Official College Football Championship Week Thread

[cartman]

We've reached the end of the college football regular season. With all due respect to the Army-Navy game next weekend, all other teams wrap up play this weekend. There is only one matchup of BCS Top 25 teams not connected with a conference championship game, Texas at Kansas State.

Here are the Conference Championship games:

Northern Illinois vs. Kent State - MAC
UCLA vs. Stanford - PAC 12
Central Florida vs. Tulsa - Conference USA
Alabama vs. Georgia - SEC
Florida State vs. Georgia Tech - ACC
Nebraska vs. Wisconsin - Big Ten

[JonInMiddleGA]

Times, just for the heck of it

NIU - Kent St 7p Fri ESPN2
UCLA-Stanford 8pm Fri on Fox
UCF - Tulsa 12n ESPN2
Bama - UGA 4p CBS
FSU - GT 8p ESPN
Texas - KState 8p ABC
Nebraska - Wisconsin 817p Fox

[cartman]

Not sure how the Texas-K State game is gonna turn out. David Ash turned back into the horrible 2011 version against TCU, with two picks in the red zone and an incomprehensible fumble on a throwing motion near their own end zone. Case McCoy has been named the starter for the game. But a pissed off K State team has had two weeks to prepare, and they have had Texas's number the past few years.

[Young Drachma]

Hope Rutgers doesn't choke at home. Also would like to see Kent State get into a BCS game over some retread major conference team that's played a better schedule and tougher competition. Naturally would prefer the former over the latter but both doing their jobs would be fine.

[Logan]

Might as well add the Rutgers - Louisville game as it's a de facto conference championship, with the winner getting the BCS bid. ESPN Thursday night at 7:30.

[Lathum]

I'm not a big fan of saying someone should be fired, but I just listened to the Mora press conference after the Stanford game, and that reporter should be fired. How any media outlet would want him representing them is beyond me.

[Cuckoo]

Not sure how the Texas-K State game is gonna turn out. David Ash turned back into the horrible 2011 version against TCU, with two picks in the red zone and an incomprehensible fumble on a throwing motion near their own end zone. Case McCoy has been named the starter for the game. But a pissed off K State team has had two weeks to prepare, and they have had Texas's number the past few years.

I feel so dirty that I have to root for Texas so OU can be the sole Big 12 Champion.

[Chief Rum]

I'm not a big fan of saying someone should be fired, but I just listened to the Mora press conference after the Stanford game, and that reporter should be fired. How any media outlet would want him representing them is beyond me.

TJ Simers, ladies and gentlemen. He is an utter and complete douche and his sole purpose is to get a rise out of people so he can write about it. He is one of the main reasons I would have to avoid the LA Times if I bothered to still have a paper.

[Matthean]

Bama - UGA 4p CBS

Nice to see the national championship game scheduled so early for once. :D

[bob]

I kinda want to see GT win and Kent St. get into a BCS bowl game. The Orange Bowl pitting GT against Kent St. would get tens, maybe even hundreds of viewers.

[Young Drachma]

I kinda want to see GT win and Kent St. get into a BCS bowl game. The Orange Bowl pitting GT against Kent St. would get tens, maybe even hundreds of viewers.

And Kent State might even win. A MAC team winning a BCS game. Yes please.

[JonInMiddleGA]

The Orange Bowl pitting GT against Kent St. would get tens, maybe even hundreds of viewers.

Well at least until the half when Kent had a 4 or 5 TD lead. At that point I figure interest would wane.

[Simbo Klice]

Kent should probably be an underdog at NIU, but I'll be rooting hard for them and against UCLA and Texas.

Kent vs. Georgia Tech would be hilarious, 2 of the most run heavy teams in the country. The Orange Bowl could offset some of the losses from having an empty stadium by painting rocks and substituting them in for the footballs.

[miked]

Flying up to NJ to catch the RU-UL game. Sadly, this is my first RU home game since I graduated a while ago. Last RU game I went to was at the Ville a few years ago, we had a 4 TD lead or something and Brohm came back to win.

I had no idea a win, coupled with a Kent State win, could put RU in the Sugar Bowl. Apparently there will be some reps from the Sugar Bowl there in case we win. I guess RU is more attractive than Kent State for the Sugar.

[Swaggs]

Anyone know what the revenue increase would be for the MAC if they get a team in the BCS?

[Logan]

Anyone know what the revenue increase would be for the MAC if they get a team in the BCS?

Quick look at the bowl/payout schedule tells me that their 3 bids combine for $1.825MM. They can take a 4th spot some years but I don't imagine that would increase the pie very much. BCS game payouts are around $17MM, and I'm not sure if the MAC gets a small, small slice from the pie or not every year for being part of the "system".

I'm not sure how the conference shares bowl revenue.

[JPhillips]

In ten years this will make a great trivia question:

A team that finished third in their division played in their conference championship game. Name that team.

[Solecismic]

In ten years this will make a great trivia question:

A team that finished third in their division played in their conference championship game. Name that team.

Which one? Wisconsin or Georgia Tech? If you follow the ACC tiebreakers, the Jackets would be eliminated from the three-team tie based on the loss to VPI.

[JPhillips]

Does the three team tie count as first, second, third? Wisconsin is third without any ties in front of them.

[Swaggs]

Kind of random, but I just read that (provided Kansas doesn't beat WVU in Morgantown on Saturday) the Big 12 didn't lose a game this season to a non-bowl team. Every team in the conference except for Kansas finished bowl eligible despite playing 9 conference games and the only four OOC losses came to:

12-0 Notre Dame (over Oklahoma)
11-1 Northern Illinois (over Kansas)
7-5 Arizona (over OSU)
6-6 Rice (over Kansas)

[B & B]

Anyone know what the revenue increase would be for the MAC if they get a team in the BCS?

I just threw up in mouth a little.

[General Mike]

Quick look at the bowl/payout schedule tells me that their 3 bids combine for $1.825MM. They can take a 4th spot some years but I don't imagine that would increase the pie very much. BCS game payouts are around $17MM, and I'm not sure if the MAC gets a small, small slice from the pie or not every year for being part of the "system".

I'm not sure how the conference shares bowl revenue.

I think it's a 14 or 15M increase to what they normally get from the BCS.

[Young Drachma]

Anyone know what the revenue increase would be for the MAC if they get a team in the BCS?

Under the current system, non-AQ conferences split 18% of the BCS pie if one of their teams makes a BCS bowl game and 9% if none of them does.

Kent State would get $28.2 million for being the non-AQ representative in the BCS rotation. That's the number guaranteed this year to the non-AQ champion that qualifies.

But they'd have to share that with the other non-AQ conferences, so it gets split about 60 ways or so, so each would get about $400k or so.

If the MAC was an AQ conference, they only have to share that $28.2 million with the 12 other members of the MAC. So it's a pretty big difference and that revenue split won't change under the new system, they'll still have to share that revenue for a BCS bid that's reserved for the MAC/Big East/MWC/Sun Belt/C-USA in the new system too.

[Young Drachma]

56 non-AQ schools plus Army, Navy and BYU. So their share would be split 59 ways and in two years, the Big East gets added to that pot. ;)

[Logan]

Cannot wait for tonight. Was wide awake at 5:52 and got in to work early, will be out of here by 1 or so and headed to Brunswick. Going to be perfect November football weather tonight.

