Never before have so many teams been clamoring, "We're Number Two! We're Number Two!" But thanks to Miami's loss to the castrated turkeys just south of here, that is now the case. With the Oklahoma Sooners firmly embedded as the nation's top team, there are no less than six other schools all staking their claim as the second best college football squad in the country.
What is so important about being considered number two? The second-ranked team gets a ticket to the national title game of the Bowl Championship Series (this year it will be held at the Nokia Sugar Bowl in New Orleans). In the previous five-year history of the BCS, only twice have two undefeated teams met. For the three other title games, there has been much controversy over who should get the second invite to the championship game.
In 1998, the first year of the BCS, an undefeated Tennessee team was ranked number one and the one-loss Florida State Seminoles snuck into the title match only after previously undefeated Ohio State, Kansas State and UCLA all lost in their final games of the season.
In 1999, a pair of zero-loss teams -- Florida State and Virginia Tech -- met in an undisputed championship game. In 2000, there was more controversy as Florida State played in its third straight title game after leap-frogging the Hurricanes (a team they lost to earlier in the year). The Hurricanes already had jumped over the Washington Huskies in the rankings, a team they also lost to at the beginning of the season. Because the Seminoles were ranked higher in the computers, they finished number two in the BCS and faced unanimous number one Oklahoma.
In 2001, the controversy about the BCS reached a new high when Nebraska, ranked number four in both polls, finished second after beating out Colorado by .05 points in the final BCS compilation. Why so much controversy? Because the Cornhuskers were not even the champions of their own division, let alone conference, in the Big 12. That distinction went to Colorado, a two-loss team that beat Nebraska handily at the end of the season. The number two-ranked team in both polls, Oregon, had one loss but a weak strength of schedule and finished fourth in the BCS.
Last year, the BCS once again had two undefeated teams in the championship game with Ohio State and Miami. This year, the BCS won't be so lucky.
Although TCU also remains undefeated this season, it is unlikely that an undefeated Horned Frogs team will get a chance to play for all the marbles since their competition has them ranked out of the top 10 in all the BCS factors (poll rankings, computer rankings, strength of schedule).
So who has the best case for the right to face the Sooners? Right now that distinction belongs to USC. Outside of Oklahoma, the Trojans are playing the best football in the nation. With a seemingly unstoppable offense and formidable defense, the Trojans may be the only team in the country to match the athletes of the Sooners with running back Reggie Bush and wide receiver Mike Williams. Another thing working in their favor is that USC lost its game early in the season (to Cal).
Late season losses by the likes of Miami, Virginia Tech, Florida State, LSU and Ohio State have each of these one-loss teams chasing the Trojans. Of all these one-loss teams, USC also has the easiest schedule remaining. Miami and Virginia Tech must face Pittsburgh, Florida State gets Florida, LSU still has Ole Miss and a possible SEC Championship game, while Ohio State must still face Michigan.
But all this arguing about who should be number two may just be a moot point. With Oklahoma averaging nearly 50 points a game and blowing out opponents left and right, it may not matter who they face come January. In fact, in the three previous BCS championship games between an undefeated team and a one-loss team, the undefeated squad has won every time.
The only thing that could be more controversial this season than determining the BCS championship match-up is the potential tie-breaker in the SEC East. Florida, Tennessee and Georgia all have two losses in conference play. If this three-way tie holds up, the tie-breaker will be an unprecedented vote by the conference's athletic directors not involved in the tie (Side note: No one has clarified who would vote for Vanderbilt since they have decided to disband their athletic department).
And I thought the BCS was clouded in controversy -- such a vote could be really interesting.
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