By Trojan Horse
Thirteen weeks later, and we have the first two programs to earn BCS seats. One is solid, with Penn State officially crowned Big 10 champions. And the other awaits an invitation to complete the formality, as undefeated Utah has now fulfilled all the mid-major requirements for BCS entry and completes its season positioned the highest of all mid-majors reaching for that similar goal.
So, what becomes of Boise State? In most years, this undefeated and 9th ranked WAC champion is assured a spot in a BCS bowl. With the Utes apparently locking up the at-large, Boise doesn’t look to be getting a BCS invite.
In an issue of fairness, and further proof that a playoff format is necessary, the BCS flaws are apparent. If the Broncos are left out, they receive no reward for a perfect season, but are essentially punished for being a late climber. Although both Boise and Utah are undefeated, the Utes entered the nation’s top 25 in Week Two, and the Broncos didn’t arrive until Week Four.
We don’t punish the voters for choosing Fresno State as the preseason favorite in the WAC, giving them a top 25 ranking before a single game was played. We penalize the Broncos for doing everything they had to do, and finishing with a zero in the loss column.
Too little, too late? It’s obviously human error by those not wearing pads and helmets on Saturdays for waiting four weeks to hop on the Boise express.
And here’s another thing to ponder: One computer spit Utah out as the No. 2 team in the country. If the regular season ends with no undefeated programs from BCS conferences, which remains a possibility, what would be the biggest argument against Utah’s appearance in the national championship game? Can we still use its conference against it?
If you use conference head-to-heads as a measuring stick, the Mountain West is greater than the Pac-10, with the Pac greater than the Big 10. Penn State, as a lone undefeated, would appear in college football’s biggest game. The same would be said for an undefeated Oregon State team. Why not Utah?
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE
For all you people calling for a playoff, have you checked the double-elimination contests being played by the majority of conferences this season?
Well, in the ACC it’s triple or quadruple elimination. But if you’re USC, and everything holds, you suffer the effects of a single elimination format, same as the Big 10. But every week in the Big 12 has basically featured a “death match” of some sort, which can also be seen in the SEC, ACC, and Big East.
There isn’t a single week without games on the schedule with BCS implications. Even as we enter the stretch run, is there a program out there that has the luxury of shutting it down to rest for the postseason, as they do in the NFL?
HERE’S A QUESTION
Sam Bradford was my Heisman frontrunner for the first quarter of the season. After the loss to Texas, he dropped off. With the big victory over Texas Tech, and his consistent play, even in the lone loss, Is Bradford currently the man to beat in the Heisman race?
OUT OF THE FRYING PAN AND INTO THE FIRE
When Penn State gained the Rose Bowl birth, Ohio State’s fate became uncertain. There’s still the possibility of a BCS at-large, but a more likely destination may be Florida’s Capital One bowl, where the Buckeyes would face their third SEC program in as many January games. Ohio State and Jim Tressel were embarrassed in the last two.
DIGITS
Continuing on their season of “firsts,” Michigan’s 42-7 loss to Ohio State marks the first time in school history that the Wolverines have lost five consecutive games to their biggest rival.
The six turnovers by the Tar Heels assisted N.C. State in their upset of the nation’s 22nd ranked team.
Cincinnati’s victory on Saturday inched it closer to the Big East title. It was also historical, as it marked the first Bearcats victory over Pittsburgh...ever.
With a loss to Ole Miss, for the first time since 1999, LSU lost its third straight SEC game.
Before this century, TCU recorded just four 10-win seasons in its history. With the victory over Air Force, the Horned Frogs secured their sixth 10-win season since 2000.
The Yellow Jackets amassed 472 rushing yards, which is the second most ever given up by a Miami defense.
West Virginia’s Pat White’s 4,292 career rushing yards establishes a new mark, leading quarterbacks all-time in the category.
Notre Dame’s loss to Syracuse is the first time in school history that the program has lost to an eight-loss team.
THE GALLOPING FINISH
Miami—run over.
Texas Tech—burn the tape.
Oklahoma—just scored again!
USC (east and west)—had a bye week.
Florida—see above.
Michigan—it’s finally over!
Washington—see above.
Washington State—got a trophy with just two wins.
Tennessee—Volunteer state champions.
N.C. State—Tar Heel state champions.
Wisconsin—Phew!
Cincinnati—BCS bound?
Boise State—access denied?
Joe Paterno—hip surgery. Wishes for a speedy recovery, Joe.
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2 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Dale Gray 7 months ago
I am a BSU fan -- life-long, but what I don't understand is that if USC had won all the games Utah won, it would be playing for the National Championship. Indeed, Utah has dominated both the Mountain West AND the Pac -10.
So here is what every fair-minded sports writer must start considering.
Put undefeated Utah in the National Championship.
It is amateur athletics, not TV market shares.
Do the right thing!
BSU81
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Jay David 7 months ago
No offense Jabber, but the fairness argument is uninformed. It does not make a bit of sense. A playoff would hurt the smaller teams even more than the BCS does because it would be more exclusive and would make the odds of a mid-major rising from the ranks even longer. Just think for a second, we know a sixteen team playoff will never, ever happen, nor should it. The universities have effectively lost control of basketball and they know it. and won't make the same mistake. Worse yet, because the money is so great with the tourney, they know they have no hope of getting it under control. They won't make that mistake with football where the money is even greater. An eight team or smaller playoff would be feasible (but not likely, thankfully).
Starting with eight spots, let's assume that the favored teams win the rest of their games to simplify the scenario. Six of eight spots are already taken by Penn State, Oregon State, Oklahoma, Cincinnati, Florida and Georgia Tech. That leaves two spots for Alabama, Texas Tech, Texas, USC, Utah and Boise State. At best, only one mid-major would be allowed in, and the odds of that are pretty long indeed. On top of that, it is pretty obvious that an eight team playoff would be just as problematic as the BCS, and more so because of what it would do to the smaller bowls and the exposure the smaller teams need to compete against the big boys. After all, there is only so much money and TV time to go around. Yeah, a lot of people complain about the bottom ten bowls, but who goes to these games, the smaller BCS teams and the mid-majors, who need this exposure to build their programs. A playoff would significantly harm all but the top two or three teams in the six BCS conferences, at the expense of all other D1A teams.
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