Clarity's a rarity in Bowl Chaos System

In State College, Penn State mashed Michigan State to win the Big Ten's automatic BCS bid.

The Nittany Lions are Rose Bowl-bound unless they somehow work back into the national title mix.

That isn't likely, but neither was Louisiana State last year moving from No. 7 in the BCS standings on the final Saturday to No. 2 on the final Sunday.

Some speculated the Rose Bowl might be Paterno's last game, but Saturday, at the height of power, he said he plans to return in 2009.

How brilliant, politically, was that?

In Tucson, hearts skipped as Oregon State kept its Rose Bowl dreams alive when Justin Kahut kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired only minutes after he botched the extra point that would have tied it at 17-all.

If Oregon State wins next week, it goes to the Rose Bowl to play Penn State in a rematch of a game that didn't go so well for Oregon State in September.

If Oregon wins, USC is Rose Bowl-bound to play Penn State so long as the Trojans beat UCLA on Dec. 6.

If USC doesn't make the Rose Bowl, but finishes 11-1, it is probably headed to the Fiesta Bowl.

Got it?

With Texas Tech getting so thoroughly dismantled, USC might jump the Red Raiders and move up a spot to No. 5 in the BCS.

The Trojans might get to the national title game from there if Oklahoma loses to Oklahoma State next week, Texas wins the South but loses to Missouri in the Big 12 title game and one-loss Florida trounces No. 1 Alabama in the SEC title game.

See how easy it is?

In Salt Lake City, Utah's win over Brigham Young assures the Utes of a major bowl berth, we're guessing in the Fiesta.

It's looking like 2004 all over again. That year, Utah finished No. 6 in the BCS and Boise State finished undefeated and No. 9.

Boise State could end up 12-0 this year, be ranked in the top 10, and get left out again.

And guess what: The Western Athletic Conference champion is contracted to play in the Humanitarian Bowl, which is played in Boise. What a thrill that would be for the Broncos.

In 2004, though, a deal was cut that allowed Boise State to upgrade and play Louisville in the Liberty Bowl.

"We're always going to look for the best game possible and the best opponent possible," WAC Commissioner Karl Benson said this week of that possibility.

Benson will also lobby that a 12-0 Boise State deserves a major bowl bid, although it's doubtful two schools from non-BCS conferences will be considered.

And, just to wrap a final bow around Saturday, consider this:

Had USC not lost at Oregon State on Sept. 25, the Trojans today would be 10-0, ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the BCS, and two wins against schools with a combined record of 10-11 from clinching a title-game berth.

Because that didn't happen, though, the next president's eight-team playoff plan can't get here soon enough.

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chris.dufresne@latimes.com