Five games that should have happened in ‘09

By Bart Doan  |   Monday, June 15, 2009  |  Comments( 4 )

College Football
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Depending on whom you talk to, playing a rough nonconference schedule in college football either helps your BCS chances immensely or makes them DOA before the meat and potatoes of the season even starts. For instance, if you speak with Kansas State coach Bill Snyder, the first few games of the year shouldn’t be anything tougher than the product Georgia Southern would put on the field. If you talk to Pete Carroll, all comers are welcome. With the dog days of summer upon the college football world, it’d be nice if fans could get together and concoct a few landmark but feasibly realistic out-of-conference games. If they all sat around the table and decided on five, they might look a bit like this. . .

5. Michigan @ West Virginia: The game loses allure in Ann Arbor, but the fever pitch surrounding a road visit to Morgantown for coach Rich Rodriguez would be dripping with the type of animosity that comes around maybe once a decade. On top of all the off-field drama, the game itself would actually be a decent matchup. Michigan is on the way up if only because last season was below sea level. West Virginia figures to take a step back after losing all-world QB Pat White. Alas, thanks to the academic restrictions with which some Big Ten teams schedule, you won’t ever see this contest unless it’s in a bowl game.

4. Oklahoma @ Ohio State: No two teams take more of a public perception beating than these two. Both have caught the scourge and fury of college football fans for making a mockery of more than one national championship game. Also, both have actually won one of their own. Though the OSU defense is breaking in a host of new starters, Terrelle Pryor figures to keep the Bucks in it long enough to make it interesting. Though both programs are known the nation over for their oft-brutal defenses, it’d be all about offense with both Pryor and reigning Heisman winner Sam Bradford on the same field.

3. Boise State @ Utah: The two poster children for all mid-major party crashers probably need to lace it up against one another at some point. Just in the BCS era, Utah has registered two unbeaten seasons while Boise has amassed an astounding three unbeaten regular campaigns. Because the Utes are more badgered by defections than a fairly young Bronco team, they get the home-field advantage. The winner gets the fictitious title of "best mid-major."

2. Texas @ LSU: Make no mistake, Texas comes in looking like the better team. But how would the Longhorns fare with all of their veteran experience under the night lights in Death Valley? Colt McCoy would have fits with the Tigers’ punishing defense, and Les Miles’ team comes off of a stirring end to last season with a big win over Georgia Tech. The Longhorn defenders would have their hands full trying to bring down Charles Scott. Both teams play very meek nonconference schedules (even worse when you consider both to be title contenders). Why can’t they call one another up and make this happen?

1. Southern Cal @ Florida: The Gators are averse to playing nonconference games away from the state of Florida. Their justification is that Florida State and sometimes Miami are natural instate rivals and thus there is no reason to leave state lines to find good competition. Pete Carroll is averse to turning any game down, and that’s the way it should be. Though the Gators come in looking like they can overmatch anyone and everyone, Southern Cal has shown time and time again to be a completely different animal from other highly ranked teams. Surely that roster full of former five-star recruits can keep this a reasonable game against Tim Tebow and friends, right?
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About Bart Doan

Bart has been with Realfootball365.com for about six months and thoroughly enjoys writing for the site. He has been featured for his writings on college football in The Sporting News, The Indianapolis Star, Sports Illustrated, and on CBS Sportsline.com. When he's not drowning himself in the...
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