This past Saturday, we saw a whole slate of college football games with titles on the line. On the other hand, today in the NFL, no actual championships were played for, yet there were clear reminders that in effect, a title is always on the line in this league-one loss can shift the balance of power, and make or break a team's season.
Looking at college football's Championship Saturday, several teams stayed true to form, and played their way into marquee bowl games. The Auburn Tigers ran away from South Carolina on their way to a 56-17 SEC championship game victory and BCS National Championship berth. That effort was perhaps the most impressive of any all weekend, as the Tigers seized control with three first-quarter scores, and allowed the Gamecocks only 10 points the rest of the way. Despite the controversy surrounding Tigers star Cam Newton, I believe we'll see him accept the Heisman Trophy in New York City next weekend, as a result of his performances in both the title game and throughout the season.
The Tigers' opponent in that BCS championship game, the Oregon Ducks, also paved their way to Glendale with a decisive win, knocking off Oregon State in Corvallis by 17. In this instance, there is no BCS controversy whatsoever. The two best teams in the country, both undefeated, will square off in the national title game, a contest which promises lots of offensive fireworks.
In other championship games, Oklahoma delivered an upset by knocking off a highly-touted Nebraska team. The fact that the Sooners got to Husker QB Taylor Martinez seven times on defense is impressive, and the fact that they rallied to win after being down by as much as 17 is equally astounding. Bob Stoops' crew now have until New Year's Day to prepare for a 4-loss Connecticut team coming off a narrow win over South Florida. That could be one of the more lopsided games in BCS bowl history if the Sooners play full-throttle against what should be an overmatched UConn team.
Across the country, Virginia Tech punched its own ticket to a BCS bowl by beating FSU in Charlotte. Hokies QB and ACC Player of the Year Tyrod Taylor was instrumental in that win, setting the Va. Tech single-season record for TD passes with three scoring throws in leading Tech to a 44-33 victory, and a trip to the Orange Bowl.
The weekend's impressive football action didn't stop on Saturday, however. The Saints and Bengals played one of the better games of the day in battling to a 23-20 decision. New Orleans showed toughness and focus in delivering a win, and despite the hype surrounding Terell Owens and Chad Ochocinco, Cincy hasn't been able to win ballgames this year.
In another notable game, the Indianapolis Colts now find their playoff hopes in jeopardy after a narrow overtime loss to the Cowboys. Indy fell behind 17-0 early in uncharacteristic fashion, and Peyton Manning's four-interception effort certainly didn't help their comeback cause. More surprisingly, Manning found his top target, Reggie Wayne, 14 times for a total of 200 yards, and yet still found himself on the losing end.
Looking at other teams who've experienced struggles, the Denver Broncos dropped their eighth straight game this year, falling to the Chiefs in a 10-6 defensive struggle. That team is a far cry from the squad that opened last year on a six-game win streak.
But, next week and later on this season, we might see stories like these reversed-champions will fall, winners will cede control to their rivals, and as always, the games will go on. For more on the world of pro and college sports, keep reading later this week.
--Beau
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