SMQ: What if four teams got into a playoff during the BCS era?

2004

(1) USC v. (4) Texas

(2) Oklahoma v. (3) Auburn

FIRST TEAM OUT: California

The classic 2006 BCS title game between USC and Texas would have come a year earlier in a playoff situation. A big stir was raised about the Longhorns slotting in at No. 4 ahead of California, which sent Mack Brown‘s team to the Rose Bowl instead of the Golden Bears. But the Longhorns were a worthy opponent for Michigan in Pasadena, and they would have been a worthy opponent for the Trojans.

That would have left Aaron Rodgers, J.J. Arrington, and the rest of a stacked California team looking in from the outside of a playoff picture just as they were left out of a BCS bowl game in 2004-2005. A 23-17 loss in Los Angeles to USC would prove the downfall for the Golden Bears in the quest for a spot in the playoff picture.

In the other semifinal opposite USC-Texas, the Big 12 champion Oklahoma Sooners would square off against SEC champ Auburn. Along with USC and Mountain West champion Utah, the Sooners and the Tigers were the only undefeated teams at the end of the regular season. A four-team playoff would have given Oklahoma and Auburn a chance to play one another rather than battling for one spot that both deserved.

While Cal was left out, an even bigger snub would have been Utah. The Utes, led by Urban Meyer, were dominating every opponent during the regular season. Instead of the Golden Bears, it was Utah that would have been the hardest team to leave out of the playoff