Texas #1 finally but going to be hard to keep it this season

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Samas replied on 10-22-2008 10:49 AM

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Yeah, there could definitely be some Top 10 shake-ups this weekend. I forget who Alabama is playing, but Texas will probably have their hands full with OK State. Penn State heads to Ohio State and the horseshoe, where they have never won. Will the Nittany Lions make it 3 for 3 this season on things they haven't done/haven't done in a LONG time? (For those keeping score, that would be 1. Win at Camp Randall, 2. Beat Michigan for the first time in 10 games, 3. Win at the horseshoe.)

If Texas handles OK State the way they handled Missouri, they'll be solidifying their grasp on No 1. The only bad thing about that is the inherent weakness of college football: do good now, fall harder later if you fail (see: USC, Ohio State, Florida, etc for examples of early chumping that won't come back to haunt them).

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spooon replied on 10-22-2008 11:41 AM

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i think it sucks u can lose early to some scrub team but if u lose later and even in a hard championship game you get the shaft.

It's like you want to get that one lose out of the way early in the season. OH well.

I hope to get some tickets to the UT vs OSU game. OSU has been killing use in the 1st half so I hope to come out strong versus them this time.

but seriously, alabama #2? please.

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Samas replied on 10-22-2008 1:35 PM

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spooon:

i think it sucks u can lose early to some scrub team but if u lose later and even in a hard championship game you get the shaft.

Yeah, Missouri 2007 says hi. Makes me wonder if Ohio State/USC scheduled their game early in the year on purpose like that, to CTA(s). If USC wins out the rest of the year, there won't be an analyst on ESPN that won't think they're the cream of the crop (forgetting all about that little snafu with the Beavers). Same if Ohio State beats Penn State this weekend, they'll all just say "Ohio State has arrived" and conveniently forget about their pounding at the hands of the Trojans. I hate to say this, but Texas might be the next victim of later season losses meaning more (unless they win them all which means their really, really good).

And I've got nothing on Alabama; I just don't know anything about that team. Considering their last win I'm not sure they are number 2 either. They probably just get a decent amount of credit (and justifiably) for being undefeated. But if they lose they'll probably drop like a stone (same with Penn State unfortunately; let's go Lions, beat those...nuts!).

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spooon replied on 10-22-2008 2:45 PM

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more reason for a playoff. clearly the top 4 or even top 8 teams are had and shoulders better than the rest of the field.

Even with 1 loss you can still finish top 8. But to be #2 and not go to the championship game (OU because if UT wins out, OU won't even play for the big 12) then that is just sorry for football.

I'm all for a 3 or 4 game playoff and the rest play for some scrub bowl game to keep the other teams happy.

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spooon replied on 10-27-2008 8:14 AM

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went to the OSU vs UT game. 98,000 fans and still barely beat OSU. their ground game is legit. good luck to their future opponents as I do believe our run D was in the top 5 but not anymore after they tore us a new one on the ground.

Lucky to get out of that alive and straight into Texas Tech in Lubback.

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Samas replied on 10-27-2008 9:31 AM

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Hey, congrats spoon on your Longhorns. One more to go to beat out the schedule from hell, which would be an amazing achievement.

Amazing to me how Penn State still doesn't get any credit, but whatever. I like playing from behind, playing with a chip on the shoulder and getting less national attention. We have a very good chance to win out now, with a week off and two out of three home games all against inferior opponents. But, the pundits will cry and moan about how PSU now has no one left on their schedule (cause they've beaten everybody so far!), so they don't deserve a high ranking/NC appearance/etc. Just blows my mind.

Right now I'm pulling for a PSU-Texas final, my man. Would be a heckuva game.

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biggydelicious replied on 10-27-2008 11:12 AM

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I've got a gut feeling that it probably is going to be Penn State and Texas in the BCS Championship.

Being a Michigan State fan all of my life, I have mixed feelings about Nick Saban and by extension, have mixed feelings on Alabama. I think Alabama's only potential losses down the road could come against LSU (even though after this weekend, that's looking like less of a possibility), or the SEC title game. Yeah, I'd say overall that the SEC was once again the best conference this year by a slim margin, but all of the teams completely cannibalized each other. So, I'm thinking that Alabama's going to end up with a loss before a bowl game.

Anyway, it would nice to see a Big 12 vs. Big Ten Team That Isn't Ohio State BCS Championship.

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spooon replied on 10-27-2008 11:19 AM

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i would rather be an underdog and NOT have a target on our back. teams gear up for bigger games and play above their normal level.

I would love to play Penn. I remember them killing us in one bowl game. I don't think Penn has a championship game right? sucks for SEC and Big12. I say, if u win out you should get a shot at the title. If not, why even have that team in the FBS running. It's like playing football without a trophy if you win it all.

