What BYU's Shocking Victory Over Oklahoma Means For College Football
In the immediate aftermath of BYU's shocking upset over third ranked Oklahoma, the focus of all the pundits has been on the injury to last year's Heisman trophy winner, Sam Bradford. Once again, the experts have completely missed the real story.
BYU, who 25 years ago won a controversial national championship, has a chance of doing it again.
How is this possible, you ask?
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After upsetting the third best team in the country, BYU's remaining schedule includes home games against Florida State, TCU, and Utah, all top 25 teams. And with the way they played against Oklahoma, they are likely to be favored in the rest of their games.
If BYU runs the table they would potentially deserve to be chosen against even some undefeated schools from BCS conferences. The top of the MWC is as good as any conferences' in the nation, only trailing the Big 12 and the SEC.
Some argue the MWC has no depth looking at "lowly" teams like UNLV. That same UNLV team that only managed a 2-6 record in conference, was 3-1 in their non-conference slate; beating Arizona State and Iowa State out of conference last year.
You could make a strong argument for the MWC having the third best conference in college football.
BYU's victory over Oklahoma comes on the heels of Utah destroying Alabama in the Sugar Bowl last year, capping a 13-0 season, and receiving a final ranking of No. 2, with 20 first place votes in the AP poll.
This year, if BYU can run the table with a much more difficult schedule, they will most likely play in the BCS championship game.
And if BYU can overcome four turnovers to beat Oklahoma in their own backyard, they would have a chance in Pasadena against a Florida, or a Texas. Since BYU has a large fan base across the west, they might surmise a small home field advantage in such a game, or at least make it a true neutral site.
Now the odds of BYU running the table are slim at best, but if they do, they should receive their due.
And if they do win a national championship, it would hopefully be the final nail in the coffin for the BCS, and maybe college football fans can finally get a true college football playoff.
P.S.
As a college student at BYU I've never seen a town celebrate like Provo last night! Here is some video from youtube. Thousands of BYU students took to the streets of Provo.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
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