We’ve got a strange one

In real life this was another controversial one, though at least this time it mostly wasn’t the BCS’s fault. At least, outside of the fact that it could only pick 2 teams. We had a whopping five undefeated teams at the end of the regular season: USC, Oklahoma, Auburn, Utah, and Boise State. USC and Oklahoma began the season #1 and #2 in the AP and Coaches polls after their success last season, and that momentum carried them all the way to the title game, leaving no room for anyone else to break in. Auburn partisans argued that their superior strength of schedule should be taken into consideration, but of course strength of schedule was largely removed from the BCS’s metrics after last year’s mess. Auburn would go on to beat Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl, finish undefeated, and for some reason not claim a national title even though they were 100% in their rights to do so.1I’m even more surprised they don’t claim 2004 now given that BCS champs USC would be forced to vacate their win after it came to light that they committed an act most fowl: paying their players in exchange for their labor. College football: where an open embrace of capitalism is somehow the progressive alternative to the status quo.

Utah would also win a BCS bowl, beating Big East champ Pitt in the Fiesta Bowl. Utah doesn’t claim a natty for this either; maybe the simple excitement of getting to crash the BCS as a mid-major was enough? Regardless they’re within their rights if they ever wanna change that, imo. Utah will get plenty more seasons like this one in the coming years, like fellow BCS busters Boise State and TCU. Head coach Urban Meyer would leave after this season to take over the Florida job, but defensive coordinator Kyle Whittingham would prove just as if not more capable, holding the head coaching position with the Utes to this day.

In our timeline these 4 are our byes. Utah crashing from a mid-major in a world with 6 major conferences is especially impressive. Though, perhaps there are only 5? This season Miami and Virginia tech would leave the Big East for the ACC, taking with them all of the Big East’s BCS berths to this point. (Except for Syracuse’s 1998 Orange Bowl appearance) The Big East champ (Pitt) does not appear in my 12-team setup, despite receiving a contractually obligated Fiesta Bowl bid in real life. This is not the end of the Big East, not yet. There will be more Big East schools to make my field, even to make the top 4 seeds. But the seeds of its eventual destruction were sewn here.

Somehow we haven’t finished with real-life’s controversies! The BCS had 2 at large spots, and one was filled by the Utes, a required selection given their #4 BCS ranking. The final spot, however, went to Texas. The week before, Texas coach Mac Brown would lobby publicly for Texas to be bumped up above fellow 10-1 team Cal, who ranked ahead of them in the AP, Coaches, and BCS. Brown specifically asked AP and Coaches poll voters to rank Texas ahead of “less deserving teams”. I guess he felt entitled to a major bowl despite not handling his business against Oklahoma. Again. For the 5th year in a row. While his Texas team was idle, Cal was winning at mid-major Southern Miss. They won by 10 points, less than Vegas thought they would, because the Golden Bears didn’t realize they had to run up the score to win a war of words. Brown’s political maneuvering were ultimately successful, denying Cal their first Rose Bowl in 45 years because god forbid Texas not get recognition as special little boys.

Anyway none of that shit happens here. If Mac wants a nice bowl game he has to earn it on the field. And Cal doesn’t get screwed, also getting to host a round 1 game. But the controversy doesn’t stop there folks! Not even a 12-team playoff would have made 2004 go down smooth. The Georgia Bulldogs, at 9-2, seemingly make perfect sense at #7. But, you’ll note the absence of 9-3 Tennessee. Georgia and Tennessee finished tied in the SEC east, each at 9-2 overall but Tennessee at 7-1 in conference (to Georgia’s 6-2), which includes a head-to-head win over the dawgs. For their troubles, they got a rematch with Auburn, which they also lost, which kept them out of the playoff. Georgia got to duck that potential 3rd loss by taking a tactical loss to the Vols earlier in the season, I suppose. This is another case of rankings momentum; I don’t see any reason why Tennessee should rank below Georgia, but Georgia started the season AP #3 while Tennessee were AP #14, and that inertia was enough to override what were otherwise very similar resumes. Despite my usual stance on 3-loss teams, I feel a loss in a conference championship game really shouldn’t count as a full loss (especially if you’re the underdog), since otherwise you’re punishing teams for being good enough to qualify for that game in the first place. In this timeline I am absolutely going to bat for the Volunteers. They were robbed.

ACC newcomers Virginia Tech manage to be only the second team ever to snag the title away from Florida State, and thus claim a playoff spot. They host Boise State, our final undefeated team. In real life Boise lost the Liberty Bowl against Conference USA champs Louisville, denying the Broncos a credible national championship claim. Those very same Cardinals are also in our field, traveling to face those undeserving dawgs. SEC West runners-up LSU come in at #11 (I guess Georgia’s win over these Tigers is how they try and justify their inclusion over Tennessee? Frankly LSU being here is a bit sus as well. Those Web 1.0 Vol fan forums would have been cooking in alt history 2004 I can tell you what.) while our #12 selection is once again controversial.

You have have noticed that 7 conference champs are already in our field, by virtue of all ranking in the BCS top 11. This includes a whopping 3 mid-major champs, which is very fun and I support whole-heartedly. This meant that Big East champs Pitt, coming in at #21 with an 8-3 record, miss out, which is only fair. But it also means that Big 10 champs Michigan, coming in at #13, miss too, in favor of Big 10 co-champs Iowa, also 9-2, who come in at #12 and thus claim the final at-large spot. Iowa lost head-to-head against Michigan, which is why the Wolverines got to claim a Rose Bowl bid in real life. But for whatever reason, the BCS system liked the Hawkeyes just a little bit more. This selection would be sure to outrage a very large fanbase, and possibly lead to changes down the line. It is a bit wrong to see a conference champ passed by a team with an identical record that it beat head-to-head. But, Michigan lost to mediocre Notre Dame and Ohio State teams that year, while Iowa lost to 9-3 Arizona State and Big 10 champs Michigan. Quality Losses strike again!2Or for the first time? “Quality Loss” was a dumb talking point from the 4-team era, I think. Eh whatever, just trust me on this one. It’s a funny joke.