BCS B.S.

[Dan Wishengrad]

Now that USC has fallen to #2 in the BCS standings, I guess it's time to revive the debate about the worthiness of this incompetent and corrupt sytem of determining who is college football's #1 team.

There's no doubt that Texas is a very good team, but to rank the Longhorns above the Trojans based on a faulty computer ranking that has USC as the #4 team is ridiculous, in my opinion. Poor Pete Carroll, he tries to show some class by calling off the dogs and inserting the second-team when USC is way ahead, and his team is penalized for it.

[Beta]

I thought the BCS took margin of victory out of the picture after Spurrier's antics were in process (ie Up by 50, Passing, Leaving the starters in, etc).

I can't understand how the 2 best conferences (SEC, ACC) have 3 undefeated teams and not one of them is in the top 2. Ill give USC some credit on winning over Notre Dame (grr). But that's the only decent opponent they play. UCLA and Cal are decent in-conference teams, but have problems out of conference (last year's bowl with Cal getting mauled by TT) . Texas doesnt play anyone anymore now that the Big-12 has fallen off. They barely beat a mediocre Ohio State team from the Big-11 (I know it's Big10, but they have 11 teams), who shouldnt have been ranked #4. Consistently playing solid teams is what makes it more noticable to be undefeated as opposed to cakewalk schedules.

I can pretty much assume that if Texas or USC had to play 4-5 solid teams per year...an undefeated season wouldnt appear so easy. USC playing 1-2 decent teams per year (including the typical sub-par Big 12 champion in the BCS championship game) isnt nearly as bad as having to play good teams every other week when injuries start piling up. A playoff system really needs to be put into place because too many good teams are getting shafted.

[Dan Wishengrad]

Beta, I certainly agree with your conclusion that there needs to be a real playoff system for D1-A football, just as in every other NCAA sport including D1-AA, D2 and D3 football. I also agree that the SEC is the strongest conference, loaded with quality teams.

But USC is the defending national champs, and they are still undefeated. I don't concur that their schedule is weak, though. The have beaten ranked teams including Notre Dame and Oregon, on the road. If they also beat an undefeated UCLA team they deserve to keep their #1 ranking heading into the BCS series. The Pac-10 is always underrated, and except for my Huskies and Arizona there are some very fine football teams amongst the rest. For a computer to have the Trojans ranked #4 is just plain silly.

[Sonny]

Ahhh... One of my favorite topics.

Remember that the BCS system was implemented to "fix" the old bowl system. If this current season was under the old (pre-BCS) bowl system - USC would go to the Rose Bowl, Texas would go to the Fiesta Bowl, SEC champ (Georgia/Alabama) would go to the Sugar Bowl, and the ACC champ (Va Tech/Fla State/Miami) would go to the Orange Bowl to play Louisville/UConn. At least now, we have a system where the No. 1 and No. 2 teams meet on the field somewhere. It ain't perfect, but it's better then what we had.

P.S. Overall (teams 1 - 12), the SEC is very, very mediocre this year. Look at the bottom half of the conference - Kentucky, Miss State, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, South Carolina. Major yawn.

[Beta]

Oh I agree that USC is a top tier team, I just hate how teams can schedule cup cakes and sustain a decent ranking since apparently the BCS decided that "strength of schedule" wasnt as important anymore.

The way I see it, the top 8 teams that will make it to BCS bowls will be USC, UTex, VaTech, UGA, WestVa (ugh, Big East), Penn State, ND and prolly FSU/Miami...most likely FSU since they beat Miami head-to-head, and Miami will lose to VT. Which sucks because Miami is always one of the best, and will have lost to better opponents (Loss to VT, not UVA like FSU).

The best game for the national championship would be USC/VaTech. Edge to USC. I dont think Texas deserves it. The Big 12 has been to the dance 3 of the last 4 years (only 1 time was it the Big 12 champ) and have gotten smashed each year. VaTech would give USC the best matchup. A UGA/USC game would have some fantastic running.

[cjwilhelmi]

Oh I agree that USC is a top tier team, I just hate how teams can schedule cup cakes and sustain a decent ranking since apparently the BCS decided that "strength of schedule" wasnt as important anymore.

I thought I had read somewhere that the schedules were done a couple years ago.

[bste_lax]

Oh I agree that USC is a top tier team, I just hate how teams can schedule cup cakes and sustain a decent ranking since apparently the BCS decided that "strength of schedule" wasnt as important anymore.

I thought I had read somewhere that the schedules were done a couple years ago.

Most schedules are done 5+ years before so majority of the time a team doesn't know how good they will be or not be.

Iowa was suppose to take on Missouri this year and next year (something that was scheduled back in 1999-2000 time area when Iowa was 1-10 and 4-7). Missouri bought out of the contract this past summer and Iowa was forced to scramble and get Northern Iowa (Div. I-AA) since it was one of a few teams willing to come to Iowa City on short notice.

