The college football BCS race has been stagnant all season at the top. Now college football knows for sure that the Florida-Alabama SEC title game is a semifinal, with Texas likely awaiting the winner. Unless Nebraska shocks Texas in the Big 12 title game, college football will have to look elsewhere for BCS suspense. But the rest of the BCS games, other than the national championship, don't have settled matchups just yet.
Florida, Alabama and Texas are three of the 10 BCS teams, no matter what happens. The rest of the field will be filled by TCU, Ohio State, the Cincinnati-Pitt winner, the Georgia Tech-Clemson ACC title game winner, the Oregon-Oregon State winner, Penn State or Iowa, and possibly Boise State.
College football would have endured a big BCS controversy over Boise State getting in or not. However, this week may have ended the debate, since Oklahoma State got destroyed by Oklahoma, and lost their claim to a BCS berth. With virtually no one else left in that running, Boise State may have the inside track to a spot after all.
Of course, if there are any upsets in the conference title games, Boise State could still be taken out, even with a possible 13-0 record. But assuming college football has no more surprises left, it appears the BCS field is nearly set. Now it's just a matter of sending them to the right bowls.
The Rose Bowl will have Ohio State face the Oregon-Oregon State winner, for certain. The Orange Bowl will likely have the Big East and ACC champions face off, while the Sugar Bowl should take the Florida-Alabama loser. The Fiesta Bowl is under the most scrutiny, as it could take TCU, Boise State, or possibly both in a college football mid-major showdown.
Of course, TCU and Boise State wouldn't benefit from playing each other. To gain more respect, they would have to beat a BCS school in a major game. Since Boise State has history with the Fiesta Bowl, they could be invited back to face a Big 10 at-large term, whether it's Penn State or Iowa.
Florida, Alabama and Texas are three of the 10 BCS teams, no matter what happens. The rest of the field will be filled by TCU, Ohio State, the Cincinnati-Pitt winner, the Georgia Tech-Clemson ACC title game winner, the Oregon-Oregon State winner, Penn State or Iowa, and possibly Boise State.
College football would have endured a big BCS controversy over Boise State getting in or not. However, this week may have ended the debate, since Oklahoma State got destroyed by Oklahoma, and lost their claim to a BCS berth. With virtually no one else left in that running, Boise State may have the inside track to a spot after all.
Of course, if there are any upsets in the conference title games, Boise State could still be taken out, even with a possible 13-0 record. But assuming college football has no more surprises left, it appears the BCS field is nearly set. Now it's just a matter of sending them to the right bowls.
The Rose Bowl will have Ohio State face the Oregon-Oregon State winner, for certain. The Orange Bowl will likely have the Big East and ACC champions face off, while the Sugar Bowl should take the Florida-Alabama loser. The Fiesta Bowl is under the most scrutiny, as it could take TCU, Boise State, or possibly both in a college football mid-major showdown.
Of course, TCU and Boise State wouldn't benefit from playing each other. To gain more respect, they would have to beat a BCS school in a major game. Since Boise State has history with the Fiesta Bowl, they could be invited back to face a Big 10 at-large term, whether it's Penn State or Iowa.
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