Last night Urban Meyer's Florida Gators won the second BCS championship for the school in three years, bringing home a third straight BCS title to the SEC. The Gators defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 24-14 with the leadership of Tim Tebow, who should run for President someday if you listened to all of the praise the Fox broadcast team delivered last night when they were not butchering the rest of the game.
Congratulations to Florida. Even though Utah is the only undefeated team in college football's top level, the Gators are your national champions.
Much was made about how the once relevant AP poll could make a statement at the conclusion of the BCS championship game by voting for another team at No. 1. Perhaps USC or Texas could gain enough votes for a split national title was the talk of the town.
Utah made their statement but failed to gain enough support from the media to earn a so-called split national championship. Utah, you are MY national champion.
Now the time has come for me to put myself in the awkward position of defending Ohio State. What? Allow me to explain...
Ohio State's image has been tarnished in a sense the past few years. With the Buckeyes coming up short in national championship games that many believe they should not have been involved in, the critics have jumped on the flaws of the program, and those thoughts extend to the Big Ten conference.
While the Big Ten is seen as a weak conference these days (that is hard to argue with a 1-6 record in 2008 bowls), it is the high profile and wide exposure games that draw the most attention.
Entering this bowl season, the Big Ten sent two teams to BCS games. Penn State was locked in to the Rose Bowl, where they faced the best No. 5 team in the history of college football, and the Fiesta Bowl, clearly thinking of money before matchup, picked Ohio State to play against Texas.
Why do I believe money drove the decision? Because they did not take Boise State.
Boise State lost their bowl game to TCU, so in hindsight this may sound like a weak argument, but the Fiesta Bowl picked Ohio State because they knew that OSU fans travel and spend money. Rather than taking a team that provided them with one of the best Fiesta Bowls in history (Boise State shocking Oklahoma) they picked a team that would bring more fans and likely a higher television rating in the Buckeyes.
Because of that, the Big Ten sent teams to a higher bowl game than they probably should have slated for. When the conference only wins one bowl game out of seven, the critics will have a field day.
As a Penn State fan, I could see that PSU was punished for the sins of Ohio State's past national exposure. Penn State entered the Rose Bowl with an identical record of USC and superior or even stats when compared to USC in many categories.
However, it was USC who was hypothetically playing to prove something to the nation. Nobody gave Penn State a chance from the start (except Lou Holtz—kiss of death), and USC was crowned co-national champions by halftime by Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit on ABC's telecast, with games still to be played by Texas, Utah, Oklahoma, and Florida.
Texas, who was griping about not being in the Big XII championship game, was supposed to come out and make their own statement. Entering the Fiesta Bowl, many felt that Texas was probably a better team than Florida and Oklahoma (heck, Texas was the team that BEAT Oklahoma!) but they squeaked by Ohio State.
Ohio State held their own, but ultimately came up short in the Fiesta Bowl, a game where they have actually had success in the past few years.
That's right—Ohio State has won three Fiesta Bowls in the BCS era. In fact, since the BCS started up, the Buckeyes are 3-3 in BCS bowl games, including two appearances in the championship game. What about those Sooners?
How about 2-5 in BCS games? The Sooners get credit for winning one of those two games for a national championship (by beating Florida State 13-2 in the 2000 Orange Bowl), but they now have a five-game losing streak in BCS games.
In 2004 the Sooners lost to LSU in the Sugar Bowl.
In 2005 they lost to USC in the Orange Bowl for the national championship.
In 2007 they lost to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.
In 2008 they lost to West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl.
Last night they lost to Florida in the BCS Championship game.
Of course the critics will start talking about Bob Stoops and his failure in these big games, but when will Oklahoma take the same hit that Ohio State took? When will people realize that the Big XII may not be as great as they are hyped during the regular season (foot in mouth statement, seeing as the Big XII beat the Big Ten in all three bowl matchups this season)?
With Florida clinching a third straight BCS championship for the SEC, we can all prepare for SEC this and SEC that leading into the 2009 college football season. It would be interesting to see how those SEC teams play up above the Mason-Dixon line sometime though.
Full disclosure: I would love for Penn State to travel south of the Mason-Dixon Line as well (but Alabama has pushed back their meetings).
24 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Scott Eisenlohr 6 months ago
Is your beef with the Big XII or Oklahoma? Yes, the Big XII gets undue props, but the SEC has been the top dog for the last few years.
Ohio State lost to Penn State, so Ohio State could not go to the Rose Bowl. But because of their showing in the Festa, they should have been the rep instead of Oklahoma?
I don't think that is your point, though. Oklahoma and the Big XII should not get the props and face the same criticism as the Big 10.
Hey, if I am missing the point, it is because I don't follow college football as closely as I used to. I do follow Penn State and they got outclassed in the Rose Bowl.
Overall, I agree with you. There are too many "paper" national champions. If they were a playoff system, then Utah, who was undefeated, would get a shot at the title.
There were criticisms before the BCS and they will be more after. Anything short of a playoff system will face challenges by fans and teams.
Good story.
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Kreskin Annihilation 6 months ago
Good article, and as you already know, I am asking the same questions you are!
