Ball State, Would You Like Any Brownies with That Cupcake Schedule?

As the 2008 college football season starts coming to a close, the top of the BCS standings look somewhat like what you would expect.

You have your football powerhouses in Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, and Alabama (just to name a few). But if you continue to travel down the list, you'll run into the infamous Ball State Cardinals at No. 14!

Despite Ball State being undefeated at 10-0, you have to ask yourself if they really deserve the No. 14 ranking in the BCS.

Ball State has not played a single ranked team and their opponents combined record is 32-71. And yet somehow they are ranked above teams such as Michigan State and Oregon State, among obviously many others who are clearly better teams.

The college football ranking system has become completely flawed. I'm all for Cinderella teams crashing the BCS, but only when they actually deserve it. Loading up your schedule with weak opponents to pad your record does not fall into the category of being ranked in the Top 25, much less No. 14.

If Ball State does find a way into a BCS bowl game, they will most likely meet an opponent who will far out-weigh the best team they have played on their schedule, which is Navy at 6-4.

This scenario would be very similar to last year's demolition of Hawaii by Georgia, 41-10 in the Sugar Bowl.

Many may argue that the non-BCS teams should have a chance at a BCS bowl too, and I completely agree. However, these teams have to load their non-conference schedules with at least one or two worthy opponents.

Teams out of the Sun Belt Conference have been doing this consistently for the past two seasons now. The records are not as pretty coming out of the Sun Belt, but there have been many close calls.

If your team does happen to pull off a couple upsets on the non-conference schedule and run the table on your weaker conference opponents, then your argument for a BCS bowl is much more appealing.

Ball State has a big match-up against a solid Central Michigan team that will be their biggest test of the season. If they pull out that win and take care of business against Western Michigan, then a BCS bowl will be very likely.

If Ball State does make a BCS bowl, one thing can be certain. If there are any cupcakes on the field on that given day, it may be Ball State themselves.