My son and I are doing the happy dance.

This USC dynasty has reached silly proportions.

This USC dynasty has reached silly proportions.

Very close to Florida State's run of the 90s...

In spite of my ACC bashing, I actually put some money on VT tonight.

All the major conferences are basically equal, imo. The arguments are really inane and pointless.

I agree with that too. It's just having Washington State and Washington does cloud the perception.

My son and I are doing the happy dance.

Me too. Great game and a great week of football so far.

Fun game. There was even time left in the last 5 minutes to remind me why I won't miss Sarkisian when he goes to UDub :)

In spite of my ACC bashing, I actually put some money on VT tonight.

I think you are gonna lose that money, UC is way better then people give them credit for and Kelly is a great gameplanner.

They have an underrated defense and I think VT will have trouble moving the ball.

I think you are gonna lose that money, UC is way better then people give them credit for and Kelly is a great gameplanner.

They have an underrated defense and I think VT will have trouble moving the ball.

I'm well aware of how good Cincinnati is. I've watched six of their games this year.

They did make it look easy on that opening drive.

I'm well aware of how good Cincinnati is. I've watched six of their games this year.

They did make it look easy on that opening drive.Yep, too bad for Cincy that's all they'll get all night. For once, the Hokies are using some past big-game experience to their advantage and taking advantace of Cincinnati's over-pursuit on defense. Watch out for a huge second half by the VT running game.

HOKIE HOKIE HOKIE HI

Dola...

...The Doobie Brothers? Oh, for fuck's sake....

...The Doobie Brothers? Oh, for fuck's sake....

It is absolutly amazing the effect Janet Jacksons tittie has had on halftime performances.

dola- I hope Rerun didn't drop his tape recorder

What USC dynasty? They have one BCS crystal football. After Jan. 8 there will be two teams that have two crystal footballs, LSU and either Oklahoma or Florida.

Of course they can go the AP route again. After all, AP is already touting them as AP national champions.

Sanchez, USC beat Penn State 38-24 in Rose Bowl

By JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer – 28 mins ago

PASADENA, Calif. – Southern California made a strong case of its own to be No. 1.

This USC dynasty has reached silly proportions.

Very surprised to see Cincy tackling so poorly.

What USC dynasty? They have one BCS crystal football. After Jan. 8 there will be two teams that have two crystal footballs, LSU and either Oklahoma or Florida.

BCS or bust, huh?

Here is a pretty fun game that I came across a little bit ago:

Can you name the College Football (I-A) teams with the most all time wins? - sporcle (http://www.sporcle.com/games/college_football_wins.php)

No spoilers afterwards (for at least a little while), please.

Who is the last Big 10 team to win the Rose Bowl?

Wisconsin, over Stanford, in 2000.

Here is a pretty fun game that I came across a little bit ago:

Can you name the College Football (I-A) teams with the most all time wins? - sporcle (http://www.sporcle.com/games/college_football_wins.php)

No spoilers afterwards (for at least a little while), please.

I got 21/25, missed the last one in the first column and the last three. Was surprised to see a few programs not on there.

This is not to say the Big Ten is all that good, but they did end up with some tough matchups because of the way the BCS works. My guess is if Oregon State wins the Civil War the Big Ten is looking at about a 4-3 bowl record.
IMO, this is what the Big 10 gets for doing their silly 8 conference, 4 patsy, miss-2-team-a-year-with-no-champ-game setup. Every mid-level Big 10 team starts out 4-0 after beating up on their Midwestern directional schools and then they only need to go 2-6 in conference to be bowl eligible. Look at Minnesota and Wisconsin. MN starts out 4-0 against Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, Montana St and FL Atl. They don't even play Penn State or Michigan State, go 3-5 in conference (wins over Indiana, Illinois and Purdue) and that gets them a bowl game with Kansas (which they lose by 20).

Wisconsin beats Akron, Marshall and an OT thriller with Cal Poly - meaning they also just need a 3-5 conference record (which they get by beating Illinois, Indiana and (drumroll) Minnesota). That gets them an unearned bowl game against Florida State and they get trounced by 30.

As long as it only takes a 2-6 or 3-5 record in a marginal big 10 conference to make a decent bowl game, the Big 10 will continue to stink in these games. They either need to start playing nonconference teams with a pulse (like the Big 12, Pac 10 or big east) or join the Pac-10 in playing 9 conference games (take out a game against Akron and sub in Ohio State or Penn State).

The Pac-10 is 5-0 because marginal teams like Stanford and Arizona State (at or better than MN or Wisconsin) didn't make a bowl game because they played nonconference teams with a pulse (TCU, Georgia, ...) and had 9 conference games.

Pike is starting to make me mad now.

Here is a pretty fun game that I came across a little bit ago:

Can you name the College Football (I-A) teams with the most all time wins? - sporcle (http://www.sporcle.com/games/college_football_wins.php)

No spoilers afterwards (for at least a little while), please.

Got 18/25 although I was misspelling three teams. So 21/25 ain't bad.

I got 22/25 the first time.

I missed 651 (which will likely be to one FOFCer's dismay :) ), 649, and 637. I was surprised by how underrepresented a couple of the major conferences were.

Pike is starting to make me mad now.

Cincy pretty much needs a perfect game from him, from here on out, or some very big special teams plays. If they don't get a score on this drive, I think VPI opens this one up.

I got 21/25, missed the last one in the first column and the last three. Was surprised to see a few programs not on there.

Also got 21/25, I missed 674/663/650/649.

Also got 21/25, I missed 674/663/650/649.

Final Four tonight? :)

Huge play for Cincy there.

Also got 21/25, I missed 674/663/650/649.
For shame! :)

We've only been really bad for the last 5 years...

We've only been really bad for the last 5 years...


east coast bias. I was just trying to run through the teams in the big 6 conferences and drew a couple blanks :)

23/25 missed 649 and 637

Final Four tonight? :)

tomorrow!

Here is a pretty fun game that I came across a little bit ago:

Can you name the College Football (I-A) teams with the most all time wins? - sporcle (http://www.sporcle.com/games/college_football_wins.php)

No spoilers afterwards (for at least a little while), please.


