In honor of the AP pulling out of the BCS, and ESPN pulling its sponsorship of the coaches’ poll, I hereby present the results from the alternative universe where everyone agrees on the National Championship determination system that actually makes sense: a playoff.
In this alternative universe, 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.
Quarterfinals USC (1) vs. Pittsburgh (8) (Outback Bowl) A blowout from the beginning. USC opened with an end-around to Reggie Bush, who took it 80 yards from the score, and the rout was on. Down 28-0 at the half, Pittsburgh was only able to manage to score after the Trojans began resting their starters in the fourth quarter. Bush rushed for 126 yards and caught passes for an additional 78 in only three quarters of work. FINAL: USC 56 – Pitt 10
Oklahoma (2) vs. Michigan (7) (Rose Bowl) This game see-sawed relentlessly throughout, as the traditional powerhouses clashed. Oklahoma struck first, when Brodney Pool stepped in front of a Chad Henne pass and ran it all the way back for a score. Michigan answered right back with a long drive down the field, balancing run and pass, ending with a classic leaping reception from Braylon Edwards in the back of the end zone to tie up the score. The teams traded field goals in the second quarter to go to the half tied 10-10, a score which held until halfway through the 4th quarter. With just over 8 minutes remaining, Mike Hart had the ball stripped from him as he ran up the middle, giving the Sooners the ball at their own 45. However, on the ensuing possession, Jason White threw the ball directly to Marlin Jackson, who ran the ball back to OU’s 28. Michigan kicked a field goal and held the Sooners on two more possessions to seal the victory. FINAL: UM 13 – OU 10
Rodgers Avoids a Sack
Auburn (3) vs. Virginia Tech (6) (Cotton Bowl) Note: Description based on actual game When the 4th and 5th ranked D-1 defenses match up, you can expect a low-scoring game, and Auburn and Virginia Tech did not disappoint. The Tigers scratched and clawed for three John Vaughn field goals in the first half, heading to the locker room up 9-0. That lead was preserved more by Virginia Tech than Auburn, however, with Jesse Allen dropping a sure touchdown pass midway through the second. Auburn added to their lead early in the 3rd quarter, driving down and scoring on a 5-yard pass from Jason Campbell to Devin Aromashodu. However, the Auburn offense then went into hibernation, seeming to try and preserve the victory. Virginia Tech tried to mount a comeback, with Bryan Randall hitting Josh Morgan for a 29-yard touchdown pass midway through the 4th (though the 2-point conversion failed), and throwing an 80-yard bomb to Josh Morgan with 2:13 remaining. However, Auburn then recovered the onside kick and was able to kneel down to seal the victory. FINAL: Auburn 16 – VT 13
Texas (4) vs. Cal (5) (Capital One Bowl) This battle of conflicting styles was one of the most eagerly anticipated of the playoffs. The pass-happy Aaron Rodgers based attack of the Bears vs. the mobility of Vince Young and the strength of Cedric Benson. The teams traded blows in the first quarter, each managing a field goal. In the second quarter, Vince Young ran for 63 yards and a score on a misdirection play, faking a pitch right to Benson and taking off around left end. Down 10-3 going into the locker room, the Bears shocked everyone by opening up the second half with a successful onside kick. Three plays later, Rodgers hit Jonathan Makonnen with a 46-yard pass to tie the game. After the teams traded futile possessions, Young drove his team down the field, running for 22 yards and passing for 34, before Benson drove into the end zone for a score. Cal answered back on the ensuing possession, surprising the Longhorns with their running game as J.J. Arrington ripped off a 43-yard rush up the gut of the UT defense. Texas was driving down into field-goal range as time was running out when Vince Young was stripped by Ryan Gutierrez. The ball was recovered by Cal’s Wendell Hunter, and the Bears allowed the game to go to extra time. Cal won the toss in overtime, and Dusty Mangum pulled a 29-yard field goal wide right. Arrington ran five times on Cal’s possession before Tom Schneider put through a 34-yarder to win the game. FINAL: Cal 20 - UT 17
