For Boise State and Alabama, there's no relief for the lingering mental anguish caused by their unthinkable, gut-wrenching losses to Nevada and Auburn, respectively, last Friday.
Broncos and Tide players and fans must have felt their stomachs turn inside out, watching their 17-point halftime leads dwindle away.
'Bama actually led 24-0 midway through the second quarter... at home!
With a BCS title shot and Heisman Trophy hanging in the balance, Auburn quarterback Cam Newton rallied his troops to one of the most improbable -- and incredible -- comeback victories (28-27) in college football history.
Never before had a team come back from 24 down to beat Bama. And this wasn't just any team, it was the Tide's archrival.
You don't melt down in the Iron Bowl!
But Bama did, which is why it may rank as the Tide's most devastating loss ever.
For Auburn, the glorious victory will live on as one of its most cherished memories of all time, especially if the Tigers go on to win the national championship.
To assure themselves of a title shot, they'll need to beat No. 19 South Carolina again, Saturday, in the SEC championship game. Auburn won their first meeting, 35-27, at home on Sept. 25.
Coach Steve Spurrier's gang represents a formidable foe for Auburn, particularly on a neutral field in Atlanta.
The 9-3 Gamecocks have a pretty decent offense led by a quality quarterback, Stephen Garcia; a phenomenal freshman running back, Marcus Lattimore; and a stellar wide receiver, Alshon Jeffery.
Even still, Auburn has the edge on offense. Newton and company average 490 yards a game, nearly 100 more than South Carolina.
On defense, South Carolina appears to have an advantage. The Gamecocks yield an average of 20.12 ppg and rank 33rd in total defense; the Tigers yield 25.08 ppg and rank 58th overall.
But if Auburn's defense plays like it did in the second half against Alabama, forget about the stats.
Auburn definitely appears to be a team of destiny.
The Tigers have trailed in eight of their 12 games, but always found a way to win - albeit, none in quite as stunning a fashion as their victory in Tuscaloosa.
It kept alive their title hopes and gained them enough computer love to jump over Oregon into the No. 1 spot in this week's BCS standings.
Boise wasn't so fortunate. The Broncos fell from fourth to 11th, their loss even more devastating than Bama's, from an emotional, and financial, standpoint.
Boise's hope of finally busting the BCS conferences' lock on the title game died on Nevada's field in Reno, in unbelievable fashion.
Nevada outscored Boise 27-7 in the second half to knot the game at 31.
Boise still had an opportunity to win in regulation, but following a 53-yard pass from Kellen Moore to Titus Young, kicker Kyle Brotzman missed a 26-yard field goal with two seconds left. The WAC's all-time leading scorer also missed a 29-yarder a few minutes later in overtime before Nevada's freshman kicker Anthony Martinez hit a 34-yard game winner.
Boise was poised to become the first ever non-automatic qualifier to play in the BCS championship game. A loss by either Oregon or Auburn would have practically assured the Broncos a spot, provided they were to extend their 24-game winning streak to 26 with victories over Nevada, and Utah State Saturday.
Worst-case scenario, they'd have to settle for another BCS bowl like the Fiesta or Rose, with a $17 million payout. Instead, Boise is relegated to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco and a payout of $750,000 to $825,000.
To add insult to injury, Brotzman has reportedly been the target of harassing phone calls and a barrage of taunting on social networking sites. As if the kid doesn't have enough of a cross to bear for the rest of his living years.
Mike Black knows all too well the lingering pain.
Twenty years ago, Black missed a 37-yard field goal for Boise that would have ended the Division I-AA semifinal game against Nevada, and sent Boise to the title game. Nevada won, 59-52, in triple overtime.
"I can honestly say it's one of the worst days of my life," said Black. "That's the one kick that stands out, no doubt about it. It's hard to get it out of your mind. It's going to be with you the rest of your life."
Championship Saturday probably won't deliver any anguish rivaling that of Boise, unless Oregon somehow loses the Civil War to Oregon State, or Auburn falls to South Carolina ---or both.
As for the Big 12 title game between No. 9 Oklahoma and No. 13 Nebraska, losing will hurt, but nothing like the pain Brotzman and the Broncos are suffering.