Got 24/25..I think you can probably guess which one I missed.

EDIT: It was 649

I finished with 24/25 but was cheated with the 25th (649). Honest. ;) God $#@$@% vocabulary.

I missed 659. 24/25

A couple of interesting games on the menu tomorrow, that being the Cotton (Texas Tech v. Ole Miss) and Sugar (Alabama v. Utah) Bowl Games.

Go Utes!! Still looking for victory numero dos for a Non-Cartel Member (remember #1 - Boise State).

A couple of interesting games on the menu tomorrow, that being the Cotton (Texas Tech v. Ole Miss) and Sugar (Alabama v. Utah) Bowl Games.

Go Utes!! Still looking for victory numero dos for a Non-Cartel Member (remember #1 - Boise State).


Um, Utah has already won a BCS game.

20/25.

Missed 663, 653, 649, 639 and 637.

Though I should've had 637, because I kept defaulting to Ivy League schools. :rolleyes:

What USC dynasty? They have one BCS crystal football. After Jan. 8 there will be two teams that have two crystal footballs, LSU and either Oklahoma or Florida.

Of course they can go the AP route again. After all, AP is already touting them as AP national champions.

Sanchez, USC beat Penn State 38-24 in Rose Bowl

By JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer – 28 mins ago

PASADENA, Calif. – Southern California made a strong case of its own to be No. 1.

Well, they're in BCS bowls EVERY year. They don't wind up in the Peach Bowl or the Backwater bowl every third year.

Um, Utah has already won a BCS game.

Yes, I did seem to absolutely torpedo that one, thanks for the correction St. C.

Yeah, but how many crystal footballs do they have? And are you really saying that getting to the Rose Bowl every year and beating a slow Big Ten team is some kind of mind boggling accomplishment?

Well, they're in BCS bowls EVERY year. They don't wind up in the Peach Bowl or the Backwater bowl every third year.

Well, with USC, it is AP mythical champion or bust apparently.

BCS or bust, huh?

The AP poll has been around a lot longer then the BCS and in my book it's more prestigious then the BCS.

The AP poll has been around a lot longer then the BCS and in my book it's more prestigious then the BCS.

Yep, or any of the newer, contrived polls like USA Today or Harris.

So let's see, we've got ESPN and ABC pimping for USC, and people now saying the AP is now the gold standard, not the BCS. FAF. Yet for all that, USC still.....

http://home.earthlink.net/~tigersport1/sigs/GG_5.jpg

Your a blind homer JW because you are a Tiger fan who fails to acknowledge that USC got screwed out of the championship while they were #1 in the country. The AP saw the farce that was the BCS and removed themselves from being associated with it.

Just because ESPN pimps the BCS (ESPN sponsers the coaches poll or use too) doesn't mean its the only legitment governing body. Things like the Harris poll have no weight and was created to make the system work.

Absent of a playoff the AP in regards to Polls has been around for along time and have tradition, prestige, and value. A trophy is just an object that represents something an AP Trophy means the same as the BCS trophy. Except one has been around for a lot longer.

So let's see, we've got ESPN and ABC pimping for USC, and people now saying the AP is now the gold standard, not the BCS. FAF. Yet for all that, USC still.....

http://home.earthlink.net/~tigersport1/sigs/GG_5.jpg

...do you honestly feel like the SEC does NOT get enough respect from the media?

I didn't say that, did I. I just object to the fellation of USC by ESPN, ABC, Brent Musburger in particular, and AP sportswriters. USC should get in a stronger conference. They should be in a conference that has a conference playoff game. The conference playoff game has become a defacto elimination tournament for the national championship game. If USC wants to be satisfied going to the Rose Bowl every year and playing slow Big Ten teams, so be it. But the media that supports the Rose Bowl should not pretend it is more than it is and that USC is more than it is.

Now the whining today on ESPN is that there should be a plus one, just for USC's benefit of course. But if we had a plus one, I would think Texas would deserve to be in the game more than USC.

And once again, let me add that I think USC has shown itself to be the best overall program on average over this decade. I understand how good USC is. But that does not mean they are deserving of a national championship, even an AP pseudo-national championship, this season just because they are USC.

The crystal footballs don't lie.

...do you honestly feel like the SEC does NOT get enough respect from the media?

USC should get in a stronger conference. They should be in a conference that has a conference playoff game. The conference playoff game has become a defacto elimination tournament for the national championship game.

Which exists 100% for the conference to make more money by selling the championship game. It's their own damn fault if it ends up eliminating an otherwise worthy team from the national championship game. Eliminate the game and take less money if that's how you want it to be.

The rambling about how USC suddenly deserves a shot to play the ou-fla winner was just stupid. There is no way they deserve it for winning that game while simultaneously ignoring teams like alabama, texas, texas tech, etc. who would be in the same boat after winning a bowl game. Just silliness.

You know what JW I was a little to harsh for that I want to apologize for, however I will say I disagree with your argument. It seems to me your letting your emotions cloud your perception of what is going on.

I didn't say that, did I. I just object to the fellation of USC by ESPN, ABC, Brent Musburger in particular, and AP sportswriters. USC should get in a stronger conference. They should be in a conference that has a conference playoff game. The conference playoff game has become a defacto elimination tournament for the national championship game. If USC wants to be satisfied going to the Rose Bowl every year and playing slow Big Ten teams, so be it. But the media that supports the Rose Bowl should not pretend it is more than it is and that USC is more than it is.

There are millions of good reasons for the fellation. As long as the NFL stays out of Los Angeles, USC is the de facto football team for the LA area (sorry Bruins fans, it's just the present reality). To fail to prop up SC is to lose a lot of eyeballs and a lot of potential revenue that goes along with massive audiences.

