BCS Conference Leaders heading into Week 12

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Hooked 'em, Horns: Texas Beats USC

In a back and forth game that had Pac 12 title hopes at stake, the #2 Texas Longhorns continued their winning ways, knocking off the #12 USC Trojans 21-17 in LA Coliseum last night.

With the win, the Longhorns, who started the season ranked #22, all but locked up the Pac 12 South division championship and continue their march toward a possible BCS national Championship birth.

The game was tight & low scoring the entire way, as Texas carried a 7-3 lead into the final quarter of play. Each team scored 14 points in the 4th, but it was a late 67 yard TD-run by Texas RB Cody Johnson that won the game for the Longhorns.

A stunned crowd of USC fans exited the stadium while the Longhorns celebrated with the throng of Longhorn fans who made the trip out west. Texas all but clinches the division title now, as the Longhorns would have to lose their final 2 conference games to Arizona and Michigan in order for USC to climb back into the race.

Texas's schedule only gets rougher from here. They host Arizona this week before back-to-back road games at #8 Michigan and #3 Texas A&M. Should the #2 Longhorns win those 2 games, they'd likely even jump past current #1 Florida State at the top of the BCS.

As stated, Texas and Michigan's week 13 match-up looks like it will be a preview of the inaugural Pac 12 title game, which is being played in Honolulu, Hawaii. It should be an interesting next few weeks. Neither of these two teams were expected to be playing for a conference championship this season, let alone have a national championship opportunity in their sights in week 12.

It's Alabama vs LSU Week, and this Granny is Ready!

It seems as if the Michigan Grannies a few weeks ago served as motivation for this LSU Tiger Granny before today's big matchup against Alabama.

Season 1 BCS Race is Heating Up

As we enter week 11, the BCS race is heating up and several RUTS teams and computer controlled teams are poised to make a run at a spot in the BCS National Championship Game in New Orleans.

The past few weeks have provided some shocking upsets, and teams are jockeying for position. Let's take an in-depth look at the BCS race and recap some of the craziness that has transpired over the past few weeks...

Oregon's Tough Losses - Nature's way of getting back at Phil Knight for all of the hideous Pro Combat uniforms?
No team in RUTS has experienced the heartbreak and disappointment in the past few weeks as the Oregon Ducks. Coach StuBucksman's team was ranked #5 in the nation heading into week 9, and despite a week 2 loss at LSU, the Ducks were poised to make a run at the Pac 12 and National title. Then, the tables turned, much to the anger of Coach Stu.

In week 9, against Oklahoma, the Ducks were clinging to a 24-21 lead and had the ball with time running out in the 4th quarter. Coach Gump's Sooners then forced a fumble, 1998 Tennessee vs Arkansas style. The Ducks defense was unable to keep the Sooners out of the endzone, as Oklahoma Qb "Dirty" Landry Jones scampered into the end zone, giving the Sooners the 28-24 win with 20 seconds left.

But, that heart breaker was nothing compared to what would occur in Week 10 in the Big House against a 1-loss Michigan team. The winner of this game would all but wrap up the Pac 12 North title. The Quack Attack looked poised to win this game in dominating fashion, cruising to a 42-17 lead just seconds into the 4th quarter. The teams then traded another pair of scores, and with under 5 minutes remaining in the game, Oregon led 49-24. Then, the Big Blue magic emerged...

Behind an array of Denard Robinson passes, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 recovered onside kicks, the Wolverines scored the final 7 of their 36 fourth-quarter points with 43 seconds left to defeat the Ducks 53-49. The loss left Coach StuBucksman is disbelief and questioning whether or not he should retire and focus more attention on Sensual BBQ's upcoming album Put them Ribs on the Grill, but after a nice hot bubble bath and a Chick Fila sandwich, Coach Stu came to his senses. He also made the bold decision to hire his son, Coach MANBucksman, to oversee the Ducks' RBs and special teams. The Ducks may be down, and with a week 13 game against USC looming, may be out of the running for a BCS Bowl, but, look for a renewed focus on the running game and onside kick recoveries.

Update: The bad luck for Oregon continued in week 11, as the Ducks lost starting QB Darren Thomas for 5 weeks due to injury.

BCS Race is Getting Hot? Nation's undefeated teams feeling the heat...

Entering week 11, few can argue who the top-ranked teams should be. #1 Florida State has held the top spot since Week 4 and has managed to remain unscathed. #2 Texas has been playing exceptionally well, defeating Alabama & Oklahoma in the process. The Longhorns' major test will come this week, when they travel to LA to face #12 USC. Texas then closes its season with back-to-back road games against #9 Michigan and current #3 (and unbeaten) Texas A&M. The Longhorns have a long way to go before securing a BCS bid.

Four computer teams are also unbeaten: #3 Texas A&M, #5 Pitt, #19 Houston and #22 Miami Ohio. Look for Pitt and Texas A&M to remain contenders until season's end.

