What If?
| Published 12/10/04
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What college football needs and their fans so desperately want is a playoff system. The most suggested form of playoff is a simple eight-team elimination set up. The BCS system could still be used to determine the rank of the teams entering the tournament. If such a system were in place this year it would present us with some interesting gridiron battles. Over the course of the next three weeks I am going to break down and select winners from the match ups to crown the first ever division 1-AA college football champion to win in a playoff style championship. All simulated first-round games would be played on Saturday, December 11th on neutral fields. These result, though entirely fictitious, take into account: momentum, health, and talent as well as the way the two teams match up against each other.
1. USC Vs. 8. Virginia Tech -A rematch of the first game of the year. This time The Hokies come in as ACC Champions and with big time momentum. After letting Reggie Bush beat them in the opener, the Hokies contain Bush for most of the game. Matt Leinart opens up the offence and has a big day through the air. Beamer Ball is in full effect with the Hokies blocking a punt and a field goal attempt. However, the game comes down to a final drive that sees Virginia Tech kick a game tying field goal to force overtime. The Hokies score first with Bryan Randall slipping past the Trojan defenders for the score. Leinart strikes back with a slant to Dwayne Jarrett for a touchdown. In the second overtime, the Hokies defense forces a turnover that allows Tech to kick the game winning field goal.
Final Score: -Cal’s junior quarterback comes out throwing against a very tough Longhorns defense, leading to a couple early scores and a halftime lead. The second half is marred by turnovers. Sloppy line play sees Texas quarterback Vince Young take a beating and is forced to leave the game. Cedric Benson carries the load bringing the Longhorns within a score. In the end, the game comes down to a fourth down play where Texas fails to convert with a little over two minutes left. Cal takes over on downs and kicks a field goal to clinch the victory.
Final Score: - Two of the unbeaten teams square off in a rainy wet field. Utah’s Alex Smith tries to carry his team but the sloppy field makes it difficult for an effective passing attack. Auburn on the other hand easily pounds the ball on the ground and connects on long pass play to their leading receive Courtney Taylor right before the half to give the Tigers a comfortable lead heading into the break. The Utes don’t throw in the towel and break several big runs in the second half to cut into the lead. Jason Campbell proves to be to much for Utah as he soaks up the clock with two long drives in the fourth quarter to end Utah’s dream season.
Final Score: - The left-handed David Greene marches the Bulldogs down the field on the opening drive but a fumble by running back Danny Ware in the red zone gives the Sooners the momentum. Jason White’s offensive line continuously gives him time to pick a part the Bulldogs’ secondary. Adrian Peterson grinds his way to over one-hundred yards in the first half and has Oklahoma up by two scores at intermission. Greene does his best to bring back the Bulldogs in the second half. A blocked punt by Georgia sets them up with a chance to tie the game with a field goal with less than four-minutes to play. A bad snap sends the kick way right and Oklahoma’s Peterson runs the clock out to get the win.
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