College Football’s Lost Weekend
College Football, Soccer November 16th. 2009, 12:10pmTCU won convincingly Saturday against Utah. It didn’t matter.
LSU survived a massive scare from Louisiana Tech. Didn’t matter – LSU can’t qualify for the BCS.
Late Friday, Cincinnati held on to beat WVU. So what?
The Rose Bowl – which will have zero impact on the National Championship – was basically decided Saturday afternoon. Ohio State will play Oregon. Whoop-de-damn-do.
The college football season has basically been reduced to two games: The SEC Championship (Florida-Alabama) and the Big 12 Championship (Texas vs. Kansas State/Nebraska) on Dec. 5. You could miss the next two weekends … and miss nothing. (What, you think Florida State is going to beat Florida? Ha.) This coming weekend, there are no games involving two Top 25 teams. Get your Christmas shopping done early. Rake leaves? Unearth a great Thanksgiving recipe that will wow the fam.
Imagine an 8-team playoff based on the current BCS rankings:
1. Florida vs. 8. LSU
4. TCU vs. 5. Cincinnati
3. Texas vs. 6. Boise State
2. Alabama vs. 7. Georgia Tech
Injury-ravaged LSU probably would be replaced by season’s end – perhaps by Ohio State (hell, maybe even Oregon or Stanford). Cincinnati could lose and be replaced by Pittsburgh (doubtful). But here’s the problem with only having 8-teams in the mix: You don’t have a rep from the Pac-10 (which has two teams capable of running the table – Oregon and Stanford), or the Big 10 (which has been mediocre at best this season). Or does that even matter, since neither league has a team that’s been dominant throughout the season?
Would a 16-team playoff – which would only take four consecutive weeks; five if you want to take Christmas week off – be more ideal? [BCS Standings]
78 Responses to “College Football’s Lost Weekend”
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November 16th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Some of the LSU fans around here like to routinely point out how overrated USC always is. They need to look in the mirror.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I would love nothing more than to see A&M beat Texas. With that said UT hangs 70 by half if they desire.
Sidenote-LSU is great for insomnia.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Oregon is still @ Arizona and home for the Civil War. Both very loosable games. A lot of really good Oregon teams have gone to Arizona and came home empty and missing their starting quarterback. And it’s nearly impossible for Oregon to go if they lose either game as Stanford doesn’t looks like they will get a 3rd pac-10 loss.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Not that a playoff will ever happen, but if it does, eight teams max.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
/OT
I’m astounded over how bad Dan Shaughnessy’s mug shot it at si.com…it’s like the photographer was intentionally trying to put him in the worst possible light
November 16th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Also in that scenario, I could see Tech giving ‘Bama all they could handle.
Over/Under on UT-Boise St. is set at 113.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Its hard to make Dan Shaughnessy look good
November 16th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Wait. I was to understand that these were the two top conferences in college football? You mean people have been arguing over who has the slightly less irrelevant conference? All the time???? That’s so sad.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
If you love a playoff, don’t waste your time cheering for anything but a plus one. That’s the most doable, and it’s a start. The next step after that is to get some worthy competitor from a big boy conference excluded from that game, and denied that revenue stream, and then you’re on to something.
But this start at 16 idea is easily dismissed as nonsense.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
LSU was playing without their starting tailback, quarterback, center, and tight end. Also Jarrett Lee sucks as evidenced by his 7-20 performance against Louisiana tech. I think they can catch a break this week.
Orange Bowl committe is sweating out the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State game. They desperately need OK state to win other wise they’re going to get 8 people in their stadium to watch GT vs TCU.
By the way if anyone thinks TCU doesn’t deserve to be in the national title discussion, just re-watch their demolition of Utah. No other top 5 team has done that to a ranked team this season.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
The time is ripe for a 128-team playoff.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Like Dirt said, at best hope for a plus one. The bowls generate too much money for those in charge to ever give them up.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
USC losing to Stanford was probably the highlight of the week.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
In NCAA 2010, I am playing with TCU and after the second season, the computer kicked Baylor out of the conference and put TCU in. I wish I knew how to do a screen grab from my TV.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Bama would embarrass Tech. Last year LSU gang raped Tech and their defense was not half as good as Bama’s is this year.
This weekend was kind of “meh,” though seeing Auburn lose to Georgia for the 4th straight year was fanstastic.
/Suck a dick
TigerWar Eagle fans!!November 16th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
how many players was LSU missing? QB, RB, who else?
November 16th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I still can’t get over just how bad it was for USC on the weekend. I wish I’d been able to see it.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
The going for 2 on the last Stanford TD was interesting. Ol Petey didn’t much care for it.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Line them all up and knock them down one week at a time.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Oregon State is still in the mix, too. And they’ll be eager to repay the Ducks for keeping them out of Pasadena last year.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
USC will crush Stanford the next three years because of this. Carroll was pissed.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
TOBY GERHART FOR HEISMAN! For God’s sake.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
I don’t remember. TE for sure, who was all conference and caught a couple of TDs in the 07 NC game.
This serves me right for talking shit about Ole Miss all year: I think Ole Miss beats us this week.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
This should have been titled “What happened in college football, by a guy that doesn’t have a favorite team”. My team’s not going to play for a national championship, and I couldn’t care less about that fact. They still have a huge game next week, and the week after. I don’t think that most people that actually have a rooting interest get so morose about the fact that there’s not a playoff.
/or, it could just be that Notre Dame lost. again.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
GOG, I guess in the defense of my statement and your point is very valid. Saban has a poor bowl record, granted this would be a “playoff” game. He wouldn’t have the 4-5 weeks like LSU had to prepare last bowl season. And this essentially same ‘Bama team got worked, seriously worked by Utah, fucking Utah! (still pissed at lost wager).
