Lovin' College Football These Days!
Defense and running game carry No. 9 Oklahoma to Big 12 title
By JIM VERTUNO, AP Sports Writer
December 1, 2007
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The championship dream finally died for No. 1 Missouri. The Oklahoma Sooners showed the Tigers just what it takes to win a title: defense and a bruising running game near the goal line.
The No. 9 Sooners rushed for three touchdowns, quarterback Sam Bradford threw for two more and Oklahoma coolly captured its fifth Big 12 title since 2000 by upending the upstart Tigers 38-17 Saturday night in the conference championship game in the Alamodome.
Now that the Tigers are out of the Bowl Championship Series title game, the question is "Who's in?"
With No. 1 Missouri and No. 2 West Virginia both losing Saturday, No. 3 Ohio State gets a boost into the Jan. 7 title game in New Orleans. Sunday's BCS rankings will decide what opponent gets an unexpected chance to play for the national championship.
Maybe it should have been Missouri, but it isn't.
The Sooners contained the Tigers' Heisman Trophy hopeful quarterback Chase Daniel and three times forced one of the nation's best offenses to settle for short field goals instead of touchdowns. It was the first time this season Missouri was held under 30 points.
When given the chance, the Sooners pounded the Tigers with short-yardage rushing TDs. Chris Brown scored twice and Allen Patrick added another. Bradford's TD passes in the second half pulled the Sooners away from a 14-14 halftime tie and wrapped up a berth in the Fiesta Bowl for the second straight year.
Daniel, who needed a big game and most importantly a win to boost his Heisman chances, was 23-of-39 for 219 yards and no touchdowns. He ran for the Tigers' only TD in the second quarter.
One of his incompletions was a tipped pass that was intercepted by OU linebacker Curtis Lofton that set up Bradford's first touchdown pass and a 28-14 Sooners lead in the third quarter.
Bradford was 18 of 26 for 209 yards. Patrick and Brown combined to rush for 159 yards for the Sooners.
Pittsburgh 13, (2) West Virginia 9
By RALPH D. RUSSO, AP College Football Writer
December 1, 2007
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- The curse of No. 2 claimed another victim.
West Virginia is out of the national title race. Ohio State is in.
In a season defined by upsets, Pittsburgh came up with an enormous one, beating the second-ranked Mountaineers 13-9 Saturday night to throw another curveball at the BCS.
A win away from playing for the national championship, the Mountaineers were expected to roll over rival Pittsburgh (5-7) on their way to New Orleans for the Bowl Championship Series title game.
No way. Not in this unpredictable season, when nothing has gone according to plan and upsets have become so frequent the word itself has almost lost its meaning.
"I thought we were ready," said West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez, speaking slowly and struggling to get through his postgame news conference. "We picked an awful time to have our worst offensive game in years."
No. 2 had already lost six times this season, five times to unranked teams. In a year when Appalachian State beats Michigan and 41-point underdog Stanford beats Southern California, West Virginia (10-2) losing the 100th Backyard Brawl as a four-touchdown favorite shouldn't be all that shocking.
Especially after the Mountaineers lost Heisman Trophy contender Pat White to a dislocated thumb in the second quarter. White tried to play in the fourth quarter, but he couldn't conjure a comeback.
When Pitt punter Dave Brytus ran out of the end zone for a safety on the final clock-killing play, West Virginia, a program that has won more games then any other in major college football without winning a national title, was done.
Sitting at home in Columbus, Ohio, the Buckeyes got what the last upset they needed to get themselves back in the national title game.
Almost a month ago, Ohio State was No. 1 and in control of the Bowl Championship Series title race when it lost at home 28-21 to Illinois. The Buckeyes beat Michigan a week later to lock up the Big Ten then watched week after week as the other contenders went down.
They needed one more to fall Saturday and West Virginia obliged.
The Mountaineers will have to be content with their second BCS bid in the last three seasons and most likely a trip to the Orange Bowl.
