How about a Boise-TCU matchup?

We've heard some crazy projected Bowl Championship Series matchups, and some could even happen.

One requires USC's beating Stanford and finishing 10-2, and a page-flip through the BCS manual.

With the potential of five schools being undefeated, this much is clear: It is in the vital interests of the BCS that undefeated Texas Christian and Boise State earn BCS bowl berths.

The BCS might be stupid, but could it be a monopoly if TCU and Boise State earn half of the four at-large bids? There is even a good chance that, if Texas slips up, TCU could play for the national title.

"The argument about the BCS being a monopoly is specious anyway," BCS spokesman Bill Hancock said Wednesday.

"Any time a 'non-automatic qualifier' gets in, it is weakened . . . if there's two teams, just double it."

For conspirators hoping the ridiculousness of five undefeated schools would be enough to crash the BCS system, it already happened in 2004 with USC, Oklahoma, Auburn, Utah and Boise State -- and the BCS limped on.

For those making bowl projections this year, examine the selection process: If it's No. 1 Florida and No. 2 Texas in the BCS title game, the Sugar Bowl gets the first choice to replace its anchor and would no doubt take Alabama.

The Fiesta Bowl then gets to replace Texas, but there may be no second Big 12 school eligible. If USC is 10-2, would the Fiesta take the Trojans or No. 3 TCU at 12-0?

I'm guessing TCU.

After that, the selection order goes: Orange, Fiesta, Sugar. Would the Orange pass on undefeated Cincinnati to play the Atlantic Coast Conference champion to take two-loss USC?

Let's say, though, the Orange takes Cincinnati, which would leave the Sugar to match USC against Alabama.

The Fiesta picks last, and could make Boise State against TCU -- a matchup of undefeated top-five teams -- or pick from the pool of at-large candidates.

A lot depends on how many teams are eligible and/or viable: Would 10-2 Iowa, Penn State, Pittsburgh or Miami mean better business for the Fiesta than Boise?

Not this year.

If USC loses once more, the Trojans are done and TCU and Boise become virtual BCS locks.

BCS bowl executives looking to get the upper hand on antitrust Orrin Hatch need to rubber stamp TCU and Boise State even if it irks a BCS commissioner trying to lobby a second team.

Crisis (again?) at Notre Dame