SEMIFINALS USC (1) vs. Cal (5) (Fiesta Bowl) Both teams had revenge on their minds entering this much-anticipated rematch. USC wanted to avenge their loss to Cal which kept them from a unanimous National Championship in 2004. Cal wanted another chance after falling just shy of upsetting USC again in October, stopped short after having first-and-goal down by 6 with less than two minutes left. The bad blood between the two Pac-10 rivals was palpable, with the two usually laid-back teams nearly coming to blows before kickoff. USC opened up the scoring halfway through the first quarter with a 7-yard toss from Leinart to Dawyne Jarrett culminating a 13-play, 80-yard drive. The teams traded punts before Cal answered, putting together a long drive of their own ending with a Marshawn Lynch plunge from 2 yards out to start the 2nd quarter. After the Lynch score, the defenses buckled down, with no one scoring until the 4th quarter a Ryan Killeen 42-yard field goal for the Trojans. In the final quarter, Aaron Rodgers didn’t see USC middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu, who pulled in the forced pass and rumbled 23 yards to the Cal 19. The Cal defense dug in and held the Trojans to another Killeen field goal, expanding the lead to 6 points with 4:19 remaining. On the ensuing kickoff, Terrell Williams decided to run the ball out from 5 yards deep in the end zone, and paid for it, only getting back to his own 7. Rodgers, however, drove the Bears downfield against the prevent defense implemented by USC, hitting a 27-yard screen to J.J. Arrington to the Trojan 17 with 23 seconds remaining. On the next play, Rodgers hit tight end Garrett Cross for an apparent touchdown, but it was called back on a controversial holding call on Andrew Cameron. On the next play, Rodgers was sacked by Mike Patterson as time ran out, sending the Trojans to the Orange Bowl and a chance at the National Championship. FINAL: USC 13 – Cal 7
Campbell Poised in the Pocket
Auburn (3) vs. Michigan (7) (Sugar Bowl) This inter-regional match up was a rematch of the 2000 Citrus Bowl, in which Michigan defeated the Tigers 31-28. Auburn raced out to an early 14-0 lead, as their two-headed fullback monster of Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown scored a touchdown apiece on Auburn’s first two possessions. Michigan tried to answer back in the 2nd quarter, with a 19-yard scoring toss from Chad Henne to Braylon Edwards pulling the Wolverines within 7. However, Auburn scored again right before halftime on a 7-yard pass from Jason Campbell to Courtney Taylor to open up a 14-point halftime lead. Michigan fumbled away an opportunity to get back into the game when Mike Hart put the ball on the ground to end a Michigan drive at midfield. Auburn recovered, and John Vaughn put the ball through the uprights when the drive stalled at the 16 to increase the lead to 17. Auburn then went into a protective mode, running the ball at every opportunity, giving Williams and Brown both 100-yard rushing days. Mike Hart scored a touchdown with two minutes left, but Auburn recovered the onside kick and killed the clock to stamp their ticket to the Orange Bowl. FINAL: Auburn 24 – Michigan 14
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME USC (1) vs. Auburn (3) (Orange Bowl) As the sun set on the Orange Bowl, Miami was abuzz with the first true National Championship game in college football history. Two undefeated teams, having fought their way through the playoffs, would meet under the lights to determine the best team in college football, and take home the Sears Trophy. Despite the high-powered offenses getting most of the publicity leading up to the game, the nation’s 5th and 6th ranked defenses dominated the first half, with the only scoring being a 38-yard field goal from USC’s Ryan Killeen near the end of the 1st quarter, and a matching 3-pointer from Auburn’s John Vaughn from 29 yards out halfway through the second. In the second half, however, the offenses came out to play. On the opening drive, Reggie Bush took an end-around from Matt Leinart, then pulled up as the Auburn defense converged, and threw the ball back across the field to Leinart, who took the pass 72 yards downfield before being caught from behind at the Auburn 6. Two plays later, LenDale White drove the ball across the goal line for the score. The Tigers didn’t panic, however. Auburn drove down the field after the ensuing kickoff, mainly rushing Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown, before Jason Campbell threw a 13-yard strike to Devin Aromashodu for a