Back in January the BCS crowned its champion, while simultaneously admitting to its own faults. All during the build-up to the Rose Bowl, ABC (and its offshoot, ESPN) discussed USC going for a three-peat, despite the fact the ABC-endorsed BCS had, in fact, crowned LSU National Champion two years ago. Of course, USC lost, all three-peat talk was for naught, and aside from a billboard campaign, the BCS duplicity was ignored.
However, the dream of a playoff to determine a true National Champion lives on. In last years dream playoff, USC defeated Auburn in the Orange Bowl. Can USC repeat in the 2005/2006 Fantasy Bowl Playoff? Lets find out.
The BCS standings are used to determine the seedings for the playoff. The Big Six conferences (Big 10, Big 12, PAC 10, SEC, ACC, and Big East) are still guaranteed entry, and the next two highest ranked teams in the BCS standings are given the other two spots. However, the seedings are based on the BCS rankings, regardless of conference championships. The games are held in existing bowls and locations, with the title game and two semifinals (along with one quarter-final game) rotating amongst the existing BCS bowls (Rose, Orange, Fiesta and Sugar), and the other three quarterfinals held at the Outback Bowl in Tampa, FL; the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX; and the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, FL.
In 2005/2006, the seedings are as follows:
1.) USC (12-0) 2.) Texas (12-0) 3.) Penn State (10-1) 4.) Ohio State (9-2) 5.) Oregon (10-1) 6.) Georgia (10-2) 7.) West Virginia (10-1) 8.) Florida State (8-4)
(Sorry Notre Dame, fan bases dont determine who gets to play in this tourney. And try showing up in the Fiesta before crying about being excluded here.)
Quarterfinals USC (1) vs. Florida State (8) - Orange Bowl - Miami, FL The biggest question coming into this game for most people was whether or not USC would cover the 14.5-point spread. Reggie Bush had outrushed Florida States entire team by more than 500 yards over the course of the season, and Matt Leinart had thrown for over 100 yards more than the Seminoles. So it stunned the world when, on the second play from scrimmage, Drew Weatherford threw a deep pattern to Greg Carr for a 76-yard touchdown completion and a 7-0 lead. The Trojans looked dazed throughout the first half, allowing another touchdown, this one a 12-yard run by Lorenzo Booker, before scoring on a 38-yard scamper by Reggie Bush. The Seminoles went into halftime with a 14-7 lead over the stunned Trojans.
However, as has been the way for most of the season, the Men of Troy seemed to wake up in the second half. Matt Leinart lofted a perfect pass to Dwayne Jarrett for a 53-yard score on the first drive of the second half, Darrell Bing intercepted an awful Weatherford pass for a 27-yard touchdown on the ensuing possession, and LenDale White capped a 65-yard drive with a 7-yard run two series later. USC continued to pour it on with three more touchdowns, and won going away. FINAL: USC 49 FSU 14
Texas (2) vs. West Virginia (7) - Cotton Bowl Dallas, Texas West Virginia fans were outraged that Texas got to play what amounted to a home game in the playoffs, but the venues were set on a seeded basis before the season. The Mountaineers, however, came to play. After a first quarter in which the only score was a 43-yard David Pino field goal for the Longhorns, Mountaineers running back Steve Slayton took a draw and ran the ball in from the 35-yard line for a 7-3 WVU lead. Texas answered back right before the half on a 17-yard Vince Young scamper to send the game to halftime with Texas up 10-7.
The Mountaineers reclaimed the lead early in the 3rd quarter with a 32-yard pass from Pat White to Darius Reynaud, and entered the 4th quarter up 14-10. However, the Longhorns scored three times in the final quarter, on a Vince Young 22-yard pass to Limas Sweed, another Young scramble, this one for 42 yards, and another Pino field goal to cap the scoring. FINAL: Texas 27 WVU 14
Penn State (3) vs. Georgia (6) - Outback Bowl Tampa, FL Two classic programs clashed in Orlando when the Bulldogs and Nittany Lions met. Penn State struck first halfway through the first quarter, driving down the field on the arm and legs of Michael Robinson, capped with a 23-yard run for the score. After that, the only score before halftime was a Brandon Coutou 38-yard field goal for the Bulldogs.
