Texas Longhorns:Why Going Undefated Does Not Guarantee a BCS Title Game.

T.J. McaloonAug 21, 2010

The Texas Longhorns open their 2010 college football season ranked as number four in the Coaches poll and number five in the Associated Press poll; which is a good ranking to start the season. However, being in the top five of these two polls do not guarantee an automatic bid in the National Title Game. Last year all that Texas had to do was go undefeated. A hard task for any team, but at least they controlled their own destiny.

This year the deck is stacked against them with four teams that have as good of a chance as Texas did last year to go undefeated. If there is a deadlock of four undefeated teams at the end of the football year; then fans will have even more reason to examine the need for a playoff system.

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Let's take a look at the four teams ahead of Texas in the AP Top 25.

At number four is the Florida Gators. They play in the tough South Eastern Conference which has produced an undefeated team the past two years. This year the Gators bring out another National Title caliber team. With the departure of Tim Tebow the chances of another perfect season for the Gators is a bit tougher.

They have to go to Alabama to play the defending National Champions during the regular season. This is a game that Longhorn fans should have circled, as one of these teams has to lose. And with that loss by either Florida or Bama, it helps Texas back into the National Title picture.

Number three is the Mid-Major and small school darling the Boise State Broncos. This team has finished the college football season in a BCS Bowl game two out of the last four years. This year the spot light is bright on this team from Idaho, as they are ranked third in the AP. A loss by either of the top two teams and the Broncos are right there in the thick of the National Title.

For Texas to leap over Boise they would need the Broncos to either lose their opening week to Virginia Tech, or lose a conference game. Furthermore, if Texas is sitting there at 12-0 after defeating top 10 teams: Oklahoma and Nebraska (possibly twice), then how do you keep them (Texas) out of the National Title game?

Longhorn fans pay attention to the opening week with Boise going to Washington D.C. to play Virginia Tech. I would imagine the large fan base of Tech fans there will have a strong support of new fans in Austin, TX.

Number two is the Buckeyes of Ohio State. This could possibly be Jim Tressel's best team that he has had since his National Title team. Except, if starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor has a game where he falls apart and starts throwing interceptions left and right it may end Ohio State's chances at a perfect season.

Then again if Pryor shows the same dominate form that he showed against Oregon in the Rose Bowl last year, then it will make it very difficult for them to be knocked out of one of the top spots.

There are a number of games that Texas fans to root against Ohio State to lose. They have Penn State and Michigan at home. They go on the road to Wisconsin, and Iowa. But, the game that opens the door for Texas could be at home against the Miami Hurricanes.

Finally at number one there is last year's National Champion the Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama lost some of their key players on the defensive side of the ball. The Tide does return two of their main offensive weapons in Julio Jones and Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram.

For Alabama to head back to the National Title game they have to play Florida once at home and possibly again in the SEC Championship game. Can the Tide defeat the Gators two times in one year?

So in closing let's recap some of the big games for Texas fans to pay close attention to as it pertains to the Longhorns controlling their road to the National Title.

Florida

Oct. 2 @ Alabama

Oct.9 @ LSU

Nov. 27 @ FSU

Boise State

Sept. 6 Virginia Tech (Played @ Fed Ex Field in Landover, MD)

Sept. 25 Oregon State

Nov. 26 @ Nevada

Ohio State

Sept. 11 Miami (FL)

Oct. 16 @ Wisconsin

Nov. 9 @ Iowa