COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS! Explain this whole Oklahoma-Auburn train wreck.

[MallRat]

Yet another reason why I hate college football:

Today's AP poll has Oklahoma ranked #2, just 5 measly votes ahead of Auburn at #3. Both teams are undefeated going into their respective conference championships- they've done everything they could possibly do to put themselves in position to vie for the national championship.

And yet, one of these teams is going to get horribly screwed.

Auburn (11-0 overall, 8-0 in SEC) will face Tennessee (8-2 overall, 6-1 in SEC) for the SEC championship.

It seems to me that Oklahoma (11-0, 8-0 in Big12) will face any one of a number of mediocre teams for the Big 12 championship: Iowa State (6-4, 4-3 in Big12), Colorado (6-4, 3-4 in Big12), or maybe(?) Nebraska (5-5, 3-4 in Big12... are they still in the race?)

So let me see if I get this straight: if Auburn and Oklahoma both win their conference championship games on December 4th, then the NCAA will find itself in a massive clusterfuck. AGAIN.

AGAIN!

Auburn would have an argument for leapfrogging Oklahoma into the #2 spot. They will have beaten a strong opponent for the conference championship, while Oklahoma will have cruised right into the Orange Bowl on the backs of a weak opponent.

Oklahoma would also have a viable argument for retaining their #2 ranking. It's not their fault that the Big 12 North division will produce such a poor opponent for them to face in their conference championship. Why should Oklahoma be penalized because Iowa State or Colorado are average teams in a weak division? Oklahoma can only play whoever's put in front of them.

For the love of god, WHY ISN'T THERE A TOURNAMENT? Use the goddamn BCS, rank the top 8 teams, and do a goddamn single-elimination tournament.

This is why I don't really follow college football. Any sport which crowns TWO CHAMPIONS on a regular basis does not warrant my attention (for more information, see BOXING).

:grr: :argh:

[Jo March]

1. Yep, most of us agree

NCAA football is getting more idiotic by the year. There should be no split national championship, remember? The BCS was going to cure all of that. Whatever.

I am rooting for Auburn because they are from my home state but I think that the BCS will continue to screw at least one team a year.

[MallRat]

6. I'd like to see Auburn. At least it's something new.

Oklahoma bores me.

-MR

[Jo March]

17. True. Auburn was a surprize to me this year

after falling flat on their faces last year.

Bama would have done better had they not lost their quarterback and several running backs to injury.

[AngryAmish]

2. No tournament because season is too long as it is

These kids are supposed to be in college.

[MallRat]

3. After the first week of December, there's 4 weeks left but only 1 game.

For these elite teams, the entire month of December is spent gearing up for ONE last game. Don't think for a moment that the student-athletes at USC, Oklahoma, or Auburn are going to be focusing on studying from December 4th until January 4th.

Whether they'd have one game left or three games left, they're in football mode. You could shorten the regular season by one game, and add a 3-week, 8-team tournament at the end.

-MR

[AngryAmish]

7. Finals in December

IIFC, even I was studying a lot.

[MallRat]

8. But different schools play on different dates.

There's no ONE schedule, even under today's BCS system, which could ever accomodate every football player's academic schedule during bowl season.

If you're a player on a 7-4 team and going to one of the minor bowl games, you're probably playing the second or third week of December. In devising their exam schedules, how can the university predict when and where their football teams are going to play? Some years, they'll play during exam week. Other years, before; still other years, after.

-MR

[underpants]

11. ~10 years ago players were willing to play a tournament IF....

they got health insurance.....you've never seen guys in suits (NCAA) run out of a meeting so fast.

See my post below. I agree they play enough (too much) as it is.

[Champ]

4. The formula obviously failed in ensuring only 1 Champ a year

That is what sparked the whole BCS thing, we need something new. 3 BCS bowl games will host playoff matchups. BCS #1 vs BCS #4 - BCS #2 vs BCS #3 - NC

It is a good formula in determining who is better then who as it takes several things into consideration. But not a good one for limiting it to only 2 teams. This way it doesn't add too many games on the players, they will still have plenty of study time for Winter exams, and it throws two more teams in the mix so we won't have to worry about 3 teams deserving to be in the National Title game but only 2 can get an invite if they set up a playoff of the top 4 teams.

[RubyDuby in GA]

5. This is why the BCS must go

End of story. And whoever came up with it needs to be shot.

[underpants]

9. Okay a tournie of 8 teams? What about the 8 vs. 9 controversy?

What about that HOT team at the end of the year that is #10?

So you could be in the Top10 and get frozen out of the tournament? Two teams each year would?

A 16 team tournament? 4 more games for the final two teams?

BYU played a 15 game season a few years ago if they made it to the tournament would they be faced with a 19 game season?

How many players do you think will stick around if they play 14-15 games every year? (for the power programs)

I personally think they ought to keep the current system. WHAT?!~?!!?! Yep you heard me I think they should keep it not only as it IS but as it was. If you think recruiting is a blood sport now wait until there really is (except for arguments by the #'s 9 and 10 teams) only ONE champ.