I don't know enough about the history of the Raiders and Rams as it correlates with the history of SC, but is it fair to say that when the Raiders left for Oakland and the Rams left for St.Louis that USC re-emerged as a dominant team? I would be curious to know if there is some connection with LA media attention that must have, by default, suddenly turned to SC after professional football left and the Trojans' recruiting success. Obviously, there are many more factors than this one for USC's dominance, but I wonder how much of a role the LA media market and its influence on the national media market has played in how USC has been perceived.

Should be a good Cotton Bowl. It won't be the same next year when the game moves.

What conference does he want USC to move to? Silly impractical talk and why the whole BCS system is a joke.

One that isn't weak. Of course they can't change conferences, but the fact remains, their conference holds them back. It is weak, but year in and year out they always seem to lose a game they should win. Tough for them.

What conference does he want USC to move to? Silly impractical talk and why the whole BCS system is a joke.

Cotton Bowl. It is nice to listen to some professional announcers just call the game without constantly making their other agenda known.

What conference does he want USC to move to? Silly impractical talk and why the whole BCS system is a joke.

I'm sure the Mountain West or WAC would be a better alternative :rolleyes:

SI

Should be a good Cotton Bowl. It won't be the same next year when the game moves.

I dunno- seems like a mismatch to me on paper.

SI

I dunno- seems like a mismatch to me on paper.

SI

Seems like a repeat of Mizzou/Arkansas from last year to me. I'd be surprised if Mississippi managed to stay within 10 by the end of the game.

Seems like a repeat of Mizzou/Arkansas from last year to me. I'd be surprised if Mississippi managed to stay within 10 by the end of the game.

Yeah, that's a pretty good analogy. Tho, Harrell is having a pretty bad game so far

SI

Cotton Bowl. It is nice to listen to some professional announcers just call the game without constantly making their other agenda known.

You really are whacked out. Give me an announcer with an agenda who can accurately call the action, you can have Summerall and his constant mistakes.

The crystal footballs don't lie.
Does anyone think that if the positions of USC and LSU were reversed that JW would still be making the argument in favor of the "crystal footballs"?

Me neither.

And if the "crystal footballs don't lie", then tell me why I can't find any listings of official NCAA football champions for FBS (Division 1-A)? Oh, that's right - because it doesn't exist.

One that isn't weak. Of course they can't change conferences, but the fact remains, their conference holds them back. It is weak, but year in and year out they always seem to lose a game they should win. Tough for them.
Funny how that "weak" conference is 10-7 vs. the SEC since 2000...

One that isn't weak. Of course they can't change conferences, but the fact remains, their conference holds them back. It is weak, but year in and year out they always seem to lose a game they should win. Tough for them.

Doesn't this happen every season? Isn't that why they are called upsets?

I dunno- seems like a mismatch to me on paper.

SI

If the first half is any indication, looks like I was wrong

SI

Ole Miss is a better team than most people think.

Except USC makes it a habit. It is all about the crystal.

Doesn't this happen every season? Isn't that why they are called upsets?

Add up the crystal footballs.

Funny how that "weak" conference is 10-7 vs. the SEC since 2000...

I am a blind homer
Whatever dude.

Except USC makes it a habit. It is all about the crystal.

So this makes the Pac-10 a "Weak" conference?

Kentucky falls behind 3-0 to ECU, but looks pretty solid moving the ball (lol circus fumble scrum as I type this).

Holy shit! Ole Miss converting a 3rd and 16... Tech's defense looks completely done and now they are close to the goal line, leading 40-28.

Color me very impressed by Ole Miss today.

LSU is certainly of comparable stature to USC in terms of national prominence. But I was simply pointing out that this recent USC run is unbelievably impressive.

3 consecutive Rose Bowl wins
9 losses in 7 years (compared to 20 for LSU in that span)
7 consecutive 1st place finishes in the Pac 10

College football is mostly about conference play, so that last line is, to me, the most impressive accomplishment of the Carroll era.

Houston Nutt is one hell of a coach.

I'm afraid Kentucky is going to drop the ball. 10-0 ECU now.

Houston Nutt is one hell of a coach.

lol, yep

Kentucky adds a field goal and it's 10-3 ECU now, 2nd quarter.

Ugh Kentucky looks awful. One play 80 yard or so drive I think?? 17-3 ECU (assuming PAT).

edit: lol PAT blocked, 16-3. Posting prior to PAT is a good way to assure blockage.

I am very surprised Mississippi handled Tech like that. I expected a shootout, but the score to be reversed.

Also, while USC is impressive, they signed up for the BCS just like everyone else. They didn't make the championship game and shouldn't be considered co-champions. Maybe there will be a new system in place, but no system will totally satisfy everyone every year. If you want to be ok with co-champions, they should do away with the BCS and go back to the old bowl system and have voters determine the 1, 2, or 3 champions per year.

47-34 the game ends, with a garbage time TD by Tech to even make it that close. Ole Miss was masterful. They had 515 yards of offense.

I'm thinking that Texas Tech (and the Big XII outside of Texas and Oklahoma) was a bit overrated this year.

It is probably a good idea to stop trying to rate conferences at this point.

It is probably a good idea to stop trying to rate conferences at this point.

My thinking is almost the exact opposite. It's getting close to when you finally can start ranking them.

Which program do you think is in better shape at this point in time?

CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS

Since 2002, USC is 70-7, whereas LSU is 64-15. What do you have to say about that?


Well, if I had to give an objective opinion, I'd say that both programs have been great, with a slight edge to USC....wait..wait...on second thought:

CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS

So, then, during the 90's, the Giants had a better run than the Buffalo Bills, seeing as how they won a Super Bowl, where as the Bills made it four times but lost each time?

CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS

Dude, the NFL doesn't even give out Crystal footballs, they give out the Lombardi Trophy. It's silver.

Then LSU is better than any NFL team ever, because they have more CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS CRYSTAL FOOTBALLS


http://www.gameplansport.com/images/stock_bcs_trophy.jpg

Wow.. Ole Miss came ready to play today..

I'm thinking that Texas Tech (and the Big XII outside of Texas and Oklahoma) was a bit overrated this year.

