VIEW THE MOBILE ALPHA VERSION OF THIS SITE

News Nuggets, 12.05.04
 —  —  —  —  —
NOTES FROM ECU AND BEYOND...

Previous Day Nuggets...             Next Day Nuggets...

Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Flawed BCS produces another messy title picture

Southern California, Oklahoma and Auburn have created an unprecedented headache for the Bowl Championship Series.

The Trojans, Sooners and Tigers all completed 12-0 regular seasons on Saturday, the first time since the BCS was implemented in 1998 that three major conference teams will be unbeaten heading into the bowls.

But there's only room for two in the Orange Bowl, and it looks as if USC and Oklahoma will be the national championship matchup when the final BCS standings come out Sunday and the bowl pairings are made officials.

Barring some strange occurrences, Auburn's consolation prize will be a trip to the Sugar Bowl with their first Southeastern Conference title since 1989.

``We definitely deserve a chance to play for the national championship,'' said Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell, who led the Tigers to a 38-28 victory over Tennessee in the SEC title game. ``We've done all we can do. We've done what people asked. But one thing they can't take away is our SEC championship.''

No. 1 USC wasn't at its best, but Reggie Bush was and his two scintillating long TD runs helped the Trojans hold off UCLA 29-24.

After the game, USC fans tossed oranges on the field and the Trojans celebrated an accomplishment they missed out on last year. USC was No. 1 in both polls after the regular season in 2003, but the old BCS formula put Oklahoma and LSU in the title game.

``I don't see how they couldn't take us,'' USC quarterback Matt Leinart said. ``We're in great position, and I think they'd be crazy to keep us out.''

The Trojans settled for a co-national title last season. With a new BCS formula in place this season, they have a chance to have the crown all to themselves with another win.

No. 2 Oklahoma was the most impressive of the three on Saturday, pounding overmatched Colorado 42-3 and leaving little doubt that the Sooners, second in the last BCS standings, will keep their lead over third-place Auburn.

Jason White threw three TD passes for Oklahoma and the Sooners' other Heisman contender, freshman Adrian Peterson, ran for three more.

``They came out ready to play,'' Sooners coach Bob Stoops said. ``They had an edge to them all week, you could tell. They came out and played that way.''

Campbell was impeccable for No. 3 Auburn, tossing three touchdown passes and gaining over 400 total yards. But he probably bolstered his Heisman resume more than his team's chances of playing for a national title.

``I just hope everyone will be fair when they vote tonight,'' Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. ``I know we'll get at least one first-place vote'' in the coaches poll.

California will be eagerly awaiting those votes after a 26-16 victory over Southern Mississippi.

The Bears were trying to earn their first Rose Bowl bid since 1958 and hold off Texas in the BCS standings. Cal (.8431) was fourth and Texas was close behind in fifth.

The Longhorns would slip ahead of the Bears if they could gain a handful of points in Sunday's final polls.

If the Longhorns can bump Cal, they could end up in the Rose Bowl against Michigan, which had already sewn up the Big Ten's automatic bid.

Saturday started with several BCS spots up for grabs in six games involving eight ranked teams.

No. 10 Virginia Tech defeated No. 9 Miami 16-10 to win the Atlantic Coast Conference title and a BCS bid. The Hokies could be headed to the Sugar Bowl. The last time Virginia Tech played in the BCS, the Hokies and Michael Vick lost to Florida State in the Sugar Bowl with the national title on the line.

Pittsburgh might have gotten the Big East's automatic BCS bid regardless of what it did against South Florida on Saturday. The Panthers left no doubt, defeating South Florida 43-14 behind five TD passes by Tyler Palko. The Panthers (8-3) finished the season with six wins in seven games and would likely head to the Fiesta Bowl to play Utah if Oklahoma ends up in the Orange Bowl.

The Utes (11-0) finished their perfect season two weeks ago with a solid grip on sixth-place in the BCS standings. A top-six finish guarantees Utah its BCS spot, the first earned by a team from a non-BCS conference.

The Utes found out Saturday their BCS appearance will be the final game for coach Urban Meyer with Utah. Meyer is heading to Florida, but has said he wants to finish the season with the Utes.

No. 7 Louisville, brandishing the nation's most prolific offense, became the first team in NCAA history to score at least 55 points in five straight games, beating Conference USA foe Tulane 55-7 Saturday.

C-USA isn't among the conferences with guaranteed access to a BCS berth, so the league-champion Cardinals will make do with a holiday trip to the Liberty Bowl.

Though a BCS bid wasn't on the radar of either team, there was another Saturday game of significant stature in Philadelphia. President Bush attended the annual battle between Army and Navy, taking part in the coin toss by flipping a commemorative coin sent from the Iraqi city of Fallujah before watching the Midshipmen defeat the Black Knights 42-13.

College football weekend: stars & storylines

STARS

 —  Jason White and Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma. White threw three TD passes, and Peterson ran 172 yards and three scores in Oklahoma's 42-3 victory over Colorado in the Big 12 title game.

