Texas Christian 47 - 41 Oregon (Triple OT) (Alamo Bowl)

OK, so on the day of the Alamo Bowl, I actually had tickets to go see Hamilton on Broadway.  It's not that easy to get tickets -- and when I bought the tickets I had no idea that the show would conflict with a UCFC game.  So I did not see this game, which turned out to be one of the greatest UCFC games of all time.

You will recall that Texas Christian, having pulled an upset over Baylor in the rain in double overtime, was a 7-point underdog against Oregon.  You will also recall that Texas Christian was without its two best players -- Trevone Boykin and Josh Doctson.  Finally, you will recall that Texas Christian had very little defense the whole season, and had struggled in any game not played in Fort Worth.  Taking all of those factors into account, I was pretty sure that these pages would be in green and gold.

And, in fact, Texas Christian looked completely over-matched at the beginning of the game.  At the half, Oregon led 31-0.  Now as you know, we stop live-blogging whenever anyone leads by more than 21 points, so I would have stopped blogging soon after the first quarter.  And to be honest, I still don't understand why Oregon didn't win this game by at least 14 points.

But for reasons that I never understood, last year Texas Christian's defense often improved dramatically in the second half, and that occurred again here.  Let me be clear -- I am not surprised that Texas Christian scored 31 points in the second half, even with a back-up quarterback.  Big XII's gonna Big XII, and it's not easy to keep those teams off the scoreboard, no matter who is playing quarterback.  But I am stunned that Texas Christian's defense pitched a shut-out in the second half.  Except for that rain-soaked game against Baylor, I'm not sure that very many scoreless quarters in I-A competition.

So anyway, the game ended up tied at 31, and Texas Christian -- for the second game in a row -- was battling for the UCFC in overtime.  This time it took them three overtimes, but they eventually won the game 47-41.  Texas Christian tied the record for the biggest comeback in bowl game history.  Oregon's UCFC record is now 2-15-1.

So the Big Gold Trophy will wind its way through the Big XII for the fifth year in a row.  The last UCFC game that did not feature a team from the Big XII took place on January 4, 2012, when West Virginia -- the champion of the Big East -- crushed Clemson 70-33 in the Orange Bowl.  During the off-season, West Virginia took its program -- and the Big Gold Trophy -- to the Big XII, where they have both been ever since.  Remarkably, in all these years the UCFC has never gotten into the National Championship game or the BCS playoffs.  Instead, the trophy has ended up with a Big XII team that was not the Big XII champion, and then that team has won its bowl game to keep the trophy:

At the end of the 2012 season, Baylor (8-5) beat UCLA 49-26 in the Holiday Bowl.
At the end of the 2013 season, Oklahoma (11-2) beat Alabama 45-31 in the Sugar Bowl.
At the end of the 2014 season, Texas Christian (12-1) beat Ole Miss 45-3 in the Peach Bowl.
At the end of the 2015 season, Texas Christian (11-2) beat Oregon 47-41 in the Alamo Bowl.

Texas Christian is the first team to take the UCFC into the off-season for two years in a row since the University of Southern California did it in 2003 and 2004.  Here are the year-end trophy holders since then (National Champions in bold):

2005:  Texas
2006:  Florida
2007:  Missouri
2008:  Florida
2009:  Alabama
2010:  Auburn
2011:  W. Virginia
2012:  Baylor
2013:  Oklahoma
2014:  Texas Christian
2015:  Texas Christian

Since we started this blog, this is our 398th entry about Texas Christian.  Baylor is the only team with more than 300 entries on the blog.  The Horned Frogs have appeared in 21 UCFC games since we started the blog, and they have gone 17-4.  They also been in some real thrillers:

10/20/2012:  Texas Christian 53 - 56 Texas Tech (3 OT)
10/4/2014:  Texas Christian 37 - 33 Oklahoma
10/11/2014:  Baylor 61 - 58 Texas Christian
11/1/2014:  W. Virginia 30 - 31 Texas Christian
9/26/2015:  Texas Tech 52 - 55 Texas Christian
11/27/2015:  Texas Christian 28 - 21 Baylor (2 OT)
1/2/2016:  Texas Christian 47 - 41 Oregon (3 OT)

So we will begin another season with the purple and black.  They are worthy holders, and I look forward to seeing them again.

