| FTBL BCS Busters

[cjaytch]

While I HATE the BCS and would prefer a Playoff,I am SICK of hearing some commentators go on about how unfair it is that Boise State, Utah, and Ball State could go undefeated and not play for the NC. I guess Hawaii's dismal showing in a BCS game last year after putting up HUGE offensive number has not dissuaded them.

But I guess, to be fair, the teams I mentioned are not Hawaii and Boise State did pull a crazy upset of Oklahoma a couple years ago. So I decided to look into this. Why don't these teams get more respect in terms of the BCS? The first thing that popped into my head was "who have they played?". If they haven't beaten a traditionally consistent program, no one in their right mind would give them a chance. So I decided to look up their schedules and see.

Lets take Ball State first:
8/28 Northeastern 1-0 (0-0) W 48-14
9/05 Navy 2-0 (0-0) W 35-23
9/13 @ Akron 3-0 (1-0) W 41-24
9/20 @ Indiana 4-0 (1-0) W 42-20
9/27 Kent State 5-0 (2-0) W 41-20
10/04 @ Toledo 6-0 (3-0) W 31-0
10/11 @ Western Kentucky 7-0 (3-0) W 24-7
10/25 Eastern Michigan 8-0 (4-0) W 38-16
11/05 Northern Illinois 9-0 (5-0) W 45-14
11/11 @ Miami (OH) 10-0 (6-0) W 31-16
11/19 @ Central Michigan 7:00 PM
11/25 Western Michigan 6:00 PM

WOW, other than Navy, its a "Who's Who?" of SEC Homecoming game opponents. How could you not get mentioned with teams like UF, UA, USC, Ok, or Texas when you run a gauntlet like this? Their biggest win is against NAVY. :roll:

Next, lets take Boise State:
8/30 Idaho State 1-0 (0-0) W 49-7
9/13 Bowling Green 2-0 (0-0) W 20-7
9/20 @ No. 17 Oregon 3-0 (0-0) W 37-32
10/01 Louisiana Tech 4-0 (1-0) W 38-3
10/11 @ Southern Miss 5-0 (1-0) W 24-7
10/17 Hawaii 6-0 (2-0) W 27-7
10/24 @ San Jose State 7-0 (3-0) W 33-16
11/01 @ New Mexico State 8-0 (4-0) W 49-0
11/08 Utah State 9-0 (5-0) W 49-14
11/15 @ Idaho 10-0 (6-0) W 45-10
11/22 @ Nevada 4:05 PM
11/28 Fresno State 6:00 PM

Well, at least they have beaten a ranked team, that perennial PAC-10 powerhouse OREGON. Other than that, their schedule looks like a "who's who" of Big-12 homecoming opponents. To their credit though, they have beaten these "homecoming" opponents the way a big time program is supposed to beat them. Also to their credit, when they got their shot against Oklahoma, they did pull the win. I know that coaches tell the players to take teams like Boise seriously but come on. The players are fans too, and no fan of a big time program like Oklahoma wants to see their team play Boise State in a bowl game. (for the record, I would not be MAD if UA lost the SECCG and ended up the Sugar Bowl. I would be MAD if the opponent was one of the "BCS busters".)

Next, lets take Utah:
8/30 @ Michigan 1-0 (0-0) W 25-23
9/06 UNLV 2-0 (1-0) W 42-21
9/13 @ Utah State 3-0 (1-0) W 58-10
9/20 @ Air Force 4-0 (2-0) W 30-23
9/27 Weber State 5-0 (2-0) W 37-21
10/02 Oregon State 6-0 (2-0) W 31-28
10/11 @ Wyoming 7-0 (3-0) W 40-7
10/18 Colorado State 8-0 (4-0) W 49-16
11/01 @ New Mexico 9-0 (5-0) W 13-10
11/06 No. 12 TCU 10-0 (6-0) W 13-10
11/15 @ San Diego State 11-0 (7-0) W 63-14
11/22 No. 14 Brigham Young 6:00 PM

The Utes have a better schedule than the other two. Michigan is having a terrible year, but they weren't terrible when the Utes scheduled them. But it seems upsetting Mich in their opening game at the Big House has become a season opening tradition. Oregon State may well represent the PAC-10 in the Rose Bowl. TCU? Anyone want to look and see who they have beaten?

Its quite a catch 22 these teams are in. They haven't beaten anyone, so they don't get respect. However, they are all good enough to give any big program that schedules them a game. Especially since players don't sign at Alabama or Texas for their showdowns with Ball State. So what is the motivation for any of the big teams to schedule non conference games against a team that may beat them and ruin a NC shot?

So will a playoff fix this? Not if the Ball States and Hawaii's of the world go undefeated every season and then get drummed each year in the first round of the playoffs. If you have an 8 team playoff and there WILL be contention over who deserves to be in. The result of this will be loud cries to keep teams like these out of the playoffs so that a 1-2 loss SEC, BIG12 or PAC10 team could take their spot since they get drummed out in the first round each year anyway. Not saying that would happen, but most likely it would.

