Our Take on the final Top 25 at end of the regular college football season and Final 2

What a regular season in 2009 ... five schools finish undefeated during the regular season, but only two can head to Pasadina for the BCS title game. Maybe this is the year that a +2 system for the BCS title game would better take care of business?

• Alabama
• TCU
• Texas
• Cincinnati
• Boise State

Clearly, everyone has Alabama #1 and at the top of the list after Alabama defeated Florida 32-13 in the SEC Championship game. Can we project RB Mark Ingram #1 in the Heisman ballots too?

The trouble comes for #2 in the final rankings. Who has Texas beat in 2009? Does the 2009 Big 12 Championship game with Nebraska warrant reconsideration for TCU, Cincinnati or Boise State as the #2 team, in place of Texas? Texas defeated Nebraska 13-12 on the final second with a 46 yard field goal in the Big 12 Championship game.

It would be more apparent today that the two non-BCS teams should get cracks at the BCS programs. Judging from the Texas-Nebraska game, TCU can be projected to be equal on defense to Nebraska and better on offense to the Cornhuskers. Place TCU in place of Nebraska vs. Texas and the projected outcome would be a TCU win over Texas. TCU beat Georgia Tech's final opponent (Clemson) on the road and took out Top 25 teams Brigham Young on road and Utah at home in MWC play.

The Big East conference game in a way came down to a miscue on a late extra point kick. Cincinnati defeated Pittsburgh 45-44 in the final minutes, after the Panthers missed their final extra point to take a six point lead. The Bearcats made all of their final possession marching down field to score their final touchdown and win by 1.

Boise State finished the regular season with a 42-7 win over New Mexico State in WAC play to finish undefeated in the regular season for the third time in four seasons. Boise State's marqee win was in the season opener at home vs. Oregon 19-8.

Congratulations to other conference championship game winners:

• Georgia Tech in winning the ACC Championship game in a 39-34 win over Clemson
• East Carolina in winning the C-USA Championship game in a 38-32 win over Houston
• Central Michigan in winning the MAC Championship game in a 20-10 win over Ohio U

The BCS Title Game would be better off as follows:

• #1 Alabama vs. #2 TCU, but most will project it a SEC vs. Big 12 affair again.
• We would suggest TCU would give Alabama a far better game than Texas.

Our Picks for the best BCS Bowl Lineup for the 2009-2010 season:

• BCS Title Game: Alabama vs. TCU
• Rose: Oregon vs. Ohio State
• Fiesta: Texas vs. Boise State
• Orange: Georgia Tech vs. Iowa
• Sugar: Florida vs. Cincinnati

Our final Top 25 teams at the conclusion of the 2009 regular season:

1. Alabama (13-0, 9-0* SEC)
2. TCU (12-0, 8-0 MWC)
3. Texas (13-0, 9-0* Big 12)
4. Florida (12-1, 8-1* SEC)
5. Cincinnati (12-0, 7-0 Big East)
6. Boise State (13-0, 8-0 WAC)
7. Oregon (10-2, 8-1 Pac 10)
8. Ohio State (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten)
9. Iowa (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten)
10. Georgia Tech (11-2, 8-1* ACC)
11. Penn State (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten)
12. Virginia Tech (9-3, 6-2 ACC)
13. LSU (9-3, 5-3 SEC)
14. Brigham Young (10-2, 7-1 MWC)
15. Arizona (8-4, 6-3 Pac 10)
16. West Virginia (9-3, 5-2 Big East)
17. Miami-FL (9-3, 5-3 ACC)
18. Pittsburgh (9-3, 5-2 Big East)
19. Oregon State (8-4, 6-3 Pac 10)
20. Oklahoma State (8-4, 6-3 Pac 10)
21. Utah (9-3, 6-2 MWC)
22. Stanford (8-4, 6-3 Pac 10)
23. USC (8-4, 5-4 Pac 10)
24. Wisconsin (9-3, 5-3 Big Ten)
25. Central Michigan (11-2, 9-0* MAC)

* Conference title game win or loss counted in conference record

Final kudos for one team for each conference in pecking order:

• ACC - Clemson (8-5, 6-3* runner-up)
• Big 12 - Nebraska (9-4, 6-3* runner-up)
• Big East - Rutgers (8-4, 3-4)
• Big Ten - Northwestern (8-4, 5-3)
• C-USA - East Carolina (9-4, 8-1* champion)
• Independents - Navy (8-4)
• MAC - Ohio U. (9-4, 7-2* runner-up)
• MWC - Air Force (7-5, 5-3)
• Pac 10 - California (8-4, 5-4)
• SEC - Mississippi (8-4, 4-4)
• Sun Belt - Troy (9-3, 8-0 champion)
• WAC - Nevada (8-4, 7-1)

* Conference title game win or loss counted in conference record

The 2009 regular football season had some wonderful moments. The Iowa Hawkeyes went 9-0 for the first time in the school's history, but injuries caught up to them in the tenth game. Overall, college football was down in many ways. Alabama appears to be clearly the team to beat nationally. They had an outstanding regular season and coach Nick Saban had his troups ready for every test this season. Congratulations to TCU, Texas, Cincinnati and Boise State for undefeated regular seasons as well.

peace