Conference Calls: The War of Southern Aggression
The Big Three: Texas beat Oklahoma. Texas Tech beat Texas. Oklahoma puréed Texas Tech. It's a BCS nightmare: Three one-loss teams in one pivotal conference division, all vying for the basically arbitrary nod that will likely decide both the Fiesta Bowl and the BCS Championship.
Yet three teams in college football have a right to complain about something worse: a dream deferred. As the Washington Post reports today, each of Utah, Boise State, and Ball State has played a perfect season, with no losses (and big victories). And while the BCS notionally recognizes their achievements — with Utah ranked #7, Boise State #9, and Ball State #17 — there is simply nothing the teams can do to get the only recognition that matters: a berth in a BCS bowl. With another game to go, Boise State's exceeding last year's statistics in several offensive categories. But Utah's lock on the non-BCS slot leaves no room for a perfect-season Western Athletic Conference team (much less a team from the Mid-American Conference).
Much like the BCS, though, I don't care about any of these teams. Granted, yesterday's matchup between #2 Texas Tech and #5 Oklahoma made even Insignificant Conference football look respectable. Texas Tech — whose offensive line Kirk Herbstreit described as a "Sunday crew playing on Saturday" — couldn't stand up to an Oklahoma defense that has struggled this season. They proved themselves on Saturday, bringing a near constant blitz threat against Tech quarterback (and former Heisman contender) Graham Harrell. Harrell had only taken five sacks all season before yesterday. Oklahoma added another four — this, after Harrell said he couldn't be sacked. It was like watching Michelle Rhee locked in a room full of District public school teachers.
Though the AP and USA Today polls both give Oklahoma the nod over Texas (who beat Oklahoma), the computers are bound to be more logical and give the Longhorns the #2 or #3 slot. (No one in the commentariot seems to be questioning that Florida deserves the #3 ranking, but after their classless thrashing of Citadel, they don't deserve the good will.)
A question for the readership: If Texas (or Oklahoma) wins the Big 12 championship and winds up going to the BCS Championship game, who takes the Big 12's automatic berth in the Fiesta Bowl? Also: you all agree that a promotion and relegation is the only solution to the mess that is the BCS, right?
Beltway Ballers: Maryland took an absolute drubbing at the hands of Florida State, putting an end to its quest for the Atlantic Coast Conference berth. But it's still up to Maryland, in a sense, to decide who goes to the Orange Bowl: If Maryland loses to Boston College next Saturday, Boston College goes on, whereas if Maryland win, they'll be doubly defeated by Florida State, who will then clinch the conference.
DCist readers might not know, but I'm secretly a huge UVa fan. Or at least, I'd like to be. Now at the end of this season, I find myself rooting for competitive contests (and more passes to wideout Kevin Ogletree). And had one touchdown pass to Ogletree not been called back on a totally dubious offensive interference pass, it might have been closer, but it's hard to call Virginia football competitive when quarterback Marc Verica throws three interceptions and the team rushes for just 30 yards. Clemson didn't have a much better game, going 5 for 18 on third-down conversions and otherwise matching Virginia in everything but turnovers. In that sense, it was competitive: Both teams were competing for the bottom.
Virginia Tech posted incredible numbers in its victory over Duke: 19 first downs, 147 passing yards, 187 rushing yards, and, improbably, just 14 points. Blame starting quarterback, who in the first half threw two interceptions and fumbled twice. And Howard — poor Howard — finishes its dreadful 1-10 season with a loss to Delaware State.
Around the Country: It's been pointed out to me that picking on Michigan at this point in the season is simply gratuitous. Sure, it's important to recognize a rebuilding season for what it is. For what it's worth, in Michigan's tough loss to chief rival (THE) Ohio State, the defense played very well in the first half and played consistently throughout the game. They just lost out on a few giant plays, and in turn, they were playing too much: The defense wasn't retiring fully to the benches, instead taking a knee to wait out the offense as they three-and-outed.
Quarterback Pat White had a game for the record books in the most exciting Big East game I've seen this season. Granted, the game was over by the third quarter, when West Virginia railed on Louisville with three touchdowns, and neither team was playing an especially critical game, but watching White rush for 200 yards reminded me of another college quarterback who is near and dear to my heart. (NB: Check with my co-editor Aaron for actually insightful Big East commentary.)
LSU retired the jersey of its only Heisman Trophy winner, Billy Cannon, in its game against Ole Miss. TCU stays relevant at #16, beating Air Force and boosting Oklahoma's strength-of-schedule argument. And a deep cold set into the joints of #15 Michigan State in a blizzard of a loss to #8 Penn State.
UPDATE: Late-breaking news from ESPN—the BCS top 25:
1. Alabama 11-0Alabama, Texas, and Oklahoma should all know that Florida has painted targets on their jerseys.
2. Texas 10-1
3. Oklahoma 10-1
4. Florida 10-1
5. USC 9-1
6. Utah 12-0
7. Texas Tech 10-1
8. Penn State 11-1
9. Boise State 11-0
10. Ohio State 10-2
11. Georgia 9-2
12. Oklahoma State 9-2
13. Missouri 9-2
14. TCU 10-2
15. Ball State 11-0
16. Cincinnati 9-2
17. Oregon State 8-3
18. BYU 10-2
19. Michigan State 9-3
20. Florida State 8-3
21. Boston College
22. Georgia Tech 8-3
23. Oregon 8-3
24. Northwestern 9-3
25. Pitt 7-3