What an interesting weekend. We saw the #2, #4 and #5 ranked teams all lose on the same weekend. Those in favor of a playoff may well get their “BCS Armageddon” this year. Count yours truly as one of those hoping for more BCS meltdown. If it’s bad for the BCS and good for a playoff, I want it to happen.
With the upsets by USC, North Carolina State, Iowa State and Baylor we now have one major unbeaten (LSU), one unbeaten mid-major (Houston) and a logjam of teams with one-loss. It has also set up most SEC fans dream scenario as we have the top 3 spots of the BCS poll held by 3 SEC teams. What is truly amazing is that all 3 teams are from the same division. I’m not sure that has ever happened in any poll, BCS or otherwise.
What happens to the BCS if LSU loses to Arkansas this weekend or to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game? Could the BCS computers actually explode trying to figure it out? But hey, that’s okay BCS, we don’t need a playoff (said with accompanying eyeroll and head shake).
Chip Kelly appears to be, not only an excellent coach, but a class individual as well. According to USC Head Coach Lane Kiffin, Kelly made an appearance in the USC lockerroom following the Ducks 38-35 heartbreaking loss to USC. Coach Kelly was looking for USC Defensive Coordinator Monte Kiffin to congratulate him. He had wanted to congraulate him after the game, but was unable to because Monte Kiffin is in the press box during games. Very classy move by Coach Kelly.
Say what you want about Penn State, JoePa and the rest; the team does not appear to be willing to give up on their season, as their 20-14 victory over Ohio State in the ‘Shoe shows. They have set themselves up for a showdown with Wisconsin to determine who will face Michigan State in the Big 10ish Championship Game. It appears that installing the “wildcat” formation was just what the doctor ordered. According to Penn State Assistant Coach Jay Paterno, they installed it as a distration from all of the other distractions surrounding the team. Something for them to rally around. It appears to have worked.
With all of the calls that Penn State should forego any bowl appearance and/or would be an unattractive team for any but the most minor bowls, what happens if the Nittany Lions beat Wisconsin and then win the Big 10ish Championship Game, thus earning the accompanying Rose Bowl bid. Does the Rose Bowl tell them “thanks, but no thanks”? Can they legally not allow them to play? It could make for an interesting scenario.
Of all of the seasons for Boise St. to choke up a game, they have really got to be kicking themselves for losing to TCU. This is the season that everything played out perfectly for Boise to finally get their shot at the NCG and they won’t get there. It may be for the best though. I like Boise and how well coached they are and how disciplined they are, I just don’t think that this LSU defense is the one that you want to be cutting your BCSNCG teeth on. That defense is too big and too fast for this seasons’ Boise squad. That is no insult to Boise as I think that LSU’s defense is too big and fast for just about anybody this year.
Rick Neuheisel has more lives than a cat. He has been left for dead more than just about any other coach and somehow has the Bruins in position to be in the first ever PAC-12 Championship Game with a win vs. USC on Saturday. Consider this, following a demoralizing, coach killing 48-12 loss to Arizona, the only question appeared to be whether or not he would be allowed to finish the season. Then he followed that with a convincing win over Cal and an upset of Arizona State. He was riding high and appeared to have saved his job for at least one more season. Then came an absolutely horrible effort on both sides of the ball in a 31-6 loss to Utah. Once again, the hangmans’ noose was being prepared. Now, with Arizona State losing to Arizona, a win against USC puts the Bruins in the PAC-12 Championship due to USC being ineligible. Even if UCLA loses to USC, they could still sneak in with a Utah loss to Colorado.
Now the question at UCLA would seem to be, what has to happen for Neuheisel to save his job? Is it good enough to just beat USC and play in the PAC-12 Championship or does he have to win both?
Matt Barkley’s performance on Saturday should put him right smack in the middle of the Heisman discussion. He has better overall stats than Andrew Luck and just beat the top team in the PAC-12 who had blown Stanford out by 23 points. Unfortunately, there are Heisman voters who will likely leave him of off their ballots because USC is under sanctions even though he was in middle school when the violations occurred. It’s not right, it’s not fair, but it is what will happen.
If LSU wins out, Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma convincingly and Alabama beats Auburn, who goes to the BCSNCG vs. LSU? If the Big 12 had not imploded, one would think that beating Oklahoma and then winning the Big 12 Championship Game would have been enough to put Oklahoma State in the game. However, since the Big 12 has no championship game this season, it almost becomes a coin toss. The question between the 2 will likely come down to strength of schedule, which also seems fairly even as well.
While I’m back on BCS Armageddon (told you these thoughts were random), think about this scenario: Oklahoma State loses to Oklahoma, Alabama loses to Auburn and Georgia upsets LSU in the SEC Championship Game. What becomes of the BCS then? Think that’s impossible? All I can ask is this: Did you think that Oklahoma State, Oregon and Oklahoma would all lose this weekend? If you did, can you send me your lotto picks too?
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