NCAA Endzone

Another season, another boring championship game, another Ohio State loss. With four of the five BCS being complete blowouts, people are questioning the BCS system even more than before. Other than the Kansas, Virginia Tech game, none have been within 14 points (38-24 LSU), and that was 31-10 well into the third quarter.

It was easy to debate either team’s entry into the championship game, but the Buckeyes were typically hurt by their schedule, though people had no real reason to believe they couldn’t compete, despite being the only championship team to never have beaten a Top 20 opponent. The Tigers meanwhile, were the first team to get in with 2 losses, obviously also being the first to win it with two.

In other games, West Virginia blew out an extremely hot Oklahoma team, USC destroyed the Illini, Georgia came out with a 31 point win against the previously undefeated Hawaii, and even Missouri easily beat Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl, making a playoff almost obvious.

Well, to everyone but athletic directors.

Matt Flynn was nearly perfect in this game, throwing for 174 yards and 4 scores, two to Richard Dickson. The Buckeyes actually out gained the Tigers, but 3rd down efficiency was an important stat, OSU going only 3-13, while LSU was 11-18. And of course, the Tigers won the turnover battle.

Jacob Hester did well in his swan song, running for 84 yards and a touchdown, while on the other side of the ball, sophomore Chris Wells ran for 146 yards and the first score of the game, a 65 yard rumble.

Kansas capped off the program’s far and away best football season, finishing at 12-1 including a 24-21 victory against Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. It was the most wins in school history and also the first major bowl game since 1969. After an interception return for a touchdown by All-Big 12 CB Aqib Talib that made the score 7-0, a 32-yard field goal followed by a 13 yard touchdown pass by Todd Ressing, the Jayhawks lead 17-0 late into the second. A touchdown run by Brandon Ore cut it to 17-7 before halftime, and some trickery on a punt return made it 17-14. Another Kansas interception set-up a touchdown run by Ressing, though a touchdown with about three minutes left cut the score to 24-21. After recovering the onside kick, Kansas ran out the clock.

The loss dropped Tech to 11-3, ending an emotional season that was started with the horrible massacre on campus, killing several students and professors. Players commented on the “emotional ride� finally coming to an end. It was the Hokies fourth straight BCS game loss, after coming into the game number 3 in the nation.

Tomorrow night is the national championship between LSU and Ohio State, which will end the bowl season, and maybe the biggest debate in the game is whether or not to consider this a home game for LSU, playing in state. Of course, in the end, it is a neutral site, meaning if the Tigers come out on top, the Buckeyes should avoid taking the easy way out, blaming the fans. A better showing than last time would be nice…

USC kicked off the BCS games with a 49-17 whooping of Illinois in the Rose Bowl. The Trojans were lead by John David Booty is in his final game, as he threw for 255 yards and three scores. The win said a lot about the USC program, after many were questioning whether it was beginning to slide after an unheard of two conference losses, including the infamous loss to 44-point underdog Stanford. Illinois returned to the BCS for the first time since 2001, when it went to the Sugar Bowl. Hopes are high next year for the Illini as Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn both return, while star HB Rashard Mendenhall is a junior, though some believe he will declare. Ron Zook certainly has the program on great heights.

The second game was only a point closer, as Georgia routed Hawaii, 41-10. After their first drive got them a field goal, Hawaii was unable to put points on the board again till the 4th quarter. Georgia, meanwhile, was scoring at will, jumping out to a 24-3 lead at half and a 38-3 at the end of the third. The Bulldogs weren’t exactly as dominate as you would expect someone who scores 41 points to be, as they managed to only out gain the Warriors by 28 yards. The big stat was turnovers, 6 to 1. Knowshon Moreno, the freshman running back, hurried for 61 yards and a pair of scores.

WVU shocked most of the college football world with their 48-28 win against the Sooners of Oklahoma. Pat White had 326 yards of total offense and two touchdowns to lead the way for the Mountaineers, but made maybe his biggest play after the game, supporting then-interim coach Bill Stewart to be hired full-time. The fans, and apparently the athletic department, seemed to agree.

Stewart was signed to a 5-year contract immediately following the victory, replacing Rich Rodriguez, who left for Michigan. Stewart went on to say that it was the longest job interview ever.

Today the big games begin. Two of the five BCS matches take place today, the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl. However, let’s recap the last day of 2007 and the six games that took place…

California finally got back on the winning track after dropping six of seven, beating Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl. The Falcons jumped out to a 21-0 lead, but lost in when suspended players DeSean Jackson and Robert Jordan finally got their chance, each putting up a score. Freshman QB Kevin Riley had 4 total touchdowns, snapping the Mountain West’s undefeated bowl run.

Fresno State rolled through the coach-transitioning Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech. HB Clifton Smith rushed for 152 yards and a pair of scores to lead the way for the Bulldogs. The loss by coach Jon Tenuta made interim coaches 0-4 this bowl season.

Oregon completely dominated the Bulls of South Florida man-handling them 56 – 21 in the Sun Bowl. Jonathan Stewart rumbled for a record 253 yards while QB Justin Roper threw for 180 and 4 scores. USF had been home to one of the nations best run-defenses, but allowed 353 yards on the ground in the loss.

Andre Woodson set an SEC record with 40 touchdown passes while also giving Kentucky a 35-28 victory over Florida State in the Music City Bowl. Woodson had 358 yards and four touchdowns, while Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden was handed his first December bowl loss of his long and lustrous career.

Indiana will have to settle for a moral victory. After reaching the post-season for the first time since 1993, the Hoosiers were controlled by the high-octane offense of Oklahoma State and eventually beaten 49-33. Sophomore QB Zac Robinson had 372 yards of total offense along with 5 touchdowns. The Cowboys jumped to a 35-10 halftime lead and coasted to victory in the Insight Bowl.

In the final game of the day, and most exciting, the Tigers of Auburn defeated the Tigers of Clemson 23-20 in overtime after freshman QB Kodi Burns scored his second touchdown of the day from 7 yards out. Burns lead the team in rushing with 69 yards while also throwing a 22-yard touchdown pass in the third.

Will Notre Dame find their way into a bowl game next season?