2003
THE RANKINGS
B.C.S. Top Ten: 1. Oklahoma, 2. LSU, 3. USC, 4. Michigan, 5. Ohio State, 6. Texas, 7. Florida State, 8. Tennessee, 9. Miami, 10. Kansas State
A.P. Top Ten: 1. USC, 2. LSU, 3. Oklahoma, 4. Michigan, 5. Texas, 6. Tennessee, 7. Ohio State, 8. Kansas State, 9. Florida State, 10. Miami
Andrew: Deep breaths, because Lucy has got a lot of explaining to do. We now enter college football’s version of the Twilight Zone, and what still serves as the most notable cataclysm of B.C.S. decision-making in its 15-year history. Oklahoma was the preseason #1, and up until the last weekend, they did not disappoint. They averaged nearly 43 points per game on offense with Heisman Trophy winner Jason White and were 5th in the country on defense, surrendering on 15 points per game. They beat Texas 65-13, beat Oklahoma State 52-9, and beat lowly Texas A&M 77-0. But it was the Big XII title game in Kansas City against Kansas State that shook the landscape. They badly lost to Darren Sproles and Ell Roberson’s Wildcats 35-7, but were so far ahead in the BCS standings that they wound up #1 anyway, to the anger of fans and writers alike. The #2 team in both polls was the LSU Tigers, who had one flat loss against Florida in early October, but had the #1-ranked defense in the country (11 PPG) and beat highly ranked Georgia twice, the second time in convincing fashion in the SEC title game while Oklahoma was getting pasted by Kansas State. The team that got left out by this computer-driven injustice was USC, who had only lost one game to Aaron Rodgers and the Cal Bears in overtime in late September. The A.P. revolted against the system and voted USC #1 going into their Rose Bowl matchup against Michigan, where Lloyd Carr got his one and only win over Jim Tressel on their way to winning the Big Ten. Miami won the Big East, but had two losses on their belt, as did Florida State in the ACC. Ohio State, Texas, Georgia, and Tennessee all had great years but could not win their conferences.
THE COMMITTEE SAYS…
Scott: I really liked Oklahoma in 2003, as me being a defense-running game first guy Jason White ran an efficient offense and the Sooners’ secondary had some of the best ball hawkers in the country. Since this was when USC started cheating, I’m leaving them out of any discussion. I would have vehemently told the committee to leave those cheating bastards out of the top four, as I would have GUARANTEED them if the Trojan rubbers won the national championship we would have to vacate it 10 years later. So there. I loved LSU and their punch in the mouth defense, a different philosophy to the faster way Stoops ran his defense. The Sooners lose nothing even getting whacked by K-State, they just aren’t the #1 seed anymore. Mack Brown’s Longhorns had an incredible season with dynamic redshirt freshman Vince Young. They got hosed because K-State (who I thought was ok, not BCS worthy) played four good quarters against a Sooners team looking ahead to the BCS Championship. So both those teams made it and Texas was pushed out. They also deserved to a chance to dish payback to OU for the 52-point waxing they got in the Red River Shootout that year. Michigan won the Big 10 and took out the previous year’s runner up Ohio State, so they get the nod also. I would probably be a colossal pain in the ass to the committee about dumping Michigan and putting either TCU or Boise State in to start the ball rolling on getting mid-majors some love. (1. LSU, 2. Oklahoma, 3. Texas, 4. Michigan)
Nick: To be honest, I feel like the four teams here are pretty clear-cut. Michigan, USC, Oklahoma and LSU were the four most deserving teams, with the only question being where to seed each team. At the time, the Big 10 did not play a title game, meaning Oklahoma had to pass a test Michigan never took. Add to that Michigan’s two losses compared to Oklahoma’s zero regular season losses. Oklahoma’s regular season dominance is just too much, giving the Sooners the nod as the number three seed, while Michigan is relegated to the four spot. From there, it becomes a debate between USC and LSU for the number one seed. The SEC was still on its way to being the dominant conference it is today, but wasn’t quite there yet. LSU had a couple of close wins over Georgia and Ole Miss to go with their loss to Florida, while USC’s only loss was in triple overtime and the Trojans had no other games decided by fewer than 17 points. Add to that USC’s season opening 23-0 win at Auburn, and you have my rationale for putting USC above LSU. (1. USC, 2. LSU, 3. Oklahoma, 4. Michigan)
Andrew: And THIS is where having a certified Final Four in college football would do everyone a lot of good, as the argument about who should go into the semi-finals is much easier to figure out in a room of decision makers then just praying that the B.C.S. gets #1 and #2 right, which they clearly didn’t do this year. For me, losing so badly in your conference title game the way Oklahoma did is unacceptable, almost treating it like a throwaway scrimmage. I would have punished Oklahoma by putting them at #3 behind USC, with my Tigers (Yes, I am biased, so sue me) at #1. I had no problem with Michigan at #4 when they played the Trojans (and lost badly) in the Rose Bowl, so putting them in the last slot makes sense to me. The toughest choice is who would go #1 or #2 in that room between LSU and USC. We could have been in there all night debating that one. (1. LSU, 2. USC, 3. Oklahoma, 4. Michigan)
The Decision: Ah, bold move, Criscuolo! He takes USC off the slate completely, pegging them down to #3 on our final ranking. LSU gets two out of three #1 votes, so there they sit at the top while Oklahoma remains at #2, despite the controversy. Michigan was voted by all of us for #4, so there we stand.