 —  Jason Campbell, Auburn, completed 27 of 35 passes for 374 yards and three TDs to lead Auburn to a 12-0 season with a 38-28 win over Tennessee in the SEC title game.

 —  Former North Carolina prep star J.J. Arrington, California, ran for 261 yards to help the Golden Bears beat Southern Mississippi 26-16.

 —  Tyler Palko, Pittsburgh, threw for a career-high 411 yards and five touchdowns to help the Panthers rout South Florida 43-14 and virtually assure themselves a BCS bowl bid.

 —  Aaron Polanco, Navy, threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score, leading the Midshipmen to a 42-13 win over Army.

 —  Bryan Randall, Virginia Tech, threw two TD passes to give Virginia Tech the ACC title and put the Hokies in a BCS bowl with a 16-10 win over Miami.

 —  Stefan LeFors, Louisville, threw for one touchdown and ran for another to help the Cardinals beat Tulane 55-7 Saturday.

 —  Brett Elliott, Linfield, threw a school-record seven TD passes and tied an NCAA all-division record of 56 in a season, in a 56-27 Division III quarterfinal win over Occidental.

 —  Craig Ochs, Montana, passed for 251 yards and three touchdowns in the Grizzlies' 47-17 Division I-AA quarterfinal win over New Hampshire.

LEFT OUT

Auburn is 12-0 for the first time in school history after beating Tennessee 38-28 in the SEC Championship on Saturday night, but appears to be the odd team out in another Bowl Championship Series mess after second-ranked Oklahoma trounced Colorado 42-3 in the Big 12 title game and No. 1 Southern California beat UCLA 29-24.

GATOR AID

Urban Meyer made it official Saturday, saying he accepted the coaching job at Florida and a contract for seven years, $14 million. Meyer, a former Notre Dame assistant, said he had already decided to take the Gators job before the Irish contacted him.

STILL THE ONE

Reggie Bush had two long touchdown runs, Ryan Killeen kicked five field goals and No. 1 USC held off the Bruins 29-24 Saturday to virtually lock up a trip to the Orange Bowl for the Bowl Championship Series title game. Moments after the game ended, USC fans in both end zones threw oranges on the field and many players stayed on the field to celebrate. The final BCS standings and bowl pairings will be announced Sunday.

TURNING POINT

Fourth-ranked California beat Southern Mississippi 26-16 Saturday night, thanks in part to a bizarre special-teams play. Southern Miss pulled to 17-16 on Dustin Almond's 1-yard touchdown run with 5:56 to play. But Darren McCaleb's potential tying extra-point attempt was blocked by Thomas DeCoud. Wendell Hunter returned it 85 yards for two points, giving Cal a 19-16 lead.

HOKIE HIGH

Virginia Tech capped its first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference season with a title, beating Miami 16-10 and wrapping up the league's BCS bowl bid. The Hokies, who took the lead when Eddie Royal caught a 39-yard touchdown pass from Randall with 11:29 remaining, will learn Sunday to which BCS bowl they're headed.

CHIEF IN THE HOUSE

President Bush attended the Army-Navy game for the first time since 2001 at Veterans Stadium, taking part in the coin toss by flipping a commemorative coin sent from the Iraqi city of Fallujah before Navy's 42-13 win.

DIVISION I-AA PLAYOFFS

Jon Smith scored on a 7-yard run in the second overtime after William & Mary rallied from a 21-point deficit and beat Delaware 44-38 Saturday and advance to the Division I-AA semifinals for the first time. ... Raymond Hines' fourth-down, 1-yard touchdown run with 28 seconds left lifted James Madison to a 14-13 victory over Furman and the NCAA Division I-AA semifinals. ... Craig Ochs passed for 251 yards and three touchdowns and Lex Hilliard rushed for 107 yards and two more scores to lead Montana to a 47-17 quarterfinal victory over New Hampshire.

DIVISION II PLAYOFFS

Fabian Walker passed for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead Valdosta State to a 45-21 victory over West Chester on Saturday and its second NCAA Division II championship game appearance in three years. ... Neal Philpot passed for three touchdowns as Pittsburg State beat North Dakota 31-19 to return to the Division II title game for the first time since 1995.

RECORDS

Seventh-ranked Louisville became the first team in NCAA history to score at least 55 points in five straight games, beating Tulane 55-7 Saturday.

HOMECOMING

Tampa native Greg Lee had TD catches of 18, 6 and 7 yards in Pittsburgh's 43-14 win at South Florida on Saturday.

SPEAKING

``We definitely deserve a chance to play for the national championship. ... We've done all we can do. We've done what people asked. But one thing they can't take away is our SEC championship.''  —  Auburn QB Jason Campbell after helping the Tigers cap their first 12-0 season ever with a 38-28 win over Tennessee in the SEC Championship.

``There's no question who the champions are, who's the better team or who should have won this game.''  —  Virginia Tech QB Bryan Randall after leading the Hokies to a 16-10 win over Miami to take the ACC title and the BCS bowl bid that comes with it.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:06 PM