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Letter perfect: halfway through, the 2004 season has it all—a packed Heisman race, several new powerhouse teams and a potentially explosive situation at the top of the BCS poll

Sporting News, The, Oct 25, 2004 by Matt Hayes

They swore it would be easier this time around, proclaiming that, really, seriously, this was the best way. The computers wouldn't carry as much weight. Opponents' opponents' schedules and "value points"--and God knows what other useless numbers those computer nerds decided were imperative to the game--were no longer part of the equation.

Not surprisingly, the BCS scene--college football's annual bellyache--is as twisted and tumultuous as ever, no matter what the BCS honchos say. Multiple unbeaten teams and multiple one-loss teams and multiple non-BCS teams could wind up kvetching and crying, and would it really be so shocking if any team--even Southern California or Oklahoma--ended up on the wrong side of an upset before the second week in December? If there's one thing we've learned from this annual chaos, it's that a team we'd never have believed could be playing for it all will be playing for it all come January.

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We're halfway through another beautifully baffling season, and there's no clear No. 1, no Heisman Trophy candidate who has separated himself from the rest of the field and no idea who will be playing in the Orange Bowl national championship game. In short, we don't know who will be holding that Waterford crystal football at the end of the season--and more important, if it will signify half or all of the national championship.

From A to Z, we're wrapping up the first half of the season and forecasting the second. Hey, at least it's less confusing than the BCS.

Another fine mess for the BCS. Let's say Southern California loses once, California wins out and there is only one unbeaten team from a BCS conference. But the computer polls spit out some strange math, and Cal goes to the Orange Bowl to play for the national championship while USC is left with the Rose--despite its victory over the Bears. Don't think it can't happen. In 2000, Miami beat Florida State, both teams finished with one loss, but the Seminoles went to the Orange Bowl instead of Miami because of some funky BCS numbers. So let's say USC, Oklahoma, Auburn and Wisconsin all finish unbeaten--not that much of a stretch. Like it or not, somebody will get hosed. How crazy could it get? Georgia, TSN's preseason pick to win it all, isn't out of it yet. In fact, as many as a half-dozen one-loss teams have hope.

Everyone breathe and discuss.

Cedric Benson, meet Chris Simms and Roy Williams and just about every other elite skill player Texas coach Mack Brown somehow convinced to come to Austin for all the glitz and glory of ... finishing second in the Big 12 South. OK, so Mack didn't convince every high school star. One certain tailback from Brown's home state of Texas chose to play for that team to the north of the Red River and is merely, oh, threatening to win the Heisman as a freshman. But do we really need to rub it in?

Cadillac and Campbell--the keys to Auburn reaching its potential a year later than expected. No one runs harder or has better shakes than tailback Carnell "Cadillac" Williams. He's more dynamic this season because he's healthy and because quarterback Jason Campbell finally is comfortable, with his fourth offensive coordinator--and fourth offensive scheme--in four years. If Auburn beats Georgia on November 13, no one in the SEC will touch the Tigers the rest of the way.

Defense--its a premium. Of the past four BCS champions. only Ohio State (23rd) didn't finish in the top eight in total defense. But let's not kid ourselves: The Buckeyes had the nation's best defense by the end of the 2002 season. Just ask Ken Dorsey, Andre Johnson, Willis McGahee and all of those NFL players on the Miami offense that Ohio State stopped in the Fiesta Bowl.

Among the top 10 defenses at the midway point: Wisconsin, Miami and--this is not a misprint--California (see: A).

Erik Ainge has Tennessee leading the pack in the SEC East, and the gangly, fiery freshman quarterback's arm strength and moxie make him look a lot like some guy named Manning, who has a wax statue--don't make me explain this; this is what they do in the South--in the school's hall of fame. Ainge has victories against Florida and Georgia in the same season, which is something Manning never accomplished. Ainge could get another shot at Auburn--retribution for his five-turnover performance against the Tigers earlier this month--in the SEC championship game.

Five games that will define the championship race:

Oklahoma at Oklahoma State, October 30. Dear Les: Can you please give me some pointers on beating the Sooners? Love, Mack.

Georgia at Auburn, November 13. Recent history shows the visiting team in this series is more likely to win the game. Yeah, well, to hell with history.

Miami at Virginia, November 13. The Canes are back, baby! They're unbeaten, they've got the swagger, and they've got Brock Ber ... pssst, think Miami at Virginia Tech, circa 2003. It'll be identical.

Wisconsin at Iowa, November 20. It's the last game of the season for the Badgers and the last chance for anyone in the Big Ten to stop UW's unbeaten season.

Letter perfect: halfway through, the 2004 season has it all—a packed Heisman race, several new powerhouse teams and a potentially explosive situation at the top of the BCS poll

Sporting News, The, Oct 25, 2004 by Matt Hayes

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