Vince Young rightfully threw a pick to end the game in the middle of the 4th quarter and Texas trailing by 12 points. It would have been a very tame ending. I guess only USC fans remember that play more than anything else in the game, because it was so startling at the time. A backup defensive back named Ryan Ting somehow brainstormed to bat down the ball instead of making a routine interception that would have made him a hero. Some extreme USC fans were so upset with Ting after the game that he received death threats. But whenever someone tries to pretend Vince Young had a world beater game I remember that play.
USC had a young defense that was shredded by graduation and injury compared to the excellent defense of the prior season. Consequently there were countless narrow escapes during that season, like the Arizona State comeback, famous Notre Dame shove game, and even a late rally at home against Fresno State. The Trojans were paper mache all season, yet still should have put away Texas minus any number of plays going their way, like Reggie Bush' idiotic lateral that resulted in a self-inflicted turnover.
Texas was a 7-7.5 point underdog in that game. If the game had been replayed a week later, Texas still would have been underdog. That, more than anything, defines the monumental stupidity of ESPN assigning 2005 Texas #1. You don't anoint a team as best when it would have been underdog to numerous teams on the list.
The 2001 Canes would have been favored above anyone, although several of the recent Alabama teams would have been very, very close to pick-em. Those Saban teams are not flashy but anyone who undervalues them is a fool. They are exactly the type of team that has thwarted the great Canes teams in prior eras.