USC has quietly been climbing in the polls, and should they upset the Longhorns this week, look for the Trojans, who would all but clinch the Pac 12 South with a win, to leap into the conversation for the national title.

And...don't look now, but the team with quite possibly the easiest road to the BCS title game might be....preseason #1 Oklahoma. Coach Gump's team has 2 losses, but are ranked #6 in the BCS. The Sooners have no more user RUTS games and could be riding a 6 game winning streak into bowl season. The Sooners also are out of contention for the Pac 12 title game. They'll likely need some help from some teams losing, but Oklahoma is right in the thick of the National title race with  the easiest remaining schedule. Sooner fans will be watching on the edge of their seats.




Lightning Strikes Twice! Coach roop1189 Duplicating Coach stinvol's RUTS debut

 The Michigan Wolverines and RUTS rookie Coach roop1189 have been climbing the polls all season. The rookie coach has led his team to two major upset wins over RUTS legends Coach cjohnchavis and Coach StuBucksman, and the #9 Wolverines only loss came at the hands of unranked California.

The Big Blue still have tough matchups against #2 Texas and the Miami Hurricanes, coached by roop's arch rival Coach stinvol.

Ironically, Coach stinvol was able to have a similar impact in his rookie RUTS season in RUTS3, season 1. Stinvol defeated Coach utvol27 and the Oklahoma Sooners that season to claim the Big XII South title. Now, Coach roop1189 looks to be duplicating (and perhaps even surpassing??) his arch-nemesis's success. These two longtime friends, turned foes, will battle it out in South Beach. The winner will get bragging rights, especially in the off-season, as their are known to vacation together in upper East Tennessee.

Tigers still scratchin'! LSU still in the running to win SEC, National titleThe Bayou Bengals have experienced their fair share of disappointment and struggles this season. Coach cjohnchavis has had to alter his gameplan, make a change at QB, and now has lost his star RB, Spencer Ware for the season with a torn shoulder.

Nevertheless, the Tigers are still alive and kicking in the SEC and National title races. LSU's ranked #8 in the BCS and still have to play Alabama before a likely rematch with #1 Florida State in the SEC championship. The 2-loss Tigers might need some losses from some computer teams ranked ahead of them, but if they can manage to win out and defeat the Seminoles, there's a good chance that LSU could vault to the top of the polls. Don't count out the Tigers just yet.

Just for fun - some cool NCAA 12 photos
Now, to close out today's post, here are just randomly cool photos people have snapped in NCAA 12. Despite all the bugs with the game this year, the up-close graphics are phenomenal! Enjoy....some of these look like real game photos...

 

NCAA Football Update from EA Sports

 

Sounds like a third patch is in the works...

Click Here to read the full story.

2nd Ranked Michigan Falls to Cal, Grandmas Chug Beers to Drown Their Sorrows

In a big upset loss, the #2 ranked Michigan Wolverines and Coach roop1189 suffered their first loss of the season this week against the California Bears 23-20 on a last second FG. Cal, who nearly upset Oregon too, celebrated on the field, as their hippy fans stormed the field and tore down the goal posts.
Meanwhile, in the parking lot outside of Cal Stadium, two long time, die-hard Michigan fans drowned their sorrows the only way they knew how...chugging beers in front of their fellow fans.

Don't Look Now...But USC and Oregon are getting back in the Nat'l Title Race

After disappointing, lopsided losses to SEC foes in week 2, both Oregon and USC have rebounded and have quietly emerged as contenders in the national championship race. The national media questioned how good these teams were after week 2 losses and some close games against conference foes, but the Ducks and the Trojans might just be peaking at the right time.

The two teams have a huge match-up in Week 13 and depending on how the crazy Pac 12 conference race shakes out, that game could be a preview for the conference title game a few weeks later.

Coach utvol27 and Coach StuBucksman, winners of 7 of the past 8 RUTS National titles/Super Bowl titles, appear determined to not let anyone De-throne them quite yet. Coach Stu even allowed his team to break out their yellow jerseys a few weeks early because of the the building excitement in Eugene, while Coach utvol27 has taken a more strict approach, not allowing the Trojans to associate with any boosters or celebrity cling-ons until at least week 10.

Midseason Report

Season 1 is at the halfway point, and there have certainly been some surprises and close finishes. Let's take a look at which teams and players are making the most noise.

The RUTS4 Top 3

The #1 Florida State Seminoles started the season ranked #10, but have made it to week 8 undefeated. The Noles have relied on a stifling defense and a balanced offense, although RB Chris Thompson has been the star of the show. Thompson is 3rd in the nation in rush yards and has received comparisons to former Seminole great Warrick Dunn.The Noles, after escaping with a 38-21 week 7 win over Boise State, will be favored in its remaining games and are the front-runner to win the SEC title. Although conventional wisdom and past performances in late-season games suggest Coach UTVOL54's team will need to be leery of a speed bump or two along the way. Coach UTVOL54 cleared a huge hurdle in week 2 by ending his brother and arch-enemy's 7 game winning streak against him in the Noles' 37-21 win over USC. However, the coach has been most pleased with his team's awesome uniform combos through its first 6 games. "Unprecedented style," Coach UTVOL54 said.

