BCS: Save The Best for Last

Florida State University logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The much-maligned Bowl Championship Series crowned its last winner Monday night at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, with Florida State coming from behind to defeat Auburn 34-31.

After trailing for much of the game, the Seminoles scored the game winner with thirteen seconds remaining on a two-yard pass from quarterback Jameis Winston to Kelvin Benjamin.  That was just over a minute after the Tigers scored on a 37-yard run by Tre Mason.  In the second half alone, Florida State had outscored Auburn 24-10.

Winston, the Heisman Trophy winner who happens to be a freshman, completed 20 passes out of 35 for 237 yards and two touchdowns.  Auburn's quarterback Nick Marshall completed 14 out of 27 for 230 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

This is Florida State's first national college football title since 1999, and third overall.  Besides an undefeated season, the Seminoles of the Atlantic Coast Conference also accomplished the feat of defeating a school from the Southeastern Conference, which had won the last seven BCS national championships.  Nonetheless, the balance of power in college football continues to center on the southeastern United States.

Whether you detest the Tomahawk Chop, the SEC's dominance or the BCS itself, you had to admit that the game Florida State and Auburn played was the best way to close out an era that benefited no one but the football powers and its sponsors.  Starting next season, the BCS will be replaced by a four-team tournament to be known as the College Football Playoff.  Which will only create more arguments.