My fiancee thought I was a nutjob because last night I kept trying on different layering methods of clothes for the game to figure out the best combination. It didn't help that I paced around the apartment for two hours afterwards.

I expect the team to win. Too much to play for in front of the home crowd, Louisville is banged up, especially Bridgewater who we should be able to get to.

A loss would obviously be tremendously disappointing given the spot the team was in two weeks ago. There's a billion reasons to love it, but this is really why I'm so ecstatic about the Big 10 move. Because if we ended up stuck in the Big East with the schools they've recently and continue to bring in, nights like tonight wouldn't have the same meaning.

Let's fucking go.

[General Mike]

Under the current system, non-AQ conferences split 18% of the BCS pie if one of their teams makes a BCS bowl game and 9% if none of them does.



But they'd have to share that with the other non-AQ conferences, so it gets split about 60 ways or so, so each would get about $400k or so.

If the MAC was an AQ conference, they only have to share that $28.2 million with the 12 other members of the MAC. So it's a pretty big difference and that revenue split won't change under the new system, they'll still have to share that revenue for a BCS bid that's reserved for the MAC/Big East/MWC/Sun Belt/C-USA in the new system too.

I don't think that's how it works.

Based on 2011 payouts (2010 season), when TCU was an AQ, The non AQ conferences got 24.72M total with the Mountain West getting 12.75 Million. They got 24M in 2010 (2009 season) with the MWC getting 9.8 and the WAC getting 7.8M for having the 2 BCS teams.

I would expect the MAC to get close to 15M a team with the other 4 conferences dividing up the rest. Army, Navy and BYU as independents get 100K, but aren't included in the non AQ pool.

[Matthean]

Honey Badger to enter the draft. Might as well since he's smoked away his college career. He might as well get what he can as a pro while he has little chance left.

[B & B]

Honey Badger to enter the draft. Might as well since he's smoked away his college career. He might as well get what he can as a pro while he has little chance left.

The Bengals should open up as favorites at 5/1 here

[Young Drachma]

I don't think that's how it works.

Based on 2011 payouts (2010 season), when TCU was an AQ, The non AQ conferences got 24.72M total with the Mountain West getting 12.75 Million. They got 24M in 2010 (2009 season) with the MWC getting 9.8 and the WAC getting 7.8M for having the 2 BCS teams.

I would expect the MAC to get close to 15M a team with the other 4 conferences dividing up the rest. Army, Navy and BYU as independents get 100K, but aren't included in the non AQ pool.

Ok, I just looked at the wiki page too and saw that. That makes more sense to me. There were other sites that seemed to misinterpret what the MAC would get, probably because no one seriously considered this ever happening.

[Kodos]

Big Nebraska fan this weekend! GO CORNHUSKERS!!!

[Young Drachma]

Empire State Building lit red tonight for Rutgers.

[Young Drachma]

Louisville backup Will Stein gets the start.

[Young Drachma]

First play on offense for Rutgers.

85-yard touchdown pass.

[Lathum]

ugh, that penalty on the fake field goal is a huge momentum swing as Louisville goes down the field and scores a td

[Lathum]

yuck

[Young Drachma]

The only positive is they're moving the ball through the air and there's a whole quarter. So there's that.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Yahoo, 6-8 here we come

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets get bowl waiver approved by NCAA - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8692474/georgia-tech-yellow-jackets-get-bowl-waiver-approved-ncaa)

[Young Drachma]

Ok, I can't watch this game anymore. I hope they win, but they're just so frustrating.

[Young Drachma]

Same. old. Rutgers.

[Young Drachma]

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bowl here we come.

[Marmel]

Least surprising result of the week. At least Rutgers is a family. :p

[Karlifornia]

Someone get Logan the biggest bottle of peppermint schnapps they can find

[Buccaneer]

WOO HOO!!!

[General Mike]

I've seen enough Gary Nova for one lifetime.

[cthomer5000]

Same. old. Rutgers.

When the Scarlet Knights come out in all black (aside from our ghettofabulous Chrome helmets), sporting F.A.M.I.L.Y. on every jersey, we deserve everything we get.

WR Tim Wright needs to take a long look in the mirror.

Whole team sucked overall. Take away the 2 big plays and we basically punted all night while letting a crippled QB pick us apart.

Hey, maybe next year...right? When the Big East is even weaker? We have a one year window before becoming the B1G doormat.

[Young Drachma]

When the Scarlet Knights come out in all black (aside from our ghettofabulous Chrome helmets), sporting F.A.M.I.L.Y. on every jersey, we deserve everything we get.

WR Tim Wright needs to take a long look in the mirror.

Whole team sucked overall. Take away the 2 big plays and we basically punted all night while letting a crippled QB pick us apart.

Hey, maybe next year...right? When the Big East is even weaker? We have a one year window before becoming the B1G doormat.

Those helmets were pretty popular on Twitter. ;)

Does this mean Pernetti has the green light to drop Flood as head coach prior to the B1G move?

[ISiddiqui]

Seriously? Holy crap, WTF? It's like they were playing for the joining the Big 10 and then when that was accomplished it was done.

[Logan]

Someone get Logan the biggest bottle of peppermint schnapps they can find

Thank you kindly.

What Teddy Bridgewater did last night on one ankle and with one wrist was really amazing. He threw some beautiful balls, especially on 3rd downs, and his receivers made big plays when they needed to. Simply put, they executed when we didn't. Their WRs spin three times adjusting to a ball in the air on a deep post, and make diving 30 yard catches on 3rd and long, while our 5th year senior WR drops a wide open bomb, possibly a TD, and then drops a crucial long 3rd down pass and also manages to knee the ball into the defender's arms.

Our OL got abused at the LOS while we could barely get near Bridgewater (who wasn't relying on his own mobility) unless we were sending the house...at which time he calmly found the soft openings in our D.

Time of possession was 42-18 in Louisville's favor. Simply can't win that way. Some of that is offset by the two quick TDs we scored, but all year, our ability to sustain drives was an issue.

[Logan]

Forgot to add of course that the illegal man downfield penalty was the backbreaker. Would have been 21-3, instead Louisville marches downfield, scores a TD, we fumble the kick return, and they score again. 17-14 UL.

[General Mike]

Forgot to add of course that the illegal man downfield penalty was the backbreaker. Would have been 21-3, instead Louisville marches downfield, scores a TD, we fumble the kick return, and they score again. 17-14 UL.

Agree. The atmosphere in the stadium wasn't the same after Louisville's first TD.

[Chief Rum]

UCLA at Stanford tonight. Repeat of last week's game, which was a regularly scheduled conference game, only this time at Stanford.

I have to think Stanford will win this one, since they beat UCLA on the road and are now coming home. But there has been some thought that this will be a very even game, more than last week, because: A) UCLA didn't have anything to play for last week; their spot in the conference championship game was set, and they were already guaranteed to be on the road for it; B) Because UCLA didn't have anything to play for and knew they would play Stanford, they went very conservative in their playcalling, to show less to Stanford going into this game, which is for the Rose Bowl; and C) tThe old cliché, it's hard to beat a good opponent twice in the same season.

That said, I just think Stanford is a more disciplined and experienced team which won the last week's game in the trenches, and that's a difficult liability to overcome (because, really, what has changed from last week?). UCLA has a young team and I don't think they're quite ready for that challenge.

Still, if anyone told me before the season that UCLA would repeat as Pac 12 South champs and go to the Holiday or Alamo Bowl with (at least) 9 wins, including a win over USC, I would have gladly accepted that.

