The week of rivalry in college football had a profound effect on the contenders for the BCS National Championship Game. For the first few games, three teams (Missouri, West Virginia and Hawaii) did well by winning super important games.
No. 3-ranked Missouri (11-1) snapped No. 2-ranked Kansas (11-1)’s unbeaten streak at 11 by beating the Jayhawks 36-28 in a game that was not as closed as the marker would indicate. Missouri led at the half 14-0 and allowed Kansas to get back in the game by allowing 3 touchdowns in the fourth quarter, thinking the game was really over.
Never mind, I’ve complained all season about the weak schedule Kansas played to rack up its 11 wins and now I’m vindicated when it underperformed against top-class competition.
Kansas entered the game ranked 101st in schedule strength among 119 Division 1A schools and exited the game ranked 90th after playing third-seeded Missouri. The Jayhawks, who are tied to the BCS bowls somewhere, just got found out.
The Missouri Tigers are now the champions of the Big 12 North and head into a matchup with No. 10-ranked South champion Oklahoma for the Big 12 title. Missouri’s only loss this year came to Oklahoma in a road game. at home, 41-31, after Missouri allowed the Sooners 18 straight points in the fourth quarter.
Missouri hasn’t won a Big 12 conference title in 38 years. If they win, they will undoubtedly play in the BCS National Championship Game.
Missouri junior quarterback Chase Daniel, whose hero is legendary Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre (pronounced Farve), is everything he’s supposed to be and then some.
Daniel was unstoppable against Kansas, going 40 of 49 for 361 yards with 3 touchdowns and no interceptions and now has 4,029 total yards, breaking his own school record.
Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel has insiders here in Washington buzzing, as Pinkel was part of Don James’ successful Husky teams. Pinkel was a wide receivers coach from 1979 to 1983 and an offensive coordinator from 1984 to 1990. Pinkel coached many famous Washington players, including Chris Chandler, Mark Brunell, Billy Joe Hobert, Lincoln Kennedy, Greg Lewis, Hugh Millen, Steve Pelleur, Kevin Gogan. and Ed Cunningham.
Don James is the heart and soul of Washington football, a two-time National Coach of the Year who won a national championship in 1991, went to 6 Rose Bowls, won an Orange Bowl title and was 10-5 in 15 appearances in bowls in 18 years as head coach. James is the Dawgfather and he has the kissing ring from the 1991 national championship to prove it.
No. 4-ranked West Virginia (10-1) took care of business by dropping like a ton of bricks to No. 20-ranked Connecticut (9-3) 66-21, scoring 7 touchdowns over the Connecticut Huskies.
No. 14-ranked Hawaii, the only Division 1A team to go undefeated at 11-0, outscored No. 17-ranked Boise State (10-2), 39-27, to capture the Mountain West title with a perfect 8-0 record. .
I’ve also complained all season about the Hawaii cupcake schedule and now I’ve seen that the Boise State Broncos, who played another cupcake schedule, aren’t that great either. I watched a good chunk of the Hawaii-Boise State matchup and think Warriors senior quarterback Colt Brennan could play on much better 1A teams.
Four other Top 25 teams lost when they had a chance to win and advance.
No. 1-ranked LSU (10-2) did it big by allowing Arkansas (8-4) to beat them 50-48 in overtime. So much for the Tigers’ national championship game hopes.
Arizona State, number 7 in the ranking (9-2), was defeated by USC, number 11 in the ranking (9-2), 44-24.
Oregon (8-3), ranked No. 9, was eliminated by UCLA (6-5), 16-0, and is now retiring faster than a cheap K-Mart deckchair since the Ducks lost their quarterback. superstar field and offensive leader Dennis. Dixon with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Texas (9-3), ranked No. 13, was outscored by Texas A&M (7-5), 38-30, in their rivalry.
Fourteen teams did exactly what they were expected to do: win against their in-state rival without having any measurable effect on the BCS title game:
No. 6-ranked Georgia (10-2) defeated Georgia Tech (7-5), 31-17, to earn bragging rights but will not play for the SEC championship. Georgia tied Tennessee for the Western Conference title 6-2, but lost to Tennessee 35-14, so Tennessee advances to the SEC title game against LSU.
No. 8-ranked Virginia Tech (10-2) outscored No. 16-ranked Virginia (9-3) 10-0 in the fourth quarter to wipe out the Cavaliers, 33-21.
Oklahoma (10-2), ranked No. 10, defeated Oklahoma State 49-17 to win the Big 12 South title 6-2 and will face Missouri in the Big 12 title game.
Florida (9-3), ranked No. 12, defeated Florida State (7-5), 45-12.
Clemson (9-3), ranked No. 21, narrowly edged South Carolina (6-6) 23-21.
Brigham Young (9-2), ranked No. 23, trailed 3-0 on the half-goal rebound to beat Utah (8-4), 17-10, and clinch the Mountain West championship with a perfect record. from 7-0.
Auburn (8-4), ranked No. 25, beat Alabama (6-6), 17-10. Crimson Tide $4 million coach Nick Saban wondered what happened in his first year debut as the highest-paid coach in college football. Alabama fans know what happened and they are not happy campers.
Bowling Green (8-4) thrashed Toledo 37-10.
Mississippi State (7-5) beat Mississippi by field goal, 17-14.
Florida Atlantic (6-5) outrages Florida International (0-11), 55-23.
Louisiana-Monroe (6-6) beat Louisiana-Lafayette 17-11.
Ohio (6-6) outscored Miami of Ohio 38-29.
Washington State (5-7) outscored Washington 14-7 in the fourth quarter to beat the Huskies 42-35.
North Carolina (4-8) beat Duke (1-11), 20-14, in overtime.
As of Sunday night (11-25-07), the new BCS standings had Missouri 1st, West Virginia 2nd, Ohio State 3rd, Georgia 4th, Kansas 5th and Virginia Tech 6th. Nothing else matters. If you’re wondering, Hawaii ranks 12th in the BCS rankings. Regular seasons ended for Ohio State, Georgia, Kansas and Virginia Tech.
If the BCS National Championship were played today, Missouri and West Virginia would compete for the title, but there is unfinished business. Missouri will have to beat Oklahoma for the Big 12 title, and West Virginia will have to beat Pittsburgh or all bets are off.
Hawaii must remain 12th in the BCS standings and beat Washington to qualify for 1 of the 5 BCS bowl games. The undefeated Warriors can forget about playing in the national championship game until they start playing much better competition.
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley