Final Arguments

So it’s come down to this: another Saturday in December filled with plot lines, potholes and conspiracy theories.

Nothing much is at stake today except prestigious spots in the Rose, Sugar, Fiesta and Orange bowls, millions of dollars, the Heisman Trophy, the credibility of the bowl championship series, pride and perhaps, in the end, prejudice.

In terms of thrill rides, today has a chance to override the excitement of the first BCS Saturday in 1998, that nut-case finish in 2001 and last year’s controversy involving No. 1 USC.

Remember ‘98, the inaugural BCS kick-off banquet?

Tennessee, Kansas State and UCLA began the day undefeated; three teams fighting for two BCS spots.

Kansas State and UCLA lost, both in shocking fashion, Tennessee barely held on to win and Florida State, idle and No. 4 in the BCS standings, rose from ashes to earn a national title-game berth.

In 2001, Nebraska rallied from a seemingly devastating late-season, 62-36 loss to Colorado to earn the No. 2 BCS spot by .05 over Colorado even though Oregon was No. 2 in the Associated Press and coaches’ polls.

Last year, USC awoke from weekend wackiness as the No. 1 team in both polls, yet was third in the final BCS standings.

What might happen this year only a fool would venture to guess, but here’s the set-up:

* USC, Oklahoma and Auburn are undefeated and vying for the top two spots in the BCS standings and a berth in the Jan. 4 Orange Bowl, site of this year’s national championship.

* USC and Oklahoma have comfortable BCS leads, so it appears that Auburn is going to need a loss by either the Trojans or Sooners to earn a title-game bid.

* No. 1 USC plays UCLA at the Rose Bowl. A USC victory puts the Trojans in the Jan. 4 Orange Bowl with a chance to play for the full national title.

* No. 2 Oklahoma plays Colorado in the Big 12 championship game at Kansas City, Mo.

Last year, No. 1 Oklahoma entered the Big 12 title game knowing it had such a big lead in the BCS standings it could lose and still finish first or second. Oklahoma was subsequently crushed by Kansas State, 35-7, but ended up No. 1 in the BCS.

“We understand that it’s a different situation this year,” Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops said this week. “There’s no question we have to win, so whether that matters or not we’ll see.”

Upset alert: In the 2001 Big 12 title game, Gary Barnett’s Colorado team knocked Texas out of a national game berth with a 39-37 victory over the Longhorns.

* No. 3 Auburn plays No. 15 Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference title game at Atlanta, and you can expect considerable outcry if the unbeaten champion of the SEC gets locked out of the national title game.

SEC upset alert: In the 2001 title game, Tennessee needed a victory over an 8-3 Louisiana State team to win a national-title game berth in the Rose Bowl. LSU won, 31-20.

* No. 4 California plays at Southern Mississippi.

This game has no likely bearing on the national title -- unless two of the top three teams lose -- but, boy, are people watching. Cal has a .0013 lead over Texas for the critical No. 4 spot in the BCS. If the top teams win out and Cal holds onto to No. 4, it goes to the Rose Bowl. If Texas gets the spot, Cal is out of the Rose Bowl and Texas probably is headed for the Fiesta.

At stake here is an additional $4.5 million for either the Pacific 10 or Big 12 Conference.

Let the conspiracy theories begin, as it will take only a few writers or coaches switching votes to alter Cal’s position.

A blow-out victory would greatly aid Cal’s cause, but Golden Bears’ Coach Jeff Tedford says he’s not playing a run-it-up game.

“In no way, shape or form are we going into this game worried about style points,” Tedford said. “What comes after the next opponent is all speculation. You can’t control the voting. The main objective is to go win the football game.”

More fodder: Of the 61 coaches who vote in the ESPN/USA Today poll, seven hail from the Big 12 versus five from the Pac-10. Texas Coach Mack Brown and Cal’s Tedford are voting coaches. The Big 12 gets a “kin” bonus because Alabama Birmingham Coach Watson Brown, brother of Mack, is also a voter.

For what it’s worth, Associated Press plans to release all 65 ballots this weekend with each writer’s rankings, one through 25.

The coaches recently voted, by a margin of 32-29, to keep their final votes anonymous.