2005 McMNC: Texas Longhorns

AP Top 11: Final Record -- Key Bowl Results

1. Texas: 13-0-0 -- W, Rose, 41-38
2. USC: 12-1-0 -- L, Rose, 38-41
3. Penn State: 11-1-0 -- W, Orange, 24-21
4. Ohio State: 10-2-0 -- W, Fiesta, 34-20
5. West Virginia: 11-1-0 -- W, Sugar, 38-35
6. LSU: 11-2-0 -- W, Peach, 40-3
7. Virginia Tech: 11-2-0 -- W, Gator, 35-24
8. Alabama: 10-2-0 -- W, Cotton, 13-10
9. Notre Dame: 9-3-0 -- L, Fiesta, 20-34
10. Georgia: 10-3-0 -- L, Sugar, 35-38
11. TCU: 11-1-0 -- W, Houston, 27-24

Probably not much to discuss here, as the BCS title game was a fantastic one, of course. TUCs? Texas, Penn State, West Virginia and TCU. Of course, the last three will have to have amazing SOS ratings to overcome the Longhorns.

Penn State: 55% SOS rating, with that loss to unranked 7-5 Michigan's timekeeper on the road by two points. We were THAT close to having three major-conference undefeated teams at the end of the regular season (again).

West Virginia: 53% SOS rating, with a home loss by 17 points to #7 Virginia Tech. Not great.

TCU: 46% SOS rating, with an 11-point road loss to a sub-.500 SMU team. Forget it.

The Longhorns? Their 57% SOS rating puts it all to rest, with wins over #4 Ohio State on the road by three points, AP #22 Oklahoma by 22 points at the neutral site, AP #20 Texas Tech by 35 points at home, and #2 USC by three points in the Rose Bowl. For what it's worth, USC had an SOS rating of 58% in 2005 -- so Texas' title was well-earned.

I don't mean to slight Texas here at all, but there's nothing else to say: they kicked ass, and the fans loved what the BCS gave them: a real champion!

McMNC Revisions
1. Texas
2. USC
3. Penn State
4. West Virginia
5. TCU

RUNNING SCORECARD:
Penn State: +1977, +1981, =1982, =1986, +1994
USC: -1962, =1967, +1969, =1972, +1978, +1979, =2003, =2004
Tennessee: +1938, +1942, +1950, -1951, =1998
Washington: +1960, +1991
Georgia Tech: +1952, +1990
Pittsburgh: +1936, -1937, =1976, +1980
UCLA: +1965
Arkansas: +1964
Mississippi: +1962
Iowa: +1956
Illinois: +1951
Purdue: +1943
Stanford: +1940
California: +1937
Florida: =1996
BYU: =1984
Syracuse: =1959
LSU: =1958, -2003
Texas A&M: =1939
Auburn: -1957, +1983
Georgia: +1946, -1980
Michigan State: -1952, +1953
Michigan: +1947, =1948, -1997
Ohio State: -1942, +1944, =1954, =1968, =2002
Nebraska: =1970, =1971, -1994, =1995, +1997
Oklahoma: +1949, -1950, =1955, -1956, +1957, =1975, =1986, =2000
TCU: -1938
Maryland: -1953
Clemson: -1981
Colorado: -1990
Florida State: -1993, =1999
Texas: =1963, -1969, =2005
Army: -1944, -1945
Miami-FL: -1983, =1987, =1989, -1991, =2001
Minnesota: -1936, -1940, =1941, -1960
Alabama: +1945, =1961, -1964, -1965, -1978, -1979, =1992
Notre Dame: -1943, -1946, -1947, -1949, =1966, =1973, -1977, =1988, +1993