BCS title game could come close to ’06 matchup for broad appeal

NEW YORK - Two undefeated teams, three Heisman Trophy finalists, five lead changes and 19 seconds left when the winning touchdown was scored.

No other Bowl Championship Series title game has come close to matching that perfect formula for broad appeal. The 2006 game between Texas and Southern California was on in nearly 22 percent of U.S. homes with televisions; the second-best number is under 18 percent.

Now, seven years later, a matchup finally might challenge that Rose Bowl's TV ratings record.

No. 1 Notre Dame, so popular it can stay independent and negotiate its own TV contract, is competing for its first championship since the 1988 season. Notre Dame's opponent, No. 2 Alabama, is a big name, made bigger by two titles in the past three years and the Southeastern Conference's run of six straight crowns.

Just as fans and media break down position-by-position battles for the Fighting Irish and Crimson Tide, a look at how this year's matchup stacks up against the record-holders from 2006:

NAME RECOGNITION

Texas and USC hardly are slouches in tradition and popularity, but Notre Dame is in its own category. Plus, the Irish's title drought adds intrigue.

"It definitely raises the bar of the hype and the buzz of this national championship compared to any of the other games I've had the good fortune to call," ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit said.

Even if much of the interest sprouts from fans rooting against one of the teams. Herbstreit chuckled at the thought of some fans vowing not to watch because they detest both teams.

"Anybody who takes the time to make a comment like that clearly will be watching the game," he said. "They'll, in fact, watch the four hours of pregame we have before the game and be blogging and tweeting about how wrong everybody is on those shows."

STAR POWER

Texas-USC sparkled far brighter here. The three Heisman finalists that season were from those two teams: Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart (who won the previous year) and running back Reggie Bush (who won this time, before later returning the trophy because of NCAA violations) and Longhorns quarterback Vince Young. All were believed to have promising NFL futures.

Notre Dame's Heisman finalist is a defensive guy, linebacker Manti Te'o. Alabama's four first-team All-Americans are offensive linemen or defenders.

ANTICIPATION

Texas and USC were the undisputed top teams in college football - the nation's only squads who led the rankings all season. Alabama has one loss, and while there has been almost no controversy as to whether the Tide deserves to play in the title game, the late-season rankings scramble that led to this game doesn't carry the same buzz.

MARKET SIZE

In the NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball, postseason viewership often varies significantly based on whether the teams involved hail from cities big or small. In college football, that's less of a factor, though it didn't hurt the 2006 title game that a school from Los Angeles, the country's second-largest market, was involved.

The program from South Bend, Ind., is a classic example of national appeal.

ON-FIELD THEATER

One of the biggest factors in the final rating won't be known until the game kicks off. If the score stays close, more viewers will stick around to the end, and more will join in. Social media might increase the audience of tight games because casual fans learn through Twitter or Facebook that they can catch a tense finish if they tune in.

The Longhorns' 41-38 win featured 10 touchdowns, and the teams combined to score five times in the fourth quarter. Neither school led by more than 12 points.

Notre Dame has had a penchant for close games all season, and Alabama also has lately. But the other half of the entertainment equation, high scoring, might be less likely with these two programs. Each allows fewer than 11 points a game.

RAW NUMBERS

The Texas-USC title game set the record with a 21.7 rating - 22 percent higher than the next best BCS championship. No. 2 was the 2001 Oklahoma-Florida State final with a 17.8. The best ratings since 2006 were a 17.4 for both the 2007 Florida-Ohio State and 2008 Louisiana State-Ohio State matchups.

The 2006 championship was on ABC, but the BCS games since have moved to cable. ESPN is in about 14 percent fewer homes than the traditional broadcast networks, though executives note that college football fans are more likely than the general population to have cable.