Another set of BCS standings, another humbling reality check for the Texas Longhorns. But this time, being third in the BCS does not carry a death sentence to Texas’ national title hopes.
Quite the opposite, actually. It’s a positive sign.
And that’s an ironic twist for a Texas team that made its debut at No. 3 in Sunday’s inaugural BCS standings — the same place the Longhorns finished the 2008 season, causing them to watch two other teams play for college football’s coveted crystal football.
By backtracking one spot in Sunday’s updated coaches poll, which is used to calculate the BCS standings, Texas (6-0, 3-0 in Big 12) checked in behind Florida (6-0) and Alabama (7-0) in the race to play for the national championship.
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The Longhorns, passed Sunday by No. 2 Alabama on the coaches’ ballots, wake up today as a consensus third-place team in the estimation of voters in both major polls, as well as in the BCS standings. But in reality, Texas is in prime position to play for all the marbles in January as long as it stays undefeated.
That is because Florida, the No. 1 team in the BCS, and No. 2 Alabama will meet Dec. 5 in the Southeastern Conference championship game if both teams remain undefeated. That is one day before the final BCS standings are released, setting the matchup for the Jan. 7 national championship game in Pasadena, Calif.
With one of the two teams ahead of Texas guaranteed to take a loss before the final BCS calculations, Texas looms as the likely benefactor — and a realistic projector to play in Pasadena — when the final BCS standings are released as long as the Longhorns keep winning.
Based on Sunday’s margin of separation between Texas (.8911 BCS average) and No. 4 Boise State (.8083), the Longhorns are in no imminent danger of being reeled in by another undefeated team. Although the list of pursuers is long and includes TCU (6-0), which earned its highest-ever starting spot in the BCS standings at No. 8, Sunday’s loud and clear message is that Texas controls its destiny in the national championship race.
That is a 180-degree turnaround from last season, when Texas lost ground to Oklahoma down the stretch in the BCS standings, causing the Longhorns to sit out both the Big 12 championship game and the national title game despite a 12-1 record. Now, Texas’ destiny is in its hands despite some recent shaky outings, including Saturday’s 16-13 escape from Oklahoma (3-3, 1-1) in the Red River Rivalry.
"We know we’re 6-0 and that speaks volumes," quarterback Colt McCoy said after Saturday’s triumph. "We know we haven’t played up to our potential. It might be scary if we start playing well."
Texas’ closing stretch could be tricky, starting Saturday at Missouri (4-2, 0-2), if the offense does not show more consistency. The biggest potential stumbling block is Oct. 31 at No. 14 Oklahoma State (5-1, 2-0). But the Longhorns have not lost to OSU since 1997 and the Cowboys’ current collection of playmakers is minus two All-Americans: receiver Dez Bryant (suspension) and tailback Kendall Hunter (ankle injury).