After the half, however, the wheels came off for Penn State. Michael Robinson was hit hard by Quentin Moses, knocking the ball loose, along with some cobwebs in Robinsons head. Georgia took the ball down and scored on a 12-yard pass by D.J. Shockley to Mohamed Massaquoi. The ensuing kickoff was muffed by Rodney Kinlaw, setting up a short field for another Shockley-to-Massaquoi connection, this one for 15 yards. Early in the fourth quarter, Robinson threw an ill-advised pass which was picked by Tim Jennings, and UGA tacked on another Coutou field goal. Penn State managed to score a late touchdown when Robinson connected with Deon Butler from 72 yards out, but Georgia recovered the onside kick and was able to run the clock out and secure the victory. FINAL: Georgia 20 Penn State 14
Not this year, Matt
Ohio State (4) vs. Oregon (5) Capital One Bowl Orlando, FL In this alternate universe, Oregon got its wish and got to participate in the BCS system. However, they found out why they didnt get invited to play in the real world BCS. On the third play of their first series, Kellen Clemens was drilled on a blitz by Donte Whitner, fumbled the ball, and it was returned 23 yards for a touchdown by A.J. Hawk. Early in the second quarter, Santonio Holmes got behind the Oregon secondary for a 56-yard touchdown pass, the last score of the half.
On their first possession of the second half, the Ducks made their first trip into Ohio State territory, and came out with a 43-yard Paul Martinez field goal. Ohio State answered with an 80-yard scoring drive of their own, finishing with a 12-yard Antonio Pittman run. The Buckeyes finished the scoring with a 38-yard Josh Huston field goal. FINAL: Ohio State 24 Oregon 3
NATIONAL SEMI-FINALS USC (1) vs. Ohio State (4) - Sugar Bowl Atlanta, GA A battle of powerhouses, both historical and for 2005. USC lined up its top-ranked offense against OSUs 3rd rated defense in the classic unstoppable force vs. immovable object match up, and neither side disappointed. Midway through the first quarter, Reggie Bush took advantage of the absence of Bobby Carpenter, faking James Laurinaitis out of his shoes and outrunning the Buckeye secondary for a 63-yard touchdown. Ohio State answered, driving steadily downfield, taking the ball in from the three on a Troy Smith naked bootleg. Ohio State added a 38-yard Josh Huston field goal late in the half, but USC responded with a three-pointer of their own when Bush slipped through the coverage on the ensuing kickoff, stopped only by a touchdown-saving shoelace tackle by Huston. Mario Danelos 49-yard kick evened the game at 10 heading to the half.
The second half provided more fireworks. On USCs second possession of the 3rd quarter, A.J. Hawk jumped in front of a Matt Leinart screen pass and took it down to the 13-yard line before being brought down by LenDale White. The Buckeyes took advantage, Troy Smith hitting Ted Ginn Jr. on a slant for the score. However, a bad snap on the extra point left Ohio State with only a six-point lead, and USC took advantage. Leinart and White drove the Trojans down the field on the ensuing drive, with Leinart throwing for 44 yards and White running for 27, including the final six for the touchdown, as USC took a 17-16 lead. After stopping Ohio State on three-and-out on their next drive, the Men of Troy scored again, this time on a 42-yard Leinart-to-Jarrett connection with less than ten minutes left in the game. Ohio State drove for a 6-yard Antonio Pittman touchdown run with four minutes left. Going for the two points and the tie, Jim Tressel reached into his big game bag of tricks. The Buckeyes ran an end-around to Santonio Holmes. Just as it appeared the Trojans had him stopped, Holmes lofted the ball over the onrushing defenders to Ted Ginn, Jr., all alone in the corner of the end zone.
On the ensuing kickoff, Reggie Bush broke off another big return, getting USC to their own 42-yard line. A 12-yard completion from Leinart to Jarrett took the Trojans into Ohio State territory. On second down, Leinart handed the ball to White up the middle, and Bucks linebacker Anthony Schlegel put his helmet on the ball, forcing it loose. Ashton Youboty scooped the ball up and carried it back to the USC 27. Antonio Pittman ran the ball five consecutive times, lining up Josh Huston for a 34-yard field goal to take a three-point lead with 26 seconds remaining. Reggie Bush put another scare into the Buckeyes with a return to the USC 38-yard line before being tripped up, but a long Leinart pass to White out of the backfield fell incomplete, and Ohio State moved on to the National Championship game in Pasadena. FINAL: Ohio State 27 USC 24
Texas (2) vs. Georgia (6) Fiesta Bowl Tempe, AZ Georgia came into this game with one plan keep Vince Young under control. Having seen Texas running game destroy Colorado in the Big XII Championship Game and having reviewed Vinces runs through Michigans defense in last years Rose Bowl, the Dawgs knew they would have to keep Vince immobilized as much as possible to have any chance of winning. They succeeded throughout the beginning of the game, holding Young to 16 yards rushing on four attempts. In addition, they had driven on their second possession to get a 42-yard field goal from Brandon Coutu, and held their three-point lead into the second quarter.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Vince Young learned that he didnt have to run to be a successful quarterback. Sitting back and picking apart the Georgia defense with eight men in the box, Young drove the Longhorns down for two consecutive scores, one a fade to Limas Sweed in the back corner or the end zone. The next touchdown was a dazzling 63-yard bomb to Billy Pittman, after he faked out Georgia corner Paul Oliver, was hit in stride by a Young pass, and sprinted down the left sideline.