Don't look now, but the mighty Michigan Wolverines are back! Unranked at the beginning of the season, the Big Blue has climbed the polls all season, and on the heels of defeating then #1 LSU, Stanford and Ohio State, the Wolverines are now ranked #3 in the nation. The biggest test for rookie coach roop1189 will be in week 9, when his Wolverines host Coach StuBucksman and the Oregon Ducks. The winner of that game will all but lock up the Pac 12 North title. Michigan ends the season with huge games against current #4 Texas and rival Coach stinvol and his Miami Hurricanes. Can Coach roop1189 continue his winning ways? The Big Blue nation is giddy and ecstatic about their team, and with speedy Qb Denard Robinson and the nation's 2nd leading rusher Vincent Smith, the Wolverine offense might have what it takes to win the Pac 12.

The #4 Texas Longhorns have taken full advantage of two big upsets this season. The Horns effectively hooked both Alabama and rival Oklahoma and have rolled out to an impressive 5-0 record to start the season. Texas must take it one week at a time, but the Horns will be favored to enter their week 11 game against division rival USC 8-0. The winner of that game will likely emerge as the Pac 12 South winner and earn a trip to Hawaii for the Pac 12 title game. Week 13 poses a huge challenge as well, with a trip to Ann Arbor to face Michigan. The weather will likely be chilly for that late November match up too.Texas RB Cody Johnson has had a great year so far, and the Longhorns have proven that they can win the big games. Can Coach ChrisHicks21 keep his mojo?!


Best game so far:
The best game of the year so far was won on the game's final play. In week 2, the Tennessee Volunteers traveled to Norman to battle #1 Oklahoma. After a controversial call, the Sooners found themselves trailing 8-7 late in the game. With a chance for 1 final play, Sooner QB Landry Jones fired away to the end zone, connecting with Kenny Stills for a 46 yard game winning pass. The Sooners prevailed and crushed the hearts of the Volunteer faithful.

Heisman Contenders:
1. Marc Tyler (RB, USC)
2. Case Keenum (QB, Houston)
3. Vincent Smith (RB, Michigan)
4. Trent Richardson (RB, Alabama)
5. Chris Thompson (RB, Florida State)


Midseason Predictions
With 8 weeks left in the season, there are a lot of games left to be played, but here are the experts' predictions for how things will shake out....

SEC Championship Game --- Florida State vs. LSU
Pac 12 Title Game --- USC vs. Michigan

BCS National Title Game --- Florida State vs. Michigan

But...the experts have been wrong before....

Noles Nip LSU 14-9 in hard fought battle...both coaches just glad it's over

In a game that was hard fought and low-scoring, the #1 Seminoles of Florida State held on to defeat the #7 LSU Tigers 14-9 today in Tiger Stadium.

The game, which saw many unforeseen delays (thanks, EA Sports!), was close throughout. The Seminoles took advantage of big plays from RB Chris Thompson (12 carries, 120 yds, 2 total TDs) and managed to score enough points for the win.

"This was one heck of a challenge," said Coach UTVol54. "I'm glad to move on to the next game."

The Tigers fell behind 14-3 in the 3rd quarter, and the score remained that way until late in the game. LSU took advantage of a late missed FG by the Noles, marching downfield to score a TD with 25 seconds left to cut the lead to 14-9. After the 2-point conversion failed, LSU had one last chance to stay in the game with an onside kick. But, FSU recovered and ran the final 20 seconds off the clock to earn the W.

The Seminoles remain at #1 in the week 6 poll, with #2 Texas A&M and #3 Oregon close behind.

Seminoles to bust out the all-black unis in trip to Baton Rouge

Florida State Head Coach UTVol54 confirmed to Esquire magazine today that his #1 ranked Seminoles will indeed be wearing all-black uniforms for the first time in school history in today's game against the #7 LSU Tigers. The Noles players and coaches have vowed to wear a different uniform combination for each of their 12 regular season games this season.

This image was sent to RUTS by an FSU team manager:

Florida State has worn black jerseys and black pants once before, in 2008, but have only worn black helmets one time, against Maryland in 2009 with Garnet jerseys and pants.

LSU Coach cjohnchavis is unfazed by this display of gamesmanship. "We've faced a black-out game at home already this season," the coach said, "and we pounded Oregon into the tasty Tiger Stadium grass. We won't be intimidated by black uniforms."

The coach would neither confirm nor deny that his team would be countering the Seminoles' black-out with a white-out of their own. "We certainly have some uniform options at our disposal," Coach cjohnchavis said. "We may decide to wear white helmets and white pants to prove once and for all that white is stronger than ash, good is stronger than evil, and all those kinds of cliches."