“Why not kick it? What can go wrong?”
That thought, which one would think obviously went through the mind of University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban on Saturday evening, Nov. 30, wound up altering an entire season of college football.
Alabama, previously undefeated, saw their last second field goal try fall short and Auburn University return the kick for a touchdown. The Tigers, at 10-1 in their own right, walked away with a 34-28 win and the Southeastern Conference West division title.
So, now what?
There are two major teams that are undefeated heading into conference championship weekend. Florida State University, who entered the week at No. 2, will enter the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship at 12-0. Ohio State University entered the week ranked No. 3, and just escaped the University of Michigan to go to 12-0. The Buckeyes will face 11-1 Michigan State University in the Big Ten Conference championship.
What was supposed to be a shoo-in Alabama vs. Florida State national championship game is now a complicated mess of four teams (we think) fighting for two spots.
Florida State and Ohio State, with wins, should advance to the national championship game. That’s easier said than done, especially for Ohio State. Florida State faces a 10-2 Duke University team in the ACC Championship. Florida State should roll and clinch its chance to play in Pasadena, Calif. for a title on Jan. 6.
As for Ohio State, we said above that they play Michigan State for the Big Ten championship. The Spartans have only one loss - on the road at the University of Notre Dame. Now, Ohio State, who has been fighting all season long to have their shot at a national championship, will have arguably its toughest test on a neutral field in Indianapolis, Ind.
Should the Buckeyes falter, things start to get crazy. The SEC title game in Atlanta, Ga. will match Auburn at 11-1 and the University of Missouri, who somewhat quietly has put together an 11-1 campaign. In all likelihood, the winner of that game would leapfrog Ohio State. Until the voters claim Alabama deserves another chance. If that winner is Auburn, the Tigers should almost certainly get the nod over Alabama. If the winner is Mizzou, there is more doubt.
Personally, I’m going with Florida State vs. Auburn for the national championship. Ohio State got a scare from Michigan, and I think that Michigan State will be able to beat the Buckeyes on the neutral field. Mizzou is a nice story, but the only SEC West teams they have played, Texas A&M University and the University of Mississippi, have been close wins against mid-pack teams.
Either way, buckle up and mark your calendar for three insane games on Saturday.
But we’ve only talked about the team champion. There’s also the Heisman Trophy. Texas A&M redshirt sophomore quarterback Johnny Manziel has suffered three losses this year, likely dashing his hopes. Florida State redshirt freshman quarterback Jameis Winston is dealing with legal, off-field issues that might hold voters back. Alabama senior quarterback A.J. McCarron was next in line…until he unraveled against Auburn.
Boston College senior running back Andre Williams has averaged 172.75 yards per game and has lifted the Eagles from ACC doormat to 8-4. University of Northern Illinois redshirt senior quarterback Jordan Lynch has racked up a pair of 300-yard rushing games, on top of eight 200-yard plus passing games and an undefeated record. Do those two get looks? We will see.
All because Nick Saban tried a 57-yard field goal with a second left.