YCS - Final Regular Season Standings

Seems like we just started the journey of the YCS, but we're already at the end of the regular season. After a thrilling championship weekend, who's left at the top of the heap? Who can stake their claim to being in the final regular season YCS? Find out at RSS!

First, because we're all about accountability here at Randall Simon's Sausages, here's our initial, preseason YCS. Some we got right, others were complete swings and misses.

10. Penn St.

9. Ole Miss

8. Georgia Tech

7. Ohio St.

6. Oklahoma St.

5. USC

4. Alabama

3. Oklahoma

2. Texas

1. Florida

That was then, this is now! On to the final YCS of the regular season.

YCS STANDINGS

1. Alabama (13-0, last week W vs. Florida 32-13, up next Jan. 7 vs. Texas)

-The Tide spent much of the season in the top spot of the YCS, and they picked a great time to play their best game of the season in the SEC Championship against Florida. The game was never in doubt from the first quarter behind their usual dominating defense and the determined running of Mark Ingram (more on him tomorrow). But, the real surprise was the emergence of QB Greg McElroy, who showed more poise than he did against Florida than he did in any game this season. The only thing stopping Alabama could be complacency from everyone telling them how great they are until Jan. 7.

2. Texas (13-0, last week W vs. Nebraska 13-12, up next Jan. 7 vs. Alabama)

-First, as much as Y1 wants to cause controversy, Texas deserves their spot in the title game. All season, they were consistently in the Top 3, and they can't be penalized because they didn't win their last game with style points. But, Texas was one second away from missing out on the BCS Championship, and Colt McCoy was one second away from one of the dumbest plays in the history of sport. Sure, he told Lisa Salters he knew exactly how much time was left, but if you believe that there's a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you. The irony is that the pressure of Ndamukong Suh (definitely more on him tomorrow) led to McCoy throwing the ball away in the nick of time. What's more troubling for Texas is the disappearance of their running game, only 18 yards on 38 attempts! They'd better find it soon if they want to compete with 'Bama in one month.

3. TCU (12-0, last week idle, up next Jan. 4 vs. Boise St.)

-TCU barely claims the final podium spot in the YCS based on their regular dominance of their opponents throughout the season. It's a shame they won't be able to show off their dominant defense against one of the big boy conferences. Instead, they'll be matched up against fellow BCS Buster Boise St. in the Fiesta Bowl. Two reasons this game isn't a good idea. First, it's a rematch of last year's Poinsettia Bowl, which was a close, but visually unappealing affair. Second, as I mentioned, now neither of these teams can prove themselves against one of the major conferences. What does TCU or Boise gain by beating the other, the right to be the best of the second tier? These two deserve better.

4. Cincinnati (12-0, last week W at Pitt 45-44, up next Jan. 1 vs. Florida)

-Certainly, Cincinnati had the most thrilling victory of Championship week with their 21-point comeback at Pitt. Down 31-10, our upset special was looking pretty good. Even with that deficit and the uncertainty surrounding HC Brian Kelly, it was really an improbable comeback by the Bearcats and Sr QB Tony Pike. Their reward for an undefeated season...a date with an angry Florida in the Sugar Bowl. Add that to the ongoing questions of their coach going to Notre Dame, with some already predicting Kelly will bolt before the Sugar Bowl, things aren't looking promising for the Bearcats.

5. Boise St. (12-0, last week W vs. New Mexico St. 42-7, up next Jan. 4 vs. TCU)

-At least we at the YCS show Boise enough respect to rank them ahead of one-loss Florida. Much like TCU though, their bowl game doesn't give them much to gain, except being the best of the "mid-majors". This is the travesty of the bowl system. This season there are 5 undefeated teams, each of which deserves a chance to be national champion. But, because a bunch of athletic directors, university presidents, and conference commissioners want to keep the money to themselves, we're stuck with this prehistoric way to determine a champion. It's lunacy. If there was only 3 undefeated teams, but each was from a "major conference" there'd be rioting in the streets. But because the schools getting jobbed are TCU, Boise St., and Cincinnati, nobody cares.

