What If...

Everyone loves to speculate about what would have happened had their team been undefeated. Unlike these people, I like to speculate what would happen for everybody's teams. So, here is what I think would have happened had these teams been undefeated.

Miami (8-1) - Miami's lone loss is to Florida State in the season opener by a field goal. Tough break. Had Miami not lost to FSU, their resume would include wins over Florida State, Clemson, and Virginia Tech. If you throw in a win over a tough non-conference opponent (Colorado) and another victory over FSU in the ACC Championship, it would be hard to keep Miami out of the BCS game. However, that's exactly what would happen. Miami made it's mark against VaTech, and with as much hype as the ESPN crew was pumping out on the Hokies, Miami would have essentially taken their place--the odd man out.

LSU (8-1) - LSU's lone loss was to Tennessee in overtime after sqaundering a huge second-half lead. Had LSU hung on, they'd be 9-0 with Ole Miss and Arkansas on the horizon, plus a date with, most likely, Georgia. If LSU navigated an SEC schedule that included Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida (combined current record of 39-10) and beat Arizona State (when they were still good) at Arizona State on the heels of a hurricane that devasted their home state, that's just too good of a story to keep them out of the BCS. Again, though, it would happen. Here is how the media would justify it. The Tigers barely beat the Sun Devils (despite extraordinary circumstances), barely beat Florida (who is not as strong as everyone thought), barely beat Auburn in overtime (by virtue of a 1 for 6 kicking performance, despite being beaten in every major statistical category--except points), and barely beat an offensively-challenged Alabama in overtime. Any SEC West team that went undefeated would get my vote, but this is the spin that the media (outside of the South) will place on the season. LSU could have been beaten at least four times.

Penn State (9-1) - One play from 10-0 and after winning out would be watching someone else win the "undisputed" national championship. Penn State has quality wins galore. If undefeated, they would claim wins over Northwestern (when it was hot), Ohio State (remember?--that team that almost beat Texas...), Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The Nittany Lions have stellar defense and a surprisingly good offense. Personally, I believe they can beat Texas, but not USC. The reason is not that USC is too good, just that they don't match up that well, in my opinion. USC is too fast for Penn State. Regardless, an undefeated Big Ten champ missing out? That hurts. Makes you wonder if the Big Ten and SEC would secede from the BCS and play their own "undisputed" national championship game. Basically, Penn State is back, but let's not get crazy. They couldn't be that could. Otherwise, the media would have ranked them higher (or at all) in the preseason polls. Really, it's Penn State's fault for not being better last year. What were they thinking?

Virginia Tech (8-1) - The Hokies blew it against Miami and precious little could get them in the championship game at this point. But, since we a playing in the world of "what if's," let's discuss. If VaTech had beaten a good Miami team, they could claim wins over the Hurricanes and an unproven West Virginia team who has capitalized on a weak Big East. West Virginia is a good team, but we don't really know what they can do. Virginia Tech's defense was great and it's offense was average. I believe they were "good enough" to make it to the BCS game. However, they could be left out because who have they played? Miami, West Virginia, and Florida State in the ACC Championship. Miami would have two losses, West Virginia is in the weak Big East, and Florida State would be (at least) a four loss team. That's hardly impressive. Place this resume against any of the previous teams and then try to claim that they are better--I dare you. This is one team that I legitimately believe would have a tough time making into the top two if any two of the teams listed above were undefeated--and rightfully so.

Alabama (9-1) - Like LSU, Alabama would have a good claim simply for winning the SEC. Wins over LSU, Auburn, Florida, South Carolina, and probably Georgia would be too good to pass up. Throw in a little tradition and some "defense wins championships" and we've got ourselves a winner. At least, that's what you would think. Nobody can make the claim that Alabama is a better team than USC or Texas (or Miami or Penn State or Ohio State--but we won't go there). The defense is unquestionably better, but the offense is light years behind. Alabama - USC would look a lot like Oklahoma - USC. It could get ugly fast. And unlike Oklahoma, Alabama doesn't have the firepower to keep up or to catch up. If Alabama run the table, it would earn respect, but not a shot at the BCS. Auburn, last year, was much better and deserving than Alabama this year. The only chance Bama has is a pity vote for the SEC, but that seems very unlikely with all the hype surrounding USC and Texas.

Notre Dame (7-2), Oregon (9-1), and UCLA (9-1) - I'm going to make the same argument for all three. Regardless of their schedule, had they gone undefeated and beaten USC, they would be playing for the national championship. They would have enough quality wins to get close to the top, and breaking USC's ridiculous win streak is good for the nod. I don't think it's fair that any would jump an undefeated Penn State simply by nature of beating USC, but let's be honest--look what simply playing USC tough did for Notre Dame. You beat the champ, and you get respect.

Auburn (8-2) - Auburn has progressed mightly since the Georgia Tech game. If Auburn was undefeated it could claim wins over LSU, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. It could probably even tack on another win against Georgia. That's impressive. But it's not enough. The schedule is impressive, but Auburn would again be left out. I love it. If that doesn't prove how unfair the poll system is, I don't know what does. The Tigers would be on a 27-game win streak. Still, I don't think there is anyone in the country that could look me in the face and say that Auburn would make it into the top two. Unfair?--you betcha. Of course, we have to remember that a team is judged by its worst opponents, so really, Auburn was never tested since it played Western Kentucky and Ball State. That seems fair to me.

Now I want to look at the top two. Do they really deserve to be there?

USC (10-0) - For once, USC has proven its worth. It could claim victories over Oregon, Cal, Fresno State, Notre Dame, and UCLA. Mad props. The offense is still amazing and the defense is slightly above average, though not the strength of this team. Throw in the win streak and USC has every right to expect to be in the BCS Championship. Yes, they started at the top. Yes, they have struggled at times. However, they have always bounced back and won. They are playing well enough to stay at the one or two spot unless they lose.

Texas (10-0) - Who doesn't like the Longhorns? They are 10-0 in the Big 12 (aka the Weakest Little Conference in Texas). They have Vince Young, who is outstanding, explosive, and exciting. However, who can they claim wins over besides a two-loss Ohio State team? They have beaten a pretty good Colorado team and...well, that's about it. Oklahoma has dropped off considerably this year and Texas simply kicked them while they were down. Texas Tech is drastically overrated. Employing the Auburn-Test, should we judge Texas by Rice or Louisiana-Lafayette? How can this team be placed on such a pedestal with their horrible non-conference schedule (except Ohio State) and incredibly weak conference? They have been challenged only once this whole season because they have only played one team worth a damn. For the media to claim that Texas "unquestionably" deserve a spot in the BCS is ludicrous after how they justified keeping Auburn out last year. It's a double-standard and another example of the how the media controls who plays for the championship.