Joey Johnston

We’re halfway home in the college football season, the perfect time to preview that Alabama-Penn State matchup in the BCS Championship Game.

Oops.

We just gave away the ending.

Let’s back up. At the halfway point, there are five unbeaten teams from BCS conferences. We’re not going to imagine a scenario that has Utah (7-0), Boise State (5-0), Ball State (7-0) or Tulsa (6-0) playing for a national title.

But we won’t rule out some of the season-ending madness we witnessed last year — the conga-line of one-loss title hopefuls includes Ohio State (6-1), Oklahoma (5-1), Florida (5-1), Georgia (5-1), Missouri (5-1) and USC (4-1).

For now, though, let’s concentrate on the BCS unbeaten teams.

In order, here are our choices of the most likely teams to run the table and show up in Miami.

1. Alabama (6-0)

• Remaining Schedule: Saturday, Ole Miss; Oct. 25, at Tennessee; Nov. 1, Arkansas State; Nov. 8, at LSU; Nov. 15, Mississippi State; Nov. 29, Auburn; Dec. 6, potential SEC Championship Game at Atlanta.
• The Scenario: We definitely see the Crimson Tide going 9-0 heading into LSU. And that one could be quite the emotional wringer, since it’s Nick Saban’s first appearance back at LSU, where he once won a national title. Alabama gave LSU a good run last season (41-34), and now the Crimson Tide is a better team. It could boil down to Alabama needing its best effort of the season in the SEC title game (where the Florida-Georgia winner could be waiting). Alabama at 13-0? We see it happening. Whoever thought the SEC team could have the most agreeable road to Miami’s promised land?

2. Penn State (7-0)

• Remaining Schedule: Saturday, Michigan; Oct. 25, at Ohio State; Nov. 8, at Iowa; Nov. 15, Indiana; Nov. 22, Michigan State.
• The Scenario: Yes, in case you hadn’t yet noticed, the Nittany Lions are for real. And they are real enough to fight back some formidable history. Penn State’s game at Ohio State looks as the obstacle — and the Nittany Lions haven’t won in Columbus since 1978, going 0-7 and falling by an average margin of 21 points. Well, that’s about to change. Penn State must also find a way to tackle Michigan State’s Javon Ringer in the regular-season finale, but the Nittany Lions won’t fall short at that point. At that point, Penn State can relax. The Big Ten doesn’t have a championship game.

3. Texas (6-0)

• Remaining Schedule: Saturday, Missouri; Oct. 25, Oklahoma State; Nov. 1, at Texas Tech; Nov. 8, Baylor; Nov. 15, at Kansas; Nov. 27, Texas A&M; Dec. 6, potential Big 12 Championship Game at Kansas City, Mo.
• The Scenario: The challenges simply don’t stop for the Longhorns, who can’t catch a breather after toppling Oklahoma. The next three weeks, there are games against Missouri, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. There’s also a road game at Kansas and a potential Big 12 title game (rematch with Missouri or Kansas?) Colt McCoy has been fantastic, but it’s difficult to imagine the Longhorns escaping this gauntlet with an unbeaten record.

4. Texas Tech (6-0)

• Remaining Schedule: Saturday, at Texas A&M; Oct. 25, at Kansas; Nov. 1, Texas; Nov. 8, Oklahoma State; Nov. 22, at Oklahoma; Nov. 29, Baylor; Dec. 6, potential Big 12 Championship Game at Kansas City, Mo.
• The Scenario: The Red Raiders are fun to watch with quarterback Graham Harrell and wide receiver Michael Crabtree. But the remaining schedule includes Texas and Oklahoma. Besides, Texas Tech’s pattern the last few seasons has been dropping at least one game to an unexpected Big 12 foe.

5. Oklahoma State (6-0)

• Remaining Schedule: Saturday, Baylor; Oct. 25, at Texas; Nov. 1, Iowa State; Nov. 8, at Texas Tech; Nov. 15, at Colorado; Nov. 29, Oklahoma; Dec. 6, potential Big 12 Championship Game at Kansas City, Mo.
• The Scenario: Well, the Cowboys did well getting to this point. The trip to Texas will be the pivotal moment. The Cowboys haven’t won in Austin since 1944. The Cowboys have also made a habit out of collapsing against Texas, surrendering huge leads in 2004 (35-7), 2005 (28-9) and 2007 (35-14).

So there you have it. Alabama-Penn State. That’s our story, and we’re sticking to it.

The last time that game meant so much was the 1979 Sugar Bowl, when Alabama was coached by Bear Bryant and Penn State was coached by, um, a youngster named Joe Paterno.

Q: Will Michigan make a bowl game? Is their consecutive bowl streak the longest in the nation?
— Christian M. from St. Louis
A: Michigan does have the nation’s longest consecutive bowl streak (33 straight), Christian. But with the Wolverines at 2-4, I think it’s going to end.

Michigan goes to Penn State (Saturday), Purdue (Nov. 1), Minnesota (Nov. 8) and Ohio State (Nov. 22). The remaining home games are Michigan State (Oct. 25) and Northwestern (Nov. 15).

I see 5-7 as a best-case scenario, which seems jarring when you consider Michigan’s tradition and consistency. But it’s probably not that surprising. The Wolverines have a new coach (Rich Rodriguez) and a new offense (hmm … wouldn’t Terrelle Pryor have been a nice fit?)

There was going to be a learning curve, regardless, but who could’ve imagined home losses against Utah and Toledo, not to mention a thrashing at the hands of Notre Dame.

Michigan will be back — eventually. Remember, the Wolverines lost a lot of talent (RB Mike Hart and OT Jake Long, just to name two prime-time names) and this was never supposed to be a championship season.

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