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Message: [QUOTE="SWC75, post: 35844, member: 289"] The situation: ACC- North Carolina State went unbeaten in the conference and 8-3 overall, outscoring their opponents 365-233. SEC- Alabama had one of their greatest teams, going 11-0 and outscoring their opponents by a crushing 454-89. Big 10- Ohio State and Michigan had both won all their games going into their year-end confrontation, which ended in a 10-10 tie. The Buckeyes were voted into the Rose Bowl by the conference AD’s, presumably because the Wolverine’s quarterback, Dennis Franklin had been injured in that final game. OSU finished the regular season 9-0-1, (371-43) while the Wolves were 10-0-1 (330-88). In those days, only one Big Ten team could go bowling. Big 8- Oklahoma went 10-0-1 (400-133) but were on probation. SWC- Texas Tech went 10-1 (314-168), but lost to 8-2 (364-143) Texas 12-28 and the Longhorns won the conference with a 7-0 record. Pac 8- Defending national champion USC went 9-1-1 (301-160), losing 14-23 to Notre Dame and tying Oklahoma 7-7. Other top teams: Notre Dame was 10-0 (358-66). Penn State was 11-0 (431-120). Arizona State (491-164) and Houston (316-135) were both 10-1. Miami (Ohio) won the MAC at 10-0, (207-69). What actually happened: Miami (Ohio) beat Florida (7-4, 180-171) 20-7 in the Tangerine Bowl. The Gators had beaten the “Real” Miami 14-7 during the regular season. Houston blew Tulane (9-2, 221-147) out of the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl, 47-7. Arizona State handled Pittsburgh (6-4-1, 218-182) in the Fiesta Bowl 28-7. Texas Tech beat Tennessee (8-3, 272-219) in the Gator Bowl 28-19. On New Year’s Day Nebraska (8-2-1, 287-160) handled Texas 19-3 in the Cotton Bowl and Penn State beat LSU (9-2, 258-153), in the Orange Bowl ,16-9. The Tigers had started 9-0 but then lost to Alabama, Tulane and the Lions. Ohio State made it’s case by crushing USC 42-21 in the Rose Bowl. But it came down to #1 Alabama vs. #3/#4 Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. (Oklahoma was ranked #2 in both polls- the coaches refused to rank teams on probation beginning 1974- and Ohio State #3 by the coaches). The Irish held on to beat the Tide, 24-23 and were voted #1 in the final writer’s Poll. UPI didn’t re-poll the coaches after the bowls until the next year so Alabama went into the books as their national champion. If we had the BCS: Alabama was #1 in both polls and Oklahoma #2. But the Sooners were on probation. Notre Dame was #3 in the writer’s poll and #4 in the coach’s poll. Ohio State was #4/#3 and Michigan had the same record and had tied them. And what about Penn State who had won all their games? I suspect it would have been Alabama- Notre Dame since they both had perfect records, Alabama was #1 and Notre Dame was Notre Dame and that’s what we got. What might have happened: Auto Bids: NC State, Alabama, Ohio State and Michigan , Texas and USC At Large teams: Notre Dame, Penn State, UCLA (9-2, 470-192), Arizona State, Texas Tech, Nebraska, LSU, Houston, Miami (Ohio), and Tulane. 1st round games Tulane (9-2, 221-147) at Alabama (11-0, 454-89) North Carolina State (8-3, 365-233) at Notre Dame (10-0, 358-66) Miami (Ohio) (10-0, 207-69) at Ohio State (9-0-1, 371-43) Houston (10-1, 316-135) at Michigan (10-0-1, 330-88) Louisiana State (9-2, 258-153) at Penn State (11-0, 431-120) Nebraska (8-2-1, 287-160) at Southern California (9-1-1, 301-160) Texas Tech (10-1, 314-168) at Texas (8-2, 364-143) Arizona State (10-1, 491-164) at UCLA (9-2, 470-192) Site for the Title game: The Rose Bowl We know what happened between LSU and Penn State. Texas Tech- Texas would be a rematch of an early season game, (9/29). Woody Hayes had always refused to play his old school, Miami (Ohio) and now he ahs to. Nebraska and USC were the last two national champions. Their 1971 and 1972 teams are regarded as two of the greatest teams ever. Arizona State-UCLA would have shorted out some scoreboards. Michigan gets a shot, despite not having Franklin. Oklahoma is unfortunately absent due to their probation but the other six undefeated teams have a shot at the national championship. [/QUOTE]

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