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BYU-OU: Wow!
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What else is there to say besides, “wow!”?
BYU’s 14-13 win over No. 3 Oklahoma not only surprised the college football world, it turned it on its ear.
One of the pre-season front runners for the national title was outplayed, out hustled and, eventually, outscored by a group of guys who, by most people’s estimation, would be lucky to stay within the 22-point spread.
Even most of its hard core fans didn’t expect BYU to win.
This is the second time in the last three seasons that the Sooners have been upset by a team from a non-BCS conference on a national stage. Boise State did it the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.
Let’s not forget what Utah did to Alabama in last season’s Sugar Bowl.
And now, add BYU to the list of non-BCS conference teams to bring down a giant.
Wow.
There seems to be a trend here. Non-BCS conference team upsets national powerhouse but still gets slighted in the polls and, more importantly, in the hunt for the BCS championship.
Let’s hope that changes this season.
BYU will likely rise significantly in the polls, but we’ll see how things pan out in regards to the BCS. One win will not make a season. The Cougars must now prove Week 1 was no fluke.
Note to BCS and the rest of the college football world: if you won’t give the BYUs, Utahs and Boise States of the “lesser” quality conferences their due, they will just have to show you that they deserve it on the field.
Eventually, enough people will tire of it and the current system will be replaced with a playoff.
Back to BYU’s feat.
Max Hall’s 329 yards passing on 26-of-38 passing and two touchdowns were at the heart of the Cougars’ impressive performance on Saturday. BYU’s running game was less-than-impressive, gaining just 28 yards on 33 carries. Harvey Unga’s absence was apparent as Manase Tonga struggled to jump start the Cougar running game. Bryan Karia ended up being the bright spot of the ground game with 42 yards on 17 carries.
But numbers can be deceiving. BYU won this game on heart and determination.
With enough questions heading into the season to accompany a Jeopardy answer board, the Cougars rose to the occasion and proved they belong in the mix for a national championship at this stage of the season.
I’m not one to put much value in pre-season polls. In fact, I favor the suggestion by some national media that polls be done away with until the first week of October. That is not meant to diminish what the Cougars accomplished against Oklahoma. Rather, it is meant to point out that every Bowl Subdivision team deserves the respect of having an equal shot at the national title at the beginning of each season.
Ranking teams even before they take the field creates a bias and begins molding the sculpture that becomes the BCS championship game way too early.
Then again, it does create underdog situations that we all love, like the one of BYU taking down the mighty Sooners in their own back yard.
It is just one game, but it’s a hell of a way to start the season and even a better way to bring respect to the Mountain West Conference.
Wow.
More info:
Oklahoma Sooners Examiner game recap
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