touchdown. After holding the Trojans to a three-and-out on the next drive, Auburn struck again. Campbell hit a streaking Courtney Taylor for 36 yards down the left sideline. The Tigers then used their workhorses of Williams and Brown to move to the Southern Cal 6, where Campbell found Ben Obomanu in the back of the end zone to open up a 17-10 lead. USC answered back two drives later, with Leinart hitting 6 different targets on an 84-yard march down the field, culminating in a Steve Smith touchdown reception to knot the game at 17. After that, the defenses buckled down again. Neither team could mount a real attack until Auburn got the ball with 3:13 remaining at their own 22-yard line. Answering USC’s earlier trickery, the Tigers rushed Cadillac Williams into the line, where he then tossed the ball back to Campbell, who delivered the ball to a wide-open Courtney Taylor for a 78-yard touchdown pass. Tiger fans’ excitement quickly turned to trepidation, however, as Reggie Bush ran the resulting kickoff back into Auburn territory before being brought down at last at the Auburn 39. With 2:48 left, USC had enough time to mix it up, following a 7-yard White scamper with a 17-yard out to Dwayne Jarrett. On the next play, however, a blitzing Travis Williams knocked the ball from Leinart’s hand, and Derrick Graves fell on top of it. USC’s coaching staff argued that Leinart’s arm had been moving forward, an assertion backed up by video replays, but the pleas fell on deaf ears and the ball was awarded to Auburn. The Tigers handed the ball to Williams twice and Brown once, picking up a first down, and were able to kneel on the ball to end the game. The Auburn Tigers were the 2005 NCAA Football Champions, for the first time since 1957. FINAL: Auburn 24 – USC 17
my new home! Posted: 6/16/2005by: Justin Wow! I finally found a place where a starving Cal fan can get some love! And you're probably right about the offenses. Just wanted to point out the thing about JJ because they gave the award to Benson for the best senior running back even though Arrington outrushed him last year. And neither JJ nor Aaron Rodgers was even invited to the Heisman ceremony. Brutal. Thanks again for the support. Go Bears! F'd Posted: 6/16/2005by: MEH Justin: Agreed Cal got completely and royally screwed. Cry on, Mack Brown. Sorry about the misrepresentation of Cal's O, though I do think that's how it would have been played up.
Burgh: the Big East does get ripped, and pretty fairly, I think, generally. But if Louisville and Pitt can build off what they did last year, it should live up to excpectations. Thanks Posted: 6/15/2005by: Jesse L. ... for the explanation, MEH. It wouldn't have been necessary if my reading comprehension skills were up to snuff. I like how you have Mike Hart fumbling in every game. Nice touch.
And I agree with Justin. Cal got f--ked last year.
Cal/Texas Posted: 6/15/2005by: Justin Pass-happy Cal offense? JJ Arrington ran for 100 yards in EVERY SINGLE GAME last year. God we got so fucked.... pitt-louisville Posted: 6/15/2005by: the burgh i saw in some article that this was supposed to be one of the top 10 games of the year...im surprised by that, considering the big east gets ripped apart in most forums...we'll see if they hype matches the results....
i didnt mention this before - but this was a good read....well done... Dese Utes Posted: 6/15/2005by: MEH Jesse, the rankings are based on the final BCS standings. The 6 champs (USC, Oklahoma, Auburn, Va. Tech, Michiagn and Pittsburgh) get guaranteed spots, and then the 2 other spots go to the next two highest ranked teams (Texas and Cal). That's the only way, even in the aletrnate universe, I could see the conferences buying in.
And Burgh, I'm looking forward to Pitt/Louisville for the Big East champeenship this year. i know Posted: 6/15/2005by: the burgh i was just playin......getting embarrased by a mid-major was lots of fun....tyler palko for heisman anyway.....Greg Lee for president....Larry Fitzgerald for GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Speaking of Utah... Posted: 6/15/2005by: Jesse L. ... where are the Utes in this little tourney?
BTW, nice work MEH. I'm always down for a little Harry Turtledove-style counterfactual. Utes Posted: 6/15/2005by: MEH Show something against Utah and we'll talk. wow thats horseshit Posted: 6/15/2005by: the burgh every game is close except USC - Pitt....Tyler Palko for heisman baby....go f yourself
