Cincinnati locks up BCS spot and turns eyes to Texas, hoping for upset of Horns

more images

more images

UC stunner keeps B’cats in national title race

ATLANTA — No. 5 Cincinnati kept its national championship hopes alive — at least for a few more hours.

The Bearcats (12-0) pulled off a stunning rally to beat Pittsburgh 45-44 on championship Saturday and lock up the Big East title and a spot in the Bowl Championship Series.

At worst, Cincinnati and coach Brian Kelly can expect an invite to the Sugar or Orange bowls. And if No. 3 Texas were to stumble Saturday night in the Big 12 title game against No. 21 Nebraska, the Bearcats could vault into the BCS national championship game.

If the Longhorns take care of business at Cowboys Stadium, Colt McCoy and the ‘Horns are off to Pasadena, Calif., to take on the winner of the SEC championship between No. 1 Florida and No. 2 Alabama for the national title.

Not long after the Bearcats wrapped up a thriller in the snow at Pittsburgh, the Gators and Crimson Tide kicked off the marquee game of the day in the Georgia Dome.

The Southeastern Conference championship game, for the second year in a row, was a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup between Alabama and Florida for a trip to the national title game.

The loser would all but lock up a spot in the Sugar Bowl.

The real intrigue was at the Big 12 title game in Arlington, Texas. A Nebraska upset — Texas was a two-touchdown favorite — would make for a rare suspenseful selection Sunday for the BCS.

Would idle and No. 4 TCU (12-0), already a lock to be this season’s BCS buster, become the first team from a non-automatic qualifying conference to reach the national title game?

The Bearcats’ victory was bad news for the Horned Frogs, who could be in danger of being leapfrogged by Cincinnati when the final BCS standings come out Sunday.

TCU held a slim margin over Cincinnati in last week’s BCS standings.

Cincinnati made a spectacular — though far from flawless — case to play for a national title by coming from three touchdowns down to beat the Panthers, who were looking for their second BCS bid but will now have to settle for a spot in the Meineke Bowl.

Beating a ranked team on the road will do wonders for UC’s computer rating, which was already higher than TCU’s. But will it sway enough voters in the Harris and coaches’ polls to move the Bearcats ahead of TCU?

The Bearcats victory also could add an interesting twist to college football’s other big story: Who will be Notre Dame’s next coach.

Cincinnati’s Brian Kelly has been widely speculated to be a strong candidate and even told ESPN he would listen if Notre Dame wants to talk. But with his team headed to the BCS for a second straight season, it’s questionable how soon that conversation could occur.

Rest assured, it would not happen for awhile if the Bearcats have to prepare for a national championship game.

There’s also a chance a Texas loss could set up a rematch of the SEC title game for the national championship.

But that all becomes moot if Texas win the Big 12 title.

Then it’s Texas against the SEC champion for the national title at the Rose Bowl.

While the Bearcats and Horned Frogs were rooting against Texas, Boise State should be rooting for the Longhorns.

The Broncos, trying to complete an undefeated season at home against New Mexico State, could get shut out of the BCS altogether if Nebraska plays its way in and Texas gets nudged into the at-large bid pool for the Orange, Fiesta and Sugar bowls.

The Rose Bowl is already set, with Ohio State to play Oregon.

The winner of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Saturday night between Georgia Tech and Clemson earns a spot in the Orange Bowl.