As the 2014 BCS Bowl season drew to a close on January 6^th, we said goodbye to the BCS, and welcome the four-team playoff. Next year the top four teams in the country will battle it out to see who will be crowned national champion. The final year of the BCS did not disappoint, with multiple upsets and possibly the greatest BCS National Championship in recent years. In case you were out skiing here’s a review of the BCS bowl games you missed.

Rose Bowl, January 1

   The ‘granddaddy of them all’ celebrated its one hundred year history in a spectacular game that matched #4 Michigan State vs. #5 Stanford. The game was dominated by defense. Stanford found success in the rushing game, rushing for over 160 yards, most of which came from star running back Tyler Gaffney. Gaffney also, rushed for a touchdown, the first one of the game. On the other side Michigan States passing attack was outstanding. Quarterback Connor Cook threw for 332 yards and one interception. Cook also threw for two touchdowns, including the game winner. The final score was Michigan State 24 – Stanford 20.

Fiesta Bowl, January 1

   The Fiesta Bowl featured two high-powered offenses in the #6 Baylor vs. #15 Central Florida. Baylor was a seventeen-point favorite, which tied the BCS record for highest spread in a game. There were ninety-four total points scored by both teams and over 1100 yards of offense. Baylor’s quarterback Bryce Petty accounted for five total touchdowns, including two rushing touchdowns, and three in the air. On the other side, UCF’s quarterback Blake Bortles had four touchdowns, three in the air and one on the ground. Both quarterbacks threw for over 300 yards; the difference maker was what UCF did on the ground. The Knights rushed for over 220 yards. That’s why they were able to upset Baylor 52-42 in one of the most unpredictable upsets in BCS history.

Sugar Bowl, January 2

     The Sugar Bowl might as well be titled the upset of the century. The game played between #3 Alabama and #11 Oklahoma was supposed to be one of the more lopsided affairs in BCS history. Alabama was a seventeen-point favorite, again tying a BCS record, much like Baylor. This was a game dominated by the quarterbacks, featuring Alabama’s AJ McCarron, a two-time national champion, playing against Trevor Knight, a red shirt freshman. Both threw for over 300 yards. Knight threw for four touchdowns, while McCarron only threw for two. The difference maker in this game was Alabama’s five turnovers, including a McCarron fumble returned for a touchdown in the waning moments of the fourth quarter. This gave Oklahoma the 45-31 victory.

Orange Bowl, January 3

   ACC vs. Big 10, Clemson vs. Ohio State, two teams that held hope of a BCS championship when the season started. That was not to be as Clemson lost to Florida State early in the season destroying their chances, Ohio State’s dreams were crushed in the final game of their season in a loss to Michigan State. #7 Ohio State were favorites to beat #12 Clemson, but only by three; that was not to be. Clemson, lead by quarterback Tajh Boyd, threw for 378 yards; Boyd also accounted for six touchdowns, five in the air and one on the ground. His counterpart Braxton Miller threw for 234 yards, Miller added four touchdowns, two in the air and two on the ground. Clemson scored the gaming-winning touchdown with just over six minutes remaining in the fourth to secure their 40-35 victory.

BCS National Championship, January 6

   In arguably the best National Championship in the past ten years, #1 Florida State took on #2 Auburn. Florida State featured Heisman-winning quarterback Jameis Winston, while Auburn had Tre Mason, a Heisman finalist. Florida State drew first blood with a field goal early in the first. Auburn responded big with a touchdown by Mason. Auburn went on to score the next two touchdowns. Florida State was finally able to score a touchdown with just over a minute remaining in the first half. Down eleven at the half, Florida State came out strong and scored ten unanswered to start the second half. Auburn finally stopped the bleeding with a field goal early in the fourth.

The ensuing kick-off was a game changer, as Florida State took it back 100 yards for the score. This gave Florida State its first lead since the beginning of the game. Auburn was not about to roll over and die there; no, with only 1:19 remaining in the game Tre Mason took it thirty-seven yards for the score. At this point the game looked all but over for Florida State. It seemed as though Auburn had secured a National Championship. But it was not to be as Heisman winner Jameis Winston drove Florida State eighty yards for the game-winning score with only thirteen seconds remaining. Florida State won its first National Championship since 1999.