The first BCS standings have been released and the top three are no surprise (and probably accurate). The BCS wacky ranking system is every one's favorite punching bag, and I am no exception. Goofy results from chaotic upsets and exclusion of deserving teams plague the BCS every year. But heck, it gives us something to talk about. Take this column for example. I was fresh out of heartwarming stories about perfect fall weather in the heartland or teaching my daughter to make game day pancakes or tailgating at the nation's best stadiums.
As much I love to pick on the BCS, they did get at least one thing right: holding the first rankings until half way through the season. By ignoring the essentially arbitrary pre-season ratings, unsubstantiated biases are supplanted by a reflection of the teams real performance. This season is a perfect example of the value of this system: the top 3 teams in this week's BCS rankings started the season outside the AP top 10.
When the season started, the top 4 were interchangeable between Georgia, Ohio State, USC, and Oklahoma. All of these supposed "teams of the century" now have a loss, and Georgia and Ohio State are struggling to remain relevant in the national title race. With 8 undefeated teams, BCS bashers are salivating over the possibility of continued controversy and anger at th close of the season. But there's plenty of football left to play and past years have proven that the standings will get jumbled by the most unlikely of dogs. Of course, folks in Auburn will remind everyone of 2004 when there were three undefeated teams from BCS conferences. I doubt an undefeated SEC champion will get screwed this year.
Of course, if Alabama, Texas, and Penn State do win out, then the Nitany Lions will be this year's Auburn. This should come as an outrageous injustice to the folks in State College: Geriatric JoPa has been on top of the game for decades. He has 5 undefeated seasons to be proud of. But only one national championship! No team has been snake-bit by the lack of playoff more than JoPa's Lions.
See you in Pasadena, Joe.
Fight On,
Hans
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1 comment:
I still think it's too early to talk about 3 undefeated teams, but I guess fun to speculate. I didn't realize Joe Pa has 5 undefeated seasons and only 1 national title. I would love to see him win it this year rather than Nick Saban or Mack Brown. That being said, I have found my black and gold tinted glasses I lost after the last 2 weeks of Hawkeye football looking alive again. Kind of hoping PSU has a loss after their trip to Iowa City.
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