[miked]

Man that game was great but depressing. We really had a few big plays, but that fake FG that was called back was huge. I mean, instead of 21-3, we punt and they score and it's 14-10...then 17-14 on the ensuing fumbled kick. The whole 3rd quarter was dead in the stadium.

We got no pressure on Bridgewater, his WR made the great (and routine) catches our guys didn't. And Flood running Jamison/Huggins in to the line every 1st down is getting old. It's seemed like Flood had 3 plays in the book...run straight, stretch run (where the OL get no blocks) and bomb. I actually thought we had a chance to tie it up when Nova got them to the 50 with a minute left and a timeout, but then the mixed up bomb that was picked. I don't know why Nova felt they had to get 40 yards on every pass play, but the middle was open with a minute left and 1 timeout...they should have used it.

[Logan]

Ugh...now seeing pictures that indicate that the ineligible man downfield call was blown. The flagged player appears within 3 yards of the LOS at the time the ball was thrown. WVU 2006 all over again.

[MrBug708]

Gonna be a wet and messy game in Palo Alto

[molson]

That's probably the last big east football game I'll ever watch.

[Chief Rum]

That's probably the last big east football game I'll ever watch.

Give it a year or two, there might be a last Big East football game anyone watches.

[B & B]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OFClDnJLXz4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[EagleFan]

Nice finish going on in front of the half empty stadium.

[EagleFan]

dola: I love watching games that he is calling, football or basketball.

[Crapshoot]

This is an amazing fucking game. Just amazing. Should have gone. #regrets

[Crapshoot]

Nice finish going on in front of the half empty stadium.

Stanford has ~5,000 undergrad students. Its not a big school, and the Bay Area doesn't live and die with its college teams.

[Thomkal]

It's almost halftime in Coastal Carolina's playoff game at # 3 Old Dominion-and OD leads 28-21. It would be a monumental upset if Coastal pulled it off. I think they had the most losses of any team in the playoffs this season.

Edit: They were at the one yard line near halftime...and didn't score. :(

[Karlifornia]

See! You! L! A! SeeYouLA You! Guys! Suck! All kidding aside, that was a great effort by the Bruins, and you guys should feel happy with that coaching staff going forward. They had a brilliant gameplan, and yuckla should have won.

[General Mike]

Congrats to Tulsa on winning CUSA

[BishopMVP]

So Oregon State is playing Nicholls State this week (I assume its rescheduled from that LA hurricane in Week 2?). What would have happened if Nicholls made the FCS playoffs?

[GrantDawg]

I haven't been this nervous since before the 1980 Sugar bowl.

[Matthean]

I'm all sorts of uncomfortable with 'Bama's chances in this game. At some point the uber talented but mentally flawed team flips the switch. I prefer it not being now. :lol:

[BishopMVP]

I'm all sorts of uncomfortable with 'Bama's chances in this game. At some point the uber talented but mentally flawed team flips the switch. I prefer it not being now. :lol:Georgia may have flipped the switch after the USCe/Kentucky debacles, but there's no real way to tell because their schedule has been abysmal. They're lucky Alabama is viewed as such a good win that they'll automatically make the BCS title game if they win today, because other than that they only have 2 wins worth anything and I'd be tempted to put K-State, Oregon or even Florida into the title game over them.

[britrock88]

So Oregon State is playing Nicholls State this week (I assume its rescheduled from that LA hurricane in Week 2?). What would have happened if Nicholls made the FCS playoffs?

They probably would have cancelled it, and Nicholls would have gotten a buyout-type sum for it. Same would have gone if Oregon State had won their division and played in the PAC-12 championship game.

[Ben E Lou]

Now THAT was a throw.

[Easy Mac]

Georgia may have flipped the switch after the USCe/Kentucky debacles, but there's no real way to tell because their schedule has been abysmal. They're lucky Alabama is viewed as such a good win that they'll automatically make the BCS title game if they win today, because other than that they only have 2 wins worth anything and I'd be tempted to put K-State, Oregon or even Florida into the title game over them.

Georgia beat Florida.

[Thomkal]

It's almost halftime in Coastal Carolina's playoff game at # 3 Old Dominion-and OD leads 28-21. It would be a monumental upset if Coastal pulled it off. I think they had the most losses of any team in the playoffs this season.

Edit: They were at the one yard line near halftime...and didn't score. :(

And its tied at 35 as they near the end of the third quarter...

[JonInMiddleGA]

Alabama best find a way to score soon. The longer they leave Georgia in this game, the better the chances for an upset become.

[Matthean]

Georgia beat Florida.

Georgia had the worse loss, etc.

[GrantDawg]

Georgia had the worse loss, etc.


How you figure? Georgia lost to the higher ranked team, away, in a game they where a underdog. Florida loss to the lower ranked team, in a game they were favored. I love how we always ignore context in these discussions.

[Thomkal]

And its tied at 35 as they near the end of the third quarter...

And just like that its 49-35 ODU :(

[bob]

How you figure? Georgia lost to the higher ranked team, away, in a game they where a underdog. Florida loss to the lower ranked team, in a game they were favored. I love how we always ignore context in these discussions.

I think he means scoreboard wise. Georgia got boat raced, while UF lost to UGA by a touchdown or so (can't remember the exact score of either game)

[BishopMVP]

How you figure? Georgia lost to the higher ranked team, away, in a game they where a underdog. Florida loss to the lower ranked team, in a game they were favored. I love how we always ignore context in these discussions.Georgia was never in the game after the first 10 minutes, Florida had the ball with a chance to tie in the last minute. I also don't think it makes sense to use the teams ranking at the time as the arbiter. Does Stanford get more credit for beating USCw than Notre Dame or UCLA does because USCw was #2 at the time?

I'm not even saying I'd definitely go for Florida over Georgia, but I don't think Georgia should be the lock for the title game that they will be with a win. Florida has more quality wins and K-State has beaten more decent teams. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, Alabama is regarded as a juggernaut and a win over them validates any team as elite.They probably would have cancelled it, and Nicholls would have gotten a buyout-type sum for it. Same would have gone if Oregon State had won their division and played in the PAC-12 championship game.Probably, but it would have been interesting if Oregon State had stayed in the discussion for the title game. Would they have tried to cancel it just to avoid the SoS downgrade?

[KWhit]

How is that not a penalty?

[TroyF]

How is that not a penalty?

The ref was looking right at it. People get pissed at me for being hard on the refs. The ref who was looking right at that play and didn't throw a flag should NEVER ref another football game again. He should be walked off the field at halftime.

The Alabama player who had the cheap shot should be kicked out of this game and suspended for the next one. The powers that be in the NFL and college football both talk about safety, but refuse to do anything about it. A personal foul of that nature should have SEVERE consequences.

If Bama ends up with a FG because of the 15 free yards, this will be a shame.

[timmynausea]

The ref was looking right at it. People get pissed at me for being hard on the refs. The ref who was looking right at that play and didn't throw a flag should NEVER ref another football game again. He should be walked off the field at halftime.

Additionally, the ref should be kicked in the balls by the UGA player of Aaron Murray's choosing.

[Matthean]

'Bama up despite their numerous mental errors. If they play smart, it will be a fun second half. The fake punts have to be killing my Dad. He HATES Bobby Williams who coaches the special teams for 'Bama.

