First off: I am for a playoff.
Second: don’t count on this being the death-knell of the BCS. For one thing, what are we all talking about? Big Time College Football, that’s what. And why? Because of the BCS.
Plus, the frustration may not be so high after the games are played. What if OU beats LSU and USC loses to Michigan (neither of which is far-fetched)—then will the BCS screw-up seem as bad? Of course, if USC blows out Michigan and LSU destroys OU, then the griping will reach a fevered pitch (and rightfully so).
However, the whole thing brings to mind the flaws in the human polls (not that I am a big fan of the computer polls). The problem, however is two-fold: 1) most of the coaches only really got to see this week’s games, and not the whole season, thus putting an over-emphasis on one set of games versus the whole season, and 2) is the point of the poll to determine the best team overall, or the best team at the end of the season? From my POV it should be a measure of the whole season. USC lost to Cal for crying out loud, an unranked team. Sure, it was an early loss, but LSU lost to Florida and OU lost to K-State, both ranked teams. Plus, USC’s strength of schedule is 37th (OU’s is 11th and LSU’s is 29th), they play in a softer conference than either OU or LSU, and didn’t have to play in a championship game. Had I been voting for those three 1-loss teams I would have ranked them #1 LSU, #2 OU and #3 USC. Because to me the issue of judging three 1 loss teams is to judge them based on that loss, althought with trying to weigh the value of their wins. OU beat the team that ended the season 5th in both polls (Texas) and Oklahoma State (22), LSU beat Georgia twice (which finished at 11th) and Mississippi State (oops) (17). The only team USC beat that finished in the top 25 was Washington State (14).
So while I think that the BSC is inferior to a playoff (by quanta) and that the whole IA polling system should be replaced, I am not of the opinion that the wrong two teams are playing for the title.
Ahem. That's Mississippi (or Ole Miss, 9-3 and SEC West co-champion), not Mississippi State (who went 2-10).
Never will I understand why people get the two confused. People don't seem to confuse Michigan and Michigan State; Ohio U and THE Ohio State; Penn and Penn State; Indiana and Indiana State; Texas and Texas A&M; Arizona and A-State; or Florida and Florida State. Yet people routinely call State the "Rebels" or think Ole Miss is Mississippi State. Bizarre.
Posted by: Chris Lawrence at December 8, 2024 08:36 AMOops. That's called getting in a hurry to finish a blog posting when one ought to be grading.
I get Arizona and Arizona State screwed up all the time, and my sister went to Arizona, if that makes you feel any better.
I will fix it.
Posted by: Steven at December 8, 2024 08:40 AMCome to think of it, I have a hard time keeping Michigan and Michigan State clear in my head as well. So, in my case, it ain't just a Mississippi thing.
I even get Florida and Florida State messed up.
Posted by: Steven at December 8, 2024 08:42 AMMy mom always gets Florida and Florida State confused, so this helps to avoid that confusion:
Florida is in Gainesville. "G"ainsville = "G"ators
Corny as it sounds, it works.
Posted by: mark at December 8, 2024 09:51 AMHad I been voting for those three 1-loss teams I would have ranked them #1 LSU, #2 OU and #3 USC.
You are a wise man indeed. Go Tigers!
Posted by: Paul at December 8, 2024 03:55 PMEveryone disses Southern Cal for the Cal loss, but there are mitigating circumstances. Cal was a fourth week loss - in TRIPLE OVERTIME! after a missed field goal. both the LSU and Okla losses were by more than a touchdown. Oklahoma lost at the wrong time of the year - in the CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP, FER PETE'S SAKE!
As for Southern Cal being in a soft conference, what do you want them to do, join the big 12? Their average winning margin was over 20 points. Let's be realistic. You can only play the people put before you. I happen to think the Big 10 is a little light in the loafers, and Miami's been playing in the Big East, after all, and nobody bitches about their soft schedule.
Posted by: bryan at December 8, 2024 07:23 PM