TEMPE, Ariz., Jan. 1 -- Jonathan Smith threw for three touchdownsMonday night and the Oregon State Beavers, despite committing a record 16 penalties, embarrassed the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Fiesta Bowl, 41-9.
The sixth-ranked Beavers created three turnovers during a 28-point third quarter and finished an 11-1 season that will only enhance the calls for a playoff system in NCAA football.
Oregon State's only loss this season was a three-point setback to Rose Bowl champion Washington, one in which the Beavers missed a game-tying field goal in the final minute.
The one-sided victory included a bizarre Oregon State touchdown in the second quarter that should have been called a fumble, two unsportsmanlike conduct and four personal foul penalties against the Beavers and a complete domination of Notre Dame's offense by a defensive unit loaded with speed.
Notre Dame suffered five sacks and was outgained, 446 yards to 169.
Oregon State dominated the opening half, yet Notre Dame faced only a 12-3 deficit at the break.
The lone first-half touchdown came when Smith hit Chad Johnson with a 74-yard touchdown pass as Johnson broke a tackle in one-on-one coverage and went the distance. As Johnson neared the goal line, however, he casually dropped the ball a full stride before he reached the end zone.
Although the ball was still live and could have been recovered by Notre Dame, the officials signalled a touchdown.
Oregon State's other first-half points came when the Beavers had to settle for field goals of 32 and 30 yards by Ryan Cesca after driving deep into Notre Dame territory. The Beavers also went for a touchdown on fourth down from the Notre Dame one-yard line and failed.
But the Beavers turned the game into a rout in the third quarter.
Smith hit T.J. Houshmandzadeh with a 23-yard touchdown pass 2:56 into the period, that coming two plays after Notre Dame quarterback Matt Lovecchio fumbled the ball away. The Beavers scored again less than three minutes later on a punt return -- one in which Houshmandzadeh brought the ball back 20 yards, fumbled and watched as teammate Terrell Roberts scooped it up and went the remaining 50 yards.
A Lovecchio interception later in the quarter set up a Smith-to-Johnson touchdown pass of four yards and Ken Simonton finished the quarter with a four-yard scoring run.
Smith completed 16 of 24 passes for 305 yards while Simonton gained 85 yards on 18 carries. Lovecchio, pressured on almost every pass attempt, completed a mere 12 of 32 attempts for 136 yards and was intercepted twice.
Notre Dame's three turnovers came after the Irish had suffered just eight during the entire regular season. Its only touchdown came in the final period on a Tony Fisher run of one yard in the fourth quarter.
Despite the overpowering nature of their victory, Oregon State won few sportsmanship points with with the barrage of penalty flags the Beavers drew. The 16 penalties for 183 yards smashed the Fiesta Bowl records.
Another aspect of the Bowl Championship Series also came into question with Notre Dame's inability to compete. Although the BCS rankings determine the teams that play for the national title, they have no bearing on who receives invitations to play in the four bowl games that are part of the system.
While Notre Dame was given a spot in a BCS bowl this season, four teams above them in the BCS rankings -- Virginia Tech, Nebraska, Kansas State and Oregon -- were not.