6. Florida (12-1, last week L vs. Alabama 32-13, up next Jan. 1 vs. Cincinnati)

-Florida falls to 6th after their loss to Alabama in the SEC title game. Those getting on Tim Tebow for shedding some tears should give the poor guy a break, he gave all he could every game and was the epitome of a college player, as much as we feel the media rams this down our throat every chance they get. You know Tebow won't allow any letdown in the Sugar Bowl against the Bearcats. Of course, I would be excited too if I was playing a defense that gave up 44, 36, 21, and 45 points their last 4 games.

7. Oregon (10-2, last week W vs. Oregon St. 37-33, up next Jan. 1 vs. Ohio St.)

-Oregon leaps ahead of their Rose Bowl opponent after a thrilling victory in the Civil War to clinch the Pac-10 Championship. The surprise wasn't the play of QB Jeramiah Masoli or Fr RB LaMichael James, but the return, and TD by suspended RB LeGarrette Blount. Of course, his "season-long" suspension has provided fodder for local loudmouths on Columbus sports talk (yes, there is such a thing), but what should be more worrisome is the physical presence he brings running the football. If Oregon has their full compliment of weapons, they'll be tough to beat.

8. Ohio St. (10-2, last week idle, up next Jan. 1 vs. Oregon)

-Overall, Ohio St. should be pleased with how their regular season ended. After it looked as if Terrelle Pryor was going off the tracks in their shock loss at Purdue, they rallied to win their final 5 games and earn a trip to Pasadena. Of course, Ohio St. needs to win this game to start rebuilding their national reputation. But, one wonders if this is a no-win situation for the Buckeyes. If they lose to Oregon, it will be another example of Ohio St.'s inability to beat good teams. If they win, the pundits will say Oregon isn't really that good of a team. Although based on the words of some at the WWL, maybe Ohio St. shouldn't even bother showing up on Jan. 1.

9. Georgia Tech (11-2, last week W vs. Clemson 39-34 up next Jan. 5 vs. Iowa)

-Ga. Tech earned their ACC Championship with a hard fought win over rivals Clemson on Saturday. Even though 99% of the country didn't watch because of the Big 12 title game, they missed a thrilling contest. Despite the best efforts of Clemson RB C.J. Spiller, Ga. Tech's triple option finally proved enough to get the win. It's a shame most of the country also won't tune in to the Orange Bowl to see them play Iowa, because the triple option of Nesbitt and Dwyer is truly a joy to watch.

10. Iowa (10-2, last game idle, up next Jan. 5 vs. Ga. Tech)

-Iowa deservedly gets the last spot in the YCS as well as the final at-large BCS selection to the Orange Bowl. It would be hard to justify choosing Penn St. over the Hawkeyes considering Iowa's victory in Happy Valley this season (of course Y1 will point out the Orange Bowl didn't use such logic a couple years ago between Kansas and Mizzou). Here's an interesting question, if everyone hates the Big Ten so much in football, why do they keep getting these at-large invites?

Dropped from the YCS: Nobody!

Just Missed Out: Penn St., Va. Tech

-Everyone in the YCS who had to win to stay in did, and one would feel these rankings are a fair assessment of not just the past week, but the whole season, with Penn St. and Va. Tech on the outside looking in, just missing out on this meaningful, historic honor.

We hope you've enjoyed our weekly look at our own version of the BCS, the Yoder Championship Series. As always, our mission was to take the normal, mainstream view of the college rankings and give our own wacky, Yoderized take. Let us know what you think of this week's rankings and the YCS as a whole by posting a comment below. Stay tuned for a YCS Playoff next week, since the other standings won't have one. Also look for our upcoming Bowl Preview and the final RSS Heisman Watch standings coming tomorrow. How do our picks stack up with the final five finalists? Find out tomorrow! And until then, it's bye for now!