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Oh my! Now things are going to get really interesting in the world of college football and the BCS national title picture! Last night, 3 Oregon fell to 5 Stanford in Palo Alto, 26 – 20. Stanford dominated this game in every sense of the word. The Quack Attack made a last ditch comeback in the 4th quarter which fell short; but the truth of this game was Stanford knows how to stop the Ducks! For the second year in a row, Oregon has lost the chance to play for the national title (most likely) at the hands of the Cardinals. Stanford played like Stanford, tough, physical, pounding running game with smart passing sprinkled in for good measure and excellent, assignment defense. This was the Stanford team that I thought had a great shot at winning the title this year before that horrific performance against Utah which has cost them that opportunity (again, most likely as things are muddied and will only sort themselves out throughout the month of November!) Oregon did not play their best football again (Stanford seems to just know how to stop the Quack Attack). Numerous mistakes and turnovers, not the least of which was the fumble by DAT (DeAnthony Thomas) inside the five yard line (was it a fumble?) along with a bit of a passive performance. Granted, things got interesting when Oregon finally scored, blocked a punt and returned it for a TD, then recovered an onside kick and went in for another TD. All this with the fourth quarter more than half way over. The next onside kick was recovered by Stanford and that was the ball game. The great beneficiary of this result, for now, FSU. As the sign said in the Stanford student section, “You are welcome FSU”! By the way, John Elway was honored at halftime with his number 7 jersey retired. (To add insult to injury, no pun intended, Oregon QB Marcus Mariota has a partial MCL sprain and thus the brace on his left knee).
6 Baylor continues to surge into the BCS national picture with a pounding of 10 Oklahoma, 41 – 12. They will play at least three ranked teams on their remaining schedule so watch out for the Baylor Bears. They are coming…..Meanwhile, 1 Alabama will host 13 LSU on Saturday night. Will LSU give them a really touch test, perhaps win, or will Bama prove they are indeed the best team in college football? (I think Stanford is the Alabama of the west coast). FSU has a relatively easy remaining schedule, never know what will happen when they face the injured Florida Gators, but they seem like the team most likely to stay unbeaten. But, as we all know, on any given day (or night)…
So, with Ohio State undefeated and an easy schedule, FSU looking to finish out undefeated, Alabama with a tougher schedule looking to go undefeated, and Baylor with a tougher schedule than FSU and Ohio State looking to go undefeated, things are still in play! Now, should we get into a situation where the BCS will come down to selecting a one loss team, Stanford could re-emerge into the picture. I truly believe Stanford is capable of beating anyone in the country. Really a shame for Oregon, second year in a row their hopes and dreams of playing again in the title game go down to Stanford. I do expect the Ducks to run the table as far as the remaining games on their schedule.
So, after this weekend, the picture will change, but not be clear. What do you guys say? Who is going to end the year at #1 and #2? Right now, I do not know. How does FSU vs. Ohio State sound? Not so good to me!
