No team was able to survive 2011 without losing; except for LSU. Come 2012, however, the story was different, as Alabama made the most of their rematch opportunity with LSU — who handed the Crimson Tide their lone loss of the season — and beat the Tigers 21-0 on Monday night in New Orleans in the BCS title game.

Trent Richardson’s fourth-quarter touchdown scamper proved the only touchdown score after five field goals gave the Tide a 15-0 lead that their defense protected time and again. Richardson finished the game with 96 yards rushing and the one score, but it was quarterback A.J. McCarron who shined brightest throughout the game for the Crimson Tide, finishing 23-of-34 for 234 yards to help the Tide move up and down the field.

LSU’s defense was able to curtail the Tide’s offensive outbursts, holding them to just field goal attempts most of the game, but the Tiger offense never was able to take off and score points of its own.

Alabama coach Nick Saban now claims three national titles, and the state of Alabama has claimed the last three BCS titles, as part of six straight titles for the Southeastern conference.

It took a little bit for West Virginia to get going, but once the Mountaineers got on the scoreboard, they never looked back, using a 99-yard fumble recovery to blast their way to a blowout 70-33 victory over Clemson in Wednesday’s Orange Bowl.

West Virginia kept scoring Wednesday night, as Clemson’s defensive attack was simply overmatched. The Mountaineers set an all-time bowl record — yes, bowl, not just BCS bowl — for first half points with 49 and the game itself set the record for points scored in a BCS bowl game. The 70 points the Mountaineers scored was also an NCAA-era record for points in a bowl game.

The Mountaineers also accounted for other BCS and bowl records — quarterback Geno Smith set the BCS bowl record for passing touchdowns and receiver Tavon Austin set the record for receiving touchdowns in an Orange Bowl game.

Clemson did lead the Orange Bowl heading into the second quarter, but the Mountaineers were relentless in the quarter, scoring 35 and putting the game away for good.

The Tigers came into the game on the heels of topping Virginia Tech for a second time on the season — this time in the ACC Championship Game. The Hokies were able to claim a BCS bowl bid of their own, but Clemson got the auto-invite to the Orange Bowl as ACC champs. The Tigers’ 10-win season had been a hopeful sign for the Orange Bowl, but the Mountaineers quickly took that away.

West Virginia moves to 3-0 all time in BCS bowl games and captures its 10th win of the season, setting the Mountaineers up for high expectations come 2012.

Michigan kicker Brandan Gibbons nailed a 37-yard field goal in the first overtime to give Michigan its first BCS bowl victory since the 2000 Orange Bowl as the Wolverines topped Virginia Tech in a hard-fought Sugar Bowl, 23-20.

Neither team came out of the gates firing, but persistent play from both ends made the game a back-and-forth battle of attrition. Michigan would head out to a 17-6 lead midway through the second quarter, but the Hokies were not fazed. On the strength of four Justin Myer field goals, Virginia Tech climbed all the way back, and had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation. Michigan’s defense stood tall when it needed to the most, however, and the Hokies settled for a field goal that send the game to overtime.

Myer was unable to convert a field goal attempt on the Hokies first drive, his first miss in his five attempts on the night, which set up Gibbons’ three point try after the Wolverines were visibly setting up the kicker for his attempt at the game-winner. A stutter step as the ball was hiked did not faze Gibbons, and the Wolverines proved victorious in New Orleans.

A Fiesta Bowl littered with NFL prospects on both ends was turned in Oklahoma State’s favor late Monday night by a combination of Stanford’s missed field goals and gritty play by its 28-year-old senior quarterback and star wide receiver as the Cowboys topped Stanford 41-38.

A field goal by Oklahoma State kicker Quinn Sharp in the first overtime period clinched victory for the Cowboys after Stanford kicker Jordan Williamson missed two straight opportunities to add three points, the first of which would have given the Cardinal a victory.

