After arguably the wildest finish to a college football game that I have ever seen, Alabama is outside of the national BCS Championship conversation … for now. Even with the loss to Auburn, I would still contend that Alabama deserves to be in the national championship game. In what is to follow, I will break down the resumes of the three teams ranked above Alabama to distinguish whether or not they deserve to go to Pasadena.
First, let’s look at Florida State. This year, Florida State has the second-highest-rated offense, led by phenom Jameis Winston. The Seminoles have averaged 53.7 points per game, while holding opponents to 11 points a game, which places the Seminole defense as the statistically best defense in the country. The Seminoles have victories over then-ranked No. 25 Maryland (they finished the season 7-5), then ranked No. 3 Clemson in a rout (51-14) and then-ranked No. 7 Miami in a blowout (41-14). Florida State has defeated its opponents by an average of 42.6 points per game. However, these numbers may be inflated by the 63-0 rout of Maryland, the two back-to-back, 56-point wins over Syracuse and Wake Forest and the 80-14 obliteration of Idaho.
Florida State has not been closely challenged in a football game since the early season win over Boston College by six points. With the presumed win over No. 20 Duke this Saturday, Florida State will boast wins over four ranked teams, while having arguably the best defense and offense in the country. In my opinion, Florida State deserves its assumed spot in the BCS National Championship game.
Next, let’s look at the body of work that Ohio State University has put together. Off the top, we have to mention that Ohio State has yet to lose a game under Urban Meyer. Also, Ohio State has the third-best offense in the country, putting up 48.2 points a game. In addition, Ohio State is home to the country’s second-best rushing attack. The Buckeyes average 321.3 yards per game on the ground. Ohio State’s resume does not have the list of impressive wins that I have listed for Florida State and will list for Alabama shortly. Ohio State has victories over then-ranked No. 23 Wisconsin and then-ranked No. 16 Northwestern. In retrospect, the Northwestern victory is not impressive, as the Wildcats finished the season 5-7. On Saturday, the Buckeyes have the opportunity to get a signature win over a top-ten opponent in the Big Ten Championship versus Michigan State.
However, my only question about Ohio State if they win out would be: How many times can you deny a team that has had back-to-back undefeated seasons a shot in the national championship game? But due to the lack of impressive victories over superior competition, I do not believe Ohio State deserves to be in the BCS National Championship game.
War Damn Eagle. Honestly, I did not begin taking Auburn seriously until after they defeated Johnny Football and the Aggies on Oct. 19. The Tigers bolster a top-five running attack coupled with a top-20 offense. Auburn holds victories over the then-ranked No. 24 Ole Miss Rebels, No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 25 Georgia and No. 1 Alabama. To be fair, Auburn defeated both an injury-plagued Georgia and Alabama on miracle plays. However, what counts is the final result, so speculation is no good here. Plus, if Auburn beats a No. 5 Missouri in the SEC Championship game, I will find it difficult to NOT have the Tigers in Pasadena. Keep in mind that Auburn accomplished all of this while coming off a 0-8 performance in the SEC last season.
The University of Alabama is my second-favorite SEC team. Let me go ahead and put that out there before I begin. Alabama holds the second-best defense, a top-15 offense, and a top-25 rushing attack. Alabama has also held three of its opponents to zero points (Ole Miss, Arkansas and Chattanooga). Alabama holds wins over then-No. 6 Texas A&M, then-No. 21 Ole Miss and then-No. 13 LSU. The only blemish on the resume of the Crimson Tide’s record is the legendary loss to Auburn last Saturday. I have yet to be convinced that Alabama is not the best team in the country.
So, what does all of this mean? Well, for me it means that I hope both Florida State and Ohio State lose on Saturday. Even though I think Florida State deserves to be in the national championship game, I would much rather the national championship streak of the SEC remain intact. I would like to see an Auburn-Alabama rematch. If somehow this magically happens, I do not expect any 100-plus-yard missed field goal returns or coaching miscues by Nick Saban.
In closing, I want to give a huge shout out to MY OLE MISS Rebels, and specifically to Bo Wallace. I am sorely disappointed in the Ole Miss fans who publicly lambasted this young man over the result of a football game. People all too quickly forget that he, too, is just a human being and he is someone’s son, brother, grandson, cousin, nephew, etc. Stay strong, Bo! I look forward to a spectacular finish to the ending of the college football season. Hotty toddy!
Tim Abram is a senior public policy leadership major from Horn Lake.
-Tim Abram
toabram@go.olemiss.edu
