The moment Auburn's Chris Davis crossed the goal line Saturday to end Alabama's perfect season in one of the most spectacular finishes in college football history, debate began about who the top two teams in college football really were.
Some argued that a one-loss SEC team (Missouri or Auburn) should jump an undefeated Ohio State. Others believe that Florida State and Ohio State should play in the BCS championship game regardless of their strength of schedule.
You can only imagine the chaos that would ensue if Michigan State upset Ohio State in the Big Ten championship and Duke upset Florida State in the ACC championship. There would potentially be eight one-loss teams vying for two spots.
However, that isn't the real drama of college football. If you want controversy, try figuring out the bottom 10 teams in college football. It's really similar to the top 10, with two winless teams and eight one-win teams duking it out for the prestigious ranking of No. 125.
I thought it was only fair if I came up with a computer ranking system similar to the BCS, so that human-bias would be removed and it would name a TRUE chumpion. Just like the BCS.
So here we go. Don't come after me if you think your team should be higher on the list. Blame the math.
10. (116.) Cal: 1-11 (0-9 Pac-12)
Being a member of a BCS automatic qualifying conference was too much to overcome for the Golden Bears. Cal played five teams ranked in the top 25 and its opponents hold a .366 losing percentage. The 22.9 average margin of loss is impressive, but not enough to make up for its weakness of schedule.
9. (117.) Purdue: 1-11 (0-8 Big Ten)
The Boilermakers ran into the same problem as Cal. Purdue's opponents had a losing percentage of .343, the lowest of any of the Bottom 10 teams. Also, four opponents finished in the top 25 of the most recent BCS standings. The computers held these stats against the Boilermakers. In a BCS AQ-conference, you'd almost have to finish the season with a perfect 0-12 record to have a chance at the chumpionship.
8. (118.) Georgia State: 0-12 (0-7 Sun Belt)
A perfect season would guarantee a spot in the top two, right? Wrong. The computers have no respect for Georgia State, which did everything they could by finishing the season winless. An FBS newcomer, the Panthers played three FCS schools. Unfortunately for them, all three finished the season with at least eight wins and two made the FCS playoffs. In fact, their opponents finished with a .396 losing percentage. Apparently, the computers did not like this stat.
7. (119.) Hawaii: 1-11 (0-8 MWC)
Some experts consider Hawaii to be a major pretender. The Warriors scored an average of 27.4 points per game, by far the most of any Bottom 10 team. They also lost by an average margin of 11.4. These are not stats you want to have when you're contending for the chumpionship.
6. (120.) Western Michigan: 1-11 (1-7 MAC)
Western Michigan came within one point of finishing the season with a perfect record. The Broncos allowed a UMass receiver to get open in the end zone on a game-winning two-point conversion attempt, but the effort was not enough. UMass' quarterback would not take the win and sailed the pass well out of bounds.
5. (121.) UMass: 1-11 (1-7 MAC)
The one-point loss to Western Michigan is the only thing keeping the Minutemen ahead of the Broncos. Looking back at the season, it is safe to assume that UMass would have finished No. 1 if it would have lost its sixth game of the season, in which it beat Miami (OH) by seven.
4. (122.) Idaho: 1-11 (Independent)
Idaho established itself as the Notre Dame of the Bottom 10 with a solid performance against opponents that gave them one of the worst weaknesses of schedule, at a losing percentage of .406. Thankfully for the rest of the Bottom 10, the Vandals slipped up against Temple, winning by two points despite a late rally that nearly gave the Owls the win. Even with the loss, Idaho had an impressive 28.6 point average margin of loss, the highest of the Bottom 10.
3. (123.) Florida International: 1-11 (1-7 C-USA)
Conference USA gave the MAC a run for its money, with two teams in the Bottom 10. The only blemish on FIU's schedule is a one-point to the No. 2 team in the Bottom 10, in which a Golden Panthers player inexplicably blocked a Southern Miss field goal as time expired. That mistake cost FIU a shot at the chumpionship, but it was still a great season.
2. (124.) Southern Miss: 1-11 (1-7 C-USA)
Southern Miss is the Alabama of the Bottom 10. The Golden Eagles were riding a 23-game losing streak entering the final weekend of the season and seemed to be the favorite to repeat as chumpion. However, they blew it with a 35-point victory over UAB. Surprising many experts, Southern Miss only fell to No. 2 in the computer rankings. This is probably because of its superior weakness of schedule, with their opponents owning a .500 losing percentage, the highest of all teams in the Bottom 10.
1. (125.) Miami (OH): 0-12 (0-8 MAC)
The RedHawks have been close to the title before, including a one-win season in 2009, but they got over the hump this year. Miami (OH) scored an average of 9.8 points per game, a number only matched by Florida International. Their weakness of schedule is also solid, as their opponents had a .483 combined losing percentage and they played no teams ranked in the top 25. While fans from Georgia State might disagree, it's hard to argue with perfection. Highlights of the season include a 34-point loss to Kentucky (2-10) and a seven-point loss to No. 5 UMass.
Congratulations RedHawks, you're No. 1...or No. 125. But who cares? Let the debate begin.
**Disclaimer: This is supposed to be funny. The stats are real, but everything here is said sarcastically. Don't get offended if your team made the list.**
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