THE FINAL FOUR
#1 LSU vs. #4 Michigan in Chick-fil-A Bowl, #2 Oklahoma vs. #3 USC in Fiesta Bowl
Scott: John Navarre was watching a guy walking in quicksand. He had a good arm and with time could work defenses over with short slant passes. However against this vicious LSU defense he wasn’t going to get that kind of time. Navarre would only complete 8 passes and be sacked 11 times as LSU would dominate time of possession and shut the Wolverines out 21-0. Meanwhile in Tempe Jason White would do the same thing that LSU would do. White controls time of possession while the powerhouse Sooners defense would shut junior Matt Leinart down and hold Reggie Bush and Lendale White to a combined 79 yards on 32 carries. Oklahoma wins 27-6.
Nick: LSU’s 2003 defense was terrifying. Michigan’s 2003 offense was good, but John Navarre would have had a tough time escaping the relentless pass rush. As they did all year long, LSU dominates on defense and makes just enough plays on offense to beat the Wolverines in Atlanta. I’ll say LSU wins 27-13.
The other game comes down to this: How much do you trust Jason White? Against a defense full of NFL talent like USC, my answer is not very much. USC wins 31-21.
Andrew: If John Navarre had THAT much trouble against USC’s defense that year in the Rose Bowl (which was very good), then I have no idea what would have happened to an immobile quarterback like that against the LSU defense, which was beyond stifling. LSU beats Michigan 21-10 as they gang up on Chris Perry. The Sooners play the Trojans in the Fiesta Bowl a year before their undefeated encounter at the Orange Bowl. I don’t see 55-19 here, though, this game is very close. USC’s running game was a work in progress that year, but Jason White chokes once again. USC wins.
THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#1 LSU vs. #3 USC
Scott: The LSU defense will hold their own while Matt Mauck throws for 245 yards and 2 TD’s. Reggie Bush fumbles in the fourth quarter and Ryan Gaudet hits a 45 yard field goal with :45 seconds left to win it for Nick Saban and offensive wunderkind Jimbo Fisher. FINAL SCORE: LSU 24, USC 21
Nick: This would have been a great matchup had we gotten it. LSU and USC both had the look of dominant teams at times during the season, and this would have been a fantastic way to settle a national championship. Would LSU’s defense have been enough to carry the Tigers to a win over USC? I don’t know. I think LSU would have forced its share of turnovers and caused its share of havoc, but I don’t know that LSU faced an offense quite like the one USC had that year. It would have been very close, but I’ll say USC makes one more play at the end and beats LSU 31-27.
Andrew: Man, I wish we had seen this. As an LSU fan, the burden of being told by national media that we had to share the national title with USC even though we won the BCS title is tough to bear even to this day. LSU did not play a quarterback as efficient all year as Leinart was that season, but I think the defensive line and secondary would have given him fits and the running backs would have been smothered. Meanwhile, USC also had a really good defense of their own against an LSU offense with a mediocre quarterback but some pro talent at running back and wideout. I still think LSU would have won, so I will go with the Tigers over the Trojans in a 20-17 classic.
The 2003 B.C.S. Busters Champion is… the LSU Tigers!
Next on B.C.S. Busters: We settle the infamous Oklahoma/Auburn debate of ’04, Vince Young and Reggie Bush look to do battle again, and do we get that Michigan/Ohio State rematch in ’06?