[TroyF]

'Bama up despite their numerous mental errors. If they play smart, it will be a fun second half. The fake punts have to be killing my Dad. He HATES Bobby Williams who coaches the special teams for 'Bama.

Monster drive by GA there. They needed to answer the last part of that second quarter. They did in a big way. Bama will have made adjustments as well. The D needs to step up to support what the offense just did.

[Ben E Lou]

WOOHOOO!!!!

[Matthean]

Well, can't complain about the missed personal with the missed call that lead to a blocked FG and TD. Did I mention how much my Dad hates Bobby Williams? :banghead: Congrats on the title Georgia.

[TroyF]

Huge play. If GA can somehow win, I will forgive Stanford for beating OR. Long way to go though.

[Ben E Lou]

Sheesh. Not even close to stopping the run.

[Ben E Lou]

Dawgs must answer right now, or it's over.

[cuervo72]

I guess Bama woke up after that blocked FG.

[jbergey22]

The ref was looking right at it. People get pissed at me for being hard on the refs. The ref who was looking right at that play and didn't throw a flag should NEVER ref another football game again. He should be walked off the field at halftime.

The Alabama player who had the cheap shot should be kicked out of this game and suspended for the next one. The powers that be in the NFL and college football both talk about safety, but refuse to do anything about it. A personal foul of that nature should have SEVERE consequences.

If Bama ends up with a FG because of the 15 free yards, this will be a shame.

When was the last time the refs didnt just crap all over the team you wanted to win?

[jbergey22]

Game on!

[Ben E Lou]

Dawgs must answer right now, or it's over.Alllllllrighty then.

Epic game?

[Buccaneer]

I thought the Georgia Dome had all of those multi-colored ceiling tiles?

[cuervo72]

Upset Alert:#2 Alabama 25, #3 Georgia 28 - 12:54 4th Qtr

Don't ever change, ESPN Scoreboard.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Saw this on Twitter, from legendary WWE announcer (and uber college football fan) Jim Ross
Can only imagine how the late, great Larry Munson would be while calling #Bama vs #UGA. Classic, real passion & memorable descriptors.

Ol' JR is right about that one. No matter my feeling about the Dawgs, Munson would have provided a call for the ages today.

[TroyF]

When was the last time the refs didnt just crap all over the team you wanted to win?

I would be seeing the same thing if it happened FOR the team I wanted to win. People always forget that I go crazy even if the call goes for my team.

As for that particular play, it was dangerous, cheap and the intent was to simply knock the QB out of the game. The ref saw this and chose to not call it. It was a disgusting call and it would have been just as disgusting had the hit been against the bama QB.

If you disagree with my assessment, have at it.

[jbergey22]

Georgia needs to add a guy to the box or something. This is ridiculous.

[Ben E Lou]

Saban does the Dawgs a favor by throwing on 3rd and 6...

[TroyF]

Georgia needs to add a guy to the box or something. This is ridiculous.

The only thing that concerns me when you get a team grounding and pounding like this is what happens when they are forced into a third and long. The QB is a little out of rhythm and converting in those situations becomes tough. I didn't think GA was going to stop them, but when they did on two consecutive plays the third down was missed.

GA really needs some first downs here, even if they don't get a TD. Their defense badly needs a rest.

[jbergey22]

The only thing that concerns me when you get a team grounding and pounding like this is what happens when they are forced into a third and long. The QB is a little out of rhythm and converting in those situations becomes tough. I didn't think GA was going to stop them, but when they did on two consecutive plays the third down was missed.

GA really needs some first downs here, even if they don't get a TD. Their defense badly needs a rest.

Agree

The back seemed to have a hole on that 3rd down play. Couldnt really tell if it was a poor effort by him or a great play by the bama tackler.

[cuervo72]

Man, if that punter had gone rogue and decided to run...

(looked like all the Bama defenders had run upfield before the ball was even kicked and Georgia had men back)

(I know, no way he can actually do that)

[Young Drachma]

lol

[Ben E Lou]

Man, if that punter had gone rogue and decided to run...

(looked like all the Bama defenders had run upfield before the ball was even kicked and Georgia had men back)

(I know, no way he can actually do that)
I saw that, and thought the same thing..



Hmmm....Bama TD. Might be better for the Dawgs than the TD with 30 seconds left I was picturing from this drive...

[Ben E Lou]

What on EARTH was that, Murray???

[CU Tiger]

Thats PI

[digamma]

Should be overturned.

[Racer]

Should be overturned.

+1. Who knows with college officials though.

[Young Drachma]

Nice throw. Nice catch

[Young Drachma]

What a heartbreaker.

[frnk55]

Crap

[Eaglesfan27]

Wow. That drive was looking epic until the last play.

[Abe Sargent]

WOW

[Racer]

Dumb not to spike that. What was the Georgia QB thinking?

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Shoulda dropped that ball.

[jbergey22]

Should have clocked it! Werent going to get 4 plays anyway.

[CU Tiger]

If he doesnt catch it...if he doesnt slip...if they had spiked the ball...

I hate GA..but they had their chance

[Suicane75]

Horrible end of game management there. He should have clocked it and taken 3 stabs at it.

[jbergey22]

Dumb not to spike that. What was the Georgia QB thinking?

Probably on the coach, I doubt it was Murrays decision.

[timmynausea]

Watching the replay I think it's plausible that the throw was intended to go to the other WR who was running into the end zone, but it got deflected directly to the underneath guy.

[digamma]

Great game.

Huge missed hold on the second to last play so the last play was a little ball don't lie justice.

Now for some college football. Go Jackets.

[TroyF]

F ME. Saban vs. Notre Dame. At least I don't have to worry about watching the title game. No interest at all in watching Bama beat ND senseless and watching that human puss sack Saban smile again.

I can't believe Richt didn't have Murray clock the ball, the single stupidest coaching decision I saw this year.

[britrock88]

Self-defeating Mark Richt! Ugh.

[britrock88]

F ME. Saban vs. Notre Dame. At least I don't have to worry about watching the title game. No interest at all in watching Bama beat ND senseless and watching that human puss sack Saban smile again.

I can't believe Richt didn't have Murray clock the ball, the single stupidest coaching decision I saw this year.

QFT

[Matthean]

Congrats on the title Georgia.

Reverse jinx FTW! :devil:

Now if the title game could be half as good.

[Ben E Lou]

Watching the replay I think it's plausible that the throw was intended to go to the other WR who was running into the end zone, but it got deflected directly to the underneath guy.I think that's exactly what happened. Instinctive play to catch the ball. :(

[Ben E Lou]

Now if the title game could be half as good.Uh, no. Beat them like they stole something.

[Matthean]

It was also nice to see a highly regarded QB not have a near perfect game against 'Bama. The LSU and A&M games drove me up the wall.

P.S. I don't consider Robinson a highly regarded QB. :lol:

[Buccaneer]

F ME. Saban vs. Notre Dame. At least I don't have to worry about watching the title game. No interest at all in watching Bama beat ND senseless and watching that human puss sack Saban smile again.

wow. I am unbelievably bummed.

If it ends up being a ND/Bama championship game, I won't watch a single bowl game. college football will be dead to me for the rest of the year.

or any other bowl game for that matter



:)

The dominance of confederate football and Notre Dame this season makes me sad. At least there's Kansas State.

[cuervo72]

Uh, no. Beat them like they stole something.

Agreed.

