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Split Decision? No. 1 USC Won't Play in Sugar Bowl
College football fans, get ready to crown not just one, but possibly two national champions.
That's because the computer rankings had Oklahoma as the country's top team Sunday while the human poll voters picked Southern California.
Despite getting walloped by KansasState 35-7 on Saturday night, Oklahoma will take its 12-1 record to the Sugar Bowl against LSU, which won the Southeastern Conference championship by beating Georgia 34-13.
The winner in New Orleans on Jan. 4 automatically captures the coaches' title under Bowl Championship Series format.
USC, which finished third in the BCS rankings, could win the Associated Press championship by beating No. 4 Michigan in the Rose Bowl, with a split national title certain to leave more people calling for a playoff.
The No. 1 team in the AP poll has never dropped after winning its bowl game. The coaches poll must give its championship to the Sugar Bowl winner.
The BCS was started in 1998 to create a national title game without playoffs.
When the BCS contract expires after the 2005 season, a one-game championship might be instituted after the bowls. That would be too late to fix this year's mess.
In the final BCS standings, Oklahoma was first with 5.11 points based on its top spot in five of the seven computers, the 11th-toughest schedule and a quality win over Texas. The Sooners were third in both polls.
LSU (12-1) was second with 5.99, edging out USC (11-1) by 0.16 in the second closest finish in the six-year history of the BCS. Nebraska beat Colorado by 0.05 in 2001.
The Trojans got 79 of the 128 first-place votes in the polls but finished third in five computers because of a weak Pac-10 schedule.
LSU was second in the polls and six computers and edged out USC based on a tougher schedule. LSU and USC were each picked first in one computer.
The Tigers' spot in the title game wasn't assured until BoiseState beat Hawaii at 3AM ET Sunday. The Trojans' strength of schedule was hurt because they beat Hawaii in September.
The dream matchup for the Rose Bowl, a traditional pairing of Big Ten and Pac-10 champions with national title implications, is the doomsday scenario for the BCS.
It's the third time in four seasons that a team in the top two in the polls didn't make it to the BCS title game. The BCS avoided disaster those years because No. 1 Oklahoma beat Florida State in the 2001 Orange Bowl and No. 1 Miami beat Nebraska in the 2002 Rose Bowl.
The No. 2 teams in the polls won their bowl games those years and could have won the AP title if the top-ranked teams lost. The only way to avoid a disputed finish this year is if Michigan (10-2) beats USC.
The other BCS matchups have No. 10 Miami (10-2) playing No. 9 Florida State (10-2) in the
Orange Bowl and No. 8 Kansas State (11-3) facing No. 7 Ohio State (10-2) in the Fiesta Bowl
Champions of the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC qualify for a BCS game. Oklahoma and OhioState were picked as at-large teams.
Despite the controversy, there are still two intriguing matchups.
First up is USC-Michigan on Jan. 1 in the seventh Rose Bowl meeting between the schools. The game features two high-powered offenses. USC is sixth in the nation in scoring at 42.2 points per game and Michigan is ninth at 37.2.
Quarterback Matt Leinart leads a balanced offense for the Trojans, which features game-breaking receivers in Mike Williams, Keary Colbert and Steve Smith and a dangerous running duo of Reggie Bush and LenDale White.
Michigan is led by quarterback John Navarre, who has delivered his biggest games against the best opponents this year. The Wolverines also have talented receivers in Braylon Edwards, Jason Avant and Steve Breaston, and a top running back in Chris Perry.
Three days later, LSU will play Oklahoma in what will almost be a home game for the Tigers at the Superdome in New Orleans -- a short drive from LSU's campus.
This game features the country's two best defenses. Oklahoma leads the nation, allowing only 255.6 yards per game, slightly better than LSU's 259.5. The Tigers have the top scoring defense at 10.8 points per game compared to Oklahoma's third-best 14.9.
Both teams also have big-play quarterbacks. Jason White has 40 touchdown passes and is a Heisman Trophy candidate for Oklahoma, while LSU's Matt Mauck has 28 touchdown passes.