[MallRat]

13. When you're talking about #8 vs. #9 rankings...

...at least you're not shutting out a deserving undefeated team. Boise State may be 10-0, but their non-conference schedule was pretty weak.

Sure, you can argue whether Georgia is more worthy of a playoff spot than Miami. But they both have 2 losses; you have no right to complain about being on the bubble when you could have been in control of your own destiny.

Oklahoma & Auburn? That's a different story. What have either of them done wrong to warrant being shutout of the Orange Bowl?

-MR

[underpants]

16. Shutting the 9th ranked team out of a tournament is the same thing

I know we aren't there yet but if we were it would be the same thing. Auburn says that they have the right to play well so would a 9th ranked team and the 8th team in could end up winning three in a row for all kinds of reasons.

I don't side with either Oklahoma OR Auburn here but hey that's football. They can rant and holler for the whole off season that is the way that it is.

I must say that we (and this discussion everytime/place I have heard it) are jumping over the key point here- The subjective rankings at the beginning of the season. I know USC was defending co-champ from last year and had a good team returning but if Oklahoma would have started as the #1 team would now be arguing about USC vs. Auburn and if Auburn (for instance) had been #1..........

THAT is the problem. They should hold off on ranking until a month or so into the season regardless of Colorado State playing what seemed like 6 games in the first 4 weeks (last year) and some teams only playing twice.

[MallRat]

14. Yes, an 8-team tourney should coincide with a shorter reg. season schedule

I definitely agree. Some of these teams are playing 12 games before they even get to the bowls.

[Jo March]

18. What about the conference champions playing each other?

That would eliminate a lot of this. The SEC has a championship game. If you can't win your championship, you shouldn't be in the running for the National Championship.

[underpants]

19. 12 conferences including the Sun Belt

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/conferences/

[Jo March]

21. Well, there you go.

It will never happen, though. Bowl games are too lucrative. Schools depend on the revenue way too much.

I want to see a playoff, though. Then I will be truly one happy football fan.

[underpants]

22. Uh four teams would get a bye in the first round

Unless all the conference champs got in (the Sun Belt?) and you decided amongst the 1-5 other school who got an at large bid.....talk about a controversy....what about the 5th best at large team?

[Jo March]

23. I wish there was another sport that had a playoff system

that we could look at and use as a guide to help us figure this all out. You know, like a 64-team playoff where some teams are on the "bubble" and it is decided whether or not they get to play in the playoffs.

If only there were such a sport. Sigh. ;)

[underpants]

26. 117 Div 1A teams

http://www.coasttocoasttickets.com/ncaaf/bowlgame_tickets.shtml

27 bowl games

So 54 of the 117 D1A teams or 46% go to a bowl game.

If we started with a .......uh..........computer model to determine the top 64 teams we could have a tournament like that. Now that would require the CHAMP to win 6 games in a row so maybe they could play 6 games to determine who gets in-this of course would not allow for a team that gets hot or who comes out of nowhere to be in the tournament where they would have had the normal season occurred.

The problem is that unlike other team sports you can't play football even every other day (well you COULD but) so we would need at least 6 weeks (playing every week which no teams does(Tennessee played 8 weeks in a row and lost to Notre Dame in the 8th week this year) so schools would only have 3 maybe 4 home games as a revenue stream. Also it would go from week to week as to whether Alums would need to make reservations and WHERE they would have to make them.

[Jo March]

31. Extend the football season - that would not bother me at all

Yes, there are logistical questions that would have to be worked out.

Again, though, how is this worked out in NCAA basketball? Don't they pick a town for the playoffs and the teams travel there?

Regardless, it will never happen. This is about as good as it gets.

[rurallib]

10. Iowa State will make it moot

When they take out Oklahoma in the big-12 title game. You heard it on DU first.

[slestak]

25. Mizzou

Don't they have to beat Mizzou first?

[RUDUing2]

27. we suck this year so Mizzou wont be an issue.

I think though the Big 12 conference is considered a tougher conference then Auburns (even with the total collapse of Nebraska), so that plays into the rankings..

[underpants]

28. Oh brother "Mizzou"

Every year I hear about how "team X" has "to get through Missouri" and I can't ever remember Mizzou actually pulling off an upset. They got real close a few years ago on the Nebraska kicked ball and I know they are a steady team but until they actually pull one off they are just playing to script.

Look I am a UVa fan so I know ALL ABOUT my team coming just this close to actually doing it.

[RUDUing2]

29. hey we beat Colorado...except for the refs screwing us over w/the

5th down....

[slestak]

32. I just meant that the season isn't over yet...

... and the Big 12 North is such a trainwreck that just about anything can happen.

I'm an Oklahoma State alum so I am well versed in disappointment. :)

[underpants]

34. Yeah I know USC still has ND and UCLA

They should win both handily but you never know.

I really just wanted to comment on how every year I hear some commentator say "Yeah but they have to get by Missouri"......and everyone does.

