Sports Update Tuesday: BCS Shake-Up & Local Sports News
For the first time in five years, the number 1 and number 2 ranked BCS college football teams have lost on the same night within an hour of each other. Although the season is still a few weeks from ending, the two clear-cut favorites, Oregon and Kansas State were upset by Stanford and Baylor respectively. This provides quite a predicament for the much flawed and almost obsolete BCS system that turns to a four-team playoff in 2014. Click below for more on the BCS shake-up.
The new number 1 team Kansas State, who moved up from number 2 last week after Alabama was upset by Texas A&M, were hammered by an unranked Baylor squad, which possessed the nation’s worst defense, 52-24. This season, Kansas State made a habit of dominating opponents on offense and scoring 40.5 points (a game) and racking up about 415.7 total yards as well. If K-State can win next week against Big 12 rival Texas, they can fortunately still play in a BCS bowl game. Although it still leaves a bad taste in K-State supporters mouths because they were a high favorite for the National Championship game on January 7th.
The offensive powerhouse that is the Oregon Ducks was also upset Saturday night. A team that averages 51.1 points per game fell short in overtime to Pac 12 rival Stanford, 17-14. The Ducks could not find their offense against Stanford and often struggled with their offensive play call that proved to be flawless all season. Like Kansas State, if Oregon can take care of business in the Pac 12 championship, they will play in a BCS bowl game as well.
Obviously, with every loser comes a winner. The two losses I mentioned above allowed the number 3 and 4 teams to jump up in the rankings and take the coveted top two spots. Notre Dame (11-0) is number 1 in the BCS poll for the first time in BCS history and looking to finish off the season undefeated against their underperforming rival USC (Be on upset alert, Notre Dame!). One loss Alabama (10-1), the team who was number 1 all season, jumped up two spots from number 4 to number 2 and pending a loss to dismal Auburn in the Iron Bowl or a loss in the SEC Championship, the Crimson Tide has a chokehold on the BCS Championship. Stay tuned this week and try to comprehend and understand the wackiness that is the BCS poll, and remember, in college football, anything can happen!
Local Sports Round-Up
– The Miami Dolphins fell short to the AFC East division rival Buffalo Bills on Thursday, 19-14. Unfortunately, the Dolphins threw 2 costly interceptions late in the game and could not get the win on the road. (via ESPN)
– Due to pending sanctions from the NCAA, the Miami Hurricanes have self-imposed a bowl game ban for the second year in a row. Although, they still had a chance to make a BCS game if the ‘Canes could beat Duke and Florida State (in the ACC Championship), this kind of self-imposed ban speaks volumes to the NCAA and their looming investigation. (via SI.com)
– In baseball news, after a disappointing 2012 season the Miami Marlins shockingly traded their franchise shortstop, Jose Reyes and two best starting pitchers, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle to the Toronto Blue Jays for prospects and veteran shortstop Yunel Escobar. The 12 player trade has disheartened the South Florida baseball community and created a huge uproar towards Marlins owner Jeffery Loria and MLB commissioner Bud Selig. (via ESPN)