[Ben E Lou]

Watching the replay I think it's plausible that the throw was intended to go to the other WR who was running into the end zone, but it got deflected directly to the underneath guy.Yeah. Richt just said it was going to Mitchell and just got tipped. I tend to think throwing it quickly into the end zone before Bama had a chance to get ready may have been the better call there, but it just worked out horribly. If the ball isn't tipped or Conley doesn't catch it (not his fault), it's either a TD or an incomplete pass with another shot at the end zone.

[Buccaneer]

So Georgia's consolation prize is to go to a bowl game in....Atlanta???

[JonInMiddleGA]

Probably on the coach, I doubt it was Murrays decision.

This, I do believe.

[mauchow]

Yeah, that guys a freshman RB.

[JonInMiddleGA]

So Georgia's consolation prize is to go to a bowl game in....Atlanta???

Orlando or Tampa actually.

edit to add: Peach Bowl doesn't pick until 5th. Capital One, Cotton and Outback all pick ahead of them.

[mauchow]

Orlando or Tampa actually.

Yeah, I was thinking it'd be the Cap One bowl but I guess it could be multiple teams...

[JonInMiddleGA]

Yeah, I was thinking it'd be the Cap One bowl but I guess it could be multiple teams...

I don't think I've heard anything serious other than Capital One, just an obligatory "we probably won't be getting them" sort of answer from the Peach in response to a local question.

[JPhillips]

Is the B1G game already over?

[mauchow]

Let's rattle the fuckin' cage of T Mart right off the bat. FUck yeah.

[Matthean]

ESPN and SI have A&M/Michigan in the Capital One game even if Georgia lost.

[mauchow]

Is the B1G game already over?

Unfortunately not. The Badgers were up big in Lincoln and lost that one... not having an average QB will keep most teams in the game. Our defense is stellar but more of a bend don't break type so... still a great start for WI.

[Buccaneer]

ESPN and SI have A&M/Michigan in the Capital One game even if Georgia lost.

And I saw Georgia in the Chik-Fil-A Bowl.

[mauchow]

Holy shit he's fast... damn had about three tries for sacks there. Wow.

[JonInMiddleGA]

ESPN and SI have A&M/Michigan in the Capital One game even if Georgia lost.

Apparently that news broke yesterday while I was otherwise engaged. There is apparently a sequence that goes A&M to Capital One, then LSU to the Cotton (because they usually take a SEC West team) and then the Outback skips Georgia to take South Carolina since they had UGA last year.

That would leave UGA to the CFA Peach ... even though as recently as Wednesday the bowl chairman called it "very unlikely" that they would get the title game loser, even going so far as to identify the 5 most likely teams (alphabetically) as LSU, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.
Chick-fil-A Bowl chairman says SEC loser returning to Atlanta ‘very unlikely’ | UGA sports blog (http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2012/11/28/chick-fil-a-bowl-chairman-says-sec-loser-falling-to-them-very-unlikely/)

[JonInMiddleGA]

It seems to come down to whether enough pressure is placed on the Capital One to take UGA so that the Cotton can have A&M.

[B & B]

UGA to cotton bowl

FTL

[CU Tiger]

Is this assuming FL to the Sugar?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Is this assuming FL to the Sugar?

That seems to be all be certain at this point.

[CU Tiger]

Im not so sure with a last second loss...there is precedence for SEC Shenanigans where there would be no movement and Bama stays 2 and UF 3

[JonInMiddleGA]

Im not so sure with a last second loss...there is precedence for SEC Shenanigans where there would be no movement and Bama stays 2 and UF 3

I'm guessing you mean UGA 3 there. Might come down to the K-State result ... Florida is already #2 in the computers so they ain't moving up any. Meanwhile UGA is #4, Oregon #5, K-State and Stanford are tied for #6. that's .860, .850, .790 and .790.

Oregon should slip ahead of UGA, Stanford might ... but will KState also?

Georgia's overall lead over Florida was .8911 to .8882

[mauchow]

Badgers go up 28-10. Former QB Abbrederis gets the half back pass type play back to the QB down to the 1 yard line where James White gets second TD of the game.

[Matthean]

Is the B1G game already over?

This one isn't in Nebraska and Wisconsin got better as the year went by. So, yeah. Odd to think the Big Ten is sending a 8-5 team to the Rose Bowl, but three loses where in OT. The two other games were lost by a combined 6 points.

[Karlifornia]

Bye, Georgia. The first time in my life I've gone for Bama.

[mauchow]

I am loving every moment of this first half.

Shuck 'em Bucky.

[mauchow]

If Wisconsin puts another 7 on the board before half....

edit: I should have said 14..

edited again: now I hope for 7 more...

[Karlifornia]

Stanford needs revenge on wisky.

[EagleFan]

Did anyone tell Nebraska that this game started yet?

[mauchow]

HOlllly shit if he scored on that, that would have been one of the plays of the year.

[Mustang]

Wow...

[mauchow]

Melvin Gordon = BEAST. He's so FAST and strong. He'll give us two good years and go pro after his junior season. Redshirt.

[EagleFan]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8BUHf3tY9JI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[MrBug708]

Looks like the Pac will win the Rose Bowl this year

[Matthean]

Looks like the Pac will win the Rose Bowl this year

I think it will be a hell of a game between two physical type teams.

[mauchow]

Looks like the Pac will win the Rose Bowl this year

*shrug*

The Badgers will likely have Stave back who's been our only passing threat of the three QBs we've had this year, which would only help in the game against Stanford.

Regardless, I do look forward to the third straight Rose Bowl for the Badgers. And the Badgers only lose six starters into next year, possibly seven or eight depending on junior draftees.

[Mustang]

I thought Stave was out for the season period. (including any bowl game).

At least that was the last news I saw on him back when he was injured.

[mauchow]

I thought Stave was out for the season period. (including any bowl game).

At least that was the last news I saw on him back when he was injured.

He's been throwing again the past week or so, timetable has changed. Still uncertain but I would imagine if he's 100% they'll play him. If he isn't 100% I would think it would be a good idea to keep the kid healthy for next year...

[JPhillips]

This one isn't in Nebraska and Wisconsin got better as the year went by. So, yeah. Odd to think the Big Ten is sending a 8-5 team to the Rose Bowl, but three loses where in OT. The two other games were lost by a combined 6 points.

Five loss team that finished third in their division.

Not likely to happen this way again.

[Mustang]

Hadn't seen that. Would be great obviously if he could come back. Phillips is giving it the ole college try (so to speak), but he is dreadful throwing the ball.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Down by 15, still early-ish 3rd qtr, GT gets an FSU fumble at midfield. What's this? A sign of life? A flicker of hope?

First play after the turnover:
1st and 10 at FSU 48 Synjyn Days pass intercepted by Xavier Rhodes at the FlaSt 28, returned for 14 yards to the FlaSt 42.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is Georgia Tech football.

[mauchow]

Hadn't seen that. Would be great obviously if he could come back. Phillips is giving it the ole college try (so to speak), but he is dreadful throwing the ball.

Yeah, I feel for the guy. A highly touted QB out of high school, three torn ACL's and will likely get a sixth year granted so he'll have a partial year of experience to compete for the starting job next year.

[Swaggs]

This one isn't in Nebraska and Wisconsin got better as the year went by. So, yeah. Odd to think the Big Ten is sending a 8-5 team to the Rose Bowl, but three loses where in OT. The two other games were lost by a combined 6 points.

