Here's Your Playoff

“College football needs a playoff.” Between now and early January 2010, that sentence will be uttered somewhere in America roughly two billion times. While I would like to see the current system changed a bit, I love how much the regular season matters. BCS backers will tell you the regular season IS the playoff. Even if you are one of the many that refuses to drink the BCS Kool-aid, we all have to live with this system a while longer. So, before the season arrives, I’m giving you my list of which games will shape the BCS this year. If you only watch these games, then the title game and the other BCS bowls will take shape right before your eyes.

Sept. 3 (Thursday night) – Oregon @ Boise State – This isn’t a bad way to kickoff the ’09 season… a late night showdown on the infamous blue turf. Last year, Boise State ran the table in the regular season (including a win in Autzen Stadium). BSU was left out of the BCS because Utah was ranked higher, and they weren’t selected as an at-large team. Considering the schedules of the top Mountain West Conference teams, the Broncos could get a leg up towards qualifying for the BCS with a win here. The Ducks are very hard to predict this year. They are in the top 15 in the opening coaches’ poll, but some prognosticators (including Phil Steele) have them in the bottom half of the Pac 10. An opening night W for Chip Kelly would show the Ducks are for real.

Sept. 5 - Alabama v. Virginia Tech (in Atlanta) – Last year, Bama burst onto the scene by dominating Clemson in this match-up. This opening week clash of top 10 teams will thrust the winner into national title contention… at least for a few weeks.

Sept. 7 (Monday night) – Miami @ Florida State – I can remember when this was the game of the year, EVERY year, in college football. When the Canes moved to the ACC, the game was moved from mid-October to Labor Day weekend. That way, the loser still had time to get back into the national title picture. However, after three consecutive offensively challenged and ugly games, it was moved back to October. With both programs reloaded with speed and talent, and coming off two high scoring affairs, this in-state rivalry moves back to Labor Day weekend. The winner here gets a boost of confidence and a much needed win with both sides looking at rough schedules. The loser starts in a hole that will be very difficult to climb out of.

Sept. 12 – USC @ Ohio State – Who needs this win more, the Buckeyes or the Big Ten? With USC breaking in a new QB and 8 new defensive starters, OSU needs to take care of business on its home field. A win here and Tressel’s squad could enter legit title game consideration if they finish perfect. Lose here, and the Big 10’s reputation takes another hit. USC may still win the Pac 10 with a loss here. If they can win in the rabid Horseshoe, they have officially reloaded and would be primed for another shot at the crystal football.

Sept. 19 – Nebraska @ Virginia Tech – The Hokies have the experience and coaching to potentially beat Alabama to start the year. Even if they don’t, the Huskers could be saying, “What about us?” with a win in Blacksburg. A quick look at Big Red’s schedule shows us that an 8-0 record when Oklahoma visits in early November isn’t outrageous. Provided they beat the Hokies.

Sept. 26 – Rutgers @ Maryland – No, I’m not kidding. I don’t expect the Terps to make any BCS noise this year, but the Scarlet Knights have the talent and schedule to claim their first Big East crown. With an embarrassing non-league slate, this is likely the biggest road test Greg Schiano’s team will face. RU is 3-5 all-time against the Terps and lost at home to Maryland in ’07. If Rutgers gets by Cincinnati in their opener, a win here will have them perfect into mid-October and possibly beyond.

Oct. 3 – USC @ California – Whether the Trojans win or lose in Columbus, this game will give the victor the early edge in the Pac 10. It’s a safe bet that Pete Carroll will have his team clicking once they get some continuity. The Bears have a chance on their home field to knock off the Trojans before they’ve settled into an identity. If Cal wins at Oregon the previous week, this game won’t just have conference implications.

Oct. 10 – Florida @ LSU – This is the SEC game of the year. These two programs have claimed the BCS title in four of the last six years. Take one look at the Gators schedule, and you’ll notice the best chance for a regular season blemish is this trip to Death Valley. Urban Meyer has two weeks to prepare for the Tigers. Plus, Tebow’s run at a perfect season, a 2^nd Heisman and immortality are directly linked to this game. There’s nothing like a night game on the Bayou.

