It started the first week of the season.

Kansas vs. North Dakota State. You know some Missouri alum was thinking to his/her self, “What if Kansas lost to North Dakota State?” And then it happened. 6-3 of all things. On the way back from Houston after watching Texas vs. Rice, I was thinking to myself one simple word:

“WHAT?!?!?!?”

The results grew more dramatic from there. Days later, Boise State defeats Virginia Tech at FedEx Field. Outside of the 40 Acres, the juggernauts fell. Alabama. Ohio State. Oklahoma. And here in Austin, UCLA delivered the first blow, followed by Iowa State. And in their own way, the Longhorns traveled to Nebraska and delivered a “What If” moment of their own, taking out the then fifth-best team in the country.

All of this, in my sophomoric sports mind, is leading to the ultimate conclusion: Either Boise State or TCU will go to the BCS National Championship game. And the “old guard” of football shouldn’t be scared, because this is the only way we can stop the constant questions and the hypotheticals.

The only way to prove they’re supposed to be there is if they play. And don’t be cheezy about things and have them play each other in some sort of “consolation” game, like last year. Have one of them play another from the traditional “old guard” of teams, which is shaping out to be Oregon, Auburn, or something along those lines. Then we’ll know. Then we’ll know who the best team in the country is.

“What If” we actually saw a definitive outcome in college football this year? Or am I getting too close to demanding a playoff here? Which may be the only way teams can justify being in a major conference, if one of “them” wins.

But that’s another “What if” altogether.