The 2011 AmStat College Football Playoffs...That Will Never Happen

The holiday season is the time where we as people take time to appreciate all that we are thankful for, but as football fans, it is the time of year where we gripe about the one thing that we don't have that is on our Christmas list every year - a college football playoff. This year is no different, and for this reason, AmStat would like to present to you the Christmas miracle that is the 2011 BCS College Football Playoffs (that will of course never happen in real life because university presidents are the greediest people on earth).  

Here's the format for the BCS Playoffs. College sports are always centered around the top 25 for the entire regular season but then they quickly throw the importance of the number out of the window during the postseason. In AmStat's version of the playoffs, the top 25 matters more than ever because the top 25 teams qualify for the BCS playoffs (I know this is too many teams, but since we're never going to have a playoff anyway, allow me to take some poetic license). The first round of the bracket will consist of play-in games on the home field of the higher seed. Second round games will also be held on the campus of the higher seed. Teams will be reseeded after the first two rounds (a brilliant idea that only the NHL uses). The final eight teams will play in BCS bowl games from that point on. All the teams that were knocked out of the playoffs on campus are still eligible to play in bowl games once they are eliminated (the bowl system has been preserved!). This setup will require that the BCS will need to add two more bowl games. The logical choices would be the Cotton Bowl (this will probably eventually happen in real life) and the Capital One Citrus Bowl (The Citrus Bowl's BCS inclusion was contingent on adding "Citrus" back to the name because I HATE sponsor-only bowl names). One site will also host the national championship game just as in the current system. The bowl sites will be on rotation for hosting quarterfinals, semis, and the final. For logistic reasons. The site hosting the National Championship game will always host a quarterfinal BCS game. All of this sound reasonable so far? Good. One last concession, the Heisman ceremony has to be moved to Sunday night to allow candidates to play in their first round playoff games. Now we settle things on the field.

*All times EST of course

Playoff upsets? Count me in!

#25 Auburn at #8 Kansas State, 12/10 1pm on ESPNU 
UPSET CITY! Tigers win 30-24. Auburn isn't giving up their national title without a fight. We've had a playoff for one year and we've already seen a 25-seed pull off an upset.
#23 West Virginia at #10 Wisconsin, 12/10 1pm on ESPN
No such luck for the Mountaineers on ESPN though. The Badgers run right through the Mounties 42-14. Montee Ball scores three touchdowns, but doesn't grab any extra Heisman votes because the ballots are due before the noon kickoff.
#24 Texas at #9 South Carolina, 12/10 3:30pm on CBS
The road teams are on a roll, because Texas is rolling South Carolina on "The Deuce" (remember when this was ESPN's nickname for ESPN2). Case McCoy plays one of those games where he looks like Colt and South Carolina remembers that their South Carolina. All of a sudden the final score reads 27-10 in favor of Texas.

#21 Southern Miss at #12 Baylor, 12/10 3:30pm on FXRobert Griffin III goes nuts against a Southern Miss team that would have much rather just played in the Liberty Bowl (or whatever bowl you play in when you win the Conference USA). Bears win 52-14. This was a definite waste of Gus Johnson in a playoff situation.
#20 Nebraska at #13 Michigan, 12/10 3:30pm on ABC
Rematches are bound to happen, and this isn't a bad game to see twice. Nebraska travels to Ann Arbor for the second time this year and falls short yet again, but they keep it a lot closer this time. Wolverines win 31-28.

David Wilson makes the Hokies a tough out in a playoff

#22 Penn State at #11 Virginia Tech, 12/10 4:30pm on ESPN
Virginia Tech cruises past Penn State 31-10. David Wilson's speed is too much for the Nittany Lions to contain, and then there's the part about them not having a good quarterback. That hurt too.
#19 Houston at #14 Oklahoma, 12/10 9pm on ESPN
Who says the regular season doesn't mean anything? If Houston wins the CUSA title, they have a bye this week. But they lost, and now they're in Norman getting hammered by the Sooners. Cougars drop their second straight game, 49-28.
#18 TCU at #15 Clemson, 12/10 8pm on ABC
These two teams met in Death Valley in 2009 and TCU left with a 14-10 win. Clemson may have won the ACC this year, but it seems as if the only good team the Tigers can beat is Virginia Tech. Clemson turns out to be more cub than tiger and TCU wins a close one, 24-21. I respect the Frogs enough to not even call it an upset.
#17 Michigan State at #16 Georgia, 12/10 8pm on CBS
This game will actually take place in real life on January 2nd in the Outback Bowl, but as a part of the BCS playoffs, the game has already taken place. The Spartans did not repeat their embarrassing performance from last year against Alabama against another SEC opponent, but they did fall short once again. This time losing 27-21 between the hedges. 

