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Bruin up some clarity UCLA win over Washington St. could clear up BCS messPosted: Sunday December 01, 2002 7:15 PMUpdated: Sunday December 01, 2002 7:46 PM
By Stewart Mandel, CNNSI.com UCLA has never had more fans than it will Saturday against Washington State. Even the Bruins' arch rival will be pulling for them. Following USC’s 44-13 victory over Notre Dame and Oklahoma’s 38-28 loss to Oklahoma State, the Trojans (10-2) are expected to leapfrog Iowa (11-1) for No. 4 when the second-to-last BCS standings are released Monday. Teams that finish in the top four are guaranteed at least a BCS at-large berth, meaning USC no longer has to worry about getting squeezed out by the very team it just crushed. “They’re picking up ground everywhere,” Jerry Palm, who replicates the standings on CollegeBCS.com, said of the Trojans’ rise in the computers. “I think they’re going to have a healthy lead.” Now it’s Iowa, however, that faces the possibility of being jilted in favor of Notre Dame (10-2). Just like the Trojans, the Hawkeyes must root for UCLA (7-4) to knock off Washington State (9-2) on Saturday, which would elevate USC to Pac-10 champion and thus free up an at-large berth for Iowa. If that happens, and assuming No. 1 Miami (11-0) beats Virginia Tech (9-3), the eight BCS bowl slots would fall neatly into place:
Fiesta: Miami (Big East champ) vs. Ohio State (Big Ten champ) However, if Washington State defeats UCLA, the Cougars get the Pac-10’s automatic berth over the Trojans. With USC still guaranteed one of the two at-large berths, Iowa and Notre Dame would be left fighting for the other, which, despite the Hawkeyes’ better record and higher ranking, will still cause great debate within the BCS. The Orange Bowl would much rather have Notre Dame and its national following over USC, a West Coast team that probably won’t travel well. But such a selection would infuriate the Rose Bowl, which desperately wants Big Ten co-champ Iowa so it can return to its Big Ten-Pac-10 tradition. In theory, the Orange Bowl has a higher pick than the Rose (for losing the highest-ranked team, Miami), but in reality, the BCS lineup is set in conjunction by the bowls, the conferences and ABC, which may look to avoid this somewhat awkward lineup:
Fiesta: Miami vs. Ohio State “If they want the BCS to go beyond 2005, they’d be smart to find a way not to tick off the Big Ten and the Rose Bowl,” said Palm. “But I’ll believe Notre Dame gets left out when I see it.” One other remaining possibility that would jolt the BCS entirely is if Miami loses to Virginia Tech on Saturday. Georgia, at No. 3, would likely replace the ‘Canes in Tempe with a victory over Arkansas. Miami would go to the Orange Bowl. If Georgia also loses, however, it’s quite possible Miami wouldn’t fall below No. 2 and would still play for the national championship. “Miami still has a chance [if it loses],” said Palm. “So does USC. I don’t think Iowa does, but it would be very close.” Stewart Mandel covers college football for CNNSI.com. |
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