Florida and Texas remain favorites for BCS title
By Trey Warren, October 2009
Sports Editor
Early into the 2009 college football season, fans have seen their teams meet expectations and seen some major setbacks. Three teams that started the season in the top 10 on the Associated Press poll have already faltered while others have made their way into the mix for conference titles and Bowl Championship Series games. Here is a look into some of the top teams of the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Defending national champions, the Florida Gators, who are ranked unanimously No. 1 in both the coaches’ and media polls, have started where they left off last year. Although playing soft teams Charleston Southern and Troy, the Gators lead the country in total offense, posting over 1,200 yards in their first two games and points with 118. Tennessee is the next to come to the Swamp in Florida. Its head coach Lane Kiffin has already provided some pregame trash talk. Even with an improved team, the Volunteers are heavy underdogs against Florida.
Defending Fiesta Bowl Champions, the No. 2 ranked Texas Longhorns have also started 2-0. After beating the University of Louisiana in Monroe, 59-20, Texas had a bit of a scare in their matchup with Wyoming the following week. At the end of the first half, the hometown Cowboys were only looking at a 13-10 deficit going into the second half. The Longhorns would come out strong for the second 30 minutes, putting up 31 points and not allowing a single point on defense. Texas looks for redemption against the Texas Tech Red Raiders, whose last second win knocked the Longhorns out of the Big 12 championship.
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| AP Photo |
Then there is the first major upset of the season which involved No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 20 Brigham Young. While playing in the Dallas Cowboy’s brand new $2 billion stadium, defending Heisman Trophy winner, Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, was taken out of the game with a shoulder sprain near the end of the second half. The Sooners would take a 13-7 lead in the fourth quarter, but BYU would answer with three minutes on the clock being the deciding factor in their 14-13 victory. Oklahoma hopes to have Bradford back in a few weeks, but lost their All-American tight end Jermaine Gresham to season ending knee surgery.
Now on to the USC Trojans, who began the year ranked No. 4. However, after the Oklahoma upset and a victory over No. 8 Ohio State, the Trojans find themselves ranked the third best team in the country. At the Horseshoe in Ohio, USC was lead on a fourth quarter comeback drive by true freshman quarterback Matt Barkley, making his second start in his young college career. However, Barkley sustained a bruised shoulder and has not practiced with the team in preparation for the conference foe Washington Huskies. Backup Aaron Corp has been given the nod to start against the Huskies.
After beating Georgia in a top 20 meeting, Oklahoma State welcomed Houston University to Boone Pickens Stadium. Arguably the biggest upset early in the world of college football is the stunner that took place in Stillwater, Okla. The Oklahoma State Cowboys got embarrassed on their home turf against the high powered offense of the Houston Cougars. The Cowboys were down 24-7 at the end of the first half before scoring three unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter. Down just three with three to play, Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson had a pass intercepted and taken back for a touchdown by Houston’s James Robinson. Houston’s defense would hold a late drive by OSU and finish off the shocking upset.
An early top 10 showdown between No. 5 Alabama and No. 7 Virginia Tech started college football primetime on opening weekend. The Hokies of VT lead by just one going into halftime and the score remained 17-16 with 15 minutes to play. The Crimson Tide would take over from there, outscoring the Hokies 18-7 in the final quarter and winning 34-24 in the year’s first top 10 battle.
Notre Dame Head Coach Charlie Weis is back on the hot seat after a loss to unranked Michigan. Now at 1-1, their next game brings Michigan State home to Indiana, which will be a tough matchup. This game could help decide Weis’ future as the head coach for the Fighting Irish.
As the football season goes on, fans will see their share of stunners and classics that will change the bowl hopes for many. On Oct. 10, No. 5 Mississippi welcomes No. 4 Alabama for a showdown in Oxford. Then there is the annual matchup between Texas and Oklahoma at the Texas State Fair in Dallas, which always seems to glue fans to their seats. Don’t forget about Cinderella teams that will make you bite your nails, especially those who play USC, Mississippi and Louisiana State. Someone’s season will be ruined by those sleeper teams who wake up and smell an upset; two top five teams have already gone down.
It’s not a shocker; Florida and Texas will play for the National Championship. The only way this won’t happen is if either loses to a conference opponent. Oklahoma State and Oklahoma stand the best chance against Texas, whereas Mississippi and Alabama pose the only threats against Florida. Penn State and USC will win their respective conferences, and finally a decent team in Miami out of the Atlantic Coast Conference. As for the busters, BYU and Boise State should find themselves in BCS games by the end of the year. For BYU, if they find themselves undefeated at the end of the year, they could find themselves playing at the Rose Bowl for the National Championship. |