Tyler Wilson is a legit star at QB

#13 Michigan at #6 Arkansas, 12/17 12pm on CBS
The second round of the playoffs kicks off with the first game of a CBS triple-header. The Hogs take care of Michigan in a game that would have been much more interesting if Ryan Mallett had stayed in school for one more year. Fortunately, Tyler Wilson may be just as good as Mallett. The final score reads 30-20 Hogs.
#11 Virginia Tech at #10 Wisconsin, 12/17 3:30pm on ESPN
Wisconsin will carry the Big Ten banner in the BCS after dispatching the Hokies in the first true defensive struggle of the tournament. No touchdowns for Montee Ball for the first time this season as Wisconsin wins 14-10.
#16 Georgia at #4 Stanford, 12/17 3:30pm on ABC
Stanford's dominant offensive line is finally starting to get some much needed recognition after manhandling the Georgia defense on The Farm. Andrew Luck leaves the field after his last home game with a 31-13 win and a clean jersey. 
#18 TCU at #3 Oklahoma State, 12/17 3:30pm on FX
We still haven't got a chance to properly utilize the vocal talents of Gus Johnson in the BCS playoffs. The most excitable broadcaster in sports is stuck with a laugher. The Pokes roll through TCU 42-17.
#25 Auburn at #1 LSU, 12/17 3:30pm on CBS
LSU beat Auburn by 35 earlier in the season. This 42-10 drubbing was just for good measure. The punt return for a touchdown, interception return for a touchdown, and the forced fumble from Tyrann Mathieu during this game have him firmly in the lead for the BCS Playoff's Most Outstanding Player award.

Why not go for it? Blake Bell is 6'5 245lbs

#14 Oklahoma at #5 Oregon, 12/17 8pm on ESPN
It's hard to imagine the Sooners as a Cinderella team, but what else can you call them after bouncing Oregon 50-49 in Autzen after going for two in overtime with Blake the "Belldozer" Bell bursting into the end zone on a QB draw.
#24 Texas at #2 Alabama, 12/17 8pm on CBS
CBS is the real winner of the BCS Playoffs so far. They're wrapping up a day of coverage that included the top two teams in the country (LSU and Alabama) and guests appearances from two of college football's most watched teams (Michigan and Texas). Someone's ratings just went through the roof. As for the primetime finale, Texas made a game of it but couldn't upset Alabama. 24-17 Roll Tide.
#12 Baylor at #7 Boise State 12/17 8pm on ESPN2
Baylor began this season with an upset victory at TCU, and they can add a Boise State road victory notch to their belt as well after defeating the Broncos 38-31. Robert Griffin III is rising to the expectations that have come with being a Heisman Trophy winner, and this game just about solidifies the fact that he won't return to Baylor next year.
#1 LSU vs #14 Oklahoma - AT&T Cotton Bowl, 12/24 12pm on FOX
The BCS quarterfinals are underway as the Cotton Bowl moves to Christmas Eve this year in our latest edition of "Throwing Tradition Out the Window!" but I'm sure they don't mind welcoming the number one team in the country to Jerry World for a date with the Sooners. This is the most potent offense that the Tigers have played all year and it takes a daring comeback to get by Oklahoma in their toughest test of the season. Tigers escape Arlington with 28-24 win.
#2 Alabama vs #12 Baylor - Capital One Citrus Bowl, 12/24 4pm on ESPN

Montee Ball had a rough time in our playoff

Baylor's amazing run finally ends in the Citrus Bowl. The Tide are able to contain RG3 in the second half to pull away late and secure a 38-24 victory. Griffin announces after the game that he is returning to Baylor, triggering a chorus of boos from Dolphins fans at the Citrus Bowl who were hoping to see him as their starting quarterback in 2012.
#3 Oklahoma State vs #10 Wisconsin - Rose Bowl presented by Vizio, 12/25 4pm on ESPN
The Cowboys don't have any problems with Wisconsin as they win their first ever BCS bowl by the score of 38-17. Montee Ball ends his season with two consecutive games without a touchdown.
#4 Stanford vs #6 Arkansas - AllState Sugar Bowl, 12/25 8:30pm on ESPN
Arkansas may be the team that benefits from this playoff the most. The Razorbacks enter into this game with two losses against the top two teams in the country. They should be able to make the claim of being the third best team in the country. A plus-one playoff system leaves the Razorbacks out in the cold, the current system leaves them out of the BCS all together. The playoff system has them beating Stanford 30-27 in the Sugar Bowl and one game away from playing for the national championship.
#2 Alabama vs #3 Oklahoma State - Discover Orange Bowl, 12/31 4pm on ESPN
In a season that has left us with one undefeated team, the question of who's number two has been asked with more volume than any other in the country. When both teams met on the field, it was Oklahoma State who emerged victorious, 24-20. As it turns out, it isn't always the best idea to assume that one team is better than the other. What a novel concept.
#1 LSU vs #6 Arkansas - Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, 12/31  8:30pm on ESPN

Even with a playoff the Honey Badger and LSU won it all

With Oklahoma State awaiting the winner in the national championship game, Arkansas and LSU battled in the desert. LSU forced turnovers, but Arkansas continued to make plays. In the end...the Tigers survived once again. Les Miles and his team held off Arkansas despite the Hogs playing their best game of the year. A blocked field goal in the waning moments would prove to be the difference for the Tigers. LSU advances home to New Orleans after a 35-32 victory.
#1 LSU vs #3 Oklahoma State - BCS National Championship, 12/9 8:30pm on ESPN
LSU wins the national championship anyway, 27-24. Still, don't you feel better that we arrived to that conclusion this way?