A catch from Cowboy wide receiver Colton Chelf set Sharp up for the game-winning kick after Stanford failed to score on its first possession in overtime. It was not until Sharp nailed the kick to win the game that the Cowboys led the 2012 Fiesta Bowl, as Stanford moved the ball up and down the field for 590 total yards.

Andrew Luck, the assumed first overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft, led the way for the Cardinal and finished the night with more than 300 yards passing and two touchdowns. Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon, the Cowboys’ superstar draft prospect, was electric on the night, finishing with 186 yards receiving and three touchdowns.

Just the third overtime game in Fiesta Bowl history was an exciting one, as both offenses were obviously ready to go. Oklahoma State certainly had reason to be disappointed with its place in the Fiesta Bowl, but came out firing despite facing an early 14-0 deficit and matched the Cardinal score for score from there.

Defense was optional in Pasadena on Monday as Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas and a combination of running backs LaMichael James and De’Anthony Thomas led the Ducks over Wisconsin in the 2012 Rose Bowl, 45-38.

The game got out to a fast start as both offense clicked early, setting Rose Bowl records in the first half for scoring and single play from scrimmage (DeAnthony Thomas’s 91-yard first-quarter touchdown scamper). Wisconsin hung in with every Oregon score, as senior quarterback Russell Wilson and running back Montee Ball had performances reflective of their impressive 2011 campaigns. The Badgers’ first three touchdowns were the result of a beautiful Wilson play-action pass, a Wilson run and a Ball 3-yard score.

Through the first half, the Badgers had far outpaced the Ducks in terms of time of possession, but James — who finished with 161 rushing yards — and Oregon were quick to score, including James’s first-ever touchdown rush in a BCS bowl game.

The second half was not quite as offense heavy as the first, as the defenses began to adjust. A key fumble by Wisconsin reciever Jared Abbrederis — who earlier scored the game’s first touchdown — with Wisconsin driving for the potential game-tying touchdown gave Oregon the chance to put the game away.

For Wisconsin, the result was all too familiar, as the Badgers have now lost two straight Rose Bowls, after falling to TCU in last year’s granddaddy of them all.

For Oregon, the victory snapped a three-game losing streak in the Rose Bowl that spanned more than 90 years, with the Ducks’ last victory in the game coming in 1917 Rose Bowl, when they topped the Pennsylvania 14-0.

The 83 total points scored by the Ducks and Badgers also set an all-time Rose Bowl record.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Thirty bowl games in just 22 days feature teams and matchups between schools that might never get the chance to play anytime during the season.

This season, 30 non-BCS bowls will feature teams from across the country. Teams that just missed out on BCS bowls — Kansas State, Boise State, Houston — teams that had surprisingly strong seasons — Baylor, Georgia, Michigan State — and teams that faltered down the stretch — Oklahoma, Penn State, Notre Dame.

All of the games are interesting matchups, so mark your calendars.

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MWC: Mountain West Conference

WAC: Western Athletic Conference

MAC: Mid-Atlantic Conference

C-USA: Conference USA

ACC: Atlantic Coast Conference

SEC: Southeastern Conference

Pac-12: Pacific 12 Conference

The 2012 BCS bowl matchups have been announced, with the rematch of the century, Alabama-LSU highlighting the slate in the BCS national championship game.

The BCS will begin with the Rose Bowl, this year held on Jan. 2, followed by the Sugar Bowl that night.

The Orange Bowl and Fiesta Bowl will played on Jan. 4 and Jan. 5 respectively, with the title game not coming our way until Jan. 9.

Represented are the champions of all six BCS conferences, teams that missed the Pac-12, SEC and Big Ten conference championship games, and the ACC’s runner up.

