A League of Their Own
Louisiana-Monroe, Texas El-Paso, Central Florida, and Wyoming.
What do all of these universities have in common? They collectively make up the Texas Longhorns' non-conference schedule. Three home games. Two FCS (formerly I-AA division) teams. One Wyoming team that has been outscored 20-115 by ranked opponents.
And by virtue of strength of schedule, Texas will almost assuredly waltz into the BCS Championship Game from a conference that only has one other ranked team. Talk about a Big XII!
The other possible contender, Florida, played Charleston Southern at home in the opening game of the season with the sole intention of running up Tim Tebow's Heisman stats. In fact, according to Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports, Florida hasn’t played a non-conference game outside the state of Florida since the BCS was created.
At this point, barring some apocalyptic convergence of upsets, it is clear that there is nothing a non-BCS conference team can do to qualify for the Bowl Championship Game. Boise State has gone so far as to offer to play any major conference team in a one-off road game for the 2011 season, and yet nobody will take them up on the offer. And why would they? Under the current system, a BCS conference team would have very little to gain, and everything to lose.
An annual problem for College Football is the almost impossible task of ranking teams across different conferences because the top teams never play each other. Last year, everyone assumed the Big XII was the conference to beat, but its 2008 Bowl Record revealed a fairly thin conference in contrast to the always underrated PAC-10 which went undefeated in its 2008 Bowl appearances. The Mountain West has twice won the Bowl Challenge Cup, a meaningless ESPN trophy awarded to the conference with the best Bowl record, yet it is rarely considered serious competition.
One thought I had: given that this current bowl system will most likely not be dismantled for a playoff system due to the overwhelming amount of money involved (although, ironically, the SEC and the Big XII benefit from their respective league Championship "playoff" games), what if the BCS eliminated automatic bowl bids and teams/conferences had to qualify for spots through out of conference play? The ACC is 2-9 in BCS Bowl Games -- why is the conference allowed the continually field inferior teams, while better at-large teams are shut out? Similarly, if a team from a conference that is already represented in the BCS wishes to qualify, it would have to do so with its non-conference record and strength of schedule, and not rely on the mystique and perception of its conference.
Not a perfect system by any means. But perhaps a way to encourage more serious non-conference games. Thoughts?
What do all of these universities have in common? They collectively make up the Texas Longhorns' non-conference schedule. Three home games. Two FCS (formerly I-AA division) teams. One Wyoming team that has been outscored 20-115 by ranked opponents.
And by virtue of strength of schedule, Texas will almost assuredly waltz into the BCS Championship Game from a conference that only has one other ranked team. Talk about a Big XII!
The other possible contender, Florida, played Charleston Southern at home in the opening game of the season with the sole intention of running up Tim Tebow's Heisman stats. In fact, according to Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports, Florida hasn’t played a non-conference game outside the state of Florida since the BCS was created.
At this point, barring some apocalyptic convergence of upsets, it is clear that there is nothing a non-BCS conference team can do to qualify for the Bowl Championship Game. Boise State has gone so far as to offer to play any major conference team in a one-off road game for the 2011 season, and yet nobody will take them up on the offer. And why would they? Under the current system, a BCS conference team would have very little to gain, and everything to lose.
An annual problem for College Football is the almost impossible task of ranking teams across different conferences because the top teams never play each other. Last year, everyone assumed the Big XII was the conference to beat, but its 2008 Bowl Record revealed a fairly thin conference in contrast to the always underrated PAC-10 which went undefeated in its 2008 Bowl appearances. The Mountain West has twice won the Bowl Challenge Cup, a meaningless ESPN trophy awarded to the conference with the best Bowl record, yet it is rarely considered serious competition.
One thought I had: given that this current bowl system will most likely not be dismantled for a playoff system due to the overwhelming amount of money involved (although, ironically, the SEC and the Big XII benefit from their respective league Championship "playoff" games), what if the BCS eliminated automatic bowl bids and teams/conferences had to qualify for spots through out of conference play? The ACC is 2-9 in BCS Bowl Games -- why is the conference allowed the continually field inferior teams, while better at-large teams are shut out? Similarly, if a team from a conference that is already represented in the BCS wishes to qualify, it would have to do so with its non-conference record and strength of schedule, and not rely on the mystique and perception of its conference.
Not a perfect system by any means. But perhaps a way to encourage more serious non-conference games. Thoughts?
posted by d l wright at 11/08/2009 10:34:00 PM
12 Comments:
Not a bad idea, but it would face the most of the same hurdles that switching to a playoff would face.
The problem is trying to wrest power/money from parties that have guaranteed power/money. For some reason they don't want to give it up.
I completely agree, but I figure we would start with an end run around the bowl system. Most people appeal to the virtue of the bowl system and its uniqueness compared to other sports, but you rarely hear anybody praise the automatic conference bids.
Good point. The bowl tradition isn't that important to me, but I could see where it might be to college football fans.
Still, you would likely win the popular vote, but the electoral college is what really matters. (Not really a great comparison, but you get the point.)
Bah. Roll Tide.
rammer jammer yellowhammer
what would be great is if alabama beats florida by a little (or vice versa) and they stay ranked 1, 2. then they play each other for the bcs title.
the mere fact that that's a legitimate possibility is proof enough of the system's absurdity.
I agree completely, Brad. System is fucked. And for the record, I am aware not only that Utah beat Alabama at the close of last season, but also that Utah is not in a BCS conference. My ardent actual support of Alabama aside, my "Bah. Roll Tide." comment was a joke.
Pilar: I know I was just rubbing it in. It's all I've got as a Utah fan.
We've never met (right?) but Logan told me all about your Shaun Alexander obsession. Mine was a joke too.
To be honest, I am a little surprised Alabama isn't ranked #1 right now. Unlike Florida, they notched a pretty substantial out of conference victory - on the road no less - against Virginia Tech. That win has started to lose a little luster after V. Tech has started plummet in their own conference. But a win on the road is a win on road. More than I can say about Florida.
But unfortunately for Pela and all Alabama fans, Tebow cured Swine Flu with his tears. All who have been in his presence are forever better.
Tim Tebow tears? The first time Tebow will have cried in his life is going to be the day he has to say goodbye to his teammates and coach. Tebow is the best teammate ever. God offered Tebow a starting position and he was like, nah, let my man J have it, it'll be better for all of us.
Tim Tebow is a virgin.
well said.
preview:
urban meyer chokes up talking about seniors/tebow
Post a Comment
<< Home