College Football: Championship Weekend Recap, Results, Final Thoughts

As if the BCS couldn’t get any more out of hand after rivalry weekend, championship weekend proved that it was possible. 

Heading into Friday night’s MAC Championship Game, potential Heisman-contender quarterback Jordan Lynch and Northern Illinois looked to be going to the Fiesta Bowl. Unfortunately, the Huskies ran into a dangerous Bowling Green squad and were blown out 47-27, meaning they would not be traveling to a second-straight BCS game. 

On Saturday, the chaos ensued, as No. 6 Oklahoma State, who looked to be on its way to the Fiesta Bowl, was in bedlam against in-state rival No. 17 Oklahoma. The Pokes scored on what appeared to be a go-ahead touchdown on a one-yard run from Desmond Roland with one minute, 46 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Sooners had plans of their own. 

With a 24-20 lead, the pressure was placed on the Oklahoma State defense to win the Big 12 title. The Oklahoma offense, though, marched down the field and converted a game-winning seven-yard touchdown pass from Blake Bell to Jalen Saunders with 19 seconds left. Bob Stoops and company escaped Stillwater with a 33-24 upset victory and their 10th win over the Cowboys in 11 years. 

With an Oklahoma State loss, No. 25 Texas and No. 9 Baylor ended up playing for the Big 12 title. The 'Horns hung tight with the Bears for most of the game but were unable to hold on as Baylor won 30-10. Art Briles’ Bears won their first conference title since 1980 and will play in the Fiesta Bowl. 

While the Big 12 had its own drama, there was a lot of focus on the SEC Championship Game between No. 3 Auburn and No. 5 Missouri, as well as the Big Ten Championship Game consisting of No. 2 Ohio State and No. 10 Michigan State. 

The SEC Championship turned into a shootout. Auburn, though, found a way and took a commanding 59-42 lead with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Running back Tre Mason racked up an astounding 304 rushing yards on the Missouri defense and scored four touchdowns. 

There originally was a debate on whether Ohio State or Auburn should be the team to play against Florida State in the BCS National Championship. All of that potential controversy ended when Michigan State upset the Buckeyes, 34-24, to clinch its first trip to the Rose Bowl since the 1987-88 season. 

Jameis Winston and No. 1 Florida State easily defeated No. 20 Duke, 45-7, in the ACC Championship Game and will head to Pasadena to play in their first national title since 2001. 

Pick Results

Overall Record (2013): 102-48

2012 Record: 99-41

Week 15 Record: 5-5

Note: Team in bold indicates author’s pick

Prediction: Oklahoma State 41, Oklahoma 24

Result: Oklahoma 33, Oklahoma State 24

Prediction: Auburn 35, Missouri 30

Result: Auburn 59, Missouri 42

Prediction: Arizona State 38, Stanford 28

Result: Stanford 38, Arizona State 14

Prediction: Florida State 49, Duke 24

Result: Florida State 45, Duke 7 

Prediction: Ohio State 31, Michigan State 27

Result: Michigan State 34, Ohio State 24

Prediction: Northern Illinois 35, Bowling Green 27

Result: Bowling Green 47, Northern Illinois 27

Prediction: UCF 38, SMU 24

Result: UCF 17, SMU 13

Prediction: Marshall 34, Rice 31

Result: Rice 41, Marshall 24

Prediction: Baylor 42, Texas 24

Result: Baylor 30, Texas 10

Prediction: Fresno State 49, Utah State 38

Result: Fresno State 24, Utah State 17

Final BCS Standings

1	Florida State	.9957
2	Auburn	.9638
3	Alabama	.9061
4	Michigan State	.8600
5	Stanford	.8191
6	Baylor	.7722
7	Ohio State	.7705
8	Missouri	.7256
9	South Carolina	.7152
10	Oregon	.5811

                                         

BCS Bowl Games

BCS National Championship (Pasadena, Calif.)

No. 2 Auburn vs. No. 1 Florida State

Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.)

No. 4 Michigan State vs. No. 5 Stanford 

Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Ariz.)

No. 15 UCF vs. No. 6 Baylor

Sugar Bowl (New Orleans)

No. 11 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Alabama

Orange Bowl (Miami)

No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 12 Clemson 

Final Thought

It’s the end of the BCS era. Since 1998, the BCS system has been used to select a national championship matchup. A majority of the time, the system worked, but for five of the years the system proved to be a huge problem that caused controversy.

For Example

2001: After getting manhandled by Colorado, 62-36, and not even winning its own division in the Big 12, Nebraska still managed to squeak out the No. 2 spot in the BCS standings over Pac-12 Champion Oregon and faced Miami (Fla.) in the Rose Bowl. 

Rose Bowl Result: Miami (Fla.) 37, Nebraska 14 

2003: USC only suffered a triple-overtime loss at California and failed to make the Sugar Bowl. Oklahoma was dismantled by Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship, 35-7, while one-loss LSU won the SEC Championship over Georgia. USC still managed to earn a share of the national championship with its win over Michigan in the Rose Bowl but did not receive the crystal ball. 

Sugar Bowl Result: LSU 21, Oklahoma 14

2004: USC and Oklahoma both went undefeated, but Auburn did as well. The Tigers were left out of the national championship at the Orange Bowl.

Orange Bowl Result: USC 55, Oklahoma 19*

*Indicates title was vacated

Even though there was more than enough to complain about with a computer deciding who would play in the national championship or not, will a four-team playoff be better than the BCS?

If the four-team playoff was held this season, who would have been in it?

1. Florida State

2. Auburn

3. Alabama

4. ?

Does the No. 4 spot belong to Baylor or Michigan State? 

One or two teams are going to be left out every year. The BCS selected Florida State and Auburn, which clearly are the two deserving teams this year. 

Here we go again!