Could Oregon State Reach No. 2?

Is it possible that Oregon State could finish No. 2 in the country this season?

Try this scenario: Virginia Tech loses to Clemson in the New Year’s Day Gator Bowl, meaning that Tech, the only team with one loss that is not in a major bowl, would see its record slip to 10-2.

Then, in order, Purdue defeats Washington in the Rose Bowl and the Huskies slip to 10-2, Oregon State defeats Notre Dame in the Fiesta and goes to 11-1, and the next day, Florida defeats Miami in the Sugar Bowl, leaving both 10-2. On Jan. 3, Oklahoma wins the national championship by defeating Florida State in the Orange Bowl, leaving Florida State 11-2.

That would mean Oklahoma finishes 13-0, but who is No. 2? Not that it is the only criteria, but who has the next best record?

That would be Oregon State’s 11-1.

Suddenly, we would find out whether voters can really push the chads on a program from Corvallis that has a history of bad teams and doormat status. Would we suddenly hear a litany of arguments for “strength of schedule” and “power ratings?” Or would 11-1 and a victory over Notre Dame be enough? Final poll day could be fascinating.

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Ken Simonton, Oregon State’s standout junior running back who finished eighth in the Heisman balloting this year, comes from a family with a baseball background. His father played for the Boston Red Sox, and his brother and one of his cousins are in the Giants’ and Mariners’ systems, respectively.

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Notre Dame will make no attempt to match Simonton’s rushes one for one. Nope, it will take three Irish running backs to do that, and all three--Julius Jones, Tony Fisher and Terrance Howard--are expected to play a lot.

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Notre Dame wide receiver Joey Getherall, the fastest player the Irish have on offense, has caught a few 4.2 clockings in the 40-yard dash on hand-held watches. His father, Joe, of Rowland Heights, said a stationary clock that is highly accurate timed his son at 4.38.

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Like many Notre Dame players who have watched the movie “Rudy,” Getherall, 5-foot-7, 170 pounds, has a title picked out if a film is ever made about him. “I want them to call it ‘The Little Receiver’ ” he said.