The flip side is that they beat Northern Iowa (a 5-6 FCS team) and Utah State (a good WAC team) by a combined 7 points, so they were nearly as close to being a 5-7 team. And, even if they had lost those games, they still would have made the Big Ten championship. :)

[mauchow]

This may be the ugliest second half of football ever coming up...

[cuervo72]

So....3rd place in B1G >>>>>>>>>> 3rd place in ACC. :)

[mauchow]

The flip side is that they beat Northern Iowa (a 5-6 FCS team) and Utah State (a good WAC team) by a combined 7 points, so they were nearly as close to being a 5-7 team. And, even if they had lost those games, they still would have made the Big Ten championship. :)

It would have been interesting to see how the season would have gone if Stave started the season right away and if Markuson was never hired to begin with (changed the scheme completely then fired him early on and that's when the going got better for the running game...). The season is over and we move on with what we have.

The interest level of the Stanford/Wisconsin game won't be that high going in but if people give it a chance it should be a good hard fought game.

[JonInMiddleGA]

GT closes the gap to 21-9. Just need four more field goals to tie it up.

[JPhillips]

You can't call a penalty on that block by the NE receiver. The guy was chasing the ball carrier and within a few yards.

[mauchow]

You can't call a penalty on that block by the NE receiver. The guy was chasing the ball carrier and within a few yards.

Yep, block of the year -- a little more malicious than needed as he went high all the way but yeah, I agree, should have been a TD.

[mauchow]

Will that play get Ball a courtesy invite to the Heisman?

Not that anyone here is watching the game anymore.. But to further pursue the point, I do believe he'll get an invite just on the basis that he is the all time TD holder (although maybe not technically..) in the record books.

[cuervo72]

I still have it on (at least in part) as I don't particularly care for Nebraska.

[Swaggs]

I don't get the conversion attempt for GT there.

Now, if FSU gets a FG, it's over.

[mauchow]

Not sure when I'll start to feel bad... maybe after one more TD.

[Mustang]

Good god.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Okay, am I missing something here?

GT down 21-15 after a TD. About 6 mins left to play. Go for 2 and fail.

Now even an FSU field goal basically ends the game, whereas
a kick makes it 5, a FG makes it 8, and you can still get to OT
a 2pt success still only cuts it to 4 and you've still gotta get a TD to tie even if they kick a FG.

So ... WTH go for 2 there?

[Swaggs]

Okay, am I missing something here?

GT down 21-15 after a TD. About 6 mins left to play. Go for 2 and fail.

Now even an FSU field goal basically ends the game, whereas
a kick makes it 5, a FG makes it 8, and you can still get to OT
a 2pt success still only cuts it to 4 and you've still gotta get a TD to tie even if they kick a FG.

So ... WTH go for 2 there?

Exactly.

Even if it works out and GT wins, that was still an odd move. It doesn't put you within FG range and it takes you out of the game if FSU gets a FG. Just strange.

[Swaggs]

ACC refs seem to be missing some pretty blatant holds on FSU.

[Swaggs]

Dola...

Should say holds and blocks in the back.

[mauchow]

Gus Johnson should stick to basketball -- ripping on Wisconsin for running up the score when all they've been doing is running the ball. Their last pass was from the wildcat formation in the last play of the first half.....

And now nothing will happen with Nebraska playing 9 in the box.

[Mustang]

Gus Johnson should stick to basketball -- ripping on Wisconsin for running up the score when all they've been doing is running the ball.

The way they are talking about Nebraska is that they have a chance to come back.

[Matthean]

Gus Johnson should stick to basketball -- ripping on Wisconsin for running up the score when all they've been doing is running the ball. Their last pass was from the wildcat formation in the last play of the first half.....

And now nothing will happen with Nebraska playing 9 in the box.

How much are the backups in?

[mauchow]

How much are the backups in?

They've been rotating in since early in the 3rd quarter. i'm sure the rest of the way it will be 90% backups. And another issue is that our 3rd string RB is just as good as Ball.

edit: C'mon Borland don't pile drive him.. jeez..lol then that happens, c'mon guys.

[britrock88]

Exactly.

Even if it works out and GT wins, that was still an odd move. It doesn't put you within FG range and it takes you out of the game if FSU gets a FG. Just strange.

Actually, I think it's a smart move. (Assuming PATs are automatic). Think of what would have happened if FSU kicked a FG, and GT came back with a late touchdown to make it 22-24. They still have to make a 2PC to draw even. But where going for it early gives GT an advantage is that they know whether they'll need time to score again after that late touchdown in advance of the attempted tying 2PC. So perhaps they'd hurry a bit more knowing they'd need to score again in this case, as they missed, but if they had made it to get to 17-21/17-24, they know all they have to do is get the PAT and go to overtime.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Actually, I think it's a smart move. (Assuming PATs are automatic). Think of what would have happened if FSU kicked a FG, and GT came back with a late touchdown to make it 22-24. They still have to make a 2PC to draw even. But where going for it early gives GT an advantage is that they know whether they'll need time to score again after that late touchdown in advance of the attempted tying 2PC. So perhaps they'd hurry a bit more knowing they'd need to score again in this case, as they missed, but if they had made it to get to 17-21/17-24, they know all they have to do is get the PAT and go to overtime.

Down to 6:30 though, GT isn't going to score twice,just not going to happen with their offense. So it's either one score for OT or one score for OT.

[JonInMiddleGA]

SoCon talent with sub SoCon coaching ... and the conference title comes down to the last possession. Good grief but the ACC is baaaaaad.

[Mustang]

Hey Gus, I'm pretty sure Wisconsin is going to 'hold on' to win.

[mauchow]

Third straight Rose Bowl appearance for Wisconsin. Let's not make it third straight Rose Bowl loss, though. Okay? Thanks.

[General Mike]

Thank god, no more Gus Johnson.

[MrBug708]

Thank god, no more Gus Johnson.

Said no one ever

[Ben E Lou]

Yeah. Richt just said it was going to Mitchell and just got tipped. I tend to think throwing it quickly into the end zone before Bama had a chance to get ready may have been the better call there, but it just worked out horribly. If the ball isn't tipped or Conley doesn't catch it (not his fault), it's either a TD or an incomplete pass with another shot at the end zone.Yeah, after sleeping on it, I'm still in the same place of having a hard time being frustrated over the decision to try to catch Bama before they could get organized. It just didn't work out. Sometimes you make a solid, gutsy call but the other guy just makes a play and you lose. Probably 98% of the time, that play is a TD or incompletion. ~1.9999% of the time, it's an interception. And ~.00001% of the time, a defender tips the pass right to an underneath receiver and the receiver instinctively catches the ball and you lose. :(

[General Mike]

Said no one ever

I just said it.

[mauchow]

I just said it.

He was pretty brutal.

[Easy Mac]

Yeah, after sleeping on it, I'm still in the same place of having a hard time being frustrated over the decision to try to catch Bama before they could get organized. It just didn't work out. Sometimes you make a solid, gutsy call but the other guy just makes a play and you lose. Probably 98% of the time, that play is a TD or incompletion. ~1.9999% of the time, it's an interception. And ~.00001% of the time, a defender tips the pass right to an underneath receiver and the receiver instinctively catches the ball and you lose. :(

If it's not tipped, it's probably 100% PI in the end zone on Bama. The receiver was being mugged in there, but the tip negated anything.

[molson]

Gus Johnson should stick to basketball -- ripping on Wisconsin for running up the score when all they've been doing is running the ball.

