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It's November. The leaves are changing, fall is in the air, baseball is over. this can all mean only one thing: time to engage in angry debates about the BCS. To kick things off we have Oregon against Boise State. The Ducks have a better computer average (No. 7) than the Broncos (No. 8), despite the fact Boise State already bear Oregon earlier this year (see also: LeGarrette Blount punch). So why is this? SB Nation's One Bronco Nation Under God offers some answers and analysis, taking a look at the most common arguments thrown about, including:the game meant more to Boise State; it was first game of the season; Oregon has improved since then; and, of course, strength of schedule.
But here's the thing, strength of schedule should be used as a measuring stick when nothing else is available. Since when has it turned into a sense of entitlement? Have rankings turned into the top 25 most deserving teams or the top 25 best teams in college football. [...]
I have a much harder time with the argument that Oregon deserves to be ranked higher than Boise State based on their schedule. To throw out the most objective measure between two teams, on-field results, seems like an egregious misstep to me.
A common argument against the BCS in years past has been focused on how the best teams never get a chance to play each other. Now this year, two of the top schools have played, and it's still not enough. What more can Boise State do? As OBNUG writes: "It's a shame when a team actually does prove it [on the field] and the result gets discredited."
5 comments
Comments
Wait, what?
Maybe I’m totally out of the loop, but isn’t this exactly what should be going on — ranking who the best 25 teams are? And, for that, strength of schedule is very very important.
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by Sky Kalkman on Nov 5, 2009 4:32 PM EST reply actions
The original sentence that you only quoted part of was poorly written, but what the writer was actually saying is this [with my edits]: “Have rankings turned into the top 25 most deserving teams[,] or[, instead, are the rankings supposed to indicate] the top 25 best teams in college football.”
What the writer was trying to say was that instead of “most deserving” (as in “Oregon deserves to be ranked higher because of their schedule”), the rankings should be “the best” teams (as in “Boise State is better than Oregon because they beat Oregon in a head-to-head competition”).
by ThomY on Nov 8, 2009 9:24 AM EST up reply actions
BSU
I agree. I like BSU. However, one big win should not be enough for a team to get through. I mean, what if all traditional big teams played one big game? It would be a mess. Also, why didn’t BSU play a better team other than UC Davis? BSU has proven themselves, however, they have not done enough. Same goes for the SEC teams, playing weak non conference teams should not get them through.
by PZIP on Nov 5, 2009 6:56 PM EST reply actions
Nonconference schedules
The problem is all, I repeat all, Top 25 nonconference schedules are weak. If you are in a great conference, why schedule BSU, TCU, Utah, or BYU. Ask Oregon and Oklahoma what might happen. Look at Alabama, Florida, Texas, Iowa, nonconference schedules. If the Power conferences schedule the Top non-Power conference teams, that removes the “you don’t play anybody argument”. Currently only a few teams have a chance at the national title before the season even begins, if you can exclude some teams by not playing them. Most everyone plays division II schools. BSU only played one.
by vanldarr on Nov 6, 2009 1:56 PM EST up reply actions
Yes, Boise State claims that they contacted 10 BCS Conference schools and all 10 turned them down for a game in which Boise State would have played at the other school’s stadium.
Sure Boise State is taking a chance of not winning the game if they play a top-level BCS school at the other school’s stadium—but so is the other school, and most (if not all) of those top-level BCS schools are not going to be willing to take a chance of losing to a non-BCS school during the regular season.
by ThomY on Nov 8, 2009 9:28 AM EST up reply actions
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