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Yesterday Ohio State printed their ticket to the Rose Bowl with their 27-24 win in overtime over Iowa, but who will they be facing? That is a question that no one has had to ask in the last four years.
It’s been a foregone conclusion that USC would make it to Pasadena year in, year out. They were heads above every other team in the Pac-10 except for one game which they would inexplicably slip up on.
But not this year. After notching their third conference loss at the hands of a complete beat down by Stanford, their string of seven conference titles is gone by the wayside. In fact they are now fifth in the Pac-10 standings meaning it’s entirely possible that they might have to settle for a Las Vegas Bowl or Emerald Bowl.
Right now Oregon, Stanford, Oregon State and Arizona are still in the running to make it to the Rose Bowl. All each school has to do is win their remaining games on their conference schedule knocking each other out in the process.
Remaining conference games:
Oregon - @Arizona, Oregon State
Stanford - California
Oregon State - @Washington State, @Oregon
Arizona - Oregon, @Arizona State, @USC
If Oregon wins out, they win the conference. If Arizona wins out, they win having beat Oregon State, Stanford and Oregon. Oregon State will win if they win out and Arizona loses a game. Stanford wins if they beat Cal and Oregon, Oregon State and Arizona lose a game.
While it’s all a little confusing right now, it should make for an exciting finish to the conference season in the second best conference in college football.
Here are the Top 16 Rankings:
1. Texas (10-0, 6-0 Big 12)
2. Florida (10-0, 8-0 SEC)
3. Alabama (10-0, 7-0 SEC)
4. TCU (10-0, 6-0 Mountain West)
5. Cincinnati (10-0, 6-0 Big East)
6. Boise State (10-0, 5-0 WAC)
7. Georgia Tech (10-1, 7-1 ACC)
8. Oregon (8-2, 6-1 Pac-10)
9. Ohio State (9-2, 6-1 Big Ten)
10. LSU (8-2, 4-2 SEC)
10. Pittsburgh (9-0, 5-1 Big East)
12. Stanford (7-3, 6-2 Pac-10)
13. Iowa (9-2, 5-2 Big Ten)
14. Oklahoma State (8-2, 5-1 Big 12)
15. Virginia Tech (7-3, 4-2 ACC)
15. Penn State (9-2, 5-2 Big Ten)
Also ranked: Oregon State
Jimmy’s Bowl Predictions:
National Championship - Florida vs. Texas
Rose Bowl - Oregon vs. Ohio State
Fiesta Bowl - Boise State vs. LSU
Orange Bowl - Georgia Tech vs. Cincinnati
Sugar Bowl - Alabama vs. TCU
Andy’s Bowl Predictions:
National Championship - Texas vs. Alabama
Rose Bowl - Ohio State vs. Stanford
Fiesta Bowl - Oregon vs. LSU
Orange Bowl - Pittsburgh vs. Georgia Tech
Sugar Bowl - Florida vs. Iowa
Adam’s Bowl Predictions:
National Championship - Alabama vs. Texas
Rose Bowl - Oregon vs. Ohio State
Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma State vs. Pittsburgh
Orange Bowl - Georgia Tech vs. Boise State
Sugar Bowl - Florida vs. TCU