I think there's really people that think teams should just kneel the ball 20-30 times at the end of a game if they're winning by a lot. And I think someday we're going to get there.

Even though, I haven't heard any reports of Nebraska players' feelings being SO hurt by giving up a lot of points that any medical intervention or anything has been required.

[Ben E Lou]

Right. I just meant in general that there's a very good chance that you either win the game on that play or get one more shot.

[molson]

Boise St. at 15 and NIU at 16 in the new coach's poll - I don't think that'll be enough for either to get to the top 16 of the BCS.

[Young Drachma]

Projected BCS: NIU yo-yos back out of BCS bowl spot ... for now - CBSSports.com (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/jerry-palm/21224824/projected-bcs-niu-yo-yos-back-out-of-bcs-bowl-spot--for-now)

UPDATE (12:45 p.m. ET): The coaches poll is out and it's bad news for NIU. Kind of. The current BCS projection has them 17th, but only .005 behind No. 15 UCLA. Yes, you read that right. No. 15. Nebraska has fallen to 16th, wedged in that tight space between the two.

The Huskies only had a 95 point lead over UCLA. That means to catch UCLA, based on my current computer ranking projections, they would need to have a 291 point lead over the Bruins in the Harris poll to pass them. That's an average of a 2.5 spot difference per voter.

Passing Nebraska might now be easier. Again, based on my current computer projections, NIU would need a 394 point margin over the Huskers to pass them in the BCS.

And if the computers projections are closer for NIU, then they need less juice in the polls. One spot in a computer that matters, going either direction, is the equivalent of 29 Harris poll points.

NIU is either going to narrowly make or narrowly miss getting a spot. Of course, under the new system in a few years, they'd get that Group of Five autobid that the "Big East" now gets.

[Buccaneer]

NIU is either going to narrowly make or narrowly miss getting a spot. Of course, under the new system in a few years, they'd get that Group of Five autobid that the "Big East" now gets.

Under the new system, there would be 4 playoffs teams, right? If the Group of Five gets one, who gets the others?

[Young Drachma]

Under the new system, there would be 4 playoffs teams, right? If the Group of Five gets one, who gets the others?

Five at-large teams selected by a committee. They don't know what that committee will look like yet.

[Young Drachma]

Six bowls in pool for college football semifinal games - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8624387/six-bowls-pool-college-football-semifinal-games)

The national semifinals will rotate through the six bowl games, setting up two playoff games and four major bowl games each season. The national title game will be bid out each year through a separate process similar to the Super Bowl.

The six games will include three "contract bowls" and three "host bowls." The spots in the contract bowls are reserved for teams that have deals with those bowls.

The contract bowls are: Rose (Pac-12 versus Big Ten), Sugar (SEC versus Big 12) and Orange (ACC versus Big Ten, SEC or Notre Dame).

While a Big Ten or SEC team could be selected to the Orange Bowl, the commissioners have agreed that when the Rose and/or Sugar bowls are hosting the semifinals, the Big Ten or SEC champion will not be placed in the Orange Bowl. Instead, it would have to be placed in one of the three other access bowls to increase the worth of that bowl, sources told ESPN.

Those remaining three access or "host" bowls still must be determined, but the leading candidates are the Fiesta, Cotton and Chick-fil-A, sources said.

With the "Group of Five" earning an automatic bid, that will lock up seven of the 12 berths in the six access bowls. The other five berths will be filled with at-large teams chosen, based on their final rankings, by a yet-to-be-formed selection committee.

[Buccaneer]

I still don't quite follow that. Regardless of where they play, isn't the point to have four semi-finalists? What does the contract bowls and six access bowls have to do with picking four teams for the playoffs or are there more teams than that in the playoffs? I think I need a picture. :(

[Young Drachma]

I still don't quite follow that. Regardless of where they play, isn't the point to have four semi-finalists? What does the contract bowls and six access bowls have to do with picking four teams for the playoffs or are there more teams than that in the playoffs? I think I need a picture. :(

SI did a mock selection committee. Lots of graphics and pictures.

College football playoff mock selection committee-Oregon, Florida in - NCAA Football - SI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/11/29/college-football-playoff-mock-selection-committee/)

Access bowls versus contract bowls determine what conferences have access to the big dollars. This isn't about titles, it's about access to piles of monies for your league. The crystal ball at the end is just incidental in all of this.

But yes, the selection committee picks the four semi-finalists for the playoffs. The other bowls go on like normal. Just who gets picked for those bowls is different. Right now, the BCS uses polls + computers. Starting in 2014, the top four (and the five at-large bowl teams, presumably) will get picked by a human committee a la the NCAA tournaments.

[Swaggs]

I love a good Cinderella story, but I think it's pretty tough to justify NIU being one of the best 16 (or top 25, really) teams in the country.

They lost to a 4-8 Iowa team and beat a 1-11 (and 0-11 vs FBCS teams) Kansas by 7-points at home. They had a great season and it is cool to go undefeated in your conference (against your peers), no matter the situation, but the one-loss makes their season much less remarkable (and it was to a bad team) to me and puts them a significant step below teams that played 8-10 quality games and lost once or twice.

[molson]

I love a good Cinderella story, but I think it's pretty tough to justify NIU being one of the best 16 (or top 25, really) teams in the country.

They lost to a 4-8 Iowa team and beat a 1-11 (and 0-11 vs FBCS teams) Kansas by 7-points at home. They had a great season and it is cool to go undefeated in your conference (against your peers), no matter the situation, but the one-loss makes their season much less remarkable (and it was to a bad team) to me and puts them a significant step below teams that played 8-10 quality games and lost once or twice.

Ya, you can't argue they belong anywhere near a big bowl game, let alone a BCS bowl game. In the current setup at least, which lasts I think just one more year, the non-BCS conferences have probably too much access to the BCS bowls. Kent St, who I think we can say now absolutely would have gotten to the orange bowl if they won, lost to Kentucky by 33. We're a long way from the days when Boise St. would steamroll through an undefeated season and still be a borderline BCS team. The fact that a one-loss NIU team and a two-loss Boise St team got this close is pretty crazy.

[Young Drachma]

Maybe Boise State should've joined the Big East a year early. Could've been in a BCS bowl. ;)

[Young Drachma]

We're a long way from the days when Boise St. would steamroll through an undefeated season and still be a borderline BCS team. The fact that a one-loss NIU team and a two-loss Boise St team got this close is pretty crazy.

The Top-16 at-large bid is different from how Boise State and Hawaii and those teams qualified. Those teams got in via automatic bid awarded to a non-AQ school that finishes in the Top 12.

This Top-16 clause is for a non-AQ conference champion that that finishes in the Top 16 of the BCS standings AHEAD of an AQ-conference champion. (In this case, they'll finish ahead of both the Big East and Big Ten champs.)

3. The champion of Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Sun Belt Conference, or the Western Athletic Conference will earn an automatic berth in a BCS bowl game if either:

A. Such team is ranked in the top 12 of the final BCS Standings, or,
B. Such team is ranked in the top 16 of the final BCS Standings and its ranking in the final BCS Standings is higher than that of a champion of a conference that has an annual automatic berth in one of the BCS bowls.

No more than one such team from Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Sun Belt Conference, and the Western Athletic Conference shall earn an automatic berth in any year. (Note: a second team may be eligible for at-large eligibility as noted below.) If two or more teams from those conferences satisfy the provisions for an automatic berth, then the team with the highest finish in the final BCS Standings will receive the automatic berth, and the remaining team or teams will be considered for at-large selection if it meets the criteria.

