I spent this week reverting to my eighth grade days with lots of Playstation, bad food, and television. I was a bachelor for five days and decided to see what it would be like if Alabama played in a different conference every season. How many times do we -- SEC fans -- say that XYZ SEC team could win this conference or that division?
So, why not see what would happen if the 'Tide went on a conference tour?
I fired up NCAA Football 12 -- which allows you to customize conferences -- and simulated three seasons. I kept Alabama in the SEC West for the 2011 season and joined the Big Ten Leaders in 2012, and the Big 12 South in 2013.
I would have simulated seasons where Alabama played in the ACC, Pac-12, and Big East, but my wife comes home tomorrow. I have to pretend that I'm an adult again and the PS3 will be rendered useless yet again.
To keep an even number of teams in each conference Alabama joins, they will take Vanderbilt with them to play in the opposite division. On this tour with 'Bama the rock star, Vandy gets on the big rig and plays roadie.
2011 SEC WEST
2011 description will be short since we have nearly completed a real 2011 season.
No. 6 Alabama (11-2, 7-1) loses to No. 15 Georgia (9-3, 6-2) in SEC Championship to Georgia 22-14. Falls to No. 15 and beats NO. 19 Nebraska (9-3, 5-3), 35-14, in Capital One Bowl.
2011 SEC Champions
GEORGIA BULLDOGS
Case Keenum wins Heisman
No. 1 Oklahoma (14-0, 9-0) defeated No. 2 TCU (11-2, 7-0), 27-17, in the BCS Championship Game in New Orleans.
2011 BCS Champions
OKLAHOMA SOONERS
No. 14 Alabama finishes 2011 as SEC West Champions -- 12-2 overall record with a 7-2 record in the SEC.
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2012 BIG TEN LEADERS
Alabama heads to BIG TEN Leaders Division. Vandy goes to Legends
After six games, 'Bama was ranked No. 1 in the nation and had defeated Penn State, 41-10, in Tuscaloosa, Ohio State 48-7 in Columbus, and No. 3 Wisconsin 31-10 in Tuscaloosa. The next game Alabama was shocked by unranked Illinois in Champagne-Urbana 28-24.
The non-conference schedule looked familiar as the 'Tide took on Tennessee on the fourth Saturday in October -- 45-13 win -- and closed the season out with LSU. Alabama did not play Auburn for the first time since 1947.
Alabama lost to Michigan in their second to last game in Tuscaloosa, 28-24, dropping them to 9-2 overall and 7-2 overall in the Leaders Division. At this point it appears the 'Tide will still clinch the Leaders Championship and play Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game.
The slide continued the next week as Alabama lost its second straight and third overall game. The 'Tide left Baton Rouge with a 40-34 overtime loss. It was 'Bama's third loss and knocked them out of BCS title contention.
With THREE WEEKS off between the final regular season game and the Big Ten Championship Game, the 'Tide sat back and prepared for No. 1 Iowa. A win in Indianapolis over the No. 1 Hawkeyes and Alabama could fly its Big Ten Championship flag all the way to the Big 12.
Is Alabama good enough to win every conference? First they'll have to win the Big Ten.
The stage was set for Indy. No. 1 Iowa came in with a chance to finish the season undefeated and possibly play Arkansas in the BCS Championship Game. No. 14 Alabama had three losses, but they were still superior in talent. Arkansas was ranked No. 2 going into the SEC Championship Game versus South Carolina, but anything can happen in the Georgia Dome. First year SEC member Missouri finished as Co-champions of the SEC East with a 5-3 conference record, but the Gamecocks won the tie breaker and the right to play 12-0 Arkansas in the championship game.
We took a peak into both Lucas Oil Field and Georgia Dome to see how the games turned out. Here's what we saw --
2012 Big Ten Championship
#1 Iowa Hawkeyes (12-0, 9-0) Legends Division Champions
vs
#13 Alabama Crimson Tide (9-3, 7-2) Leaders Division Champions
-Bama took 31-24 lead into fourth quarter and exchanged a few punts with the Hawkeyes through much of the fourth until James Vandenburg hits CJ Fiedorocicz for a 26-yard touchdown with 2:38 to play to tie the game at 31-31.
-Iowa holds Alabama to a 3-and-out on the next possession and take the ball down to the 'Tide 7-yard line before settling for the 24-yard field goal. Iowa leads 34-31 with :46 left to play.
-Alabama's last ditch effort falls short as they give up 10 unanswered in with 3:00 left in the fourth quarter. Iowa wins 34-31 and will head to the Miami for the BCS Championship Game.