2012 BCS Schedule

	Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. January 2, 2012 5 p.m. EST
	Wisconsin Badgers
vs.
	Oregon Ducks
	Comment: The champions of the Big Ten and Pac-12, coming off victories in each conference’s first-ever conference championship game, will face off in the single BCS bowl with the most history. And the Oregon-Wisconsin meeting might just have the most intrigue and interest among the five BCS bowls, too. Offense runs both teams’ attacks with weapons like Oregon stable of athletes (Darron Thomas, LaMichael James, De’Anthony Thomas among many others) and the Badgers’ two-headed monster in Monte Ball and Russell Wilson.
	–
	Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, La. January 3, 2012 8:30 p.m. EST
	Michigan Wolverines
vs.
	Virginia Tech Hokies
	Comment: Somewhat surprise bids for both Michigan and Virginia Tech will give this Sugar Bowl a distinctively un-Sugar Bowl like feel, as no SEC team was available for the bowl to take to replace a lost team to the title game as they have in years past. Of course, the player in this game that everyone knows is Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, but Virginia Tech comes ready with a strong offensive attack and of course a Frank Beamer coached defense and special teams. Should be a good one in the bayou as they ready for the title game a week later.
	–
	Orange Bowl in Miami, Fla. January 4, 2012 8:30 p.m. EST
	Clemson Tigers
vs.
	West Virginia Mountaineers
	Comment: The champions of the Big East and ACC meet in the Orange Bowl yet again, this time pitting West Virginia against a revitalized Clemson squad. West Virginia was the beneficiary of a three-way tiebreaker in the Big East. The Mountaineers shared the regular season crown with Louisville and Cincinnati, but by finishing highest in the final BCS standings, the Mountaineers were assured of the conference’s automatic BCS bid. Clemson topped Virginia Tech in the ACC title game, somewhat of a surprise, and got an automatic bid to the Orange Bowl in the process.
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	Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona January 5, 2012 8:30 p.m. EST
	Oklahoma State Cowboys
vs.
	Stanford Cardinal
	Comment: Just missing out on the BCS title game leaves Oklahoma State to take the Big 12′s rightful place in the Fiesta Bowl, where the Cowboys will be faced with Stanford and Heisman candidate Andrew Luck in the desert. The Cowboys have a strong duo at the top of their offensive attack as well, as quarterback Brandon Weeden and wide receiver Justin Blackmon are among the best in the nation at their positions. Expect nothing less than a shootout.
	–
	BCS National Championship Game in New Orleans, La. January 9, 2012 8:30 p.m. EST
	LSU Tigers
vs.
	Alabama Crimson Tide
	Comment: The matchup everyone wanted to see has turned into the rematch that most of the country clamored for. A 9-6 victory for LSU over Alabama earlier this season was obviously not enough for many of the voters, and we’ll get another chance to see the best two teams in the country go at it again. Both have world-class defenses and feature some great offensive weapons, such as Alabama running back Trent Richardson and LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson. Could we be in for another low scoring affair? Or will the offenses break out this time?

A year of debate and consternation about the system, the teams and everything in between has come to a close. With 14 weeks in the books, we’re finally at the moment where the BCS is readying its slate of games.

Are we headed for a rematch in the title game? Or is Oklahoma State going to get the support they need to make a trip to the title game?

Whether you agree with it or not, the BCS certainly has delivered the framework for another slate of interesting games, and when the bowls are announced Sunday night, we’ll have the opportunity to revel in some really solid college football matchups.

For reference, the at-large selection order for the 2012 bowl slate (after hosting contracts have been filled and the NCG is filled) is: Fiesta, Sugar, Orange.

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BCS National Championship Game: LSU Tigers (BCS No. 1) vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys (BCS No. 2)

Comment: Risky as this prediction is, the public’s view point has been swayed, and there’s no denying it. LSU deserves this bid, no doubt, but so does Oklahoma State. The 174 voters will have to own up to their selections tomorrow, and how can they justify denying Oklahoma State its first shot at LSU when Alabama already had its shot?

