All 19th ranked Boston College needed to do in order to get a BCS match-up against Utah in the Fiesta Bowl was win this weekend. And the team they had to beat was Syracuse, which owned a record of just 5-5 coming into the game.
But the omen of losing their starting QB Paul Peterson last weekend with a broken hand set the scene for BC. The Eagles came out sloppy, giving Syracuse backup RB Damien Rhodes a 69-yard TD run. The Orangemen didn't look back. Although Rhodes succumbed to a leg injury and the Orange were forced to replace him with defensive back Diamond Ferri, Syracuse took a commanding 24-10 lead into halftime.
Syracuse continued to pound BC into the second half, eventually winning the contest 43-17. Ferri finished with 141 yards on 28 carries and 2 TDs on offense as well as a 44-yard interception return for a TD on defense.
"That's probably one of the biggest performances I've ever seen in my entire life, in any sport, to be able to come in and play big-time college football like that," Rhodes said of his backup.
The loss puts BC out of the BCS bowl picture and prevents the Eagles from winning the Big East championship outright. Now, BC, West Virginia, Syracuse, and Pittsburgh are locked in a four-way tie for first place in the Big East. Due to records against each other, only Syracuse and Pittsburgh can win the division now. If Pittsburgh wins next week, it is likely that they will play in the Fiesta Bowl against Utah. If Pitt loses, the Orangemen may make the trip to the Fiesta Bowl.
"I'm just going to enjoy that we're bowl eligible," Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni said.
Elsewhere across the country, No. 5 Texas knocked off No. 22 Texas A&M 26-13, No. 15 Tennessee survived a scare by squeaking by Kentucky 37-31, and No. 11 Virginia Tech defeated No. 16 Virginia by a count of 24-10. With this win, Virginia Tech will take part in a BCS bowl if it defeats Miami next weekend to win the ACC championship.
The word on the BCS: Here's how the Bowl Championship System is taking shape:
ACC: The winner of the Miami-Virginia Tech game gets the ACC's BCS bowl bid.
Big East: If Pitt wins next weekend against South Florida, it gets the BCS bowl bid; if they lose, Syracuse gets it.
Big 12: It's Oklahoma vs. Colorado next week for the Big 12 championship. If Oklahoma wins, it will go to the Orange Bowl for the national championship. If Colorado wins, it will go to the Fiesta Bowl, leaving Oklahoma hoping for an at-large bid. For Texas to sneak into a BCS bowl game, Cal will have to lose next weekend.
Big 10: Michigan is going to the Rose Bowl.
Pac 10: If USC continues to win, the Trojans will go to the Orange Bowl for the national championship. If they lose, they'll go to the Rose Bowl. If Cal wins next week, it takes an at-large bid for a BCS bowl game.
SEC: It's Auburn-Tennessee next weekend for the SEC championship. If Auburn wins, it could still get screwed out of the Orange Bowl despite an undefeated record and get stuck in the Sugar Bowl. If Tennessee wins, the Volunteers go to the Sugar Bowl, leaving Auburn hoping for an at-large bid.
Elsewhere, Utah will take an at-large BCS bowl bid due to its top six ranking in the BCS system. Boise State will need both Cal and Miami to lose next weekend to get a BCS bowl bid, regardless of what happens to Texas. Yes, the BCS is stupid if Texas ends up number four and doesn't make a major bowl.
Platinum Playas of the Week: This week, we're only giving out one platinum ball because this guy stood out on both sides of the ball. That's right, Syracuse's Ferri, filling in as third-string running back for Syracuse, scored those two offensive touchdowns to go along with his one defensive score off of an interception return in the Orangemen's blowout 43-17 victory over BC.