Starting the second half, Young was able to break out of the pocket against a Georgia defense that tried to adapt to his passing game, running a delayed draw for 27 yards and a naked bootleg for 19 on Texas opening drive of the half. He then hit Sweed in a mirror image of their first touchdown connection to open up a 21-3 lead. Georgia answered with an 80-yard drive, the key play being a 42-yard catch-and-run by Leonard Pope from D.J. Shockley. Thomas Brown punched it in from four yards out to bring UGA within 11. After exchanging three-and-outs, however, Texas responded. Young took off for the left sideline, with seemingly the entire Georgia defense pursuing. Just outside the hash he stopped cold, turned and threw the ball back across the field to a wide open Billy Pittman, who ran untouched for a 76-yard score. That was all the scoring Texas needed, as Shockley couldnt find anyone open the remainder of the game, tossing two picks that Texas turned into six points through David Pino field goals of 24 and 29 yards. FINAL: Texas 34 Georgia 10
Ohio State (4) vs. Texas (2) - Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA As it began, so shall it end. Ohio State and Texas played a game for the ages back in September to start the season, and now they would be meeting on an even grander stage, the Rose Bowl, to decide the National Championship. Starting the game, Texas showed off its top-ranked scoring offense, driving 80 yards for an opening touchdown, the final blow delivered on a howd-he-do-that run by Vince Young from 12 yards out. Ohio State got on the board two drives later, bringing the ball down the field on the feet of Antonio Pittman and Troy Smith, Pittman ending the drive with a 13-yard run for a touchdown. After a stop, Ted Ginn Jr. returned a Richmond McGee punt 64 yards for a score and a 14-7 Ohio State lead. Momentum seemed fully on the Buckeye sideline as Ohio State was driving again, but Texas tackle Rodrique Wright knocked the ball out of Troy Smiths hands on a quarterback draw, and linebacker Aaron Harris recovered and brought the ball back to the Buckeye 7, where David Pino kicked a field goal to bring the Longhorns within four.
On its first drive of the second quarter, Texas took a page from the USC playbook, running Vince Young towards James Laurinaitis, playing for the injured Bobby Carpenter. Young ran right past the overwhelmed linebacker, then ran through a Donte Whitner arm tackle and into the end zone for a 17-14 lead. Ted Ginn, Jr. ran the ensuing kickoff back to the Texas 45, and three plays later Troy Smith found Santonio Holmes for 38-yard touchdown pass. That capped the scoring for the half, as the teams headed to the locker rooms with the Buckeye leading 21-17.
On the first drive of the second half, the teams traded big blows. First, Donte Whitner exacted some revenge on Vince Young for being run over on the quarterbacks scoring run by sacking him for a 12-yard loss. However, on the ensuing play Ohio State ran a similar blitz, this time from the other side, and Young sidestepped Ashton Youboty and heaved a 84-yard touchdown pass to Billy Pittman to take the lead at 24-21.
As the game moved into the final quarter, Texas drove again, with another Pino field goal, this one from 32 yards out, expanding Texas lead to six. Ohio State then found its offensive stride, however. Antonio Pittman started gashing the tiring Texas defense for seven and eight-yard gains, helping the Buckeyes drive into Longhorn territory before stalling, this time at the 12. A 29-yard Huston three-pointer spurred a collective Here we go again sigh from the Ohio State faithful, remembering the Buckeyes failure to get into the end zone in the earlier game between the teams. The score remained 27-24 until Ohio State mounted another drive, with Pittman doing the groundwork and Troy Smith moving the ball around between various receivers, including a seventeen-yard grab across the middle by Anthony Gonzales and a dump-off in the flat that Ryan Hamby caught (much to the relief of the Ohio State fans) and turned into a fifteen-yard gain. After a seven-yard draw by Smith, Ohio State had the ball first and ten from the twelve. A run up the middle by Pittman was stopped for a gain of two, and another Pittman run lost a yard, leaving Ohio State at 3rd and 9 from the 11. Eschewing the safe move, Jim Tressell called possibly the gutsiest play of his Ohio State career. Smith handed off to Holmes on an end-around to the left side. Texas, recognizing the play from the USC tape, covered Ginn in the back of the end zone. Holmes pumped to Ginn, then turned back and threw the ball across his body to a wide-open Troy Smith in the right flat, who strolled untouched into the end zone. However, Smith was penalized 15 yards for taunting, and Josh Huston hooked the extra point wide right, leaving Ohio State with only a three-point lead.
