OSU vs. Miami or USC vs. Texas? What say you?

[Sloopy45]

The pre-game media hype definately was the same for both games:

Mark May and other idiots picking a 40-20 romp, the comparisons between '05 USC and '02 Miami against the greatest teams of all time before they even won anything, etc.

One thing about the BCS Title game: the Underdog (if worthy enough) has a big time advantage in the fact that the media absolutely drags them through the mud for a solid month before the game.

 

[OilerBuck]

Most people on here realize I'm a pretty objective person when it comes to this stuff...so let me give it a shot. I'm going to compare each game based on Pregame Hype, Talent, Excitement, Drama, Controversy and Historical Significance.

Pregame Hype
2003 Fiesta Bowl - Miami had two heisman candidates in Ken Dorsey and Willis McGahee and were riding a 34 game winning streak into the game amid rumors that this could be the best college football team ever. Ohio State had emerged from preseason obscurity and was all but a dismissed underdog by national media. The question was never really who will win, but by how much.
2006 Rose Bowl - USC had two heisman winners in Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush and were riding a 34 game winning streak into the game amid rumors that this could be the best college football team ever. Texas held on as a co-favorite to reach the title game and, bolstered by a heisman candidate of their own (Vince Young), was a slight underdog. This game was one of the most hyped and anticipated in the history of college football.
EDGE: 2006 Rose Bowl

Talent
2003 Fiesta - 44 players (22 for each) and counting from this game were drafted in the next three drafts, including an astonishing 14 first rounders. Widely considered the greatest compilation of talent in a recent single championship game.
2006 Rose - Heisman winners and talent galore. It's ridiculous to try to project three drafts into the future, however, while the depth of talent may not be at the level of the 2003 championship game...the star power more than makes up for it.
EDGE: Even

Excitement
2003 Fiesta - Turnovers and defense ruled this game, with Ohio State only completing 7 passes. In a double OT game, there were a total of 636 yards from both teams combined and big plays were held to a minimum.
2006 Rose - Big plays and memorable runs galore. 79 combined points in regulation, 1,130 yards of total offense. Laterals and fourth down stops only added to the fun.
EDGE: 2006 Rose

Drama
2003 Fiesta - Double OT, a late Miami surge, long conversions and late flags to keep teams alive and a grotesque injury to a star all contributed to make this game (and all the fans) extremely tense.
2006 Rose - A fourth down scoring run by Young wins it, until Leinart almost gets USC back into field goal territory. I wan't even a fan, yet by heart was pumping hard when Texas was on fourth down for the game.
EDGE: 2003 Fiesta

Controversy
2003 Fiesta - Missed calls and late flags in the closing moments of regulation and OT benefited each side. Many Miami fans still refuse to acknowledge the Buckeye's victory, arguing a "phantom" pass interference.
2006 Rose - Youngs knee was down before a lateral on a TD run, but replay wasn't working in the booth, however, replay kept officiating errors from costing either team the game.
EDGE: 2003 Fiesta

Historical Significance
2003 Fiesta - A great streak was ended, an historic powerhouse was elevated to championship status after a long drought and the game earned (at the time) the highest television rating (15.0) in BCS history. Ohio State set a record with a perfect 14-0 season.
2006 Rose - A great streak was ended, an historic powerhouse was elevated to championship status after a long drought and the game earned the highest television rating (21.7) in the last 19 years of college football. It elevated Vince Young to new heights and elevated this Texas team into the argument of "The Best Team Ever".
EDGE: 2006 Rose Bowl

I went into this decision with the elements I wanted to consider...and this is what i came up with. I had no preconceived notions coming into it...and was actually leaning towards the Fiesta bowl, likely due to my own bias. While it isn't fair to either classic game to relegate it to "second place"...I have to say that this Rose Bowl may have been the best ever.

 

[WestEnd]

It's such a hard comparison, but I'd think that the two defenses in the 2003 fiesta bowl were both better than either texas or SC this year. I remember thinking "ouch" after just about every play in 2003. If you like hard hitting, and unbelievable drama, it's the 03 fiesta bowl.

On the other hand, the offenses in the rose bowl were both just lethal, and the comeback texas made to win the game was legendary. Without a doubt the most exceptional individual performance in either game came from vince young. If you like watching incredible talent make everyone on else on the field look like schoolboys, ridiculous comebacks, and great offense, then it's the rose bowl.

I think this rose bowl will go down as a more memorable and overall better game nationwide, but that doesn't take anything away from the 03 fiesta bowl.

 

[Wingate1217]

OSU-Miami choice 1a
Texas-USC choice 1b

Really can't pick between the two, as both games were great. Both OSU and Texas were underdogs and were going against the greatest dynasties up to that time. Texas had Vince Young completely taken over their game, while the OSU defense took over our game. But I believe OSU was a bigger dog than Texas and it was a bigger upset. That is why OSU is choice 1a, but I could watch both games over and over.

 

[2002AGAIN]

I'm going to have to say OSU vs Miami simply because although USC was drastically overhyped, the U back in '02 was even more overhyped. Bucks weren't given a chance (shouldn't even be Big Ten co-Champs, let alone in the title game; couple of breaks and they wouldn't be undefeated, etc).

But, when all is said and done, I don't care. My freshman year, I saw the Bucks beat the Hurricanes in a thriller, which was special to me because I grew up in OH and my dad went to tOSU as a grad student. This year, my sr year, I got to witness a thriller between UT and USC. So my collegiate career will be bookended by NCs for the two teams I've grown to love.