#1 Bama vs #10 Arkansas (week 4)

[Spence]

And then...you have to look at teams slugging through a tough schedule.

Poor Ole Bama...just finished a gut check game with Arkansas and now they must suit up for Florida. And, if the Tide gets past Florida, they can't let down because a hard hitting South Carolina is waiting to take their lick next....

It is just a multitude of difficulty points compared to playing New Mexico State, Toledo, and San Jose State (Bama has already played San Jose State...won 48-3)

I agree with you on that point. And I think Bama should get credit for that in the polls - even if they lose one - but I also think Boise State, TCU, or anyone else with an easier schedule, should get credit for handling their schedule like Alabama would handle that schedule. Meaing if they don't struggle they should get credit in the polls. I think that is fair to all. You consider everybody based on how they have played and how they should play against the scheduled competition.

[billybud]

The problem is...I'd give Arkansas and a few other teams credit for being able to play Boise's schedule...My gut tells me that only VT may (and a loss to NC State might affect that) be the only team that Boise will play that will end up end ranked.

If Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, or Miami has two losses, I'd have them ahead of Boise on merit.

If you haven't played at least four end ranked teams, you haven't met the historical qualification for a BCS Championship season.

[Spence]

The problem is...I'd give Arkansas and a few other teams credit for being able to play Boise's schedule...My gut tells me that only VT may (and a loss to NC State might affect that) be the only team that Boise will play that will end up end ranked.

If Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, or Miami has two losses, I'd have them ahead of Boise on merit.

If you haven't played at least four end ranked teams, you haven't met the historical qualification for a BCS Championship season.

But, you see, I have no problem with that as long as it has merit. I think you consider strength as a component. I think you have to, but it can not be the only deciding factor, if you are going to consider 119 teams. You have to measure a teams strength based on how they play against better and worse competition and even it out. You just can not dismiss a team out of hand. I wasn't in favor of Hawii getting a shot a few years ago (before the game with Georgia) because it was obvious to me that they were not as good as their record. I may feel the same way about Boise State at the end of the year, I may not. But I think you have to look at the whole picture and if they pass, then they should get a shot. You have to measure the strength of a team on how they play their strong or weak schedule and compare it fairly with the others. That is all I am saying. Ohio State may be able to go undefeated with Boise State's schedule. Boise State may be able to go undefeated with Ohio State's schedule. Neither is playing the other's schedule so we must evaluate each team on their own merits against their own schedule. I think most fair minded people would accept that.

[RazorHawk]

Spence, Hawaii did not get a shot at the championship, just a spot in a BCS bowl. I don't have a problem with non BCS getting a BCS bowl spot, but I think to get to the actual National Championship game, they would require some special circumstances, possible including playing 3 or 4 ranked teams during the course of the year.

I was, as many were, last year not that TCU and Boise State made it into a BCS bowl, but was disappointed that they were matched against each other.

I do think that both of these teams are pretty good, but won't really get the chance to prove it.

[Spence]

Razor, I agree with you about BSU and TCU being matched up together. The BCS ble an opportunity.
I do know Hawaii was not in the championship, but there were those who were advocating it. I wasn't one. They never passed the "look" test. It was obvious they weren't a championship team. I don't feel the same way about Boise State or TCU right now. I think the have earned the right to be considered same as other top teams. I'm not advocating just sending them because they were undefeated, but just to consider them based on the way they play.

[GoBoilers]

The big problem here isn't SOS, it is that some schools have no chance to make it to the championship. On this board, people have said "when you beat a team from a BCS conference come talk to us." Then they beat a team from a BCS conference in a bowl game and people said you have to beat a team during the season. They did that, and people said "you only beat one"." Then they beat two. They also didn't run from scheduling a good team. Virginia Tech has a good football program. Maybe they don't turn out good this year, but no one that scheduled them could know that they weren't going to be good.

I'm am for letting the best two teams in the country play in the championship game. I don't know if Boise State is one or not, but you know what - I'm not sure about Alabama or Ohio State either and I watch Ohio State play every week. I see lots of holes in both schools. I see holes in Boise State too. I see that as no reason to hold them out of the game. I also see no reason to put them in just because they are undefeated. I feel the same about all the other undefeated teams. I do think Boise State has to get through their schedule without struggling, at least until the play Nevada. Because the schedule isn't as good as it could be. But going on OOC schedule strength on paper - before the season, Boise State had as good or better and OOC schedule as most FBS schools in the country.

As usual, a lot of this will shake out in about 5 weeks unless we have 3 undefeated teams (or was it 4 unbeatens last year pre BCS selection). So many seasons it's just 1 or most 2 unbeatens it may make it simpler. I am like Razor, if there isn't a true playoff I'd like to see the "old" system re-done but, that is only a dream.

[Spence]

I would really like to return to the old way too. Not happening though. You can never count on the power that be to do the right thing. It never happens.

[billybud]

The old way was for different times.

We now demand a clear cut champion. The days of having six different organizations recognize a champion is about through. The AP really is irrelevant with the BCS in place. Who really cares who the AP has as #1 when the BCS declares the Champ?