BCS standings released, Week 15: Ohio State vs. Auburn the final rankings debate

SB Nation ^ | Dec 1 2013 | Jason Kirk

[for-q-clinton]

How so? And a straw argument is meant to be torn apart easily...so I’m not even sure you’re using the definition properly.

[Old Retired Army Guy]

I have been following all this chatter about the SEC and Ohio State, but everybody seems to be ignoring the elephant in the room. Namely Florida State. I am a big Bama fan, but having watched Bama and Florida State play throughout the year, I was convinced that FSU would easily defeat Bama had they been matched in the Championship game. I still think Bama is better than Auburn (despite the loss), Ohio State and Missouri, but FSU would destroy any one of them.

[mmichaels1970]

Until some other conference can demonstrate some parity with the SEC, which none has recently, the SEC should have the right to defend its supremacy with a one-loss team.

lol...That's quite possibly the worst argument I've ever heard for national championship lobbying.

You lose...you're done. At least barring a miracle. That's the way it's always been.

The SEC has possibly the easiest path to the national championship...don't lose. You can't say that for any other conference where undefeated teams may still be overlooked.

If you are in the SEC and want to play for the national championship DON'T LOSE.

[C. Edmund Wright]

Meanwhile, look at SC’s schedule,

In addition to the SEC schedule, they had Central Florida, Clemson and NC. The one cupcake was the second ranked team in the FCS…..

[FreeAtlanta]

Or, they could have scheduled pasties.

[C. Edmund Wright]

The SEC has possibly the easiest path to the national championship...don't lose.

That's ignorant right there……just plain ignorant.

[for-q-clinton]

So this year doesn’t matter. OSU getting speed on their team doesn’t matter...why even play the game if we are going to give it to a team based on last years performance.

But then OSU has gone two years undefeated...what other BCS eligible team has done that?

[xzins]

I’m using Sagarin’s.

[for-q-clinton]

Look at who Alabama played. They finally played a decent team and lost.

[for-q-clinton]

We shall see...that’s why they play the game :-)

[C. Edmund Wright]

….and don’t sleep on…..wait for it……DUKE!! #20!

[mmichaels1970]

but everybody seems to be ignoring the elephant in the room. Namely Florida State

I think there is a general consensus that FSU deserves to be where they are...hence no argument.

but FSU would destroy any one of them

I agree with you there. FSU should destroy any one of them. Shouldn't even be close.

Stranger things have happened though.

[kabar]

Auburn lost to LSU and Missouri lost to South Carolina in overtime. One loss shouldn’t exclude you from the title game. Strength of schedule needs to be factored in. Boise State went undefeated for a number of years. Fresno State almost went undefeated and was knocked off by San Jose State. If being undefeated is the main criterion, then Northern Illinois should be considered for the title game should OSU or FSU lose in their conference title games.

[for-q-clinton]

Like Alabama did. Too bad they had to play a rivalry game...those can always go against you.

[RatRipper]

It is the tough conference that causes the losses. Boise State had to live it down for the conference they played in. Face it, the Big 10 has been only a shadow of its former self for several years. Undefeated teams from 2nd class conferences don’t have much of an argument. The object is to find a national champion, not to find the team that can pad their schedule enough to go undefeated to get in a title game. If OSU gets in the title game, FSU will skin them alive.

[C. Edmund Wright]

Now you;re just babbling and not making any sense at all. I’d love to respond to your last post, but have no idea WTF you are talking about?

[C. Edmund Wright]

It is the tough conference that causes the losses.

That is true. Take SC, they lost close one at Georgia, when Georgia was at their healthiest all year, and a last second loss at TN, their worst game of the year. Meanwhile, they won at Mizzou in double OT and beat everyone else, including a damned good Central Florida team as well as Clemson. But it's that week in week out grind that causes a let down at some point in the SEC - like SC at Tennessee…one week after beating Arkansas by 45 at Arkansas.

There's no let up, and navigating that is just miserable at times.

[martinidon]

This argument needs to take place next week. Auburn and OSU have one big game left before anyone can argue who goes to the BCS Championship game. By Saturday night it will all be worked out...

[RatRipper]

You Big 10 proponents are delusional. It’s just the mindset of the northern tier states: If you have trouble winning or being successful, find a way to eliminate the competition. Being undefeated in the Big 10 these days doesn’t mean a lot. If you guys would come out and play more often, I might give your mouth a little more respect.

[mmichaels1970]

One loss shouldn’t exclude you from the title game

Unless teams from other big-time conferences are undefeated.

I'm so happy to have a playoff system starting to develop so we can hopefully start putting an end to these annual arguments.

To feel you've gotten ripped out of a #1 or #2 ranking is a heck of a lot worse than when we start arguing about who got ripped out of the #4 slot. I'd guess eventually and inevitably down the road we'll be arguing about who got ripped out of the #8 slot.