Texas Christian v. Oregon

So Texas Christian, the current holder of the Unofficial College Football Championship, will be going to San Antonio tomorrow to defend its title in the Alamo Bowl.  The Horned Frogs will take on the Oregon Ducks, who last played for the UCFC in the 2010 National Championship Game against Auburn.  The Ducks got off to a shaky start, going 3-3 to open the season.  But since then, Oregon has won six games in a row, including a 38-36 win at Stanford, which just cruised to victory in the Rose Bowl.  Furthermore, the Pac-12 has looked pretty good in the Bowl Games so far.  Check out these results (Pac-12 teams in bold):

New Mexico Bowl:  Arizona 45, New Mexico 37
Las Vegas Bowl:  Utah 35, Brigham Young 28
Sun Bowl:  Washington St. 20, Miami (Fla.) 14
Heart of Dallas Bowl:  Washington 44, So. Mississippi 31
Foster Farms Bowl:  Nebraska 37, UCLA 29
Armed Forces Bowl:  California 55, Air Force 36
Holiday Bowl:  Wisconsin 23, USC 21
Rose Bowl:  Stanford 45, Iowa 16

That's a record of 6-2, which includes the usual blow-out win in the Rose Bowl.  There are good reasons to believe, therefore, that Oregon will put up a real fight in the Alamo Bowl.

Meanwhile, here's how the Big XII has done in Bowl Season (Big XII teams in bold):

Russell Athletic Bowl:  Baylor 49, N. Carolina 38
Texas Bowl:  Louisiana St. 56, Texas Tech 27
Orange Bowl:  Clemson 37, Oklahoma 17
Sugar Bowl:  Mississippi 48, Oklahoma St. 20

Now these are tough games -- the Big XII doesn't have match-ups with schools like New Mexico, Air Force, or Southern Mississippi.  But in general, the Big XII defenses have been as sieve-like as they were during the regular season, while the Big XII offenses (with the lone exception of Baylor) haven't shown the type of fire-power we are used to seeing.  That could bode ill for Texas Christian.

Furthermore -- and this is much more significant to me -- Trevone Boykin, who has carried Texas Christian all year, has been suspended for tomorrow's game, and will not play.  Josh Doctson, the other half of Texas Christian's Dynamic Duo, will miss the game with an injury.  Boykin and Doctson were two of my very favorite players in college football this year, and I'm very sorry they won't be there for tomorrow's game.  Certainly Texas Christian will be a very different team without them on the field.

So you would have to give Oregon the edge in this game.  In fact, Vegas has installed the Ducks as a 7-point favorite in a a game where 74 points are expected.  That would work out to something like a 40-33 win for the Ducks.  And I admit that I will be surprised if Texas Christian prevails.  But the Frogs are playing in Texas, and they have won 8 of their last 11 bowl games under Coach Gary Patterson.  Remember how awesome they looked in last year's Peach Bowl.

Sadly, I will be unable to blog tomorrow's game, as I will be out of town and away from my computer.  But I will have a write-up after the game is over, and I'm very excited to know who will have the Big Gold Trophy going into the 2016 season.

Auburn 22 - 19 Oregon (Final)

Wes Byrum -- Auburn's all-time leading scorer -- kicks the GAME WINNING FIELD GOAL on his last play as an Auburn Tiger.

Auburn has always, always, always been a hard-luck story. They have suffered so many heart-breaking defeats, bad poll votes, and so forth that it is amazing they still have any fans. But this has been their year. All the close games finally went their way. All the breaks finally went for them. And now -- for the first time since 1957 -- they are the National Champions. No fans in America deserve it as much as they do.

Oregon did not score 40 points, as I had expected. The Auburn defense was a bit quicker and stronger than what they were used to. But when they absolutely, positively had to score and get a two-point possession -- they did so. They lost this game, ultimately, because of one of the flukiest plays I have ever seen -- Dyer's run after everyone thought he was down. I feel very sorry for them, but I am confident they will be very formidable as long as they keep their coach. But they are now 2-14-1 in the UCFC. Auburn, on the other hand, runs its record in UCFC games to 15-8, and they get to see this page in blue and orange until at least September.

One final comment. I have watched college football since 1971, and I honestly believe this is one of the five best games I have ever seen. What a great, great game.

Auburn 19 - 19 Oregon (2 seconds left in 4th quarter)

Auburn sends out Newton and lines up in the victory formation at the 1. Newton tries a sneak, but Oregon stuffs him immediately. Auburn calls time, and this time presumably they will kick the field goal.

