Posted on 12/04/2011 6:58:26 PM PST by parksstp
Bad analogy, unless you’re arguing for a playoff system.
The bottom line is, OSU controlled their destiny, and they blew it by losing to Iowa State, does Alabama lose to Iowa State? I don’t think so.
OSU played a tougher schedule, beat more top teams, lost once in (double) overtime on the road, and won their conference.
Alabama played a weaker overall schedule, did not even win their half of the SEC, let alone a conference championship, and took their loss at home (to admittedly a better team).
I’d say that OSU’s bad loss is more than offset by their stronger schedule and conference championship.
Alabama controlled their own destiny too, and lost the LSU. Why should they get a second chance and deny someone else — who arguably has better credentials — a first crack?
I WOULD use this to argue for a playoff system. No one doubts that LSU should be #1 right now — they’ve earned it. But that #2 spot is a different matter. Those who claim “the regular season IS the playoff” to turn around and say that Alabama deserves a second chance at LSU are being hypocrites. I would have no problem if Alamaba earned their way back into a title game through an actual playoff, though.
To an unranked team.
I’m all for a playoff, but if you go by the rules of the current system, then Bama clearly deserves the rematch. The only teams that can keep Bama and LSU from scoring more than 30 points in a game are, Bama and LSU. All the first game proved was that LSU had the better kicker.
Yet another fantasy anti-BCS playoff system that will never take place (too many games, not enough money, etc). 11 Conference Champs, 5 At-Large bids, seeded 1-16, using current BCS rankings. Projected scores are mine and are intended to enrage fanboys of every conference.
(1) LSU, SEC Champion 48
(16) Louisiana Tech, WAC Champion 6
(8) Wisconsin, Big Ten Champion 35
(9) Michigan, At-Large 28
(5) Oregon, Pac 12 Champion 42
(12) Houston, Conference USA Champion 17
(4) Stanford, At-Large 38
(13) West Virginia, Big East Champion 27
(3) Oklahoma State, Big XII Champion 41
(14) Arkansas St, Sun Belt Champion 10
(6) Boise St, At-Large 35
(11) TCU, Mountain West Champion 36
(7) Kansas State, At-Large 28
(10) Clemson, ACC Champion 21
(2) Alabama, At-Large 24
(15) N. Illinois, MAC Champion 0
(Outback Bowl) LSU 31, Wisconsin 17
(Rose Bowl) Oregon 53, Stanford 30
(Cotton Bowl) Oklahoma State 41, TCU 36
(Sugar Bowl) Alabama 17, Kansas State 10
(Orange Bowl) LSU 40, Oregon 27
(Fiesta Bowl) Oklahoma State 31, Alabama 14
Toss-up?
I think the easiest solution is the include the Top Four teams in a semi finals and Championship Game....If you’re out of the top four? Tough luck. At least I think this way it solves at least 80% of all of the problems with the current system.
Top 8 works too, and mirrors the original 8 teams that got BCS berths.
Though given the Alabama situation, I know some folks might insist on conference champions only. (Those few teams without conferences could qualify strictly on ranking.)
I agree with you, but the current BCS rankings have Stanford ahead of Oregon. Oregon-Alabama would be a fun game (as would Oklahoma State-LSU).
There’s only one SEC-Big XII bowl game (KSU vs. Ark) and no SEC-Pac 12 game.
Oklahoma-South Carolina would have rocked (Stoops vs. Spurrier).
The more rounds you have, the more it makes injuries a factor. After two rounds, the Law of Diminishing Returns sets in.
Kansas State placed second in the Big 12. The Cotton Bowl is the second place Big 12 finisher vs. the third or fourth finisher in the SEC. That happened to be Arkansas.
...and we get 2 BCS teams in, while the Big 12 gets only 1?
Don't get me started on how asinine the BCS is.
My dream bowl game would be South Carolina vs Oregon State. ;)
A win in the Super Bowl doesn't have the same elements that an Alabama victory over LSU in the BCS National Championship game would have here.
LSU would have played one more game - against arguably a team that is currently one of the top ten teams in college football. And won. A team in the NFL never has that extra win.
We already know that LSU will have beaten the champions of two other major conferences, and in the extra game, the division champ in the NCAA's toughest conference. Alabama hasn't done that. That doesn't come into play in the NFL.
In the NCAA, there are other teams, including Oklahoma State and Stanford, who have identical records to Alabama and who haven't lost in a playoff system like the NFL's, which eliminated them from a change to play against LSU. So it's not like the NFL. Alabama blew its chance mano-a-mano against LSU. OSU and Stanford haven't.
Statistically, up and down the line, OSU played a tougher schedule and more highly ranked teams than Alabama. And beat them with exactly the same winning percentage as Alabama. And in its big game, versus Oklahoma? It kicked butt. In Alabama's big game? It lost.
Basically, Alabama gets a rematch before contenders with equal or get a first shot. Because Alabama had the fortune to lose its game a couple of weeks earlier than OSU.