That's why the money has to be shared with the other non-AQ conferences (and their schools) because it's not an automatic bid, clarifying conversations earlier. So this isn't the same qualification method that got those old WAC/MWC teams into the BCS as automatic teams or at-large picks by the bowls themselves.

It's essentially the only way a Sun Belt/MAC team would ever really have a shot at qualifying for a BCS bowl and probably why they agreed to it back in the day.

In the new system, it'll actually be EASIER for them to qualify, but the difference is that they're all competing with each other (which should quell lateral move realignment) for a spot.

Via the BCS selection process: http://www.bcsfootball.org/news/story?id=4819597

[Swaggs]

Ya, you can't argue they belong anywhere near a big bowl game, let alone a BCS bowl game. In the current setup at least, which lasts I think just one more year, the non-BCS conferences have probably too much access to the BCS bowls. Kent St, who I think we can say now absolutely would have gotten to the orange bowl if they won, lost to Kentucky by 33. We're a long way from the days when Boise St. would steamroll through an undefeated season and still be a borderline BCS team. The fact that a one-loss NIU team and a two-loss Boise St team got this close is pretty crazy.

I guess part of the problem is that more of the AQ conferences are play 9-game schedules and/or playing conference championships than when the BCS first originated. The Big Ten, ACC, and Pac12 have all began playing championship games since the BCS began, while the Big12 and Pac12 both play 9-game conference schedules. Nebraska, UCLA, and Oklahoma have all been directly impacted by those factors this season.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Starting in 2014, the top four (and the five at-large bowl teams, presumably) will get picked by a human committee a la the NCAA tournaments.

If I understand it right, the non-semifinal bowls will have slots determined by the committee but quite a few of those are also covered by contracts (aka the three "contract bowls"). The other three are "access bowls"; i.e. those without contracts but one of those spots is guaranteed to belong one of the so-called "Group of Five" (Big East/CUSA/MAC/Mtn West/Sun Belt).

Seems to me the bowl rotation is going to become part of the story, as the matchups are going to get rather screwy some years depending upon who has the semifinals.

If I had to take a wildass stab at it I'd figure the semis will be 1 contract + 1 access each year. I'll take a further WAG and guess they start with the Sugar since Rose & Orange had hosted the final two BCS NCG's. And further WAG that they'll try to mix up the regions with the access bowls.

With that I'll guess it's
Semi 2014 Sugar & Fiesta
Semi 2015 Orange & Cotton
Semi 2016 Rose & CFA
-------

Which would make this year's pairing something like
Sugar: Alabama (#2) vs Florida (#3)
Fiesta: Notre Dame (#1) vs Oregon (#4)
--------
Orange: FSU (ACC) vs Georgia (highest ND/SEC/B1G available)
Rose: Stanford (Pac) vs Wisconsin (B1G)
Cotton: K-State (2nd at-large) vs Texas A&M (3rd at-large)
CFA: LSU (1st at-large) vs NIU (4th at-large)


Yeah yeah, I know. The at-larges are numbered out of sequence because I've flip-flopped LSU & KState. But I have to think the committee would try to avoid an LSU vs A&M rematch in the first year of the new system.

edit to add: I'm sure all those who hate the BCS are really going to be pleased with seeing 5 of the 12 slots taken by SEC teams, including 2 of the semifinals. Again, as I understand it, the committee is to give weight to conference champions but not required to exclude non-champs from the semifinals. I don't believe they'd jump a 1-loss KState into the final four over either Florida or Oregon, nor a 2-loss Stanford.

[General Mike]

edit to add: I'm sure all those who hate the BCS are really going to be pleased with seeing 5 of the 12 slots taken by SEC teams, including 2 of the semifinals. Again, as I understand it, the committee is to give weight to conference champions but not required to exclude non-champs from the semifinals. I don't believe they'd jump a 1-loss KState into the final four over either Florida or Oregon, nor a 2-loss Stanford.

If Lou Holtz had his way they would.

[Buccaneer]

SI did a mock selection committee. Lots of graphics and pictures.

College football playoff mock selection committee-Oregon, Florida in - NCAA Football - SI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/11/29/college-football-playoff-mock-selection-committee/)

Access bowls versus contract bowls determine what conferences have access to the big dollars. This isn't about titles, it's about access to piles of monies for your league. The crystal ball at the end is just incidental in all of this.

But yes, the selection committee picks the four semi-finalists for the playoffs. The other bowls go on like normal. Just who gets picked for those bowls is different. Right now, the BCS uses polls + computers. Starting in 2014, the top four (and the five at-large bowl teams, presumably) will get picked by a human committee a la the NCAA tournaments.

Thanks DC, that help a lot.

[sterlingice]

I appreciate that many of the Wisconsin-Nebraska stories had a line similar to this:

Ball helps Badgers rush past No. 14 Nebraska 70-31 - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ball-helps-badgers-rush-past-045657745--ncaaf.html)

"Nebraska hadn't allowed 70 points since a 76-39 thrashing by Kansas In November 2007. The loss ended the Cornhuskers six-game winning streak, which began after a 63-38 loss to Ohio State, and the 'Huskers simply had no answers."

Sadly, one of my favorite memories of the 2007 season. I tend to think of myself as someone who delights in my team doing well much more than in my "rivals" or "opponents" teams doing poorly but that was a sweet game to be at. I was on the hill overlooking the stadium and the crowd was mad when the Fat Man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Mangino) let up a little and didn't go for 80. Keep in mind, over about a 30 year stretch from the early 1970s to early 2000s, Nebraska had beaten Kansas by an average- AVERAGE, mind you- of something like 48-7. OVER 30 YEARS. And I think the Kansas faithful wanted Mangino to make up the difference all in one game.

SI

[JonInMiddleGA]

I don't see a thread for this slow college football week so I'll just tack this on here for now.

ODU basically implodes in the 4th quarter. Trailing 35-21, Georgia Southern scores four times in the final period:
-- once early to cut the margin to 7
-- then following an ODU fumble inside the GSU 20 that led to a 12 play 79 yard drive to tie it up,
-- then ODU apparently went for it and 4th & 6 inside their own 40 with less than four minutes to play ... and the Eagles need only 3 plays to rush for 39 yards and the 42-35 lead with 2:36 to play.
-- ODU throws an INT on their first play after that
-- GSU kills more clock, eventually punching it in from the 1 yd line with 0:46 left and a 49-35 lead.

[kingfc22]

Has Navy used these helmets all year? They are pretty sweet.

[RendeR]

Has Navy used these helmets all year? They are pretty sweet.



I was asking the same thing, talk about awesome helmets!

Wish I could get them in my NCAA'11 dynasty!

[Buccaneer]

Has Navy used these helmets all year? They are pretty sweet.

I don't like most of the gimmicky helmets over the past several years but I have to admit that these Navy ones are cool.

[molson]

-- then ODU apparently went for it and 4th & 6 inside their own 40 with less than four minutes to play ... and the Eagles need only 3 plays to rush for 39 yards and the 42-35 lead with 2:36 to play.


That was an interesting call. I guess they figured giving Georgia Southern the ball anywhere with less than 4 minutes to go in a tie game guaranteed they would lose. And seeing how things went for them in the quarter, maybe that was true.