And yes, my school will be playing yours in a home & home starting in 2010. I'm looking forward to it.
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Kevin McGuire 6 months ago
Thanks for the comment. Looking forward to 2010. Should be a fun series. I'm predicting a split.
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Kreskin Annihilation 6 months ago
Same here. Happy Valley is a tough place to play! See you around.
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Roberto Arevalo 6 months ago
the answer is yes and even though it's hard for me to defend osu, they have been doing their job in rivalry games. stoops and OU deserve all the criticism they get b/c they have not held up against UT and OkSt on top of losing BCS games. so maybe along with the Buckeye Choke Series we can also call it Boomer Choke Series.
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James Ringo 6 months ago
Roberto, we (OU) havn't lost to Ok State in like six years or something like that. Plus we don't have MIchigan to beat up on. But well whatever, we played a good game last night. For whatever we couldn't score from inside the 10 twice last night...
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Kevin McGuire 6 months ago
Not getting in on that 3rd and goal and 4th and goal rally hurt.
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Sarah Kelley 6 months ago
Ohio State is actually 4-3 in BCS games (they've been to 7 games, not 6). You left out the 1999 Sugar Bowl (1999 season) where they beat Texas A&M in the first year of the BCS and were arguably the best team in the country if they hadn't blown it against Michigan State earlier that season.
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Kevin McGuire 6 months ago
You are correct. I forgot about that Sugar Bowl...a victory over Texas A&M.
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Jeff Allen 6 months ago
Is OU the new OSU? The other way around is more accurate. OSU has lost 3 straight BCS games, but OU got a head start on them and has lost 5 straight.
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Iceman 6 months ago
OU was beatin by florida, Ohio state was murdered by florida, there is a huge difference. OU was playing like they belonged there, Ohio state played like a jv team against florida when they played.
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Oregon Sucks Ballzzzzzzz 6 months ago
OSU played Texas a lot better than OU did. And OU got embarrassed against USC and WVU just like Ohio State got embarrassed by Florida.
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Jeff Smirnoff 6 months ago
Your facts are off on Ohio State. They are 4-3 in BCS games and have three BCS Championship Game appearances and 1 National Title.
Oklahoma has been casually ignored during the OSU bashing because the French Twelve is considered far superior to the Big Ten.
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Lindsey Hodges 6 months ago
Tebow can't be president. He wasn't born in the USA. That's just basic civics.
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Splash Daddy 6 months ago
Neither was John McCain. Obama - who knows?
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Biff Lexington 6 months ago
American military bases, wherever they may be, are considered American soil.
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Splash Daddy 6 months ago
The criticism of Ohio State is based on the loss to Florida. No one doubted Ohio State before that game. OSU was #1 all season long and was a great team with a Heisman QB. The media loved them and they produced on the field. Then Troy Smith parties for six weeks and shows up overweight for the championship game. OSU was not prepared and was shocked. FL made them look bad. Also remember that it was only 24-14 late in the first half when OSU went for it on 4th down from their own 29 yard line. Score at the half 34-14. They also appeared to make no adjustments at the half and gave a lifeless performance in the 2nd half.
Last year they were young and not supposed to be there but they did their job and played their way into the championship game. LSU was better. I also think Tressel made a huge mistake in preparation by focusing on the loss the year before as motivation. Once LSU got on a roll OSU panicked and the result was a bunch of personal fouls and 31 unanswered points.
This year Texas was better and a more complete team. OSU had a great game plan and it almost worked. But Texas did what great teams do. They found a way to make the plays they needed to when the game was on the line, even though they did not play their best game that night.
Personally I think OSU gets a bum rap. If they had beaten FL or lost that game like the Fiesta against Texas, people woundn't be so down on them now. However, the Big Ten is not what it once was and OSU is getting undeserved blame for this. Given the demographic trends in America, it likely never will be again. PSU and OSU can still recruit. But while LSU, Texas, FL, USC, etc. can bring a kid from anywhere in the country to visit in Feb and dazzle them, do you really think a prospect from the Sun Belt will be sold on Ann Arbor in Feb?
As info - I'm a Texas and LSU fan and I have a lot of respect for OSU and Jim Tressle.
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Dan Parzych 6 months ago
I can see the comparison. Ever since Ohio State won the National Championship against Miami and the Fiesta Bowl against the Irish, they have continued to struggle in the BCS games. Poor coach Stoops just can't get that 2nd National Title for the Sooners.
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Jamar Ellis 6 months ago
When you say you can't see the comparison, what exactly are you saying? I prefer to keep my arguments about sports in general with the 21st century. That means I only have to go back about eight years in history. Overall, the Buckeyes are 4-3 in BCS games, but 1 of those games was the 1999 Sugar Bowl. In THIS century they are 3-3. Coming into the Florida game in 06' we were 3-0 in BCS games. Oklahoma had already began to show their losing ways in BCS games. Check the record. In that sense, I agree. There IS no comparison.
