Kent State... seriously, Kent State... could deny OU a BCS bid
Published: 11/25/2012 10:45 PM
Last Modified: 11/25/2012 10:45 PM
The Oklahoma Bowl Scenario 3.0 is the loopiest yet. Near as I can tell, there is one simple way the Sooners can get into the BCS: Beat TCU Saturday morning, then win the Big 12 by watching their good friends from Texas upset Kansas State in Manhattan Saturday night.
Course, Texas might not have Alex Okafor, Marquise Goodwin or David Ash. The Horns just were just roped by TCU. K-State will have had two weeks to stew over the Baylor debacle.
What say we assume the Wildcats beat Texas and win the conference. That leaves the Sooners hoping for the last at-large bid. With a 10-2 record and No. 11 BCS rating, they seem a very worthy recipient, especially considering at-large threat Clemson lost to South Carolina last Saturday night (refer to Scenario 2.0 for why that was helpful).
Here, though, is where things get really, really weird.
Once upon a time, BCS blowhards threw non-automatic qualifying conferences a bone. They told them, "Sure, we'll give you a piece of the action IF you finish in the top 16 of our standings AND ahead of a champion from one of our conferences."
They probably had a good laugh about that… All the while never realizing that the Big East would sink to historically competitive lows.
Rutgers and Louisville, the only Big East teams playing respectable football, both lost over the weekend. They are nowhere to be found in the current BCS standings.
You know who is?
Kent State, from the non-AQ MAC, at No. 17.
And Boise State, from the non-AQ Mountain West, at No. 20.
And Northern Illinois, from the MAC, at No. 21.
Kent State, a squad that lost to that SEC monster Kentucky 47-14 back in September, might just be playing for a BCS at-large berth Friday night against Northern Illinois in the MAC championship.
It's possible that Boise State could be doing the same Saturday when it travels to Nevada, looking to tie for the MWC title.
It's even possible Northern Illinois could sneak in, though 21 seems a long way from 16 in the BCS standings.
You know what's closer to 16 than 21? 17. Kent State's position.
And that's why if you pull for the Sooners, you had better start your weekend by pulling really, really hard for Northern Illinois Friday night.
Or if Kent wins and OU prevails at TCU, you'd better pull really, really hard for UCLA to win its rematch against Stanford in the Pac-12 championship. UCLA, see, is No. 16 in the BCS. The Bruins have a hefty lead over Kent State right now, but if they lose to the Cardinal (as they did last weekend 35-17), well… You always have the Longhorns to make a last stand in the Little Apple.
Here's the rundown…
OU wins and Texas wins, OU's in the BCS as Big 12 champ. Probably in the Fiesta Bowl, though we might see a backroom switcheroo given the Sooners' desert fatigue (see Bowl Scenarios 1.0 and 2.0).
OU wins, K-State wins and Northern Illinois beats Kent State Friday, OU gets the at-large and heads for the Sugar Bowl. Unless Northern Illinois or Boise State (provided it beats Nevada) vaults into the top 16. Unlikely, but mathematically possible.
OU wins, K-State wins, Kent State wins and UCLA upsets Stanford, the Sooners are probably safe. Kent is a long way from No. 14 Clemson, and Clemson is done till its bowl.
OU wins, K-State wins, Kent State wins and Stanford wins… Better start rubbing that Roy Kramer voodoo doll now.
That or start accepting the fact that the Cotton Bowl isn't such a bad way to end the season.
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
