The number 1 team in the BCS, the LSU Tigers, lost today at home to Arkansas 50-48 in 3 overtimes. LSU trailed 28-21 with just under 5 minutes left, but were able to drive the ball 80 yards and score the tying touchdown with 47 seconds remaining. The teams traded TDs through the first two overtimes, then in the third, Arkansas scored and made a two-point conversion to give themselves a 50-42 lead. LSU then scored their own TD, but the two-point attempt was intercepted by Arkansas, ending the game and, presumably, LSU's run at a National Championship.

The Tigers' defeat spells a big opportunity for several teams. The game to watch tomorrow pits BCS number 2 Kansas against conference rival and BCS number 4 Missouri. That figures to be a shootout as well, with each team being led by a Heisman-candidate QB, Todd Reesing for Kansas and Chase Daniel for Mizzou. Then you have number 3 West Virginia hosting Connecticut, and number 7 Georgia visiting Georgia Tech.

What it all boils down to a big fat BCS mess - maybe the biggest we've seen in the history of the system. We already know that either Mizzou or Kansas will lose tomorrow, and if West Virginia should lose as well, the door will be opened for Ohio State (again) - but not Arizona State, who got trounced by USC yesterday 44-24. And of course we have to factor in the various conference title games in a couple of weeks, which will further mess things up.

As it is, there's a chance no undefeated teams will wind up in the mix for the championship. Ohio State is actually in a great position by virtue of their having the one loss (I apologize for prematurely dismissing them, but mostly that was wishful thinking as I hate them). The Kansas/Missouri winner will be in the Big 12 title game, almost certainly against Oklahoma (Texas was in the mix until they lost today to Texas A&M). Should Kansas win out, they will be undefeated and certainly in. Should they lose tomorrow, they will finish the season with one loss, having no more games on their schedule. If Missouri wins out, they'll be in without question. But what if Missouri should lose the conference championship game? They'd be up to two losses and probably out. In that case, it would likely be Kansas vs. Ohio State in the title game, unless Kansas's loss to Missouri dropped them below some other two-loss team. Of course this all assumes West Virginia doesn't win their remaining two games.

As it stands - unless I'm missing something - it will be very difficult for a two-loss team to break in. But God only knows. The Georgia Bulldogs still have a shot, especially if they beat LSU in the conference title game. Oh, and LSU might somehow sneak back in should they win the SEC title game (but that looks like a long-shot).

I'm going to assume USC, Oklahoma and Oregon are totally out of it, but it's difficult to say. It would mostly hinge on how far Kansas gets knocked down in the polls should they lose to Missouri. And I don't even want to think about what would happen if Kansas won tomorrow then got knocked off in the conference title game. It's possible the universe would just explode, in which case there would be nothing left but Keith Richards and Joan Rivers, a suck National Championship game under any conditions.