Oklahoma State Football: Reasons Why the Cowboys Should Play for It All

2000: Miami and Florida State each had one loss. Despite losing to Miami on a missed field goal, the Seminoles got to play Oklahoma, the only undefeated team in the nation.

2006: Florida barely leapfrogged Michigan in order to prevent a Wolverines rematch with Ohio State for the national title.

2000 and 2006 each showed college football fans the advantages and flaws of the BCS system.

In 2000, a Miami team that had won a head-to-head matchup over the defending national champion made a logical case to be included in the 2001 Orange Bowl and face the Sooners. Instead, the Seminoles were unfairly rewarded. Since Bobby Bowden's crew did not deserve the chance to win it all, it is naturally unsurprising that Florida State was shut down 13-2.

In 2006, Michigan lost the "Game of the Century" to Ohio State in similar fashion, falling by a three-point deficit 42-39. The Florida Gators edged Michigan with the BCS voters, as the Coaches' and Harris Poll knew it would be nonsensical to replay an already decided contest. Urban Meyer's squad proceeded to throttle Ohio State in the BCS National Championship Game 41-14.

It doesn't take a genius to note the importance of a head-to-head matchup. If Alabama ends up playing LSU for the national title, the contest will also decide the SEC West Champion.

But wasn't that already decided? Wasn't there a Game of the Century that settled the issue less than a month ago?

Nevertheless, one could hear Brent Musberger and Kirk Herbstreit ramble on about Oklahoma State's damaging loss at Iowa State, and how the Crimson Tide was the complete package. 

The complete package was unwrapped on November 5, 2011 in Tuscaloosa (or Tusca-loss-a), Alabama.

So will Nick Saban and company will the green light to New Orleans?

Here's why Oklahoma State fans should punch their tickets to the national championship.

Oklahoma State's Schedule

Five straight years of national championships buys you influence.

But facts remain facts.

The players with the bright orange jerseys have played a tougher schedule than Nick Saban's SEC mammoth-sized men. Check out the comparison.

In order to make a point, I use the unbiased computer system that is used in the BCS. It is called the Colley Matrix and its inventor is the only one to publish his formula publicly. His unbiased approach doesn't take into account margin of victory and home field advantage. All that the formula uses are opponent records. Here are Colley's categorization of each team's schedule.

Alabama Crimson Tide	Oklahoma State Cowboys
Top 25 Wins: 2 (Arkansas, Penn State)	Top 25 Wins: 3 (Oklahoma, Kansas State, Baylor)
Top 50 Wins: 5 (Arkansas, Penn State, Auburn, Mississippi State, Florida)	Top 50 Wins: 7 (Oklahoma, Kansas State, Baylor, Texas, Tulsa, Missouri, Texas A&M)

Nick Saban's Crimson Confession

"A team that didn't even make its conference title game will be playing in the national title game? It's like Rick Perry withdrawing from the primaries and then going up against President Barack Obama."

              —Rick Reilly, ESPN Columnist

You saw this. Millions saw it. Come on.

A missed catch-for-touchdown by Heisman Trophy contender Trent Richardson? Four missed field goals? And Nick Saban's testimony basically stating that the Crimson Tide had let the game get away?

Whoops. Forgot to mention it was played in Tuscaloosa.

The confession located in the video above has been transcribed here below, so each of you can see the points the Alabama head coach made himself. Below I have numbered the reasons, Cowboy fans, that you can use to advocate your slot in the BCS Championship Game. Of course, this is not all Saban said. But it is solid ammunition about how an LSU-Bama rematch should not take place. Here's the litany of the Crimson Tide's missed opportunities (nine!) a la Nick Saban.

"

"We had a lot of opportunities in the game and we didn't take advantage of them.1) We had missed field goals, or 2) the opportunities that created the missed field goals. 3) Penalty, takes us out of field position. 4) And a possible touchdown that turns out to be an interception. 5) And then not being able to take advantage of the field position after that to score points...6) Every game is important...7) Ya know they ran the ball a little better than us...8) we're a little inconsistent with getting a hat on a hat. 9) We had a few too many negative plays."

"

Saban has said the two best teams should play for the Coaches Trophy.

Well, Nick, the two best teams played on November 5. LSU was number one; your Crimson Tide was number two. It was a de facto national championship game.

And isn't the whole "every game is important" line BCS dogma? Isn't that the system's number one claim against a playoff?

Mr. Saban, you are asking for a playoff.

The two best teams in the country played already. The Crimson Tide proved they were second best, not the second-ranked team in the country. There is an astronomical difference between the two.

Have faith.

Loss of Life

The tragedy cannot be pointed out enough.

The day before the Iowa State game (a.k.a. the Cowboys' only loss) came after the death of Oklahoma State women's basketball coach Kurt Budke and three others in a plane crash. Gundy had known Budke for years, and the loss was traumatizing to the whole Oklahoma State community. Not a decade earlier, a similar event had happened to OSU.

This catastrophe, along with the brand new pressure of being a front-runner, helped cause the double-overtime upset in Ames. 

But then again, Iowa State has a penchant for the upset. Two years ago, they upset Nebraska in Lincoln. Last season's stunner against a ranked Texas team in Austin. Obliterating 22nd-ranked Texas Tech the week after they halted Oklahoma's 39-home-game winning streak. It was a trap game emotionally and another opportunity for the Cyclones to prove it belonged with the big boys.

What happened to Alabama? They didn't show up to their home game at one of the toughest venues in college football.

B/R's thoughts go out to the grieving community.

A Better National Title Game

Overall, an Oklahoma State-LSU game would be more attractive.

Les Miles would face off against his old assistant and old school. The high-flying offense and powerful rushing presence of Randle would make OSU a great threat to usurp the Bayou Bengals. Higher ratings, man.

Such a matchup would bring rabid fans from Oklahoma City, an area that is not only close to New Orleans, but has a much larger population than Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

And it's all about the money, right?