Always tough to do this kind of thing (I recall thinking the fact that Texas Tech beat Cal badly in 2004 meant that OU was better than USC), but as an OU fan, it has me taking pause. More than anything, I'm just ready for the game. Annoying that we have to wait this long.

TD Kentucky. Returned opening kickoff of the second half and capitalize on a short field just now. 16-16.

ECU with a long field goal and a 19-16 lead, 4th qtr coming.

Kentucky answers on their next drive, 19-19.

Kentucky returns a fumble for a TD. Review coming up. Looks close.

edit overturned.

They need to get rid of the "indisputable/conclusive evidence" part of the replay rule. I think he was down but I don't think it was indisputable or conclusive either way

Wow

WOW AGAIN THAT WAS AN AWESOME STIFF-ARM

This is unbelievable

Kentucky wins. In other news, Alabama looking good in post-season (7-0 Utah and then an interception gives Utah the ball in Bama territory).

Touchdown Utah up 13-0, PAT pending.

Any chance Utah gets a share of the national championship if they end up winning this game in a convincing manner?

No. And that's what's wrong with the system. It doesn't make a bit of difference what Utah does.

No chance. They'd give it to USC or Texas over Utah. Anyway, the winner of the national championship game will be the sole national champion.

If Utah wins this game I will consider them National Champions.

If Utah wins this game I will consider Arkansas National Champions.

If Utah wins this game I will consider them National Champions.

Me too, especially if they totally destroy Alabama as they look like they in the process of doing.

Go Utah! If Utah wins I'm all fine with the AP voting them #1. They would have a better claim than USC for sure. They will deserve a consolation prize. As for Bama, they may come back, but this doesn't surprise me. They are not nearly as strong as some people thought.

As for Bama, they may come back, but this doesn't surprise me. They are not nearly as strong as some people thought.

The Sugar Bowl is over. 'Bama has no clue how to deal with this situation right now and offensively they don't have the offense to comeback 21 points on top of what Utah might put up. I think Utah is better than people gave them credit, but I don't think 'Bama is that off. They lost their best player to stupidity(you know he's heartsick right now) and the offense looks like, "So what do we do now?" Play this game a number of times and this doesn't happen. 'Bama gave up 24 points in the first quarter all year including against Florida. The fact they are down 21 deems this a brain fart game, see TT vs. Oklahoma.

LOL....as a cougar fan it pains me to see this, but as a MWC fan, this only helps the conference even more.

So...right now...Go Utes! (OUCH!)

Which program do you think is in better shape at this point in time?





I think now that LSU has found a QB and hired a real DC, the answer to this is they are pretty comparable. LSU's recruiting class this year and in past years is right up there with SC. Unlike other LSU fans, I have no problem admitting SC has had an amazing run (though I still believe we would have beaten them in '03). I still would love to have some sort of playoff to end all of this....

I don't say this much...but go Utes and go MWC.

I can agree with all that, too. If you want to look at the best team of the decade, it is USC. I have no problem with that. LSU has more crystal footballs, but USC has been more consistently excellent. (Of course not playing in the SEC has a little to do with that.) But I don't accept the ESPN-ABC fellation of USC as the "real" #1. That's my only problem with USC, and that isn't really a problem with USC but with some of the media who worship USC. It looks btw like LSU could have the #1 recruiting class this year.

With all the bowl games, btw, it would be nice to have a bowl with a Pac-SEC tie-in. That would be fun.

I think now that LSU has found a QB and hired a real DC, the answer to this is they are pretty comparable. LSU's recruiting class this year and in past years is right up there with SC. Unlike other LSU fans, I have no problem admitting SC has had an amazing run (though I still believe we would have beaten them in '03). I still would love to have some sort of playoff to end all of this....

With all the bowl games, btw, it would be nice to have a bowl with a Pac-SEC tie-in. That would be fun.

This, I agree with. Time to fire up BBCF.

Wow Arenas is goot.

This is hilarious. Another nightmare for the BCS. What are the Utes if they are undefeated and win in a BCS bowl? Sad thing is, if we don't get a playoff after this year, what do we have to do to get one?

Ugh, think I jinxed it. Time to bench that punt coverage team and put the starters back on.

The flag was thrown with :04 yet it occured after the end of the half...WTF...

21-10 at halftime. I would hate to be Maze walking to the locker room. He is going to get lit up.

21-10 at halftime. I would hate to be Maze walking to the locker room. He is going to get lit up.

Imagine being Stover with his two drops.

I still think 11 points is going to be too much to counter. If they had got that one field goal and made it 8, I think that would be close enough.

I would love to see the powers that be put together a conference challenge in the regular season similar to the ACC/ Big Ten challenge in basketball.

Don't sleep on 'Bama. This ones not done yet.

So, does this mean that the Mountain West is better than the SEC? I mean, Alabama is losing to a team they are suppose to beat! :)

Here comes Bama....

There is too much talent difference for Utah to committ turnovers...

Long way to go.

Touchdown, Tide....Utah needs their offense to get going.

21-17 Utah, all day in the 3rd qtr to go.

=I still think 11 points is going to be too much to counter.


Is 4 too many, with 26:00 to go?

No, but we could replace the Big East with the Mountain West as a BCS conference.

So, does this mean that the Mountain West is better than the SEC? I mean, Alabama is losing to a team they are suppose to beat! :)

ok...back to 11

wOOOOOOOOOOO TOUCHDOWN UTES! Thatta way to answer back, boys!


(also, thanks to Alabama for some of the worst tackling ever)

No, but we could replace the Big East with the Mountain West as a BCS conference.

Do we keep changing the BCS and non-BCS conferences every year depending on what happened the previous season? And how are we supposed to know which conferences/teams will be strong or weak next season or the season after?

Ugh. C'mon Utah. Don't blow this.

It was a joke. But otoh we could do a promotion/relegation thing every year based on something like average BCS ranking per conference or some such.

Do we keep changing the BCS and non-BCS conferences every year depending on what happened the previous season? And how are we supposed to know which conferences/teams will be strong or weak next season or the season after?

It was a joke. But otoh we could do a promotion/relegation thing every year based on something like average BCS ranking per conference or some such.