1:13 remained on the clock, and Texas had two timeouts left. Huston booted the kickoff through the end zone, leaving Texas with 73 seconds to get into field-goal range. The Longhorns took advantage of a soft prevent defense from Ohio State, moving the ball with quick interior passes to their stud tight end David Thomas, as well as a tightrope grab by Billy Pittman along the sidelines to get Texas to the 33 with 17 seconds remaining and no timeouts. In a controversial call, the Longhorns ran a play-action, followed by Young lofting the ball deep into the corner to Limas Sweed, a pass reflecting the game-winner from September. However, this time Ahston Youboty got back in the nick of time and got his fingers on the ball, knocking it just out of Sweeds reach. This left David Pino facing a 50-yard field goal to tie the game and take it into overtime, the longest kick Pino had attempted since high school, although he had been kicking 55-yarders during warm ups. The snap was good, the hold was good, the kick looked good, but it was low, and A.J. Hawk blocked it. Pino picked up the loose ball but was swarmed under by a host of Buckeyes as the clock hit all zeroes. The Ohio State Buckeyes were National Champions for the second time in four years. FINAL: Ohio State 30 Texas 27
So there it is, how it would have played out if we had a real National Championship. Or maybe not, since the powers that be refuse to let this happen. What do YOU think would have happened?
Hey JLO Posted: 3/9/2006by: Free Base In parts of Ohio, there really is good crack rock. However, Ohio State winning the NAtional Championship? I havent smoked the shit that guys on, but I bet its better than the stuff I get.
One side note: When Freebasing crack straight off a sheet of aluminum foil, there is nothing quite like the sound of that sizzle sizzle sizzle.
Damn I love crack LET'S GET SERIOUS Posted: 3/9/2006by: Larry Ok -
The upsets of the NCAA basketball tourney are the beauty of the system. For those of you taking score, a Vegas oddsmaker indicated that Ohio State would be favored over any other team on a neutral field with the exception of USC at the end of the regular season, so this outlook isn't all that far-fetched. Ohio State created a lot of matchup problems for Texas, which became obvious as Ohio State led the majority of the game and controlled field position. However, Ohio State allowed Texas to stay around long enough to make a couple big plays, so their inability to punch it in the end zone caught up with them. With the way Smith was playing at the end of the year, you can bank on Ohio State putting up six rather than three in a lot of those drives, so exactly how is this so ridiculous? Texas was certainly capable of beating Ohio State at the end of the year, but there was no evident gap between the two. See you in Austin Longhorn fans. The Crack in Ohio... Posted: 3/9/2006by: JLO Must be good. As a UCLA alum I hate to admit it, but USC should have won. And Ohio St. maaaybe could have won the championship, in Division II. What? Posted: 3/9/2006by: Bling This isn't ESPN! Write something funny. (Well,saying OSU wins is a joke) ND Posted: 3/9/2006by: Hagges Adam - it's based on the BCS standings to avoid the problems with teams being "picked". Sorry buddy Posted: 3/9/2006by: adam but your article lost all validity when you excluded Notre Dame from the top 8. Bore. FINALLY, SOMEONE THINKS LIKE I DO Posted: 3/9/2006by: MOONDOGGIE I love this scenario and have been talking about it on a soapbox for years. Keep the beloved showcase/"kiss your sister" bowl games to keep all the fat cats happy and make them PLAYOFF games. Is this such a hard thing to comprehend? Hagges, you nailed this except that I disagree with the outcome. Buckeyes were good this past season, but would not have been able to touch the Horns. I will die a happy man when the current joke of a system is changed to a true national playoff system as described above. Can you imagine? It would be bigger than March Madness. Incredible that D1A college football is the ONLY sport, collegiate or pro that does NOT have a tournament style playoff system. Something is SERIOUSLY wrong with that picture. This would remedy it! Thanks, Moondoggie. Hagges, you're right.... Posted: 3/9/2006by: Buckeyeboy ...Ohio State lost. They weren't beaten. Putting 3 more points on the board then a team that crumbled in the 2nd half like they did is not beating them. It's having the game gift wrapped and handed to you. Ohio State looked for every possible way to fuck up and succeeded. And please understand what I am saying. Ohio State did not deserve that game. Texas did. The better team came out on top (there Horns fans, are you happy? I said it). But there was no beating of any kind that took place, except my head repeatedly against a wall as I watched in horror as the Bucks pissed the game away. I still have nightmares about that night, and as a fellow OSU alum and fan, I anxiously await the re-match down in Austin. Hmmmm Posted: 3/9/2006by: Chad North Pole This must be the "written for Ohio residents" version of the 2006 BCS Playoffs. Didn't the Nazis also win the war Posted: 3/9/2006by: Mortimer Duke in this alternate universe? And wouldn't Clarett still playing for Ohio St. if we are going to start creating crazy scenarios?
