Monday, January 6, 2014

The BCS Got It Right

        In the last year of the BCS is it safe to say it got it right?

        Florida State started the season ranked 11th and 12th in the AP Top 25 and USA Today, respectively. Many didn't see the Seminoles making it to the title game, and rightfully so after losing EJ Manuel and some big-time players on their defense that led them to a 12-win season and BCS Orange Bowl victory. Led by their Heisman winning redshirt sophomore quarterback Jameis Winston, and that amazing defense the Seminoles destroyed everyone in their path ending the regular season 13-0.

        Now as far as who is the second best to play for the title game, who knows?

        It’s almost as if the four-team playoff started a year early, with everything playing out having the two best teams in the country Florida State and Auburn meeting in the Rose Bowl for the Vizio BCS National Championship Game.

        Going into the season everyone believed that the Alabama Crimson Tide were the best team, and rightfully so being the defending national champions winning back-to-back championships.

        The Tide was the number one ranked team in the country going into the Iron Bowl, when the Auburn Tigers shocked the world on a last second field-goal attempt that was returned for a touchdown. At this time Auburn was having a remarkable year having won four games in the final 1:20 of play, with “The Miracle in Jordan-Hare” occurring a week prior in the win over Georgia. Despite shocking the world, the Tigers had one game left to show the nation they deserved to play in the title game, and they did just that dismantling Missouri in the SEC Championship Game 59-42.

        Despite beating Alabama and Missouri two teams ranked first and fifth in the BCS, the Tigers still needed some more help from Ohio State who were ranked second in the BCS.

        Indianapolis, IN is where the winning streak of 24 games would come to an end to the hands of the Michigan State Spartans in the Big Ten Championship Game.

        Now the stage is set for the national championship game between the unbeaten Florida State Seminoles and the Auburn Tigers.

        Do you question that Florida State and Auburn are the two best teams in college football?

        Third ranked Alabama lost to Oklahoma in the AllState Sugar Bowl 45-31, many didn't give Oklahoma a shot to win, and they shocked the country. Alabama struggled with teams that can throw the ball, and Oklahoma did just that exposing the Tide’s shaky secondary.

        For the sixth ranked Baylor Bears who were undefeated fell to UCF in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl 52-42. Baylor had a phenomenal season, but if you allow 42 points from UCF you don’t deserve to have a shot at the national championship.

        As for the seventh ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, they were the team that had a chance to play for a national championship. They also lost in their BCS bowl falling to Clemson 40-35. Many didn't believe the Buckeyes proved themselves despite their 24-game winning streak and rightfully so. Ohio State struggled in winnable games that should have been blowouts, and lost to the two best teams they played against in Michigan State and Clemson.

        As for fourth and fifth ranked Michigan State and Stanford, they both had good seasons with Michigan State defeating Stanford 24-20 in the Rose Bowl, but the two would have needed some help to make it to the title game.

        With all of the drama that took place during this college football season, the BCS got it right in their final season with Florida State and Auburn meeting in the Rose Bowl for the Vizio BCS National Championship Game.

         If you're a fan of the Semnioles or War Eagle take pride in pulling for your team, because the two best college football teams will be on the grand stage tonight in Pasadena.


Justin Tyree

Twitter:  @JTyree704

Facebook:  www.Facebook.com/SportsFromMyEyes