I wish.

Brian Johnson > Chase Daniels

Or just have a playoff. :)

Stick a fork in Bama.

LOL@ Bama..


So I guess non-BCS teams once again prove they aren't worthy of getting into BCS bowls...I mean, it's only the third time out of four tries they've won, right?

Give the Utes the AP.

Oregon State, TCU, BYU (not as impressive now) and Bama.

THE HIT LIST

WOW....You could argue that undefeated Utah has beaten Bama worse than once beaten Florida....

If Florida beat OU Utah has a legit claim to a share of the MNC...

Color me shocked.

BAH GAWD THE TRICKERATION

I still can't believe that Utah was a 10 point underdog in this game. This is a much larger upset than Boise State over Oklahoma a couple of years ago.

http://members.cox.net/sauvignon/utah.JPG

Rock.

This is awesome.

Great ending :)

The system is a joke that this team has no shot at the national championship (and LOL AP vote).

I like how the guy is hurt and his teammate just jumps on him after the play. :)

Congratulations to Utah. Great win. They should be ranked #2 at the end. They deserve it. And if the AP wants to be contrarian, give them #1, not USC.

I'm so glad they managed to show up today. I should've known they would, but I'm so glad for them and for the Mountain West. Now Boise State should join and give us 10 teams.

I would love to see a coach like Kyle issue a challenge to the winner of the
"National Championship" game. That would be gold!

Nice wins for the Utes and Rebels today.

Always had a soft spot for Houston Nutt, and even though I think Texas Tech was exposed somewhat in the OU game, it's still a big win for the Ole Miss program.

Also, glad to see Nick Satan go down in flames against a huge underdog. There is justice in the universe!

Pac-10 needs to go ahead and add Utah and Boise State.

Also, glad to see Nick Satan go down in flames against a huge underdog. There is justice in the universe!

ding ding

I'll tell you who's feeling bad right now -- TCU. They went into Utah, dominated the game, and handed them a gift wrapped victory with two missed chip shot field goals and a dropped TD pass. That could have been them out there tonight instead of Utah.

I'll tell you who's feeling bad right now -- TCU. They went into Utah, dominated the game, and handed them a gift wrapped victory with two missed chip shot field goals and a dropped TD pass. That could have been them out there tonight instead of Utah.

God, TCU would have crushed 'Bama. That would have been like Georgia-Hawaii, only the opposite.

Yeah, a playoff would be a horrible idea in this sport, lol. :)

Way to go, Utes.

Is 4 too many, with 26:00 to go?

I'll admit to bouncing around my house when it happened, but 'Bama's D continued to not show up. 'Bama offense was a shell of it's former self with the line rework on short notice(look at 'Bama rushing yards and sacks given up), but there really was no excuse for that defense. It seems odd, but add up Utah's current bowl run, previous BSC experience, and 'Bama's overall youth and Utah was by far the more prepared team for this type of game. Utah is one heck of a well run program. Too bad they didn't get to face the 'Bama team that went 12-1. It might have been the best bowl game this year.

Someone said it about Penn State yesterday, so I'll say it today...

I can't believe that *this* team (Alabama) was one bad quarter against Florida away from playing for the national championship. I mean, think about it...they close out the game against Florida and they're undefeated and playing for it all.

Tongue in cheek to the person who said the same thing about Penn State ;)

Every bowl game makes me believe that they are less of a true indicator of how a team is. It's almost like a third part of the season (non-conference games, conference games, and the bowl game). It sometimes seems that what you do in the first two has little or no bearing on what happens in the third part (see also 2006 Ohio State).

So uh...is the Mountain West better than the Big Ten? Honestly, I think they stack up pretty well in the top 3 (Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State versus Utah, TCU, and BYU). If those teams played in order I bet the MWC would win at least one (most likely BYU over Michigan State). Thoughts?

If we had an 8-team playoff (6 BCS conference champs plus 2 at-larges), the matchups would look like this:

#1 Florida vs #21 Virginia Tech
#2 Oklahoma vs #12 Cincinnati
#3 Texas vs #7 Utah
#5 USC vs #6 Penn State

I'm sure the 'Bama fans would be upset, but it's much better to have a team that didn't win their conference complain about no shot at the title than it is to not see USC/Penn State/Utah with a chance at it all.

Can you imagine a Final Four with Florida, Oklahoma, USC, and Texas/Utah? That would be amazing. I don't know why I bother talking about it though. It's not going to ever happen. But still Florida/USC in the semis? Wow ;)

Awesome win by the Utes!! I love it when the little guy wins, especially when they knock off a Saban coached team, and even more especially when that team is Alabama.

Honest question ..

How long until BYU and Utah are in the Pac 12?

It just makes too much sense.

I don't know why I bother talking about it though. It's not going to ever happen.

You're right. The only reason that the NCAA permits the BCS to exist as a cartel is due to to the one game per team bowl tie-in. In order to have a playoff, it would have to be administered by the NCAA, and the revenue would be split evenly amongst all 120 teams. That's why it's not going to happen.

Honest question ..

How long until BYU and Utah are in the Pac 12?

It just makes too much sense.

It has made sense for a long time now actually. But the Pac 10 is run by anal-retentive, backward-thinking morons.

At least Hansen steps down in August. But that doesn't matter if the same douchebag college presidents are still in place.

I'm so glad they managed to show up today. I should've known they would, but I'm so glad for them and for the Mountain West. Now Boise State should join and give us 10 teams.

The invite has gone out....Boise is "thinking about it"

Hopefully Turner Gill can cap his season with a win over UConn.

The invite has gone out....Boise is "thinking about it"

It makes perfect sense for football. I think Boise St. would even be competitive in the Pac-10.

But football is a huge anomaly in the Boise St. athletic program. This is a commuter school that's not particularly
good at any other sport, that was 1-AA as recently as 1995, and division II in the late 70s. The emergence of the football team has been nothing short of miraculous, but they can't bring the goods in any other sport.

Still, a Mountain West with Boise St. has a serious claim for an automatic BCS bid over the Big East.

