The Rose Bowl!

Weird, how we've been so successful over the past four years that most of the student section doesn't give a crap about the Rose Bowl. Me, I'm excited for it, for a team that lost two Heisman winners and several All-Americans to win at least a share of the Pac-10 championship and get into another BCS game, it shows how great this year's team is too. Our team goal is always to shoot for the Rose Bowl, regardless of where the National Championship is being played, and I agree with the team's aspirations. I won't be upset if we don't make the big game, though I do feel like we deserve it, but Michigan, Florida, Notre Dame, Arkansas, and West Virginia all have valid points on why they should be in Glendale on January 8th. Right now, we have to worry about Notre Dame, who has rolled over every service academy in the United States, and comes into the Coliseum with their own National Championship hopes. I believe they are pretty much guaranteed to go to a BCS game as well with 10 regular season victories, but after yesterday's game was for a berth in the Rose Bowl, this game may reduce the teams in contention to meet Ohio State in the BCS Championship game.

But back to the Cal game. Our first half offense was nonexistent, especially in the red zone, where we had to settle for two field goals, and could not capitalize on two Nate Longshore turnovers. But our defense, save for the lone touchdown drive we gave up, was solid all night. To hold an offensive team like the Bears to one touchdown was really encouraging to see. We only sacked Longshore once, forcing a fumble, but we did not give him many open targets to throw to, forcing him to go 17-38 with two interceptions. One of his big play options, DeSean Jackson, seemed to be out of it after taking a monster hit from Kevin Ellison on the first drive of the game, though he did turn a 35 yard gain out of a missed tackle, and was not able to return many punts after P Greg Woidneck punted the ball 20 yards and out of bounds on most of his second half punts. Marshawn Lynch did have a solid game, but not a breakout one. He did give the crowd a scare when he scampered 60 yards to the end zone late in the fourth quarter, but it was called back after his knee touched the turf. The Bears defense did their part for most of the game, save for the 4th and 2 touchdown, as they did hold us to three field goals before our fourth quarter burst. Speaking of field goals, what about David Buehler! His 49 yard field goal, the first attempt of his career, changed the momentum of the game, as the crowd was dead when we decided to go for the long kick. But when he nailed it, it was all Trojans after that. Our defense really shut down the Bears after that, forcing three three-and-outs leading to our two touchdown drives. John David Booty really took over the game from that point, hitting Dwayne Jarrett on a post route for our first touchdown, and not overthrowing a wide open Steve Smith on a 4th and 2 conversion which punched our ticket to the Rose Bowl. It was a fun game to watch, and I'm really looking forward to Notre Dame in 6 days (as well as finding a ticket...). Well, now for the game balls...

Offense: Well, Booty had the touchdown numbers, but RB C.J. Gable was really our offense last night, running for 91 yards on 19 carries, catching a pass for 35 yards, and returning a kickoff 33 yards, having a mini-Reggie Bush night out there. Now if he could only return punts as well...

Defense: I'm not sure if I want to cop out and give 11 game balls today, but I think DE Lawrence Jackson deserves another one, with his 6 tackles (1.5 for loss), sack, and forced fumble, but it was the things that don't end up in the box score that earned him this ball, pressuring Longshore into quick decisions that usually didn't work.

Special Teams: K David Buehler. Don't make me explain this to you.

Well, I'll take 23-9 and a loss over 34-31 and a win....

Season-to-date:
W-L - 9-1
Against the spread: 5-4-1

And my Top 25

1. Ohio State (12-0)
2. Michigan (11-1)
3. Southern California (9-1)
4. Florida (10-1)
5. Notre Dame (10-1)
6. Arkansas (10-1)
7. West Virginia (9-1)
8. Boise State (11-0)
9. Louisville (9-1)
10. Wisconsin (11-1)
11. Texas (9-2)
12. Louisiana State (9-2)
13. Oklahoma (8-2)
    
14. Georgia Tech (8-2)
15. Auburn (9-2)
16. Rutgers (9-1)
17. Boston College (9-2)
18. Virginia Tech (8-2)
19. Hawaii (9-2)
20. Brigham Young (9-2)
21. Wake Forest (9-2)
22. Tennessee (8-3)
23. California (8-3)
    
24. Nebraska (8-3)
25. Clemson (8-3)

Though I have Michigan still at #2, it's because I think they are currently the 2nd best team in the country, but I don't think they should be in the National Championship. In my eyes, Ohio State should not have to beat Michigan twice to win the championship, and if Michigan beats the Buckeyes later, we'd have a moot point with each team having a victory over each other. And I think that it should be a requirement that a team must be a conference champion to make the National Championship game. As of right now, I don't know who Ohio State will be playing. If USC wins out, beating Notre Dame and UCLA, we deserve to be in the discussion. Assuming Florida beats Florida State and Arkansas pulls off a semi-upset over LSU, the winner of the SEC championship also can make a case. An 11-1 Notre Dame team, regardless of their schedule, will always have shot to play for a National Championship. West Virginia still has to take care of Rutgers in the last week of the season before being mentioned as #2. And Michigan still can lay claim to be the #2 team in the nation, but have they missed their opportunity? But in two weeks, the picture will either clear up, or still be as cloudy as it is today.

And Hawaii deserves to be in the top 25. Eight wins in a row, regardless of their opposition (hey look at Notre Dame...) should get some national attention. The ACC is in a mess. So is the Pac-10, with Arizona coming on strong following wins over California and Oregon(!). But three things are set as of right now. Hawaii is going to the Hawaii Bowl. Ohio State is going to the National Champion. And USC is in its rightful place as the Pac-10 champion.