1990
Rose Bowl: No. 1 Colorado (10-1-1) vs. No. 4 Miami (9-2)
Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Georgia Tech (10-0-1) vs. No. 3 Texas (10-1)
Had Colorado not won off a fifth-down play against Missouri in the regular season this year, Georgia Tech and Texas would have been the two clear-cut teams that, once again, would have met for an outright national title in a noncontroversial BCS game. As it turned out, because the Buffaloes finished 10-1-1, by hook or crook, they had to be the top seed.
As the top seed playing No. 4 Miami, they wouldn’t be able to play in New Orleans, which would favor the Hurricanes being in the South. Both teams would have to fly out west and play in the Rose Bowl. At 10-0-1 and 10-1, Georgia Tech and Texas would have been the other game, and Louisiana would be a perfect site.
Controversy: Ignoring the fifth down play that got Colorado to this point, the only controversy would have revolved around the No. 4 spot. As an independent at the time, why should 2-loss Miami get in over 2-loss Notre Dame, 2-loss Florida State, or 2-loss Penn State? All of those teams would have whined, but it wouldn’t be real controversy because if you have 2 losses, you never ever have a right to whine, and you honestly shouldn’t be playing for any championship.