This fan's face explains how everyone is feeling. Unreal. #IronBowl pic.twitter.com/SgXZyybwmp
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 1, 2013
By Michael Moraitis--Featured Columnist
No. 4 Auburn's miraculous win over No. 1 Alabama after time expired on Saturday night will throw the BCS into utter chaos when the new rankings are officially released.
Head coach Nick Saban's squad had an opportunity to win the game with a 57-yard field goal that fell just short as time expired.
The Tigers took full advantage of the missed attempt by 'Bama kicker Adam Griffith and took the ball the length of the field and then some to score on the final play of regulation in a game that will no doubt go down in history as one of the best Iron Bowl matchups ever.
Second guessers will be all over Saban for the 57-yard attempt, which would be a daunting task for even the best NFL kickers, let alone a youngster like Griffith. Not to mention, the Crimson Tide had already missed a 33-yard attempt earlier in the game, so chances were they had no shot at success the next time around.
So, where does this leave the BCS National Championship picture?
No. 2 Florida State is already a lock to own at least the No. 2 spot in the rankings, but it is far more likely the Seminoles are the new No. 1 team in the nation after topping Florida in an effortless fashion, 37-7.
Choosing a new No. 2 isn't as clear at the moment.
No. 3 Ohio St. is the obvious choice and may almost certainly be the second-best team in the country, but a close contest that came down to the wire versus an unranked Michigan squad may change things and hurt the Buckeyes' chances.
And considering Auburn just knocked off the best team in the nation (or former best team) and the undisputed favorite to win a third-straight national title, you have to give the Tigers at least an outside chance of grabbing one of the top two spots.
After all, Auburn has now beaten four ranked teams with its only loss coming to former No. 6 LSU earlier in the season. As far as Ohio St. is concerned, they have beaten just two ranked teams all season and neither of those squads (Wisconsin and Northwestern) are of the quality as some teams that Auburn has already beaten this season.
Chances are the one loss on Auburn's record will doom them in this instance and keep them as the No.3 team. However, it must be said that Auburn has played a tougher schedule, thus that one loss shouldn't weigh as heavily on the Tigers.
Even if things don't go in Auburn's favor, there is still another shot to make their national title hopes come true and it will happen in the SEC Championship game.
Perhaps beating a team like No. 5 Missouri or No. 10 South Carolina for the SEC crown will be enough to take a top spot for the big Jan. 6 game despite what Ohio St. does, but it's more likely than not that the BCS will still favor the Buckeyes unless they lose to Michigan St. in the Big Ten title game next week.
Regardless of the outcome, this Auburn-Alabama result will spark an intense debate about who deserves it more, whether that's Ohio St. or Auburn. Both are certainly deserving, but only one can get the No. 2 spot.
Somewhere in a dark room, there is a computer in overload right now and this Auburn-Alabama game is the cause.