Source: AP
That's because the computer rankings had Oklahoma as the country's top team Sunday while the human poll voters picked Southern California.
Despite getting walloped by KansasState 35-7 on Saturday night, Oklahoma will take its 12-1 record to the Sugar Bowl against LSU, which won the Southeastern Conference championship by beating Georgia 34-13.
The winner in New Orleans on Jan. 4 automatically captures the coaches' title under Bowl Championship Series format.
USC, which finished third in the BCS rankings, could win the Associated Press championship by beating No. 4 Michigan in the Rose Bowl, with a split national title certain to leave more people calling for a playoff.
The No. 1 team in the AP poll has never dropped after winning its bowl game. The coaches poll must give its championship to the Sugar Bowl winner.
The BCS was started in 1998 to create a national title game without playoffs.
When the BCS contract expires after the 2005 season, a one-game championship might be instituted after the bowls. That would be too late to fix this year's mess.
In the final BCS standings, Oklahoma was first with 5.11 points based on its top spot in five of the seven computers, the 11th-toughest schedule and a quality win over Texas. The Sooners were third in both polls.
LSU (12-1) was second with 5.99, edging out USC (11-1) by 0.16 in the second closest finish in the six-year history of the BCS. Nebraska beat Colorado by 0.05 in 2001.
The Trojans got 79 of the 128 first-place votes in the polls but finished third in five computers because of a weak Pac-10 schedule.
LSU was second in the polls and six computers and edged out USC based on a tougher schedule. LSU and USC were each picked first in one computer.
The Tigers' spot in the title game wasn't assured until BoiseState beat Hawaii at 3AM ET Sunday. The Trojans' strength of schedule was hurt because they beat Hawaii in September.
The dream matchup for the Rose Bowl, a traditional pairing of Big Ten and Pac-10 champions with national title implications, is the doomsday scenario for the BCS.
It's the third time in four seasons that a team in the top two in the polls didn't make it to the BCS title game. The BCS avoided disaster those years because No. 1 Oklahoma beat Florida State in the 2001 Orange Bowl and No. 1 Miami beat Nebraska in the 2002 Rose Bowl.
The No. 2 teams in the polls won their bowl games those years and could have won the AP title if the top-ranked teams lost. The only way to avoid a disputed finish this year is if Michigan (10-2) beats USC.
The other BCS matchups have No. 10 Miami (10-2) playing No. 9 Florida State (10-2) in the
Orange Bowl and No. 8 Kansas State (11-3) facing No. 7 Ohio State (10-2) in the Fiesta Bowl
Champions of the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC qualify for a BCS game. Oklahoma and OhioState were picked as at-large teams.
Despite the controversy, there are still two intriguing matchups.
First up is USC-Michigan on Jan. 1 in the seventh Rose Bowl meeting between the schools. The game features two high-powered offenses. USC is sixth in the nation in scoring at 42.2 points per game and Michigan is ninth at 37.2.
Quarterback Matt Leinart leads a balanced offense for the Trojans, which features game-breaking receivers in Mike Williams, Keary Colbert and Steve Smith and a dangerous running duo of Reggie Bush and LenDale White.
Michigan is led by quarterback John Navarre, who has delivered his biggest games against the best opponents this year. The Wolverines also have talented receivers in Braylon Edwards, Jason Avant and Steve Breaston, and a top running back in Chris Perry.
Three days later, LSU will play Oklahoma in what will almost be a home game for the Tigers at the Superdome in New Orleans -- a short drive from LSU's campus.
This game features the country's two best defenses. Oklahoma leads the nation, allowing only 255.6 yards per game, slightly better than LSU's 259.5. The Tigers have the top scoring defense at 10.8 points per game compared to Oklahoma's third-best 14.9.
Both teams also have big-play quarterbacks. Jason White has 40 touchdown passes and is a Heisman Trophy candidate for Oklahoma, while LSU's Matt Mauck has 28 touchdown passes.
Source: AP
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