The 5 Worst BCS Bowl Teams Ever

Congratulations to Connecticut for earning a BCS bowl bid.  The Huskies did what was asked of them, and it wouldn’t be fair to say they don’t deserve it.  However their BCS bowl eligibility is an example of what’s wrong with the BCS automatic qualifier rule.

Connecticut may finish the season unranked in the polls, but they will get the opportunity to play in a prestigious bowl game.  It’s not the first time an undistinguished team will be making an appearance in a BCS bowl. Check out in chronological order the teams that I felt were the worst teams to ever receive a BCS bowl bid.

Stanford (8-4), 1999

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1 Jan 2000: Todd Husak #7 of the Stanford Cardinal gets ready to pass the ball during the AT&T Roser Bowl Game against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Badgers defeated the Cardinal 17-9. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn

The Pac-10 was facing a down year in 1999, and Stanford was the best team the conference could offer up to the BCS. 

Stanford lost to Texas, 69-17, to begin the season and also had an embarrassing loss to San Jose State.  Stanford ranked No. 22 in the AP poll going into the Rose Bowl, but gave Wisconsin its best shot in a 17-9 defeat.

Pittsburgh (8-4), 2004

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TEMPE, AZ - JANUARY 1: Marcus Furman #2 of Pittsburgh runs the ball against Utah in the Tostito's Fiesta Bowl at the Sun Devil Stadium on January 1, 2005 in Tempe, Arizona. Utah would win the game 35-7. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images).

Pittsburgh won the Big East title, earning an automatic spot in the BCS.  But Pittsburgh was far from champion-like in 2004. 

Four of Pittsburgh’s victories were by only three points, including a 41-38 victory against Furman, an FCS school.

Pittsburgh entered the Fiesta Bowl ranked 19th in the AP poll and lost to Utah by 28 points.

Cincinnati (11-3), 2008

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MIAMI - JANUARY 01: Tony Pike #15 of the Cincinnati Bearcats scambles away from Nekos Brown #47 and John Graves #91 of the Virginia Tech Hokies during the FedEx Orange Bowl at Dolphin Stadium on January 1, 2009 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Get

In 2008 Cincinnati was surprisingly ranked 12th in the AP poll heading into the Orange Bowl.  I say surprisingly because the Bearcats had already been soundly beaten by Connecticut and Oklahoma, while six of their 11 victories were by a touchdown or less.

Cincinnati lost in the Orange Bowl to Virginia Tech, 20-7.

Virginia Tech (10-4), 2008

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MIAMI - JANUARY 01: Connor Barwin #5 of the Cincinnati Bearcats tries to tackle Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Virginia Tech Hokies during the FedEx Orange Bowl at Dolphin Stadium on January 1, 2009 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Virginia Tech entered the aforementioned 2008 Orange Bowl ranked No. 22 in the AP poll. Virginia Tech played on the edge all season, with their only convincing wins coming against Furman and Boston College in the ACC Championship Game.

Virginia Tech would end the season on a positive note though with a 20-7 win over Cincinnati and finishing the season ranked 15th in the AP poll.

Connecticut (8-4), 2010

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EAST HARTFORD, CT - NOVEMBER 27: Robbie Frey #44 of the Connecticut Huskies carries the ball in the first half against the Cincinnati Bearcats on November 27, 2010 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Connecticut may become the first non-ranked team to earn a BCS bowl bid.  Regardless if they end up ranked or not, the Huskies are without a doubt the worst team to ever earn a BCS bowl bid. 

Connecticut started the season 3-4 and was fortunate to pick up closely fought wins against Pittsburgh, South Florida and West Virginia to win the Big East.