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Darian Law 6 months ago
For background information, I grew up in the South; therefore, I am an SEC fan. When Ohio State lost to Florida, I was not surprised and had predicted that outcome. When Ohio State lost to LSU, I again had predicted that outcome. My co-workers offered lots of justifications in defense of OSU but I did not buy into them. In my view, in the previous two years, OSU was a team (coaches and players) that thought overly much of themselves and that affected their drive to prepare and then play as a team. Now, this year, I observed a OSU that showed a mature and quiet self confidence that truly high quality teams possess. I was amazed at their defense's tenacity and the way they never consider themselves out of the game. They played smash mouth football and controlled the game. That one defensive lapse at the very end of the game was their only mistake that I saw. I would like to see the Big Ten and the SEC play more during the normal season because of this.
A team that did not impress me this year was USC as I see the same "self-absorption" and "bow before me" attitude that OSU once had. There are two other potential powerhouse teams that have that same ego issue this year --- Alabama and Miami. I am perplexed why teams and players in the upper echelon of abilities feel compelled to be pricks. When they do, I am just reminded of Pacman Jones ---- a class act.... :-)
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Chris Schmidbauer 6 months ago
Thats really an interesting comment, especially coming from an SEC guy. I have to say I agree with you as a Buckeye fan. I def. think that 06 team was drinking its own kool aid. But I disagree with you on the 07 team. However what does that say about some SEC teams? LSU was in the same realm of vain as that 06 Buckeye team. Many of them have that same attitude you speak of. Is it ok if you win? I am just curious because I agree with your comment about USC, but I think it is a little hypocritical of the SEC saying other conferences and teams are too cocky, especially since all us Midwesterners have heard how fantastic the SEC is for the last three years.
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A to the H 6 months ago
Agree with you on defense.... we should've been seeing it all season, but I digress.
The offensive game seemed to gimmicky to me. While I was glad to see Boeckman get some playing time, it almost seems like Tressel doesn't trust Pryor's passing game yet.
Stated it before, but I think it would've played out better keeping 1 QB in for the series rather than substituting for just a few plays.
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Dave Kidd 6 months ago
OU always has been on par with the ineptness of OSU in the BCS. The difference has been that they did not play an SEC team with all the SEC yahoos out their that live vicariously through programs like Florida and LSU. After the Florida loss, suddenly OSU became too slow, washed up, yada yada yada. And the entire SEC became better than any other conference in the nation. USC would only finish in the middle of the SEC, all Big 10 teams would be at the bottom of the SEC if they were in the conference. Did anyone ever make such comparisons before that game and has any other conference's fans try to say their entire conference was better than every other team?
Frankly OSU's problem the last two years in the BCS has been lack of execution. LSU and Texas made plays and deserved won the game. When you drop wide open passes, have a lack of innovation in your game plan, etc. you don't derserve to win.
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Jamar Ellis 6 months ago
The most truthful statement I have read is the fact that Ohio State came into the 2006 National Title game overconfident. That was NOT the case in 2007. To be totally honest... the best Ohio State football team that I have seen since winning the national title is the 2005 edition. Yes... that team had 2 losses (a close loss to Vince Young's longhorns and a close loss to Penn State); however, they had Santonio Holmes at Wide Receiver (an All-American), Ted Ginn Jr. at Wide Receiver (best as a kick-off and punt returner), Troy Smith a quarterback (won Heisman the next year), Anthony Gonzales at Wide Receiver, and Antonio Pittman at running back. On defense they had the best linebacker corp in the nation, led by A.J. Hawk.
In 2006 Ohio State's strength went from the receiving aspect to the running game (Antonio Pittman and "Beanie" Wells). Ted Ginn proved to be a decent receiver, but his specialty was still on special teams and as a speed guy. Anthony Gonzalez was the best receiver on that team, Brian Robiskie may have been the 2nd best, but once Ginn got hurt on the opening drive, everything went downhill.
In 2007 we didn't have any depth at all as far as I'm concerned. Aside from "Beanie", all we had was Maurice Wells. A runner who I've never seen break one open for big yardage... EVER. Brian Robiskie was a great receiver, but hartline was just okay. Todd Boekman had a great arm, but his game was dependent on good protection because he didn't seem to have the ability to make plays himself if the protection broke down. I really believed the Buckeyes were "re-building" in 2007; unfortunately the Big Ten was so bad that Ohio State still managed to be just a one-loss team in 2007 and it led them to a NC game that they didn't belong in.
This year Pryor learned on the job. If Tressle didn't show any faith in Pryor's throwing ability it was probably for good reason. I liked the offensive strategy that OSU used against Texas. I think it was their best hope. Brian Robiskie was underutilized this year. Why... because Pryor couldn't get him the ball. Todd Boekman could, though, and we saw it last year AND in the Fiesta Bowl (stronger arm and more accurate). Texas had a good pass rushing defense; one that Pryor proved he could avoid if protection broke down. His strenghth is in the run game and Ohio State will not be able to contend on the national level unless he improves as a passer. "Boom" Herron was a decent back-up for Beanie Wells and will probably have the starting role next year. Pryor needs to have play makers around him and he is going to need offensive play-calling that is going to play to his strenghts.
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Alex Morris 6 months ago
A team whose BCS record you failed to mention: Texas, at 3-0.
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