Auburn fans were still on the field, still figuring out what had happened and how it had happened, when it became clear this season would suffer the same fate as so many before.
Even on one of the most amazing days in college football history, there was no escaping the incompetence, stubbornness, idiocy and arrogance that has robbed so many teams and so many players of a rightful chance to play for a national championship.
The four-team playoff isn’t one year too late, it’s decades late.
And so, the debate rages for which team deserves the second slot in the BCS title game: 12-0 Ohio State or 11-1 Auburn?
The growing argument for the Tigers is they have defeated four ranked teams, including the nation’s No. 1 team, while playing in the toughest conference in the country. With a win over No. 5 Missouri in the SEC title game, there will be no team that can match the number of quality wins Auburn has accumulated.
The Buckeyes’ argument is really simple: They’re undefeated.
This isn’t Northern Illinois or Boise State or TCU or the other schools whose perfect seasons have been discounted because of conference affiliation.
Ohio State is still in the Big Ten, one of the toughest conferences in the country every single season. Admittedly, the conference has endured a down year, but ask one-loss Oklahoma State — which fell at four-win West Virginia — how easy it is to go through an entire season without one letdown game.
Why do people care that Ohio State isn’t blowing everyone out and racking up style points like Florida State, yet are able to ignore that Auburn needed to win one game on a miracle (Georgia) and another (Alabama) after their opponent missed three makeable field goals and then allowed the most bizarre ending — not involving a band on the field — in the sport’s history?
Is Ohio State one of the two best teams in the country? Probably not. But they deserve to be there. They haven’t lost a game in two seasons.
It doesn’t matter that Auburn may be the better team. They’re still probably not even the best team in their own state.
The Tigers had their shot. They just lost so long ago (Sept. 21 at three-loss LSU) that it no longer seems relevant.
It is appropriate, though, that the BCS will get its last great debate, a debate far too many believe is good for the sport. It creates more interest and gets people talking, the thinking goes.
College football is great because of debate? Really? Is that why the ending of “The Sopranos” went over so well, because people love ambiguity?
This is a country that wants answers. This is why we loathe ties.
With all the uncertainty in life, sports provide a clear set of rules to establish clarity. It shouldn’t need to be interpreted and argued over like abstract art. This isn’t envisioning Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali fighting in their primes.
We shouldn’t have to wonder if Kerry Collins and Penn State would have knocked off Nebraska or if Auburn’s undefeated team in 2004 could have won the national championship.
This all could and should be answered, but sadly, never will be.
Bowl Projections
BCS Championship (Pasadena, Calif.): Florida State (BCS No. 1) vs. Ohio State (BCS No. 2)
The Seminoles’ title hopes could be determined by Jameis Winston’s legal standing.
Orange Bowl: Alabama (BCS at-large) vs. Clemson (BCS at-large)
If Florida State and Ohio State somehow both lose, the Tide would have a chance to defend their title.
Sugar Bowl: Auburn (SEC champion) vs. Central Florida (AAC Champion)
Without a win against Missouri in the SEC Championship, Auburn may not even make a BCS bowl.
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State (Big 12 champion) vs. Northern Illinois (BCS at-large)
At this time next year, a team like the undefeated Huskies may actually have a chance to win one for the little guy in the four-team playoff.
Rose Bowl: Michigan State (BCS at-large) vs. Stanford (Pac-12 champion)
Win or lose against Ohio State in the Big Ten title game, the Spartans look like a lock for Pasadena.
Pinstripe Bowl: Houston (AAC No. 4) vs. Notre Dame (replacing Big 12 No. 7)
With only six eligible teams from the Big 12, the four-loss Irish will fill in and continue their long history of playing at Yankee Stadium.