Matt Sullivan / Reuters

Michigan running back Mike Hart, center, and the Wolverines might get another shot to play Ohio State in the BCS title game on Nov. 18.

USC’s stumble brought back memories of other championship Saturday shockers.

In 2003, No. 1 Oklahoma lost to Kansas State in the Big 12 championship game, which didn’t keep the Sooners from playing LSU in the Sugar Bowl for the national title, but did allow USC to jump to No. 1 in the polls and led to the Trojans and Tigers splitting the national title.

The last time a team entered championship Saturday second in the BCS standings and lost was Tennessee in 2001. The Vols were beaten by LSU in the SEC title game and it led to Nebraska playing Miami for the national title.

In 1998, UCLA was second in the BCS when it lost to Miami on the final Saturday. Later that same day, Kansas State blew its shot to play in the title game by losing to Texas A&M and Florida State found itself playing Tennessee for the championship.

Despite the uncertainty at the top, the rest of the BCS matchups became clear on Saturday.

Just minutes before Southern California kicked off, surprising Wake Forest closed out a 9-6 victory over Georgia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game in Jacksonville, Fla.

Coming off three straight losing seasons, the Demon Deacons (11-2) are headed to the Orange Bowl with its first league title in 36 years.

“I can’t even put it in words,” Deacons linebacker Jon Abbate said. “It’s been an unbelievable season.”

In the Big East, Louisville, Rutgers and West Virginia all entered the day with a chance to win the league crown and a BCS bid and the Cardinals came away with the big prize.

Louisville (11-1) beat Connecticut 48-17 at home to secure at least a tie for the Big East championship and eliminate West Virginia from contention. Then West Virginia knocked off Rutgers 41-39 in three overtimes in Morgantown, W.Va., to put Louisville in the BCS for the first time, probably against Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl.

Oklahoma (11-2) was last to lock up its BCS bid, getting in with a 21-7 victory over Nebraska in the Big 12 championship in Kansas City, Mo. The Sooners are headed to the Fiesta Bowl and a likely match with Boise State (12-0).

The Broncos, the Western Athletic Conference champs, are set to become the second team from outside the original six BCS leagues to play in the marquee bowl games. Utah was the first in 2004.

LSU and Notre Dame are expected to receive the two other at-large BCS bids Sunday. Where the Tigers and Fighting Irish end up playing depends upon who plays for the national title.

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Chris Graythen / Getty Images

Johnson still directing Utes offense

Brian Johnson, who led Utah to an upset of Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl, is ready for his first season as the Utes' offensive coordinator. At 25, the ex-QB will be the youngest with that job at the FBS level.

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