About Alabama. They are a very good team, a top ten team. The difference between them and some others is that they are not a dominant team. LSU played them even and would have beaten them if LSU's QB at the time had not been an interception machine. Once Utah jumped on Bama, it was pretty much over.

About USC and the AP poll. In my paper this morning is an AP story touting USC as #1. So we've got ESPN, ABC (Brent Mushmouth in particular), and AP itself touting USC as #1. And I know USC is at least as good as anyone in the country, but they were lucky even to make the Rose Bowl. But if there is an alternate #1 at this point, it should be Utah. Utah. Period.

About a playoff. The system we have is flawed. An 8-team playoff or something like that would be great. But consider the fact that 60 or so teams went to bowl games this year. Hell, the Sunbelt champion gets to go to a bowl game. La Tech and N. Ill. played in a bowl game. Nothing against those teams, but the bowl industry is HUGE. What happens to the bowl system if you go to a playoff? There is so much money invested in the bowl system. Would the bowl system co-exist with the playoff system?

And a playoff still doesn't settle who the best team in the country is. No system does that. Though I would like a playoff system, a playoff just settles who won the playoff.

And one more thing. Let's get ND in a conference.

No system will settle who the best team in the country is. That's not the point. The point is to settle who is the champion. Those are different things. One is totally irrelevant. The other is the whole point of the season.

No system will settle who the best team in the country is. That's not the point. The point is to settle who is the champion. Those are different things. One is totally irrelevant. The other is the whole point of the season.

+infinity

I hope Utah gets the AP #1, I really do. If you go unbeaten, beat a top 10 team in a BCS bowl, under the current screwed up rules, you deserve a share of the championship over a team with 1 loss. Plus it will only embarass the BCS even more, who really don't want any non-BCS conference teams in the mix in the first place.

About a playoff. The system we have is flawed. An 8-team playoff or something like that would be great. But consider the fact that 60 or so teams went to bowl games this year. Hell, the Sunbelt champion gets to go to a bowl game. La Tech and N. Ill. played in a bowl game. Nothing against those teams, but the bowl industry is HUGE. What happens to the bowl system if you go to a playoff? There is so much money invested in the bowl system. Would the bowl system co-exist with the playoff system?
Imagine if the BCS winners played next Sunday, would that impact how much people enjoyed the other bowl wins (ie, Arizona fans, Iowa fans, Kentucky fans, Nebraska fans, KU, ...)? That's essentially what a playoff would be.

The reality is that people love the smaller bowl games because they are football and they love their school/conference. They will love them just as much if we had a small 8-team (or even 4 team) playoff.

Is anyone watching the Army All American game?

Yes, I am.

lol drama queen

So far I can't say anyone is really impressing me.

Willie Downs has me excited that he is going to Florida State to bad he won't qualify.

Is anyone watching the Army All American game?


I'm watching as well. So far, no one has really impressed me either. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow night and seeing Matt Barkley. From what I've read, he completely dominated the competition in the skills competition yesterday throwing it about 15 yards further than any QB and showing more accuracy than the competition as well.

This game is not as good as the past years. Tom Lemming has way to many Notre Dame players who have no business being on the field.

I know it's late but hats off to USC. Hands down way better the Penn State, and I even think Pete Carroll took his foot off the pedal in the 3rd quarter. Losing Royster so early really hurt Penn State. He's more of a power back than Green. I think one huge play was the sack-fumble on Sanchez that was called back due to an offsides penalty.

The Rose Bowl and everything surrounding it was amazing. The scenery is beautiful, the people were all nice. I found it funny that it was about 60 degrees and all the Penn State fans were tailgating in short sleeves and jeans, while all the USC fans had jackets and space heaters.

I took the red-eye home on Jan 2nd at 1am and ended up running into, and talking to PSU's QB Darryl Clark in the Houston airport. Very nice young man.

Imagine if the BCS winners played next Sunday, would that impact how much people enjoyed the other bowl wins (ie, Arizona fans, Iowa fans, Kentucky fans, Nebraska fans, KU, ...)? That's essentially what a playoff would be.

The reality is that people love the smaller bowl games because they are football and they love their school/conference. They will love them just as much if we had a small 8-team (or even 4 team) playoff.

Well, that's the thing- no one is really arguing that you'd take away the small bowls or that someone would enjoy them less. It's a strawman set up by the people who don't want a playoff. You'll see no one more convinced that there should be a playoff than myself on this board and that's despite the fact that Kansas will make the playoff once every 25 years, if lucky.

But I sure am happy we get to go to the 2000 Flushes Toilet Bowl when we do and no playoff would diminish that. It's not like anyone except for the schools involved and degenerate gamblers and football fans (you know who you are and most of us are on this board ;) ) watch the minor bowl games as it is.

SI

Very impressive win by Utah. Especially in the second half when they were fighting Bama's momentum and the refs. I remember there was one call where the announcers were trying to find where it was and were just in silence for a minute during the replay but didn't dare say anything about it and went onto the next play.

SI

No system will settle who the best team in the country is. That's not the point. The point is to settle who is the champion. Those are different things. One is totally irrelevant. The other is the whole point of the season.

Yeap. That is why the games aren't played on paper.

hxxp://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=dw-marve010308&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Wasn't Shannon supposed to be one of the good guys? Denying a kid a transfer to an instate school when his dad is dying of cancer seems shitty in the extreme, especially when UM probably won't play most of those schools in the next 3 years. It's also going to kill them in recruiting - Plant is a major powerhouse that had at least 2 guys in the All American game this year and UM needs to keep getting guys away from Florida and FSU if they are going to be relevant once again. On the face of it, this makes no sense at all to me.

Any Cane fans have any insight into this?

+infinity

I hope Utah gets the AP #1, I really do. If you go unbeaten, beat a top 10 team in a BCS bowl, under the current screwed up rules, you deserve a share of the championship over a team with 1 loss. Plus it will only embarass the BCS even more, who really don't want any non-BCS conference teams in the mix in the first place.