Like Tulsa, give them a shot. When OU lost to Boise State, would like to see what Boise has left in the tank.

Another vote for Playoff is SEC and BIG 12 schedules. They for real just beat each other up. I don't like OU, but to snub OU from a chance to win it all just because they lost to UT and NOT have a chance to play for the big 12 championship game sucks ballz.

This way you pretty much can only take maybe 1-2 losses before you are really out of the picture.

either way. fun to watch but man, a playoff would be like december madness.

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biggydelicious replied on 10-27-2008 11:40 AM

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The closest thing that the Big Ten is going to have this year for a "championship" is going to be the Michigan State vs. Penn State game in a few weeks. If Michigan State pulls off this game (I'm a fan but it is probably unlikely) it would possibly end up in a three-way tie for Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State. And of course, there's Minnesota who's been flying under the radar with only one loss to Ohio State.

However, the odds point to Penn State finishing undefeated, which more than likely put them in the BCS Championship. If the schools wise up and keep the dollar signs out of their eyes for a year or two, maybe they'd realize they'd make even more money with a legitimate playoff system. JoePa has been saying this for years.

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Samas replied on 10-27-2008 11:44 AM

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Spoon, you're preaching to the choir here!

I've been wanting a true December Madness since I was old enough to understand football as a kid (so close to 20 years). Compared to other sports, even other college sports, FBS is a completely farcical joke that is dependent on money and popularity contests. What is particularly maddening is that playoffs are done in other college football divisions, and they work just fine. Pretty much any argument against a playoff that BCS proponents bring up is drowned in money because that's really all it's about. The prestige and cash that a school is given for participating in the nonsense that is the college bowl system is too much for the schools to give up on, plain and simple. From an athletic standpoint it is a real shame.

Case in point, I really respect this year's Texas team because they're starting to show they are not all hooplah and hype; they pull out the big wins when necessary and play hard every game. I can't say that for many other "top" schools this year (well, Penn State of course being the other exception) because when it comes down to it the best teams are decided by opinion, glitz, and glam and not pure talent. Alabama is another good example because they are only in the picture right now as they have not lost. People are already counting them out because of the conference they play in and the likelihood of a loss, so no NC for them. It's a total shame.

No, PSU hasn't played in a championship game since 1984 (Sugar Bowl). Their closest was 1994 and the Kerry Collins years, but that was another glaring example of popularity winning the championship instead of the team (Nebraska was considered the "better" undefeated team even though they never played Penn State who was also undefeated). The bowl game you refer to I believe was the Levar Arrington-led defense of Jerry Sandusky that (sorry) blanked you guys 24-0. Man, what a great game (if you're a Nittany Lion, that is). I'd love another matchup this year, in which I'm fairly certain we would not blank you again.

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dyeknom replied on 10-27-2008 11:47 AM

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I am a huge OU fan, but will say that I don't share the hatred for UT that many OU fans have.  The OU/UT and UT/OSU games were so much fun to watch, even though I cheered against them.  I would love to see an OU/UT rematch for the B12 championship, rather than a UT/Missouri game because the OU/UT games are always intense, regardless of how the seasons are going. 

I personally think every conference should be playing a championship game, for the same reasons you all have thrown out there.   Then again, I'm really annoyed by how every ESPN analyst hangs on certain team's cahones like if they let go... they will shrivel up and disappear. 

That being said, the BCS is retardedly flawed and we need a playoff system... not just a +1.

(Ill edit in a second, gotta move classrooms)

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biggydelicious replied on 10-27-2008 11:56 AM

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I just realized that Texas has to play Texas Tech this Saturday. One thing is for sure, the combined score is going to be over 100.

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spooon replied on 10-27-2008 1:17 PM

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even in highschool where my school went to state finally they even have a playoff. And it's not like my high school doesn't like money.

Tech put up 9 td on a ranked kansas team. going to be scary vs UT and their pair of rookie safeties. Oh well. time to lock down and go through one of the hardest schedules in the NCAA to get a shot at the title again.

Playoffs. wow, the tailgates would be crazy on campus. might spill over the streets I bet.

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Decrypded replied on 10-27-2008 1:28 PM

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spooon:

Playoffs. wow, the tailgates would be crazy on campus. might spill over the streets I bet.

Tailgates are already huge here, I would imagine if there were playoffs with UT in it I wouldn't be able to drive anywhere around the school at all.

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biggydelicious replied on 10-27-2008 1:45 PM

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spooon:

Playoffs. wow, the tailgates would be crazy on campus. might spill over the streets I bet.

I think I would have to extend my already long collegiate career by transferring to UT.