I know that there is too much season left in the year, but if you did not have "SEC Fatigue" already imagine this scenario; The BCS Championship not only never leaving the state of Alabama for five years straight, but the two teams, from the same state, same conference, same division, playing for the belt at the end of the last BCS year in January. Danny Kanell would have a conniption. Is it plausible? Sure. Could it happen? Who knows? Lets just play it out...
First: We have to assume Auburn wins out. Sweep two of the south oldest rivalries. 3-0 in the SEC down the stretch. Auburn has not won three consecutive SEC games in a row since the 2010 National Title Season; and we all know how crazy of a ride that was. But Just play the game with me here.
Second: Alabama goes 3-1 down the stretch including beating LSU on Saturday. LSU has won last 6 of 8 in Tuscaloosa, including the last one in 2011. So if LSU blows it by beating Bama in Tuscaloosa The Iron Bowl loss would give Bama its second loss in four weeks. We can kiss Iron Bowl II for the BCS championship goodbye.
Third: Florida St. loses to Virginia Tech or Miami in the ACC Championship game in December. FSU is too focused to lose in the regular season. Florida vs FSU in Gainesville had a Game of the year candidate going into the season. Now it maybe a plowing session as Florida is beyond banged up. The Miami/FSU rematch would be the first since the ACC drew it up to put the teams in separate divisions. However, I think VT is the best choice here. They have the defense and special teams to compete. Logan Thomas has something to prove right? Lighting up FSU would turn him back into the NFL prospect he was seemingly 15 years ago. Game is in Charlotte, so it would be a true neutral site. Lose here so late in the season, while Auburn beating whomever it plays in the SEC title game would likely push Auburn past FSU. Bama? well they would have beat the ACC champ by 25 points earlier in the season, so jumping FSU seems reasonable.
Fourth: Oregon loses tonight vs. Stanford. Oregon still has the possibly the toughest schedule left out the bunch with their opponents combined wins and losses being 23-10. This includes at Arizona, whom is 12th in the nation in rushing, 10 spots behind the them, Oregon State six days later, and a possible rematch with UCLA, or Arizona, OR a game with Arizona State, the PAC12 favorite at the beginning of the year. To me, Stanford poses the biggest threat. Last team Oregon lost to on the road? Stanford in 2009, when the Cardinal beat Oregon at their own game (Not Defense) winning 51-42. Thursday night. In Palo Alto. Why not? Question is, will Oregon fall far enough for a Bama skip with a Bama loss so late in the season? Could Auburn skip Oregon when its L came from now a three loss LSU team and Oregon's coming from a top 3 team in Stanford. Will Oregon need to lose twice for Iron Bowl II?
Fifth: Ohio State loses to Michigan State in the B1G championship game. Michigan won't be able to pull it off with no identity on offense and a QB wearing number 98. Seriously, OSU's best chance of losing is if the nation's "3rd best defense" startle the Buckeyes in Indy. Can Auburn or Bama jump an undefeated Ohio State? Doubt it. Even if Michigan St. chokes away the appearance and OSU plays Minnesota for the B1G ten belt, Urban would be 25-0 in two years in a major conference. ESPN would NOT let their former colleague voice not be heard.
Sixth: Baylor losing to any of the teams it has left to play. No slight to Baylor. Huge Art Briles fan since his Houston days. If you are bored enough, look at my archives. I wrote about Baylor back in 2009. But its a toss up with them the rest of the way since they historically HAVE NEVER BEEN HERE. They are favored by double digits tonight and it blows my mind even though it would not shock me at all. But lets just start with Oklahoma and Texas. Since Art Briles started in Baylor (2008), they have beaten Oklahoma and Texas in the same season only once. (2011, RGIII, Kendall Hunter, Terrance Williams and crew). Not only is it rare, the average point differential is (OK 43-Bay 25.4) (17.6), and (Tex 38.8 - Bay 32.6) (6.2). History shows In Oklahoma's case, they get blasted. And we won't even throw Oklahoma State in there who has been equally as relevant in this time span. So its up to Baylor to prove it. Don't forget, the Big 12's current leader was beat by the SEC West fifth placed team by 19 points...at home.
Precedent Cases of Rivalry games in the last week with a BCS title rematch? Like Danny Kanell saying something that makes sense, its NEVER HAPPENED. (3)Florida and (1) Florida St. was the last one to happen and that was before the BCS was around (1996). Closest that come to mind in BCS era was (2) Michigan v. (1) Ohio St. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was on Thanksgiving break from the College of Wooster, a school 90 mins north of Columbus. Everything that needed to happen did. Top 5 Matchup? Check. Classic, entertaining game? Check. Even better was that both teams were undefeated, the away team, (2) Michigan, was in the game all the way and showed it belong. I was in deep fear of going back to Ohio for a rematch and it was nothing you could debate. Michigan's loss came from the no.1 team in the nation, by three, at their place. But thankfully, their was no B1G championship game that would have settled it. Voters didn't want to see it, being that the rematch was so close together; even though they had no real reason of keeping Michigan out of the title game. OSU went on to play Florida, got housed, and the SEC started its run of titles.
So basically, the theory has too many "ifs" to be talked about seriously right now. However, I don't think it takes a ridiculous 2007 season to make it happen. Everyone should just enjoy the home stretch and the state should just be happy for the first one when it happens in November.
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