We'll See You In Austin, Mack

The Bowl Championship Series concluded last night with an epic battle one could easily describe as the greatest collegiate game ever played.

Texas 41
USC 38

It was the National Championship. All of the "big time" players showed up. The game was well played by each team. First downs were even at 30 a piece; total offense was 574 yards for Southern Cal to 556 for the National Champions and penalties and turn overs were low for each team, respectively. Gone was the 34 game winning streak the University of Spoiled Children rode into the Rose Bowl. Preserved is the University of Toledo's strong hold on the second longest winning streak in the modern era (post 1900) of college football.

In 2003, the University of Miami, also in possession of a 34 game winning streak, rode highly in the desert sky; a pit stop on the road to immortality was a date with the "overachieving" Ohio State Buckeyes in Tempe. Five National Championships by five separate coaches. Schnelenberger, Johnson, Ericson, Davis and second year head coach Larry Coker seeking his second straigth BCS title. But, they play 'em for a reason folks. Much to the surprise most people and delight of "the Wizard of Oohs and Aahs", Miami crumbled that night, like Ken Dorsey curling up under the pressure of Cie Grant on the game's final play. Perhaps it was a foreshadowing few recognized.

Born on that beautiful January night in Arizona was the return of glory in a state thousands of miles away.

In the past four college football seasons, no one has dominated like USC. It isn't debatable. It isn't even close. What is debatable though, is who the rest of the best are.

In this current iteration of the BCS (rotation from Fiesta to Sugar to Orange to Rose Bowls), which began with Ohio State's National Championship win in the Fiesta Bowl, the cream of the crop is, as follows:

1. USC The Trojans are the only team in America to participate in each of the four years of BCS play with a 3-1 record and one BCS National Championship (their 2004 National Championship was awarded by the AP).
2. Ohio State The Buckeyes are 3-0 in the past four seasons in BCS Play (4-0 overall in bowl play) with one National Championship.
3. Texas The reigning Champions of college football are 2-0 with back-to-back Rose Bowl victories, including last year's thriller that put Vince Young on the map, so to speak.
4. LSU One BCS appearance; one National Championship. Surely, that's worthy of number four on this important list.
5. Oklahoma A Rose Bowl win in 2003 coupled with losses in two consecutive National Championship games rounds out the Top 5.

• Honorable Mention: Auburn (only 1-0, but that single BCS win capped a perfect season); Miami (1-1, o National Championships); Florida State (0-3, but at least they're consistent); Georgia (1-1 with a Sugar "split"); Michigan (0-2, back-to-back Rose Bowl losses); Utah (1-0 and the first, and only, non-BCS Conference team to crash the cash party)

Next year though, the National Championship game returns to Ohio State's new "west" Shoe...the Fiesta Bowl.

My parting shot on the 2005 college football bowl season: No team has won two BCS Championship Games. Will 2006 be the end of that startling statistic?

1998-99: Tennessee

1999-2000: Florida State

2000-01: Oklahoma

2001-02: Miami

2002-03: The Ohio State Buckeyes

2003-04: LSU

2004-05: USC

2005-06: Texas

Damn, doesn't look like a playoff looming to me...

Senator Tressel, you remember Coach Brown? Yeah Mack, we'll see you in Austin.