With the NCAA college football season reaching its final stretch, the time has come for preparations for the BCS National Championship game. 2013 is the last year that there will be a single game that determines the winner, as in 2014 the NCAA will adopt a 4-game playoff. But as it stands, this year could end up being quite controversial as 5 of the top national contenders are undefeated and could potentially end the year like this, leaving a final big controversy in the old BCS system that has plagued the game for so many years.
At this time, Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State, Baylor and Oregon have yet to lose a game. Each of them has a legitimate case to be the best team in the nation, and yet each still faces big challenges ahead. At the end of the season, which of these teams will still be going strong and ready to win a BCS title? Or will they all lose, opening the floodgates for the dim hopes of many other teams? Or will we be facing a controversial final with 3 or 4 teams equally classified for that title game?
Fortunately, there are countless big games ahead for all of these teams, which means someone is bound to slip up. Baylor has had the softest schedule so far this year and hasn’t played a top-25 opponent all season, but it faces a crucial section of its schedule ahead. They face 10th-ranked Oklahoma on Thursday, and then have games against Texas Tech and Oklahoma State (both ranked). Texas also looms large late in their season. I foresee at least one loss for the team that currently has the best offense in the nation.
Another team with a rocky road ahead is Alabama, which faces LSU and Auburn plus another SEC force should they make it to the SEC Championship. If anyone is up for such a challenge, Alabama surely is, as Nick Saban is vying for his third straight national title with quarterback AJ McCarron.
Oregon has been a regular national competitor in recent years. With a formidable running attack and strong defense, they have every chance to be in the title game. However, there will be an important task ahead against Stanford that could decide his fate this weekend, although the rest of his schedule is favorable.
Ohio State probably has the easiest matchup, with their huge rivalry against Michigan looking to be the toughest test. Ohio State was undefeated last year, but was ineligible for the postseason. Head coach Urban Meyer seems to have righted the ship and could very well take this team to the big game. However, the soft Big Ten have presented favorable matchups for the Buckeyes and I would be curious to see how they would fare against Alabama or Oregon.
Lastly, there’s Florida State, with rookie quarterback Jameis Winston. The team looks like a major force and to me it’s the best team in the nation. They’ve already passed major tests against Clemson and Miami, though they may have to play Miami one more time in the ACC title game and still have to face rivals Florida. However, their dominance in those games suggests they can handle another test.
So how will it all play out? The beauty of college football is that we really don’t know. Games can always go either way, and some of these losses are likely to even come against teams that aren’t considered much of a threat. However, my money is on a title game between Florida State and Alabama, with Alabama’s experience carrying them forward. However, I also have a hunch that the old BCS format will come out strong, and that Ohio State or Oregon could get frustrated and sit out. Either way, it’s sure to be an interesting final month of college football to determine who gets to play in that glorious BCS championship game.