The state of Oklahoma disagrees. Stay classy, Okies.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPollResultsState?sportIndex=ncf&pollId=65891

The state of Oklahoma disagrees. Stay classy, Okies.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPollResultsState?sportIndex=ncf&pollId=65891

Don't worry, it will change by the end of the week. Remember, a day before, it was USC who deserved to be #1 or split. Next it will be Texas when they dismantle Ohio State. And then if either Florida or Oklahoma gets a garbage TD to win by ~10, then it will have been a "dominating" performance and Utah will long have been forgotten.

SI

Why exactly is saying 'no' mean that they are not classy?! How bizarre.

UNC EV to win vs. WVU L
Miami +8.5 vs. Cal W
Oregon/OK St under 76 W
Iowa -3.5 vs. S.Carolina W
Clemson -2.5 vs. Nebraska L
Georgia -7.5 vs. MSU W
VaTech +115 vs. Cincy W
Utah +305 vs. Alabama W
Texas -8 vs. Ohio St.
OU +130 vs. Florida

Anyone else want to throw out some predictions?Add in the TCU and ND picks and I'm doing quite well again, especially with the longshot Utah pick actually coming through. I just wish I could pick any other sport as well as college football.

Why exactly is saying 'no' mean that they are not classy?! How bizarre.

Ask them if they thought their undefeated team would be deserving of a piece of a national title, and the answer might be a bit different.

Ask them if they thought their undefeated team would be deserving of a piece of a national title, and the answer might be a bit different.

Yeah, their undefeated team has played a tougher schedule.

I think saying that you can't disqualify a team because of the schedule they played is classless in itself.

Yeah, their undefeated team has played a tougher schedule.

I think saying that you can't disqualify a team because of the schedule they played is classless in itself.

I'd agree with that as well. But that wasn't the point being made. If that was a more widespread sentiment, I'd think Florida would show the similar results to Oklahoma.

Florida kinda has Florida State and Miami fans in the same state.

hxxp://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=dw-marve010308&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Wasn't Shannon supposed to be one of the good guys? Denying a kid a transfer to an instate school when his dad is dying of cancer seems shitty in the extreme, especially when UM probably won't play most of those schools in the next 3 years. It's also going to kill them in recruiting - Plant is a major powerhouse that had at least 2 guys in the All American game this year and UM needs to keep getting guys away from Florida and FSU if they are going to be relevant once again. On the face of it, this makes no sense at all to me.

Any Cane fans have any insight into this?

I have no inside information but I can say that this week was the first time I heard anything about his father's health being a reason for the transfer request. Marve has been unhappy with his situation this year and the transfer request was pretty much a given after the suspension this year.

Here is a link to a blog with a statement that has come out from the university. YMMV

Eye on the U | UM partially lifts SEC ban for Marve (http://miamiherald.typepad.com/umiami/2009/01/um-partially-li.html)

Yeah, this is the first I hear about the dying father as well, though its been reported Marve wanted out.

Interesting numbers in the Big 12 bowls thus far......

Big 12 North: 3-0
Big 12 South: 0-2

Hopefully OU and UT can pick it up for the south. 5-2 would be pretty impressive overall.

Interesting numbers in the Big 12 bowls thus far......

Big 12 North: 3-0
Big 12 South: 0-2

I guess it's too late to trade Oregon, Ole Miss, Ohio State and Florida for Northwestern, Minnesota and Clemson.

I guess it's too late to trade Oregon, Ole Miss, Ohio State and Florida for Northwestern, Minnesota and Clemson.

But it's all relative. The B12 North teams were playing teams of similar caliber and all won their games. I'm not terribly surprised that OSU wasn't up to snuff, but Texas Tech getting man-handled was a pretty big surprise IMO.

I feel dirty rooting for tOSU.

Texas can't tackle and their DE are rushing too fast upfield. Pryor will eat that up.

Please let UT assrape OSU? Please please please? Fucking ohio. piece of shit state.

I feel dirty rooting for tOSU.


I don't... :D

Never understood those SEC folks and their conference allegiances. I don't care what it says for the Big 12. I hope Texas gets demolished. :p

I feel dirty rooting for tOSU.

Texas can't tackle and their DE are rushing too fast upfield. Pryor will eat that up.

Then root for the Horns! :)

Texas will get their adjustments in at the half. The 3rd quarter has been their best quarter all season. That first possession after the half will be a big key to how the second half will look.

The question here is which is a bigger factor, Big 12 defensive suckage, or OSU general suckage.

I hope Texas gets demolished. :p

That would mean the Big 12 South would go 0-4 in bowls this season.

Never understood those SEC folks and their conference allegiances.

Neither have I. I don't quite understand rooting for your biggest rival in a bowl game. Then again, it allows them present a united front in the "X conference is the best" discussions as they are willing to support their rivals to that extent against "the others".

Then root for the Horns! :)

Texas will get their adjustments in at the half. The 3rd quarter has been their best quarter all season. That first possession after the half will be a big key to how the second half will look.

I gotta pull for the Big Ten no matter how much it hurts. Sorry Cartman. Plus if Texas and Oklahoma lose we might hear how overrated the Big 12 was and take some of the heat off the Big Ten.

That would mean the Big 12 South would go 0-4 in bowls this season.

Not so fast my friend...

/Corso

After watching a half of the Fiesta Bowl, there is no way you can convince me that USC wouldn't destroy these two teams.

After watching a half of the Fiesta Bowl, there is no way you can convince me that USC wouldn't destroy these two teams.


I was just thinking the same thing. Furthermore, from watching all of the Big 12 South bowl games, I'm thinking the Big 12 South was overrated and Florida is going to demolish Oklahoma. Florida-USC would have been a great game.

USC already destroyed one of them.

Bad throw by the Colt.

That was a absolutely awful pick thrown by McCoy, costing them 3 points... 6-3 OSU at the Half.

Texas Tech came out flat after being knocked out of the Title chase, barely beating Baylor and then getting smoked by Ole Miss, and now Texas may be following the same path??

USC already destroyed one of them.

