Thrilling Rivalry Week sparks BCS title debate; more Overtime

It was apparent just how much this loss hurt Saban from his candid and sometimes defensive postgame comments. The coach who rarely talks about championships

Stewart Mandel | Dec 1, 2013

Thrilling Rivalry Week sparks BCS title debate; more Overtime /

Chris Davis' missed field goal return for a touchdown has Auburn in this year's BCS title conversation. — Chris Davis' missed field goal return for a touchdown has Auburn in this year's BCS title conversation :: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

It was apparent just how much this loss hurt Saban from his candid and sometimes defensive postgame comments. The coach who rarely talks about championships spoke with noticeable regret that his purportedly special team might now end the season playing Clemson in the Orange Bowl. "I still think we have one of the best teams in the country," Saban said. "I do not think we played our best game today. Everyone knew what was at stake and we did not make the plays when we needed to make them."

Nebraska coach Bo Pelini (above) received statement of support from AD Shawn Eichorst on Saturday. — Nebraska coach Bo Pelini (above) received statement of support from AD Shawn Eichorst on Saturday :: Eric Francis/Getty Images

Duke's DeVon Edwards (27) picked off Marquise Williams in the final seconds to secure a win over UNC. — Duke's DeVon Edwards (27) picked off Marquise Williams in the final seconds to secure a win over UNC :: Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Jordan Lynch rushed for an FBS quarterback record 321 yards in a 33-14 victory over Western Michigan. — Jordan Lynch rushed for an FBS quarterback record 321 yards in a 33-14 victory over Western Michigan :: Brian Kersey/Getty Images

Published Dec 1, 2013

STEWART MANDEL

Senior Writer, Sports Illustrated Stewart Mandel first caught the college football bug as a sophomore at Northwestern University in 1995. "The thrill of that '95 Rose Bowl season energized the entire campus, and I quickly became aware of how the national media covered that story," he says. "I knew right then that I wanted to be one of those people, covering those types of stories." Mandel joined SI.com (formerly CNNSI.com) in 1999. A senior writer for the website, his coverage areas include the national college football beat and college basketball. He also contributes features to Sports Illustrated. "College football is my favorite sport to cover," says Mandel. "The stakes are so high week in and week out, and the level of emotion it elicits from both the fans and the participants is unrivaled." Mandel's most popular features on SI.com include his College Football Mailbag and College Football Overtime. He has covered 14 BCS national championship games and eight Final Fours. Mandel's first book, Bowls, Polls and Tattered Souls: Tackling the Chaos and Controversy That Reign Over College Football, was published in 2007. In 2008 he took first place (enterprise category) and second place (game story) in the Football Writers Association of America's annual writing contest. He also placed first in the 2005 contest (columns). Mandel says covering George Mason's run to the Final Four was the most enjoyable story of his SI tenure. "It was thrilling to be courtside for the historic Elite Eight upset of UConn," Mandel says. "Being inside the locker room and around the team during that time allowed me to get to know the coaches and players behind that captivating story." Before SI.com Mandel worked at ESPN the Magazine, ABC Sports Online and The Cincinnati Enquirer. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1998 with a B.S. in journalism. A Cincinnati native, Mandel and his wife, Emily, live in Santa Clara, Calif.