I do want to see a playoff. It still wont fix this problem. That is to those who consider it a problem. My advise to Boise State or any other school who thinks they can hang, try to get yourself into another conference. The BIG 10 needs another team to have a conference championship game. The PAC-10 needs 2 teams. Barring attaching yourself to one of the big name conferences, the only way you will get respect is to fill your non-conference schedule with the Alabama's, Texas', Oklahoma's, Penn State's of the world and BEAT them. Until then, you won't get any respect, because you still haven't beaten anybody.

 

[Guest]

Good post. Your last paragraph describes to a T how a young Bobby Bowden put then independent FSU on the national map. he'd play any of the big boys anywhere. Sometimes he got a home and home, sometimes it would be two on the road and one at home, sometimes the best he could do was just a road game. But he played them and won enough that the Noles became a big time player on the national scene.

The Pac 10 would do well to add Boise State and Utah. It would let them split into divisions and have a championship game as the SEC, ACC and Big East do.

 

[Nate]

I love the fact that one the one hand "they" are all in favor for a play off system, yet turn around and try to say that 1 loss USC is better that undefeated Bama and TT.

 

[Guest]

Good post. Your last paragraph describes to a T how a young Bobby Bowden put then independent FSU on the national map. he'd play any of the big boys anywhere. Sometimes he got a home and home, sometimes it would be two on the road and one at home, sometimes the best he could do was just a road game. But he played them and won enough that the Noles became a big time player on the national scene.

The Pac 10 would do well to add Boise State and Utah. It would let them split into divisions and have a championship game as the SEC, ACC and Big East do.

:lol: :lol: :lol: That'd be like the big11 letting NOtre Dame in! It just makes too much sense and will never happen

 

[reger60]

I have no sympathy for these undefeated teams from mid-major conferences don't get a BCS bid.

If you want to be taken seriously and get involved in the BCS mix, then do what Miami, Boston College and VT did. Negotiate your way out of your wussie conference, get your team in a major conference and win your way to the top. Until that happens, schedule a game on the road against an SEC or Big 12 school and see how you stack up against some real competition.

More evidence that a playoff would eliminate much of this nonsense.

 

[Guest]

And the ACC will get one of those coveted spots....what a joke.

 

[Guest]

And the ACC will get one of those coveted spots....what a joke.

The Big East as well.

 

[GeorgiaTider]

The Pac 10 would do well to add Boise State and Utah. It would let them split into divisions and have a championship game as the SEC, ACC and Big East do.

I don't think the PAC 1 needs a playoff system. Each team plays every other PAC 1 team. Adding 2 more teams and a playoff would mean they have to play more OOC teams and that means harder games for them. I just don't see that happening.

 

[imported_RollTideRandy]

Enjoyable read. Thanks for posting.

In my opinion, these teams will NEVER pursue moving to a major conference. They pretty much know that if they moved to the Pac 10 or Big 12 they would become 6-8 win teams at best because it’s just too hard to recruit top athletes to Idaho or Utah. These teams sell out their stadiums and enjoy a lot of popularity because they are posting 10 or more wins per year. Moving to a bigger conference would have a negative impact on their athletic departments financially and that’s why it won’t happen. Making money is the reason for 99% of things that happen in College Football.

 

[Guest]

The Pac 10 would do well to add Boise State and Utah. It would let them split into divisions and have a championship game as the SEC, ACC and Big East do.

I don't think the PAC 1 needs a playoff system. Each team plays every other PAC 1 team. Adding 2 more teams and a playoff would mean they have to play more OOC teams and that means harder games for them. I just don't see that happening.

The SEC CG means big $ to the SEC, and I am sure a PAC 12 CG would mean a lot of $ to them. Maybe the cash doesn't mean that much to their league, but perhaps another year like last year and this where their champ has no chance of playing in the BCS CG would away them. Their extra OOC game wouldn't have to be a toughie. There are plenty of cupcakes around to fill in if that is what they want.

 

[cjaytch]

Enjoyable read. Thanks for posting.

In my opinion, these teams will NEVER pursue moving to a major conference. They pretty much know that if they moved to the Pac 10 or Big 12 they would become 6-8 win teams at best because it’s just too hard to recruit top athletes to Idaho or Utah.

I agree completely. That is why the dont do it. But until they do, everyone needs to shut up about them qualifying for a BCS game. What these progams want is to play NOBODY during the season then go to the BCS game and get a big payout. They are like those folks who show up late for the party, dont bring anything and want to eat all your food.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the input here. maybe you should send this to espn or one of the other sport channel.

 

[Guest]

I have no sympathy for these undefeated teams from mid-major conferences don't get a BCS bid.

If you want to be taken seriously and get involved in the BCS mix, then do what Miami, Boston College and VT did. Negotiate your way out of your wussie conference, get your team in a major conference and win your way to the top. Until that happens, schedule a game on the road against an SEC or Big 12 school and see how you stack up against some real competition.

More evidence that a playoff would eliminate much of this nonsense.

Vanderbilt deserves more of a shot than those mid-level schools