Yeah, yeah…so I’ve bought my Oklahoma Sooners jersey and Buckeye fans have suddenly taken a huge interest in the Big Twelve championship, but what happens if Oklahoma does come through and Pittsburgh gets a taste of rivalry fever and actually knocks out West Virginia? Sure, it’s a long shot but so was Michigan/Appalachian State.
Let’s step back and take a look at the BCS at its worst.
If both the number one and number two team drop out, you would think that would move us to #4 ranked Georgia. Seems easy enough, Georgia sits idle this weekend and they should step right in, right.
Yeah right.
While Georgia and the Buckeyes get in a little Christmas shopping, the rest of the college football world has to play one more game. Unlike the Big Ten that determines it’s champion in the Ohio State/Michigan game, the SEC, ACC, and Big 12 all have a pesky championship game to worry about and USC stills has one more game left against UCLA.
So, let’s see if we can sift through the mess of an Oklahoma win and a Mountaineer loss.
Georgia sits in a bad situation in that they didn’t win their division. You would think that it would be a requirement that you win your conference before you are allowed to play in a BCS championship game. The conference championship is the closest thing we have to a playoff. If Georgia gets to New Orleans then yes, the system is broken once and for all. (I can hear the SEC complaining now…but the Big Ten doesn’t have a playoff. Wah, wah, wah)
So let’s move to #5 Kansas.
Again, you need to win your conference. However, LSU looses to Tennessee, Virginia Tech looses to Boston or just plays like crap, and USC loses to UCLA, then sure, let Kansas and Georgia fight it out.
Oh, if that scenario plays out, I suggest the Buckeyes skip the BCS championship and play USC in the Rose Bowl.
#6 Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech has to absolutely wipe the floor with Boston to get into the big game. Even then, they are going to need some serious help to jump over Georgia. Come on, seriously, does anyone out there think Virginia Tech is a national championship team?
And then there’s LSU. It’s like Deja Vu all over again.
If LSU can blow the doors off Tennessee, who’s going to keep them out of the big dance (given the Missouri/WV loss). However, I’m not so sure that Tennessee won’t give them a run for the money. Their coach seems to have a thing for a certain school up north and I wonder what it’s like to play for a coach who is about to bail out on you right before the big game. Can’t do much to motivate the team.
That brings me to USC.
USC is the entire reason I wrote this post. There is nothing I would love to see more than an Ohio State/USC national championship game. Better yet, an Ohio State/USC game played on neutral territory as opposed to a USC home game in Pasadena.
It wouldn’t take much for USC to jump to the top. ESPN has already called it claimig that if WV/Missouri lose, West Virginia jumps over Georgia to play in the BCS championship — no mention of any other team standing in front of USC. (Yes, ESPN loves USC that much.) If LSU struggles against Tennessee and USC runs the score on UCLA, putting on a performance like they did against ASU, then yes, send them to New Orleans.
For me, I say we pick up the Rose Bowl and move it to New Orleans this year. What better than an Ohio State/USC game without USC home game advantage. And what a great kick off to next year as Ohio State/USC starts a two year regular season series. Can you imagine the hype of a rematch the third game of the season? Ohio State should rank pretty high next year as I doubt too many Buckeyes are going to the pros. A win over USC and we will be marching right back to a national championship game.
Three national championship games in three years? I’m sorry, it’s more than I could dream of.
Related Articles:
Unfortunately there is a precedent for a non-division winner getting into the title game, as Nebraska did in 2001. That year, despite winning the Pac-10 and also having just one loss Oregon was sent to the Fiesta Bowl to face a hot Colorado team with 2 losses that some were arguing should have played for the title because of how they were playing at hte end of the year.
In the end it was the old strnegth of schedule factor that decided the title game. It was so close in the BCS standings between Nebraska and Oregon for #2 that TCU beating I think Southern Miss on the last day of the season gave Nebraska the smallest of boosts to pass Oregon since Nebraska beat TCU that year. never mind that Nebraska was annihilated by colorado ont he last day of the season and didn’t even win the Big 12 north.
Since the SEC is “the toughest conference in the country” I’m sure that would push Georgia in undeservedly.
Thanks for the history. I think you have a good point about Georgia and the SEC but only if LSU looses.
Ultimately, if both WV and Missouri lose, it will have to come down to strength of schedule and the SEC will win out if for no other reason than they bitch about it enough.
If that’s the case, let Virginia Tech and Georgia duke it out in the “national championship.” I would rather see the Buckeyes/USC in the Rose Bowl.
You know, I left out Oklahoma. If they beat the number-one team, would that be enough to jump them into the BCS championship?
[...] you live in Columbus, Ohio like that writer does; today you are the largest Oklahoma Sooners fan in the United States. Huge day in College Football for West Virginia, Missouri, Ohio State, and even [...]
You are a moron if you think Tech couldn’t be in the title game. Tech would absolutely wipe the floor with Ohio State. Not sure where you get off critisizing Tech from where you’re sitting.
Virginia Tech “absolutely wiping the floor with Ohio State.”
You’re kidding right? That has to be a typo. Although I guess they really did prove themselves against William and Mary.
Or maybe it was the impressive performance against LSU. Sure, tough schedule and all.
If Virginia Tech gets in with LSU and Oklahoma waiting in the wings, then yes, this system is truly broken.
[...] when I wrote my earlier post asking what would happen if West Virginia and Missouri both lost, I didn’t really think it [...]
Well, atleast the computers got it right…Tech 1, LSU 2, Ohio St 3.
Leave it up to the coaches (and fans) to remain clueless. No, that wasn’t a typo and yes, Tech would wipe the floor with Ohio State. It wouldn’t be close.
An Ohio St. fan is really going to question anyone’s schedule? Get real.
I can’t tell you how much I would love to see a regular season game against a team like Virgina Tech–if for no other reason than to silence the ACC. I live in ACC country now and they actually think they know football out here…please.
And while yes, this was an off year for schedule, (after Texas last two years and USC next two years), we really can’t waste time on schools like VT.
The in-state schools are charity games and will always be there. Those games bring enough to cover their entire athletic budget for a season.
Be glad you drew KU. Any other options and Tech would be in trouble.
Enough of this string for now. It is on to bigger and better things.