Top 5 BCS Games from the First 10 Years of the BCS
Earlier this week, CBS Sportsline’s Dennis Dodd (who likely gets about 5,000 hate e-mails a week) ranked all 42 Bowl Championship Series games from the first 10 years of the BCS era from best to worst.
In case you’re one of those people that sends Dodd weekly (or daily, if you’re that much in hate with him) hate mail and won’t click on the link, his top five consisted of the 2007 Fiesta Bowl (Boise State-Oklahoma OT thriller), the 2006 Rose Bowl (Texas over USC), the 2003 Fiesta Bowl (Ohio State over Miami), the 2003 Sugar Bowl (LSU over Oklahoma), and the 2000 Sugar Bowl (Florida State over Virginia Tech).
I won’t rank all 42 games, but I will give my top five. I can (somewhat) proudly say that I only missed watching a few of these games, though I watched some a little more from start to finish than others.
If you want to relive the games, I’ve included links to highlights, so just click on the bold game link. I wouldn’t recommend watching all of them thoroughly, unless you’ve got a lot of free time on your hands, and for those who don’t care much for rap music, feel free to mute the video on #1.
1. 2006 Rose Bowl: Texas 41, USC 38 - USC entered this game off the heels of national championships in 2003 (the AP title) and 2004, and were on the verge of planting the flag as the dynasty of this decade. But, just like defense wins championships, a lack of it can lose a title for you, and USC couldn’t stop Vince Young that night in Pasadena.
VY was 30 of 40 for 267 yards through the air, but it was his running that ultimately undid USC, as he ran for 200 yards and three touchdowns, with his last one an eight-yard scamper on a 4th and 5 with 19 seconds to go to put the Longhorns ahead.
It’s not like USC didn’t have plenty of chances to wrap him - or the game - up. The Trojans made only two turnovers that night, but both of them were costly - one a fumble by Reggie Bush as he absent-mindedly tried to lateral the ball after running deep into Texas territory in the second quarter, and the other on an interception when they were driving for a score.
On top of that, USC squandered a 38-26 lead in the fourth, and if there’s one call that Pete Carroll may always second-guess, it’s going for it on 4th and 2 from his 45 with two minutes left and a 38-33 lead. Sure, you’re risking a blocked punt if you kick it away, and Young could’ve easily gone 90 yards as much as he could have 45, but LenDale White coming up short made things all the easier.
2. 2007 Fiesta Bowl: Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42 - This one could’ve been a classic blowout had Boise State not allowed Oklahoma to make an epic comeback, and just as easily, could‘ve been remembered as Boise‘s ‘almost‘ game had they not rallied after squandering the lead.
Boise State jumped out to a 14-0 lead halfway through the first quarter, led 21-10 at halftime, and 28-10 nearly seven minutes into the third after Marty Tadman returned a pick for a score.
But after napping for nearly 37 minutes, Oklahoma woke up and clawed back, drawing with 28-17 after three and 28-20 early in the fourth. That set the stage for a wild final 86 seconds, where the Sooners tied the game at 28 with 1:26 left and went ahead 35-28 only 24 seconds later when Marcus Walker returned Jared Zabransky’s ill-advised throw 33 yards for a score, only to see Boise State score the game-tying touchdown on a bit on the hook-and-ladder with seven ticks left.
In OT, Adrian Peterson took the last carry of his collegiate career 25 yards for a touchdown to put Oklahoma up, but the Broncos had a couple more tricks up their sleeve, with receiver Vinny Perretta throwing a touchdown pass on 4th and goal, and then Ian Johnson running his way into the hearts of 49 states plus Stillwater, Oklahoma when he took it on for two and the win.
In the end, it ended well for everyone - Zabransky got on the cover of NCAA Football 08, Johnson got the win and the girl, and All-Day’s got the NFL single-game rushing record.
3. 2003 Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State 31, Miami 24 - While the first two games were thrilling, big-play filled games, this one wasn’t a classic until the late stages.
Miami came into the game as the unquestioned favorite, but Ohio State’s defense forced five turnovers, and the offense did just enough to give the Buckeyes a 17-7 lead at one point.
Really, in the end, a lot of people remember this game for a handful of reasons: 1) it was the first overtime championship game, 2) it was the climax of Maurice Clarett’s career, 3) Willis McGahee’s knee getting blown out, and 4) a belated pass interference call in overtime that extended the game and let Ohio State tie and then win.
4. 2000 Sugar Bowl: Florida State 46, Virginia Tech 29 - Eight years ago, before Peter Warrick was an NFL bust, Michael Vick was an inmate, and Florida State was a middle-of-the-pack ACC team, there was this exciting night in New Orleans.
Florida State was expected to be there, and with 45-year old Chris Weinke at quarterback and ’Mr. Everything’ Warrick providing the razzle-dazzle, the Seminoles were the overwhelming favorite. But, they had to win it against somebody, and that somebody was Virginia Tech, with their exciting freshman QB in Vick.
The game had the makings of a blowout through much of the first half, with FSU taking a 28-7 lead, with Warrick scoring on a 64-yard touchdown catch and a 59-yard punt return. But, Vick led the Hokies back to an improbable 29-28 lead late in the third before Warrick and the Seminoles calmly finished the deal, with Warrick adding a two-point conversion catch following the go-ahead score and putting an exclamation point on the title with a 43-yard touchdown grab.
All told, Warrick ended up with three scores and 163 yards receiving on six catches, while Vick accounted for 324 total yards (225 passing, 97 rushing) and two touchdowns.
5. 2000 Orange Bowl: Michigan 35, Alabama 34 - The last time Alabama was in a BCS bowl game, Ryan Pflugner happened.
Usually, a kicker’s name isn’t of any consequence unless he does one of two things: 1) makes a game-winning field goal, or 2) misses a crucial kick.
Before Pflugner was of any importance, there was a heck of a game, with David Terrell, Shaun Alexander, and some guy named Tom Brady stealing the show in a game that saw Alabama twice blow 14-point leads. Alexander ran for three touchdowns, Terrell caught three, and Brady threw for 369 yards and four scores.
Michigan took their only lead of the game in overtime when Brady threw touchdown pass #4 to Shawn Thompson, and after ‘Bama struck back with a score to make it 35-34. Pflugner then came up for most routine of kicks, and promptly sent it wide.
Terrell didn’t quite pan out in the NFL, Alexander is on the down side of his career, and as for Brady? Maybe we should’ve seen it coming…
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Chris Humpherys
You mean there were national championship games in years other than 1997 and 2007?
I hadn’t noticed.
August 31st, 2008 at 2:26 pm