Like I said they seem to have a steady team every year but just once I would like to see them (for their sake mostly) actually WIN one of these games.

This is one of the anomalies of college football-the other being how Syracuse is always mentioned or their highlights are so prominently shown but I know why that is, they are the closest thing to a major college football program near NYC (BC and Rutgers don't count for various reasons).

[underpants]

12. Quick fix-discount West Coast teams for lack of schedule

</ducks>

[auburngrad82]

15. For obvious reasons, I'm pulling for Auburn but...

I quit following most sports years ago. Sports in America has become one big brawl among millionaires. This weekend's NBA fiasco is an example of what I'm talking about.

And yeah, I know college ball is different, but I don't really care. I'm disillusioned with sports in general. Sports no longer operates with "sportsmanship" in mind.

IMO

[Jo March]

20. I agree with you to a point, ag82

I hate most sports anymore. MLB lost me after the strike. I won't go back to them. Basketball has never interested me because the players seem to change all of time, like the NFL.

In college, though, it's a bit different. Since leaving Alabama, it's been nice to still be able to follow the Tide and their, um, struggles. I wish that the NCAA wasn't filled with idiots but I love the game. I love watching a great play. I love the strategy.

It's a shame that today's atheletes are so darn spoiled and team owners are pretty much a bunch of asses.

Roll Tide. :)

[slestak]

24. This is bound to piss off somebody...

but USC has no business being ranked #1, simply by virtue of their weak conference. Auburn and OU play in the two toughest conferences in college football, and, on top of that, have to play a conference championship game as well. USC is a great football team, but they should be #3.

[underpants]

30. Thank you

AS an SEC fan I am not the most impartial person here but Auburn necessarily played a tougher schedule even if the SEC isn't crushingly superior this year as it usually is. Hey Auburn DID beat the co-defending national Champs LSU 10-9.

USC has beaten some big named schools but they aren't really that great of teams. The win over Va.Tech has gotten bigger and bigger as Tech has creeped back up in the polls-let's not forget that Tech lost MArcus Vick (his own fault) only what 2 weeks before the USC game-that was supposed to be his coming out party.


http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/clubhouse?collegeId=30

[slestak]

33. The polls say it all...

Big 12 - 4 teams in the top 25
SEC - 4 teams in the top 25

PAC 10 - 2 teams in the top 25

[RivetJoint]

36. And it goes on to say the most important thing of all...

USC- #1

[RivetJoint]

35. USC has beat the Number 4 and number 11 team in the country

USC did not play La Tech and La Monroe (or Lafayette whichever it was that Auburn played).

Maybe if Auburn played a tougher non-conference schedule...

[slestak]

38. You can't convince me

that USC should be ranked ahead of OU and Auburn. Won't happen.

We'll just have to wait until the end of the season and everything shakes out. If an undefeated SC beats an undefeated OU or Auburn in the Orange Bowl, then I'll concede.:toast:

[RivetJoint]

39. And you can't convince me they shouldn't

But neither of us get a vote.

Right now, with 4 games to play (2 by SC), the Men of Troy are number one in all the polls--that's all that matters.

[slestak]

43. Then we agree to disagree

FWIW, I'm not trying to be an asshole about this. My team is barely in the Top 25. I'd be thrilled to see 'em even at #3.

[underpants]

44. HOLD IT!-they weren't #4 and #11 WHEN THEY PLAYED USC

I know that the figuring is done as of NOW (I understand that) but where were they WHEN THEY PLAYED THESE SCHOOLS?

USC-the only two teams that were ranked WHEN THEY PLAYED USC were
Arizona State -then #19 now #20
and Cal who were #7 when they played USC now #4
Va.Tech wasn't even in the top 25 when they played USC (suddenly without their starting QB)

Oklahoma has beaten three ranked teams as of when they played them
Texas #5 then still #5 now
Oregon St. #20 now not ranked
Texas A&M then #22 now #22

Auburn started the season at #18 (slipped back after their first win to #19)
they beat LSU when LSU was the #4 team in the country now #12
Tennessee then #8 now #15 and the meet in the SEC championship
Georgia then #5 now #7

Auburn has beaten 3 top TEN teams WHEN THEY PLAYED THEM this year


http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankings

[Redleg]

37. Quit picking on the Big-12 North.

Don't you know that the Big-12 North schools are making scholarship a priority over athletics while those bastard Big-12 South schools couldn't possibly care less about scholarship. <sarcasm>

As for Auburn, that's a hair color, not a university.

----
A proud Nebraska Grad (Ph.D., 2002)

[RUDUing2]

40. Mizzou must of missed that memo..we named our new arena

after a cheater....
apparently Miss Paige paid her roomie $20,000 to write her papers, etc in college...

[underpants]

41. What does the "N" on the Nebraska helmet stand for?

Nowledge

[slestak]

42. LOL

Is that why your school shitcanned it's coach for only winning 9 games last year?:P

[Redleg]

45. No, he was fired for winning too many games.

EOM