To be fair, that team didn't have Wells.

But yeah, both offenses look very lethargic to me. Is it just that much rust? I dunno.

To be fair, that team didn't have Wells.


I agree with you there. That game is different with Wells. OSU might not win but they don't get blown out.

I was just thinking the same thing. Furthermore, from watching all of the Big 12 South bowl games, I'm thinking the Big 12 South was overrated and Florida is going to demolish Oklahoma. Florida-USC would have been a great game.

And I've heard from some OU fans that the Alabama/Utah game convinced them that OU would demolish Florida. Both notions are equally ridiculous if you ask me.

It is a bit chuckling watching a Vince Young Clone give the Longhorn Defense fits.

And I've heard from some OU fans that the Alabama/Utah game convinced them that OU would demolish Florida. Both notions are equally ridiculous if you ask me.

Yes, and Penn State spanked the only team to beat USC this season (Oregon State), so the Nittany Lions should absolutely destroy........ uh, nevermind.

My Team Is Better Than Your Team - The Transitive Property of College Football (http://www.myteamisbetterthanyourteam.com/default.asp)

Yes, and Penn State spanked the only team to beat USC this season (Oregon State), so the Nittany Lions should absolutely destroy........ uh, nevermind.

Hey now! Exactly what bowl did UCF make again? :p

Yes, and Penn State spanked the only team to beat USC this season (Oregon State), so the Nittany Lions should absolutely destroy........ uh, nevermind.
Yep, the transitive property doesn't hold much value as the above example shows.

I agree the transitive property doesn't hold any worth. However, if the entire Big 12 South fails to win a bowl game that will be worth some consideration.

My Team Is Better Than Your Team - The Transitive Property of College Football (http://www.myteamisbetterthanyourteam.com/default.asp)
Sadly, even that tool can't make the 2008 UW football team look any better...

Hey now! Exactly what bowl did UCF make again? :p

I got your Bowl right over here, partnah'.. ;)

That tool is pretty funny...

Who would've ever thought the mighty Columbia Lions could take the possible National Champs behind the woodshed.

Div I - FCS Columbia beat Cornell 17 - 7
Div I - FCS Cornell beat Lehigh 25 - 24
Div I - FCS Lehigh beat Lafayette 31 - 15
Div I - FCS Lafayette beat Liberty 35 - 21
Div I - FCS Liberty beat Youngstown St 31 - 28
Div I - FCS Youngstown St beat N Dakota St 32 - 24
Div I - FCS N Dakota St beat S Illinois 35 - 27
Div I - FCS S Illinois beat Northern Iowa 27 - 24
Div I - FCS Northern Iowa beat New Hampshire 36 - 34
Div I - FCS New Hampshire beat Army 28 - 10
Div I - FBS Army beat Louisiana Tech 14 - 7
Div I - FBS Louisiana Tech beat Mississippi St 22 - 14
Div I - FBS Mississippi St beat Vanderbilt 17 - 14
Div I - FBS Vanderbilt beat Mississippi 23 - 17
Div I - FBS Mississippi beat Florida 31 - 30

Therefore, Columbia is better than Florida as shown in 15 rounds by a combined score of 404 - 296. SWEET!!

BTW, the FOFC Gridiron'ers outgained Texas on the ground in the 1st Half tonight.... Zip to Negative 9. Not Bad Guys!!

Mack Brown must have read the thread about going for it on 4th down.

WOOHOOO!!!! GO HORNS!!!

(my mommy was a Longhorn + osu is from the shit-state of ohio)

OMG, that tool is amazing. Great find.

Don't know if anyone else saw it, but did you notice how the Texas sideline cleared when that fumble got close to the sideline? Mack Brown's son in law was nowhere to be found. :)

Wow. Nice catch by Pryor. This has become a very entertaining game.

TD Buckeyes.

Pryor is special he reminds me of Vince Young in alot of ways.

Texas always has an exciting game.

Pryor is special he reminds me of Vince Young in alot of ways.

Texas always has an exciting game.

He still has a long way to go throwing the ball. Some of those look ugly. Though Young was really raw in that regard early on as well. In fact, I'm not sure he really put it together until his last season.

Would love to see Ohio State win, because it would add to the BCS chaos.

If Texas had a decent secondary they would be undefeated.

Blake Gideon is really BAD.

Offsetting Pass Interference... I've never seen that.

BS call

Offsetting Pass Interference... I've never seen that.

Yeah, that seems very odd.

Pryor hasn't done much throwing, but he has been very impressive running and catching the ball. I can't wait to see what he becomes by his Junior or Senior year.

Hate that 2 point try. Go up by five and be able to win on a FG if TX scores a TD.

One last chance for Bevo.

If he got it, it's gonna be a generous spot.

Glad I enjoyed Penn State's conference title this year, because I really can't see any Big Ten team beating Ohio State next season.

Yeah, no way the refs let it end on that sort of play. He was in bounds, if nothing else.

Of course. Stupid Ohio State. I knew they'd find a way to blow it.

That's cheesing in NCAA 09.

Imagine if holding negates that.

Ugh. Why would you rush the passer? Just lay back and wait for the pass, you KNOW what he's gonna do.

So much for the OSU party...

Is Keith Brooking out there?

Now now announcers, 16 seconds is still enough time to hit FG range, don't call the game like it is over.

Guess not. Congrats to Texas.

YEE HAW

That's cheesing in NCAA 09.

(It is?) :)

Now now announcers, 16 seconds is still enough time to hit FG range, don't call the game like it is over.

2 TO's and a 15-yard penalty.

(It is?) :)

No huddle AND the same play.

I bet Colt is 1023-4 online.

Oh well. Nobody gave us a chance.

Good game Ohio State. Made me proud.

Offense was lacking, but they tried. They played really well, but they couldn't get it done at the end of the drives.


Oh, and Beanie, why the fuck were you on the sideline the entire fourth quarter?

No huddle AND the same play.

I bet Colt is 1023-4 online.

:)

Wait, is HA=Colt? :)

Throw the ball!