BCS Shaken Up After Upsets of #1 and #2

College Football always finds a way to amaze me!  Upsets and record-breaking performances were on tap for Week 12, especially in the Big 12 and Pac-12 today.  The day began with Los Angeles' exciting in-city rivalry between #17 UCLA and #18 USC.  The Bruins entered the game ranked ahead of the Trojans for the first time since 2001 and they stormed to an early 24-0 lead.  UCLA looked great midway through the second quarter, but last season's 50-0 loss to USC remained on the players' minds.  USC's Matt Barkley threw two touchdown passes before halftime and led his Trojans to within four early in the third.  USC was surging, but Barkley left the game in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury.  The UCLA defense ultimately decided the game, as 14 points were scored off three Trojan turnovers in the game.  The 38-28 victory was significant for the Bruins because they knocked off the Trojans for the first time since 2006 and clinched their second consecutive Pac-12 South title.

Many expected the #2 Oregon Ducks to win their fourth consecutive Pac-12 Conference Championship because opponents had struggled with their high-powered offense all season.  That was before they faced #13 Stanford, who upset them in overtime tonight.  Marcus Mariota and the Duck offense were held forty points under their season average and were scoreless in their final five possessions, including a missed field goal in overtime.  The nagging Cardinal prevailed in the waning moments of regulation and overtime.  Stanford overcame a 14-7 fourth quarter deficit and knocked off #2 Oregon with a 37 yard field goal by Jordan Williamson in overtime.

The Big 12 Conference entered the day with the nation's best team and a tight race for the conference championship.  #1 Kansas State had a lot on the line entering this Saturday, including its first Big 12 Championship, an appearance in the BCS National Championship and a perfect season, but Heisman hopeful Collin Klein and the Wildcats struggled against Baylor's high-powered offense.  The Bears stormed to an impressive 28-7 lead in the second quarter and never looked back.  Baylor became the first sub-.500 team to beat a BCS #1 team with its 52-24 victory over Kansas State at Floyd Casey Stadium tonight.

The #12 Oklahoma Sooners also faced a tough road test in Morgantown with their season goals on the line.  Oklahoma would not play for the National Championship this season, but a BCS berth and Big 12 Championship remained in sight.  The Sooners took the early lead and were up 31-17 at halftime.  The second half began with the Mountaineers down, but not out.  Quarterback Geno Smith and Wide Receiver Tavon Austin led West Virginia's charge in the second half, scoring on 5/7 possessions.  Smith and Austin combined for 664 yards and 6 touchdowns in the game, but the Mountaineer defense couldn't hold.  Senior Quarterback Landry Jones led the Sooners on a game-winning drive, converting a pivotal 4th and 3 with a touchdown pass to Kenny Stills.  The Sooners prevailed 50-49 and the Mountaineers lost their fifth consecutive game.

The BCS is now in shambles after today's results and conference championships are tightening with two weeks remaining in the regular season.  #3 Notre Dame and #4 Alabama are expected to become the nation's top two teams when the next BCS poll is released Sunday evening, but as we saw today, "Every Week Matters!"