College football has a thing for drama.
At 10:35 p.m. on Saturday, Stanford kicker Jordan Williamson sent a 37-yard field goal through the uprights and sent a Catholic university in South Bend, Ind., and the entire southeast region of the country into frenzy.
Both Notre Dame and the Southeastern Conference needed help to get a chance at the BCS National Championship game and got it as the No. 1 and No. 2 AP teams lost on the same day for the first time since Dec. 1, 2007, when Missouri and West Virginia fell. It was the third time that season it happened.
“On one hand, it’s really surprising because these teams have been beating the hell out of everybody by three or four touchdowns a game,” Ralph Russo, Associated Press college football writer, said. “But on the other hand, we really shouldn’t be all that surprised, because it tends to work out that way every year.”
Only three BCS conference teams (Auburn 2010, Alabama 2009, Texas 2005) have gone undefeated in the last seven years.
Baylor dominated then No. 1 Kansas State on the road, 52-24, and Stanford went on the road and upset No. 2 Oregon, 17-14, in overtime in Autzen Stadium.
“When it happens at the same time on the same night, it’s definitely great theater,” Russo said.
But these losses shouldn’t come as a surprise for those who closely follow the BCS.
In the BCS-era, 17 times teams ranked in the top-2 have lost in the final three weeks of the season. Seven of those losses have come at the hands of unranked opponents.
The chaos that ensued opened the door for Notre Dame to jump to No. 1 for the first time in the BCS-era and the first time in the AP Poll since Nov. 14, 1993. It also gave the Tide the chance to again control its own destiny in its pursuit of the national championship.
The Fighting Irish and Crimson Tide have history in being ranked as the top-two teams in the country. In 1967, Notre Dame and Alabama were ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively.
Three times in 1964, Notre Dame was No. 1 and Alabama was No. 2. The Tide ended up winning the national title after Notre Dame lost to USC.
USC is the only thing standing between the Irish and a trip to Miami, Fla. Alabama must defeat in-state rival Auburn and take down Georgia in the SEC championship game.
For the seventh consecutive year, the SEC will have at least one representative in the national championship game. For Alabama, a second chance at destiny fell into the Tide’s lap for the second year in a row.
“I didn’t see any chance of Alabama losing its focus or taking this game for granted anyway, but now, it’s clear it’s not a what if on Alabama having to depend on others,” Don Kausler, Alabama beat writer for al.com, said. “They’re in control of their own destiny. And if they don’t take care of their own business now, it’s their own fault.”
