It looks as though we have a situation on hand. The three teams that remain undefeated from the major conferences, the USC Trojans, Oklahoma Sooners and Auburn Tigers, all posted wins this weekend, giving the BCS a problem: Only two of them can go to Miami to play for the national championship in the Orange Bowl.
The first-ranked USC Trojans had trouble putting away the UCLA Bruins in the Pac-10 championship game. UCLA QB Drew Olson brought his team within five points of USC after he found TE Marcedes Lewis in the end zone for a four-yard touchdown pass with 2:24 remaining in the game.
UCLA, hoping its momentum would continue to carry it, proceeded to attempt an onside-kick. USC recovered easily, but turned the ball over when Heisman Trophy candidate and all-purpose back Reggie Bush coughed up the ball at the UCLA 14-yard line with 53 seconds remaining. With very little time left, the Bruins failed to capitalize on the mistake. Olson's first pass was picked off by USC's Jason Leach to put the game away for good, with USC prevailing 29-24.
When USC had put the game away, fans began to throw oranges onto the field, signifying the trip their team will be making to Miami.
"I don't see how [the BCS voters] couldn't take us [for the Orange Bowl]," USC QB Matt Leinart told The Associated Press (AP) on Saturday before the BCS rankings were announced. "We're in great position and I think they'd be crazy to keep us out."
The No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners spanked the Colorado Buffaloes in the Big 12 championship game. The Sooners jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead and didn't look back as they continued to pound the Buffs en route to a 42-3 victory. Sooner QB Jason White threw for 254 yards, completing 22 of 29 passes, while freshman sensation RB Adrian Peterson rolled for 171 yards and three TDs on the ground.
The BCS final rankings and bowl games were announced on Sunday afternoon, and, as expected, Oklahoma will face USC in the Orange Bowl to determine the national championship.
Unfortunately, that leaves No. 3 Auburn out of the mix. The Tigers were given the task of defeating the No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers in the SEC championship game. Auburn dominated the game early on, taking a 21-7 lead into halftime.
But when the second half began, Tennessee made its move. Volunteer RB Gerald Riggs rushed for two second-half TDs, putting his team back into the game. However, Auburn QB Jason Campbell put the game out of reach when he found Ben Obomanu for a 43-yard TD pass that gave the Tigers a 38-28 win.
Despite their perfect season and the fact that they play in what can be considered the toughest conference in the nation, the Tigers are left out of national championship contention.
"We definitely deserve a chance to play for the national championship," Campbell told the AP. "We've done all we can do. We've done what people asked."
Instead, Auburn will play in the Sugar Bowl against ACC champion Virginia Tech Hokies, who defeated the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday, earning the ACC's BCS bid.
The other odd team out, in a bit of a surprise, is the California Golden Bears, who were ultimately leap-frogged by the Texas Longhorns in this last week, despite both teams winning. Cal finished fifth in the country and with just one loss, but still missed out on a BCS bid.
Texas will play the No. 6 Utah Utes in the Tostitios Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day.
With a win Saturday over Central Florida, the Pittsburgh Panthers won the Big East championship and the Big East BCS bid, and will play the Big Ten champion Michigan Wolverines in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
PLATINUM PLAYAS OF THE WEEK: Overshadowed by Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson and USC's Reggie Bush, Cal RB J.J. Arrington helped his own cause for the Heisman this weekend, picking up 261 yards on the ground in Cal's 26-16 win over Southern Mississippi.
On the defensive side, this week's award goes to Chris Horton of UCLA. Horton blocked a USC punt in the first half, giving his team the ball at USC's 19 yard line. Too bad the Bruins didn't convert: They went three and out and placekicker Justin Medlock eventually missed a 39-yard FG.