Rose Bowl: Oregon Ducks (Pac-12 Champion) vs. Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten Champion)

Comment: Two teams that simply needed to cash in opportunities in their respective conference championship games to get to the Rose Bowl did just that, as Oregon and Wisconsin were victorious in the Pac-12 and Big Ten’s first annual championship games. Oregon took care of UCLA while Wisconsin took care of Michigan State, and now the two will meet in Pasadena on Jan. 2.

Sugar Bowl: Alabama Crimson Tide (At-large selection) vs. Boise State Broncos (At-large selection)

Comment: Not losing Alabama to the title game slots them right into the Sugar Bowl, as the bowl will be ecstatic to grab an SEC team with its first replacement selection.

Pitting Boise State against Alabama would be an intriguing matchup for the Sugar Bowl, plus the growing national appeal of the Broncos could be attractive for the Sugar Bowl.

Orange Bowl: Clemson Tigers (ACC Champion) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (Big East Champion)

Comment: Clemson, early season surprises and then surprising entrants in the national title conversation, saw their stock slide dramatically in the middle of the season. But the Tigers persevered, clinching a spot in the ACC title game. Then, when faced with a Virginia Tech team they had already beaten this season, the Tigers put on a show, and will represent the conference in the Orange Bowl as ACC champs.

A tie atop the final regular season standings among West Virginia, Louisville and Cincinnati turned the onus for deciding the conference’s BCS participant to the BCS standings. When the standings are released late Sunday night, West Virginia will likely be the one to grab that tiebreaker by finishing highest among the three in the final set of BCS standings.

Fiesta Bowl: Stanford Cardinal (At-large selection) vs. Michigan Wolverines (At-large selection)

Comment: Losing Oklahoma State to the title game, the Fiesta Bowl receives the second replacement pick, and with no strong Big 12 team to support the Fiesta Bowl, don’t be surprised if they call Michigan’s name. Of course, the Wolverines will have to be eligible, but it seems that Michigan will just get enough support tomorrow to make itself available for this game.

Stanford’s growing national appeal should be enough to allow the Cardinal to grab another BCS bowl bid. Plus, as a top-four BCS team, Stanford being left out of the BCS would look unfortunate for the BCS as a whole.

Everything is came up roses for Wisconsin, as the Badgers’ 42-39 victory over Michigan State will send quarterback Russell Wilson and the Badgers to Pasadena to take on Oregon in the Jan. 2 edition of the “granddady of them all.”

Wisconsin was victorious in the first-even Big Ten Conference Championship Game late Saturday night, going blow for blow with Michigan State before getting out ahead of the Spartans in the second half and never looking back.

Wilson and running back Monte Ball are two of the most explosive offensive weapons in the FBS, and will be matched score for score, undoubtedly, by Oregon in Pasadena.

Wisconsin was in the midst of the national title conversation until two straight losses dropped the Badgers out of the title chase. A resurgent team, however, kept at it, and made the most of the games it had remaining to get to the conference title game and now to the Rose Bowl.

With a dominating 44-10 victory over Oklahoma in Saturday night’s edition of Bedlam in Stillwater, Oklahoma State has clinched the Big 12 conference’s automatic bid to a BCS bowl.

The Cowboys finish the season 11-1 after their victory over the Sooners, and would likely have the biggest gripe with an Alabama-LSU rematch in the BCS title game if that is to happen and the Cowboys were to be left out.

The Cowboys are led by quarterback Brandon Weeden and wide receiver Justin Blackmon, who both had spectacular seasons in Stillwater, helping coach Mike Gundy’s squad rise to national dominance.

Oklahoma State was long favored to make its way to the title game, but a shocking loss to Iowa State a few weekends ago, the Cowboys hopes were hit and hit badly.

But nothing is for certain. 174 voters will have the opportunity to give Oklahoma State a shot at LSU, will they get it? Or will they be left to the Fiesta Bowl as the Big 12 conference champions?

Only time will tell. Or you can visit BCS Know How’s projections, due out later tonight.