By JIM VERTUNO, AP Sports Writer
December 1, 2007
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The championship dream finally died for No. 1 Missouri. The Oklahoma Sooners showed the Tigers just what it takes to win a title: defense and a bruising running game near the goal line.
The No. 9 Sooners rushed for three touchdowns, quarterback Sam Bradford threw for two more and Oklahoma coolly captured its fifth Big 12 title since 2000 by upending the upstart Tigers 38-17 Saturday night in the conference championship game in the Alamodome.
Now that the Tigers are out of the Bowl Championship Series title game, the question is "Who's in?"
With No. 1 Missouri and No. 2 West Virginia both losing Saturday, No. 3 Ohio State gets a boost into the Jan. 7 title game in New Orleans. Sunday's BCS rankings will decide what opponent gets an unexpected chance to play for the national championship.
Maybe it should have been Missouri, but it isn't.
The Sooners contained the Tigers' Heisman Trophy hopeful quarterback Chase Daniel and three times forced one of the nation's best offenses to settle for short field goals instead of touchdowns. It was the first time this season Missouri was held under 30 points.
When given the chance, the Sooners pounded the Tigers with short-yardage rushing TDs. Chris Brown scored twice and Allen Patrick added another. Bradford's TD passes in the second half pulled the Sooners away from a 14-14 halftime tie and wrapped up a berth in the Fiesta Bowl for the second straight year.
Daniel, who needed a big game and most importantly a win to boost his Heisman chances, was 23-of-39 for 219 yards and no touchdowns. He ran for the Tigers' only TD in the second quarter.
One of his incompletions was a tipped pass that was intercepted by OU linebacker Curtis Lofton that set up Bradford's first touchdown pass and a 28-14 Sooners lead in the third quarter.
Bradford was 18 of 26 for 209 yards. Patrick and Brown combined to rush for 159 yards for the Sooners.
Pittsburgh 13, (2) West Virginia 9
By RALPH D. RUSSO, AP College Football Writer
December 1, 2007
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- The curse of No. 2 claimed another victim.
West Virginia is out of the national title race. Ohio State is in.
In a season defined by upsets, Pittsburgh came up with an enormous one, beating the second-ranked Mountaineers 13-9 Saturday night to throw another curveball at the BCS.
A win away from playing for the national championship, the Mountaineers were expected to roll over rival Pittsburgh (5-7) on their way to New Orleans for the Bowl Championship Series title game.
No way. Not in this unpredictable season, when nothing has gone according to plan and upsets have become so frequent the word itself has almost lost its meaning.
"I thought we were ready," said West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez, speaking slowly and struggling to get through his postgame news conference. "We picked an awful time to have our worst offensive game in years."
No. 2 had already lost six times this season, five times to unranked teams. In a year when Appalachian State beats Michigan and 41-point underdog Stanford beats Southern California, West Virginia (10-2) losing the 100th Backyard Brawl as a four-touchdown favorite shouldn't be all that shocking.
Especially after the Mountaineers lost Heisman Trophy contender Pat White to a dislocated thumb in the second quarter. White tried to play in the fourth quarter, but he couldn't conjure a comeback.
When Pitt punter Dave Brytus ran out of the end zone for a safety on the final clock-killing play, West Virginia, a program that has won more games then any other in major college football without winning a national title, was done.
Sitting at home in Columbus, Ohio, the Buckeyes got what the last upset they needed to get themselves back in the national title game.
Almost a month ago, Ohio State was No. 1 and in control of the Bowl Championship Series title race when it lost at home 28-21 to Illinois. The Buckeyes beat Michigan a week later to lock up the Big Ten then watched week after week as the other contenders went down.
They needed one more to fall Saturday and West Virginia obliged.
The Mountaineers will have to be content with their second BCS bid in the last three seasons and most likely a trip to the Orange Bowl.