Oct. 17 – Texas v. Oklahoma (in Dallas) – The Red River Shootout… Colt McCoy vs. Sam Bradford. If the college football regular season is a playoff, this one is a semi-final. The winner (not the loser like last year) should pack for Pasadena.

Oct. 24 – TCU @ BYU – Sorry, Utah. This one will decide the MWC. With some impressive September wins, it could decide more than that. TCU visits Virginia and Clemson, while the Cougars play Oklahoma in Jerry Jones’s new palace and host Florida State. By merely hanging with OU, BYU can vault into the BCS hunt with a win over the Noles. The Horned Frogs will need to be perfect to crash the BCS dance. I believe the MWC champ deserves an automatic BCS berth. Check this one out, and see why the Big East is the 7^th best conference in college football.

Oct. 31 – Texas @ Oklahoma State – 364 days prior, the Longhorns lost their perfect season with one measly tick left on the clock in Lubbock. OSU’s Zac Robinson and Dez Bryant will look to duplicate the magic of Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree. Texas routinely breaks the collective hearts of Cowboy fans with Houdini-like escapes in Stillwater. In their previous visit, they spotted their hosts a 21-point advantage… only to rally for a 38-35 triumph at the final gun. OSU could make the Big 12 South a 3-team race again with a victory on Halloween.

Nov. 7 – Ohio State @ Penn State – One of these teams has claimed the league’s BCS bid for the last four seasons. This game also marks Buckeye QB Terrelle Pryor’s first game at Beaver Stadium after rejecting his home state for OSU. The winner will likely be the Big Ten’s representative at the Rose Bowl.

Nov. 14 – Notre Dame @ Pitt – The Irish finally ended their bowl drought by ripping Hawaii last year on Christmas Eve. With junior QB Jimmy Clausen, a stacked WR core and (most importantly) experience on the offensive line, Notre Dame has a shot at a BCS bid. Their manageable schedule should help too. Pitt has 15 starters back and has beaten ND in two of their last three meetings. The outcome of this game could be the difference between 10-2 or 9-3 for the Irish… or the Fiesta Bowl or the Gator Bowl.

Nov. 21 – Cal @ Stanford – This used to be rivalry weekend in college football. Now, those games are spread over a three week span. If Cal isn’t in first place, they’ll need a win to keep the pressure on whoever is. Jim Harbaugh is making strides in Palo Alto. He took over a program that went 1-11 and was won nine games in two years. He also beat the Bears in his first Big Game in ’07. With 17 starters back, the Cardinal will be no push over.

Nov. 27 (Friday) – Pitt @ West Virginia – This year’s Backyard Brawl may not be for the Big East title, but you can bet at least one of these two, if not both, will still have BCS dreams when they get together. The Panthers have won the last two meetings. Their last trip to Morgantown resulted in the stunning 13-9 upset that kept the Mountaineers out of the BCS Championship Game in ’07. WVU fans have not forgotten about it.

Nov. 28 – Florida State @ Florida – These two have played in the regular season finale each year since 1980 with the Gators holding a slim 15-13-1 advantage. FSU has lost five straight to the Gators with three of those games being decided by a margin of at least 27 points. OU and Okie State was tempting here, but the Cowboys have only won 17 of the 103 meetings with their in-state rivals. I wouldn’t miss Tebow’s farewell game in the Swamp.

Dec. 5 – SEC Championship Game – This is one of four conference title games scheduled for this date. While the Big 12 title game will likely have just as much on the line, the SEC finale is the must watch. One reason is the talent gap between the Big 12 North and South. The southern division champ has won the last four league crowns by an average margin of 35 points. The SEC championship will be hotly contested, and the winner will have earned the right to go to Pasadena.

Dec. 12 – Army v. Navy (in Philadelphia) – Alright, this one has nothing to do with the BCS. However, with no other major college football being played today, do yourself a favor and turn it on. The players you see are not trying to impress draft scouts or land a shoe contract. They are playing for the pure love of the sport and competition. If you have kids, watch even a quarter of the game with them. This will be the one time you can honestly tell them the players on the field are TRUE heroes.

Enjoy the season!