Auburn 19 - 19 Oregon (10 seconds left in 4th quarter)

Another bizarre play. Auburn has the ball on the Oregon 17 with only 23 seconds left. Auburn runs one more play before the field goal, and Dyer breaks loose again. This time he's hauled down at the 1, but he again rolls over the defender and goes into the end zone for an apparent touchdown. Once again, the play is reviewed, and this time the call is reversed and Auburn gets the ball at the 1 yard line.

Auburn sets up for a field goal. Oregon calls its last time out.

Auburn 19 - 19 Oregon (1:56 left in 4th quarter)

Well, now we're going to have a controversy. Auburn running back Michael Dyer was tackled at the 50, but there was no whistle as he was pulled down ON TOP OF THE DEFENDER. Everything stopped for about 5 seconds -- and then Dyer raced ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE OREGON 23.

After a review, the PLAY STANDS.

Auburn 19 - 19 Oregon (2:33 left in 4th quarter)

Oregon calls time and runs a Utah pass to LaMichael Smith, who runs the ball in for a touchdown. Then Oregon -- who has the best two-point conversion plays I've ever seen -- makes their second two-point conversion of the game on a scramble that ends in a successful pass.

I don't think I've ever seen a game that ended in a 19-19 tie.

Auburn 19 - 11 Oregon (2:36 left in 4th quarter)

On 4th and 5 at the Auburn 42, Oregon hits a pass over the middle and the Auburn defender is BLOCKED BY THE UMPIRE. The Oregon receiver races down to the 11. Oregon now has 3d and 1 at the 2.

Auburn 19 - 11 Oregon (4:54 left in 4th quarter)

On a carry by Newton, Oregon punches the ball out of Newton's hand and Oregon recovers at the Auburn 41. But Oregon is then hit for a personal foul, so they will start at their 45.

Auburn 19 - 11 Oregon (5:08 left in 4th quarter)

On 3d and 3 at the Oregon 35, Auburn hammers LaMichael Smith for a five-yard loss. Oregon punts, and Auburn takes over at its 29. Cam Newton -- who looks somewhat dazed from all the hits he's taken -- returns to the field.

Auburn 19 - 11 Oregon (6:42 left in 4th quarter)

Auburn gets a couple of huge first downs, but their drive stalls at the Oregon 42 -- just out of field goal range -- and they punt to the Oregon 14.

Auburn 19 - 11 Oregon (11:00 left in 4th quarter)

Oregon's drive stalls at the Auburn 46. Auburn leaves their defense on the field to guard against a fake punt, sending back only one guy to return. But this time Oregon does punt. It's not a very good punt, bouncing out of bounds at the Auburn 21. On the other hand, Oregon is not used to punting.

Auburn 19 - 11 Oregon (13:24 left in 4th quarter)

On 3d and 4, Oregon brings the house on a blitz. Auburn has a very clever pass over the middle set up in response, but Newton's pass is low and to the right and the Auburn receiver can't make a one-handed catch. Auburn punts, and Oregon will take over on their own 15.

The game is poised on a knife edge right now. The next team to score will probably win the game.

Auburn 19 - 11 Oregon (14:14 left in 4th quarter)

Auburn still has the ball, 2d and 10 at their 41. Auburn just called time to clear up some confusion about what play to run.

Auburn 19 - 11 Oregon (end of 3d quarter)

Auburn has worked the ball from their one out to their 26, where they have 2d and 9.

One quarter left in the season.

Auburn 19 - 11 Oregon (2:26 left in the 3d quarter)

BUT AUBURN HOLDS! On 4th and goal at the 1, the Ducks go for it and are STUFFED at the goal line. Each team has now been stopped on fourth and goal at the 1.

This is honestly one of the most exciting games I've ever seen.

Auburn 19 - 11 Oregon (5:36 left in 3d quarter)

I was right. On fourth and 7 from their own 45, the Ducks run a FAKE PUNT the goes to the Auburn 46. Then the Ducks hit a 44-yd pass to put themselves on the Auburn 2.

Auburn 19 - 11 Oregon (6:25 left in 3d quarter)

Auburn opened the third quarter with a field goal, and not much has happened since then. But Oregon is taking over, and I have a feeling they will do something on this possession.

Auburn 16 - 11 Oregon (1:47 left in 2d quarter)

And then Auburn takes the ball on the ensuing kickoff and drives down for another touchdown, this one coming on a 30-yard pass from Newton to Emory Blake. This is just incredible stuff from both sides.

Auburn 9 - 11 Oregon (3:44 left in 2d quarter)

But Auburn comes right back, hitting LaMichael James -- Oregon's all-world running back -- in the end zone for a safety!

This has been an amazing game so far.