And if it ends up with a 1-1 record against LSU, and none of the higher accolades that LSU has (beating two major conference camps, winning the extra game against a tough opponent, beating a major conference division champ), Alabama is called the BCS National Champion? It shouldn't win the AP Poll in that case. LSU should already be crowned the AP Champion. It has nothing more to prove at this point.
OSU lost to an unranked team....one loss will outweigh three good wins.
We’ll just have to agree to disagree on this one. One of about two subject like that. I’m beginning to think you’re my brother from another mother. Do we cross on every thread?
Nah, too many teams and it fails to addrees all of the BCS problems.
The 3 major problems with the BCS are:
1. The computers have too much weight in the formula
2. There is not enough deference given to winning a major conference championship.
3. There is no playoff, so the national champion is ALWAYS a subjective selection.
The BCS can be fixed. There is a way to keep much of the current bowl & BCS structures in place. AND have a playoff that determines a national champion without too much additional impact on the academic calendar.
First, only the Power 5 conferences (ACC, B1G, Big XII, Pac-12 & SEC) are due any deference with automatic conference champion qualifiers. Sorry Big LEast - no AQ for you. And sorry MWC, Conference USA, MAC, WAC. Yes, you are all now superior to the Big LEast in football, but their loss shouldn't be your gain, either.
Second, keep the 4 major BCS bowls - Rose, Sugar, Orange & Fiesta - with their historical conference ties and return these 4 games to playing on New Year's Day.
Third, allow the final BCS rankings - with their tainted computer influence to determine ONLY 6 at-large play-in selections. These six teams would be seeded and play on the 2nd Saturday of December at the home fields of the 3 highest seeds. While not applicable this year, please note that SEC, B1G, ACC & Pac-12 conference championship game losers are eligible for the play-in games.
Fourth, the winners of the play-in round are elibile to be selected for January 1 games using the current rotational bowl selection process. Year One - Sugar selects first, then Orange, then Fiesta. Year Two - Orange, then Fiesta, then Sugar. Year Three - Fiesta, Sugar, Orange. The Rose Bowl, which gets to keep their B1G/Pac-12 ties, makes no selection.
Fifth, add 2 semi-final games on the 2nd Friday in January. The winners of Sugar & Orange play in Orlando (call it the Citrus Bowl). The winners of Fiesta & Rose play in San Diego (call it the Holiday Bowl). Semi-final winners move on to play for the title.
Sixth, schedule the National Championship game for the 3rd Friday in January and rotate the game among the 6 bowl cities - Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, New Orleans, Miami and Orlando.
How would this set-up look this year?
The top 6 BCS ranked teams that are not conference champs are:
#2 Alabama
#4 Stanford
#6 Arkansas
#7 Boise St.
#8 Kansas St.
#9 South Carolina
So Round 1 Play-ins look like this:
#9 South Carolina @ #2 Alabama
#8 Kansas St. @ #4 Stanford
#7 Boise St. @ #6 Arkansas
I think the home team wins all 3 games. Next, let's assume the Sugar Bowl has the first at-large pick and really wants to see the Rematch (because the rest of the country DOES NOT). Besides, their only other choices are Stanford or Arkansas.
Next, we'll give the Orange Bowl the 2nd pick. They would likely select Arkansas for the bigger ticket draw. And the Fiesta Bowl would be thrilled to have Stanford.
Yes, some of the non-power conferences end up on the outside looking in. But, this system also forces the non-champs to have to earn their back door shot at the championship.
Round 2 - January 2
Sugar - #1 LSU (SEC champ) vs. #2 Alabama (At-large)
Orange - #15 Clemson (ACC champ) vs. #6 Arkansas (At-large)
Fiesta - # 3 Oklahoma St. (Big XII champ) vs. #4 Stanford (At-large)
Rose - #5 Oregon (Pac-12 champ) vs. #10 Wisconsin (B1G champ)
Round 3 - January 13
Citrus - Sugar champ vs. Orange champ
Holiday - Fiesta champ vs. Rose champ
Round 4 - January 20
National Championship
Citrus champ vs. Holiday champ
Notre Dame and the Big LEast are the only losers in this plan. Both lose advantages that were built into the BCS for them. Those built-ins should never have existed in the first place. The other non-power conferences face the same outsider hurdles that currently exist, so this plan is roughly neutral for them.
In this 11 team tournament, this year's results would have the top 10 teams plus ACC conference champ #15 Clemson qualify and...
The BCS rankings and controversy remain relevant - ESPN is happy.
The 4 major bowls retain their historical ties, maintain most of their lustre and some of their team selection powers and championship site rotation - the bowls are happy.
The 5 power conferences regain relevance for conference championships & maintain historical bowl ties - the power conferences are happy.
Only 5 addtional games and between 7-11 additional calendar days are needed to determine the champ - academics and college presidents are happy.
There are actual playoffs with a definite champion with games in warm climate destination cities - sports fans everywhere are happy.
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