It was simple; Missouri and West Virginia win their final games of the season and both teams would be traveling to The Big Easy to contest for the national title game. Instead, in a year marked by upsets, both teams fell. West Virginia lost to unranked Pittsburg in the Backyard Brawl, and now will face Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl; Missouri's tumble cost the Tigers a national title appearace, a Big XII Championship and even the consolation of a BCS bowl payout. Missouri is headed to the Cotton Bowl to take on Arkansas as the Orange Bowl favored taking Kansas over Mizzou. The Jayhawks lost to Missouri in Kansas City in the season finale.
Southeastern Conference champion LSU returned to the top of the Southern College Football Poll for the third time this season. The Tigers hold the top ranking despite the fact that the Tigers received two fewer first place votes than Ohio State. The Buckeyes, who have not played since defeating Michigan in mid-November, remained at their No. 3 ranking due to voters jumping Georgia over the Buckeyes. LSU will play Ohio State in the BCS National Championship Game in New Orleans on Jan. 7; Georgia will also be in The Crescent City the prior week to face Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl.
For the first time all season, all five top ranked teams received at least one first place vote: LSU [4], Georgia [3], Ohio State [6], Oklahoma [1], Virginia Tech [1]. Oklahoma, which won the Big XII championship after defeating Missouri for the second time this season, jumped five spots to No. 4, followed by ACC Champions Virginia Tech. The Hokies will face Kansas in the Orange Bowl.
PAC-10 champion USC defeated UCLA and returns to the Rose Bowl for the fourth time in five years, marking the team's sixth straight BCS appearance. BCS at-large Illinios will be USC's opponent in Pasadena, Calif. The Trojans rose two spots to number six, followed by Missouri, Kansas, Hawaii and West Virginia.
Florida, whose quarterback Tim Tebow won the Heisman Trophy, fell one spot to No. 11. The Gators take on Michigan in the Capital One Bowl. Arizona State, Boston College, Illinois and Clemson complete the top 15. The Sun Devils will be playing Texas in the Holiday Bowl, while Clemson faces Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Boston College, losers of the ACC Championship game, will play Michigan State in the Champs Sports Bowl.
Tennessee dropped one spot to No. 16 following its loss to LSU in the SEC Championship Game. The Volunteers led 14-13 when quarterback Eric Ainge threw a fourth quarter interception that was returned 20 yards for a touchdown. LSU, despite playing without starting quarterback Matt Flynn, was able to hang on for the win. The Vols will play Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1.
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