Eric wrote:It is, Mountainman. The point of the season in which you lose should have nothing, repeat, NOTHING to do with the final standings. If Michigan played Ohio State the first game of the season and lost, why should that make a difference if they lose later? I really felt that Oklahoma deserved to be in the championship game in 2003 even though they got hammered in the last game of the season. If we look at the entire body of work, what teams have done over the course of the entire season should be the only thing that matters.
In reference to the Big XII title game, I thought Oklahoma embarrassed themselves, if they were trying to show they deserved a spot in the NC, they failed, miserably. If anything, K-State should have been selected, based on the result. As it was, the BCS was stuck with a 'pseudo' national championship pairing of teams.
Coincidentally, Oklahoma was being touted as the 'best ever' leading up to that game. Seems to me that's something a team needs to earn.
Eric wrote:If Michigan and Ohio State are really the #1 and #2 teams in the country, why shouldn't they get a go at it on a neutral site? That might make a difference.
I'm not sure 'neutral' really matters all that much, IMO. Sure, Ohio St will have a 'logistical' advantage, playing at home. That adds to the competitive aspect of that rivalry. If it were played in a 'neutral' site, you would lose that aspect, which would be bad, in my opinion. Hopefully, Rutgers and W. Virginia will both be undefeated, end of season. That way, there are two 'preliminary' games leading up to the NC. I seriously doubt, Ohio St & Michigan will be paired, two consecutive games, with only one having any bearing on who wins the NC. Redundant (or is it 'retarded'?).
Eric wrote:There are 3 teams with a legit reason to be #1 (that would be all 3 of our teams, Spence and MM). If there is another undefeated team besides Boise State, they should get the chance instead of the Michigan/Ohio State loser. If there are other 1 loss teams and Michigan loses a really close game, the only one you could really make an argument for is Florida or Auburn.
I don't think you can necessarily exclude any team from the NC, unless circumstances warrant it. That means, it's very possible Michigan and Ohio St 'could' be paired together, if both teams meet the standard being applied. Texas maybe deserves some consideration, given how they are defending NC. Notre Dame's only loss, to date is against the Michigan Wolverines, so if Michigan beats Ohio St, why shouldn't N.D. be considered? I don't have a problem with allowing the SEC a representative to the NC, but it better be Arkansas, given how they beat Auburn. If it's Auburn, I think I'll puke.
Eric wrote:If West Virginia and Louisville lose during the course of the season, I truly believe that the national championship should be Michigan and Ohio State.
Obviously, only one of those teams will be undefeated at season's end, barring some as yet unforseen event.
So, it would appear reasonable to conclude that any Big East team might be considered for the NC, provided they meet the eligibility requirement.