Iowa Stats
QB James Vandenburg 24 of 43 for 401 yards 3 TDs INT
WR Keenan Davis 9 catches 147 yards 1 TD
Alabama Stats
RB Trent Richardson 30 rushes 142 yards TD
WR Duron Carter 5 catches 104 yards TD
2012 Big Ten Champions
IOWA HAWKEYS
2012 SEC Championship
#2 Arkansas Razorbacks (12-0, 8-0) Western Division Champions
vs
South Carolina Gamecocks (8-4, 5-3) Eastern Division Champions
-Arkansas leads at the half 28-13
-Arkansas leads 42-19 at the end of 3rd
-Arkansas punishes South Carolina 52-32
Arkansas Stats
QB Tyler Wilson 25 of 35 for 335 yards 6 TD 1 INT
RB Ronnie Wingo Jr 27 rushed 132 yards 1 TD
WR Reggie Cole (Freshman) 7 catches 120 yards 2 TD
South Carolina Stats
QB Connor Shaw 29 of 43 or 365 yards 5 TD 0 INT
WR DL Moore 11 catches 157 yards 1 TD
WR Alshon Jeffery 5 catches 67 yards 2 TD
Heisman Trophy winner is senior running back Ed Wesley out of TCU
Alabama earns yet another trip to the Capital One Bowl to play new SEC member, Missouri. The 'Tide smack the Tigers around a little in Orlando and leave with another Capital One Bowl Trophy and a 38-24 win. This time, however, the SEC loses and the Big Ten wins. **Brain throbs**
'Bama finishes 10-4 overall and 7-3 in the BIG TEN
No. 1 Iowa and No. 2 Arkansas met in Miami for the National Championship with Arkansas getting the win, 28-17.
2012 National Champions
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS (14-0, 9-0)
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2013 Big 12 South
-Preseason No. 7
-After 7 games, Alabama (7-0, 6-0) was ranked No. 2 in the country. Leading Big 12 South with Texas Texas next, Oklahoma State, Texas, West Virginia, and then Vanderbilt in the cellar.
-Kansas led Big 12 North with TCU, Baylor, Kansas State, Oklahoma, and Iowa State trailing behind.
-In Week 10 Alabama defeated Oklahoma State 73-6
-In Week 11 Alabama defeated LSU 48-43
-The regular season ended at No. 9 Auburn (9-2, 6-2). Alabama (11-0, 8-0) had long since clinched the Big 12 South championship and was ranked No. 1 heading into Jordan-Hare Stadium. AJ McCarron (3,668 yards 46 TD) was third in the Heisman polls and Eddie Lacy (1,000 yards 9 rush TD) was fifth. The Iron Bowl was not played last season, so this year's game had even more ferver. Paul Finebaum had to go off the air for two weeks to keep from bankrupting the Finebaum Radio Network after the FCC levied 247 fines in a three-day period.
-Auburn led Alabama 13-0 after one quarter of play.
-Auburn led 13-7 at the half
-Alabama scored 28 unanswered points in the second and third quarter to lead 28-13 going to the fourth.
-Eddie Lacey rushes for 250 yards and 2 TD as the 'Tide went on to defeat Auburn, 33-20.
-No. 1 Alabama will now get ready to face No. 23 Kansas (10-2, 6-2) in the Big 12 Championship Game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Alabama has won three straight division championships in three different conferences.
-'Bama trails 7-0 at the end of first quarter
-'Bama trails 14-7 at the half.
-'Bama trails 21-10 at the end of three.
-'Bama held at the goal line down 21-18. 21-yard field goal by freshman Travis Harris to tie the game at 21-21 with :53 left in the fourth.
-PICK SIX by senior free safety Jarrick Williams with :32 left to give Alabama 28-21 lead. -Alabama scored 18 unanswered in the fourth quarter.
-Alabama wins 28-21 to capture the Big 12 Championship.
2013 Big 12 Conference Champions
#1 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (13-0, 9-0)
#24 LSU defeated #8 Georgia 33-24 for the SEC Championship
Heisman Trophy goes to Boise State senior QB Joe Southwick
-Eddie Lacey finishes second with 1,304 points. Soutwick had 1,381. Next closest had 1,182. AJ McCarron a distant fifth with 180 points.
Troy State finished the season undefeated and ranked No. 3 in the nation. The Trojans played Auburn in the Fiesta Bowl and lost 40-37 in double-overtime.
January 9, 2014 -- 8PM -- The Rose Bowl-- Pasadena, CA
2013 BCS Championship Game
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide (13-0, 9-0) Big 12 Champions
vs
#2 Boise State Broncos (13-0, 10-0) Big East Champions
-Coming into the game, both teams averaged 43.6 points per game. Alabama is No. 1 in total offense and rushing offense. The 'Tide defense was nasty as well ranking No. 8 in total defense and No. 5 in rush defense.
-Boise State was No. 3 in total offense and No. 5 in pass offense, but they were ranked No. 23 in total defense.
-The books in 'Vegas had Alabama as a 6.5-point favorite. Clay Travis said that had Dooley never been hired at Tennessee, the Vols may have been playing Alabama in this game.
GAME NOTES
-Both teams strike big through the air and both defenses make plays when they need it in the first half. Both teams get a touchdown and a field goal before halftime.
HALFTIME SCORE -- Alabama 10 Boise State 10
-Boise gets the only points of the third quarter - 'Bama trails 17-10 heading to the fourth and final quarter.
-No score in the fourth quarter and Boise State wins the National Championship 17-10.
Heisman Trophy Winner Southwick wins MVP
AJ McCarron threw 49th touchdown of the season.
2013 BCS National Champions
BOISE STATE BRONCOS (14-0, 10-0)
So there you go. Maybe we'll pick up where we left off in the offseason.
Maybe not.
Let's get back to real football... and trying to come up with every possible scenario that puts Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and the BCS Championship.
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