Further proof, Iowa just recently announced a series of games against UConn for 2008 and 2009 as well as two more games in 2011 and 2012 (I could be totally off on the years but they are close to that).

Now for my random college football observations. USC is still the top team, weak schedule or not. Still think they have too much offense. UCLA might not be worth a #6 ranking but I think they are #8-12 range.

Penn State won't go to the BCS, their mojo from the beginning of the season is over in my eyes. Wisconsin or Ohio State should be based on record at this point and what's left on the schedule.

Big 12 is weak this year and Texas should win it all, it is theirs to lose.

I wouldn't write UGA's ticket yet either, I think Alabama could knock them out, especially if Shockley is hurt. He is doubtful for next week and supposed to come back but I think his injury will still affect him if he comes back. Knees are a tough thing to overcome. Brodie Croyle doesn't wow you but he does enough to get the W.

Who cares about the Big East...

Or Notre Dame but they will get in since they are much improved this year and the media's darling.

Va Tech should win the ACC.

[DanGenck]

Ahhh... One of my favorite topics.

Remember that the BCS system was implemented to "fix" the old bowl system. If this current season was under the old (pre-BCS) bowl system - USC would go to the Rose Bowl, Texas would go to the Fiesta Bowl, SEC champ (Georgia/Alabama) would go to the Sugar Bowl, and the ACC champ (Va Tech/Fla State/Miami) would go to the Orange Bowl to play Louisville/UConn. At least now, we have a system where the No. 1 and No. 2 teams meet on the field somewhere. It ain't perfect, but it's better then what we had.

P.S. Overall (teams 1 - 12), the SEC is very, very mediocre this year. Look at the bottom half of the conference - Kentucky, Miss State, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, South Carolina. Major yawn.

Sonny and I finally agree! I have converted to the BCS system as of this fall...

The biggest point is that with this system, 32+ teams can end their season as champions. This is the same reason we have rivalry games and miniature conferences (see The Little Three in the NESCAC or the CBB Championship in Maine). Teams like Minnesota will not win a national championship, but they could win a bigtime bowl, or even a bowl game in general and end their season as a victor, not as the #16 seed losing in the first round.

A lot of teams are not legitimate contenders for a national title and with a BCS system, we offer 8 teams a chance for a bigtime bowl and we offer 32 teams the chance to finish their season as champions. The teams that run the table and have a dream season will get a crack at a title and those that are 10-2 will get their chance to win a nice trophy and get a big diamond ring as well.

Finally, Sonny and I can have something to agree on if we ever meet up. Phew...

[Kyle Berggren]

Do people really think the SEC and ACC are the best football conferences right now? I'm not saying the PAC-10 is better, I'm just asking. Realistically, this season a PAC-8 would be better and the Washington schools could join the WAC.

[DanGenck]

I think it is very clear that the PAC-10, Big 10, SEC, ACC and Big 12 are the best year in and year out.

Personally I would hate to be a coach in the Big 10 because the bottom teams in the league (Indiana, Purdue, Minnesota and Northwestern) have been legitmate title contenders this year (Indiana to the least extent).

Illinois and Michigan State are tough this year as well.

Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, Penn State and Ohio State are good every year.

Theoretically, you could have a conference schedule that looked like this-

vs. Northwestern
vs. Penn State
@ Michigan
@ Michigan State
vs. Ohio State
@ Wisconsin
vs. Purdue
@ Illinois

What a tough road to a championship! Just my feeling from a coaching standpoint...

[Danny Hogan]

i would say there is no comparison in the #2-4 spots in the conferences. Thats where all the chest pounding depth comes in to play.

VT Georgia USC
FSU Alabama UCLA
BC LSU Oregon
Miami Auburn Stanford
Georgia Tech Florida Cal
Maryland Tennessee Oregon State

[Sonny]

Miami Auburn Stanford

If I recall correctly, Stanford lost to 1-AA Sac State at home this year. To say they are as talented as Miami (who could win the ACC) OR even Auburn is an exaggeration. I got my own biases, but I also don't see Cal or Oregon State matching up successfully, week in and week out, with the middle of the pack teams in the ACC or SEC.

[Danny Hogan]

Miami Auburn Stanford

If I recall correctly, Stanford lost to 1-AA Sac State at home this year. To say they are as talented as Miami (who could win the ACC) OR even Auburn is an exaggeration. I got my own biases, but I also don't see Cal or Oregon State matching up successfully, week in and week out, with the middle of the pack teams in the ACC or SEC.

on top of that i wouldn't see USC going unblemished against UF, LSU, Alabama, UGA in a 5 week span as tennessee attempted to this year.

[Baller1]

Stanford didn't lose to Sac State, they lost to UC Davis and Oregon.

[Sonny]

Stanford didn't lose to Sac State, they lost to UC Davis and Oregon.

Thanks. I knew it was a 1-AA from Nor Cal in Walt Harris' first game at Stanford. Didn't have time to research it earlier today.