When I first realized that the OSU/Minn game wasn’t televised in my area, I was angry. That was until I started watching the USC game.
For those of you who missed it, there was something sublime about watching an overrated USC slip to an unranked team. Although I must give it to USC. They never gave up looking confident until the end. Up until about the last seven seconds, it looked like it might all slip away from Oregon State.
Midway into the third quarter, USC was down 23 points but managed to quickly come back and lost the game on a failed two-point (game tying) conversion. If it wasn’t for a blown Oregon State snap however, the game probably wouldn’t have been as close.
As for the BCS, USC’s loss pretty much ends Notre Dame’s hopes at a BCS championship game. In order for Notre Dame to jump to the number two spot, they needed a convincing win over a number three ranked USC. Today’s loss should move USC back to at least 8th in the BCS rankings if not worse and they still have a tough opponent in Cal before the ND matchup.
Even if Notre Dame beats USC, they may struggle just to get to a BCS game. With the new BCS format, Notre Dame automatically secures a spot if they finish 8th or above. That may be a struggle at this point.
Notre Dame is currently ranked 9th in the BCS. USC should probably drop back to one spot behind Notre Dame. Notre Dame’s loss to current #2 Michigan looks a lot better than USC’s loss to an unranked Oregon State. That would put ND in 8th.
Soon to be ranked #3 West Virginia plays Thurs. against #8 Louisville (both undefeated teams). Thursday’s losing team will drop out of the top ten opening up the #7 spot for ND. However, you still have a #11 ranked Tenn. which is slowing becoming a media darling. I could see Tenn. making a significant jump this week but if they get by #14 LSU and #13 Arkansas in the next two weeks, they could jump ahead of ND pushing ND back into the #8 spot.
None of this even considers the upcoming SEC games (and playoff). I would take a stab at that but I’m afraid my head would explode. Let’s face it, after #1 ranked Ohio State and #2 ranked Michigan, the BCS is a mess.
After writing this post, I was going to try to write out the scenario for a OSU/Michigan rematch in Jan. but at this point, I need to regroup. Maybe tomorrow.
How about this, we let all those “other teams” play in their little BCS games and decide the National Championship fair and square in November.
How stupid do you feel now? USC is back to No. 3 and Notre Dame is poised, once again, to make the championship game. See you in Arizona.
Yeah, that’s it, I feel stupid…
As I said, the BCS is a mess. The only formidable opponent Ohio State has to look forward to is Michigan. After that it’s Rutgers, USC or Notre Dame.
At this point, why not Rutgers? USC and Notre Dame have proven themselves this year haven’t they? What with that glorious MSU game and all.
I will be posting on the topic later.
And oh yeah, how is Notre Dame going to make it to the BCS championship if Michigan loses? You think ND has a claim on it after losing to Michigan like they did?
Apparently you haven’t checked the BCS standings lately. There are two semi-final games: Ohio State v. Michigan (1 versus 2) and USC v. Notre Dame (3 v. 5). One might make the argument that the winner of Florida v. Arkansas (4 v. 7) also should be considered, but Arkansas (the likely winner) got killed by USC. Presto, if Notre Dame (5) beats USC, then it’s Ohio State v Notre Dame on Jan. 8. Oh, and by the way, it’s spelled “losing,” not “loosing.”
(Apparently you haven’t read my most recent posts on the BCS. or here)
Presto!? How do you justify Notre Dame going over Michigan when they lost big to UM? UM dominated that game. What, I suppose that Notre Dame is a different team now? After that big win to Air Force and all. Our boys here in Nap Town even gave ND a run for 1/2 a game.
If FL wins out than they have to have a good shot at it. However, I think Rutgers has a better claim on it than a Notre Dame over a one loss Michigan.
And those of us here in Annapolis are more than a little disappointed to see Notre Dame take our Commander in Chief’s trophy.
(Everybody wants to be an editor tonight. Man…I can spell, I just don’t always type so good.)