.

And for now, it will put the Buckeyes in control of the road to the national championship.

Meyer should send a gift basket to Malzahn.