Big East: Three way tie for first
The Big East ended in a three team tie for the conference title. Following No. 23 West Virginia's 30-27 win against Southern Florida on Thursday, the outcome of the Connecticut and Cincinnati game would determine who would represent the conference in their BCS bid. If Cincinnati won, Louisville, Cincinnati and West Virginia would all be in a three way tie for first place with a 5-2 conference record. The tie breaker would be the team determined by final BCS standings. The team with the best BCS ranking is expected to be West Virginia. If Cincinnati lost, Louisville would have represented the conference.
Cincinnati was able to defeat Connecticut, 35-27 with the Cincinnati quarterback Munchie Legaux throwing for three touchdowns. He was helped out by a defense that got two scores, including a strip of the Huskies’ quarterback in the end zone and a 15-yard interception return.
Pac-12: No. 9 Oregon vs. UCLA
Like the Big 10, the Pac-12 held its inaugural conference championship game when No. 9 Oregon defeated the UCLA Bruins, 49-31. The Bruins were coming off a 50-0 loss to their rivals USC, who would have represented their division but could not due to sanctions against post season play. Following the loss against USC, UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel was fired, effective after the championship game. Neuheisel had coached the Bruins for four seasons.
Oregon running back LaMichael James carried the ball 25 times for 219 yards and quarterback Darron Thomas threw for 219 yards, completing 20 of 36 attempts.
SEC: No. 1 LSU vs. No. 14 Georgia
No. 1 LSU defended its top ranking against No. 14 Georgia, 42-10, in a game many claimed they did not have to win to play for the BCS championship. LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson completed only 5 of 13 passes for 30 yards and one touchdown, but the rushing game and their defense helped the Tigers come back from a slow start, that included being down 10-7 and only having 12 yards of offense at the half.
Cornerback Tyrann Mathieu turned in a great performance for the Tigers with a 62-yard punt return for a score, a fumble recovery that set up another touchdown and another long return that gave LSU the ball on the 17-yard line of the Bulldogs.
With the win, LSU has remained the only undefeated in the season and will remain No. 1 in the BCS polls.
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