UCLA Dream Season Turns Into Nightmare

MIAMI —  After weeks of worry that a computer would cost them their chance at the national championship, the UCLA football team crashed Saturday before the computer had a chance.

Infected by the virus that is their defense, the favored Bruins lost to the University of Miami, 49-45, to blow their unbeaten season, their 20-game winning streak, and their desired spot in the national championship Fiesta Bowl.

A couple of hours later, one of UCLA’s two rivals for that Fiesta spot--previously unbeaten Kansas State--was also upset, 36-33 in two overtimes, by Texas A&M; in the Big 12 conference championship game.

This left Tennessee as the lone remaining unbeaten national title contender, and in the last game of the day, the Volunteers escaped with a 24-14 comeback victory over Mississippi State.

Tennessee, ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll, is expected to play Florida State for the national championship in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 4 in Tempe, Ariz.

The Seminoles, also with only one loss, are expected to move past UCLA and Kansas State today in the complicated bowl championship series rankings, which use a combination of computers and coaches and writers polls.

“It’s been an incredible championship Saturday,” said Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer.

Not if you’re UCLA or Kansas State, which entered the game rated second and third in the BCS.

“There comes a certain point where you just can’t keep outscoring people,” said shaken Bruin Coach Bob Toledo. “At some point, you also have to stop them.”

UCLA fell to 10-1 and will probably have to “settle” for a spot in what this season is not considered a championship bowl--the Rose Bowl--against Wisconsin.

Before Saturday, everyone was curious how the computers would rank the three teams if they remained unbeaten. But in blowing a 38-21 lead in the final 16 minutes of the first game of the day, UCLA quickly took care of that dilemma. A defense that allowed an incredible 689 total yards--including 299 rushing yards by Edgerrin James--buckled while Miami scored on its last four possessions. This included a one-yard run by James in the final minute for the victory.

The win overshadowed arguably this season’s best pressure performance by a quarterback, as Bruin Cade McNown threw for 513 yards and five touchdowns while also running for one.

“Oh well, we’re still going to the Rose Bowl,” said UCLA guard Andy Meyers. “Didn’t that used to be the big one?”