November 16th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Tight end and center, and backup running back and starting D tackle. When you lose 4 guys on offense your offense will suck. Mainly because Jarett Lee can’t play football.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
hey GOG
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2009/11/01/51-reasons-ugas-loss-was-even-worse-than-it-seemed/?cxntfid=blogs_mark_bradley_blog
hahahaha
November 16th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
I don’t think that most people that actually have a rooting interest get so morose about the fact that there’s not a playoff.
you forgot to say that college football is all about spectacle and pageantry, and that they’re just kids out there.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Tech’s offense will move the ball on anyone from a week-to-week basis, but give Saban a month and he would own them. A month is a long time to prepare.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
The way the Florida and Alabama offenses are playing, I would be really interested to see how Texas’ D stacks up against them. The Texas D has been very very good and overlooked this year. It doesn’t help they haven’t played anyone, but those guys can play.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Michigan Week
Fuck Michigan
November 16th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
GotG – How bad are the Rambo and Green injuries?
November 16th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
TCU should be in the title game. Hopefully Kansas can do one thing right this year and make that happen.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
/how this post should have been written
November 16th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Each is most likely done until the bowl game. Bummer for us, but very good for Tech.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
What’s your point? That UGA sucks this year and Florida is better? I’m well aware of this.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
That’s my point. In a playoff scenario a month layoff is impossible.
Heck LSU scoring on you has a 1:7 point ration for normal teams. LSU score what 14(ish) points on Bama?
/laying it on thick for LSU today.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
TCU should be in the title game. Hopefully Kansas can do one thing right this year and make that happe
I’m still not sure TCU would get in.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
/Springsteen’d
November 16th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Too funny! Hello, Ohio!
November 16th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Ha to top it off, he linked that mouthbreather Bradley. That guy’s an idiot.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
They would. If Texas loses (which they won’t) TCU is next in line. Hell, they have a better resume than Texas right now, but it would take a loss for sure (sadly).
November 16th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Jacory Harris was awful on Saturday. very disappointed after this loss and the Clemson loss. hopefully things will be different next year. Harris is only a soph
November 16th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
It was quite a return. He’s got game.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
FUCK MICHIGAN!!!
November 16th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
He is frustrating to say the least. No reason Miami should have lost either of those games.
/I still blame Larry Coker
November 16th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
I can’t believe PSU actually qualifies for a BCS bid right now (14th). Voters have their head up their ass. Sad to say, our ‘quality’ win right now is Temple.
/still think Al Golden is the darkhorse candidate to replace JoePa
November 16th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
After what TCU did this weekend and as the pollsters have made it known they don’t like re-matches in title games, you will see TCU vs the Florida/Bama winner in the title game. Especially with how dominant TCU has looked the last few weeks. Not to mention TCU has won a road game against a top 25 BCS team. I think they’re next in line if Texas loses.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
With the advent of the National Championship game, when has the Rose Bowl had an impact on the National Championship?
singing We don’t give a damn for the whole state of Michigan end singing
/It’s 12:58 and Michigan still sucks!
November 16th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Bradley is a fool for sure.
I have him third on my Heisman list behind Spiller and Ingram. He is fun to watch.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Think Texas did the same thing to Oklahoma State.
Is Matt Barkley still on your list?
November 16th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I have him at 55th after Sam Bradford, Matt Barkley, and any other QB on a BCS team.
/Big Brain on Brett
November 16th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Yeah i was saying if Texas lost. Obviously TCU not going to hop Texas as of now.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
No Gerhart?
November 16th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I have Spiller, Ingram, Tate, Gerhart and Suh as my top-5.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
So that makes it OK for a 3 win WAC team to dominate the line of scrimmage the entire game? I’ve seen the other QB play, sure he’s better than Lee, but not by a whole lot.
In fact LSU is the poster child for how stupid an 8 team playoff would be. They havent beaten a ranked team and their best win is over 7-4 Auburn. How do they deserve the opportunity to play for a title?
(I dont have anything against LSU, in fact I kind of like them, I just hate the idea of a playoff)
November 16th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Lord no. I learned my lesson after putting him on it when they beat ND. I bought the hype and looked stupid for doing so. He has hit the freshman wall big time. I still think he wins one before he leaves USC though, but he certainly got a shot to the ego this year.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
I like the plus-one. A playoff will never work, but a plus one is doable.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Spence, I still have Juice Williams on my Heisman list.
/Zook’d
November 16th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
/Utah’d
November 16th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
[runs in out of nowhere]
did someone just use bonehead williams and heisman in the same sentence in a positive manner? [loads gun]
November 16th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Jarrett Lee sucks because of what he did last year. He single-handly lost about three games with his timely pick-six..es. His 7-20 game is a major improvement.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I’m all for a +1 GoG, think it would be sweet. 8 team is too many, either you end up with shitty conf champs or average teams (like this years LSU/OSU).
November 16th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Good memory mrejr… I believe that we came up with something fitting and true… I would have loved to be a fly on the wall at Illinois over the last 3 years to fully understand what the hell happened in Champaign. Would likely make a great book.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
This isn’t even close. Jordan Jefferson is way better than Lee. Not a smidge better. I actually watched some of that LSU/La tech game and LSU’s O line was destroying La Tech and Lee was missing wide open guys. It was embarrassing. Then for some reason Miles keeps throwing when Williams is getting 7 yards a carry. It was unreal.
I don’t take anything out of that game other than LSU is very up and down and could lose by 20 at Ole Miss or win by 10 this week.
the problem with college football is that you can say that no one deserves to be in a playoff. Who has Texas beaten? Who has TCU beaten? Iowa? Penn State? The list goes on and on.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I hate football. It can blow me.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
I would like a plus 1 also but then what happens the years that it’s a clear cut 1 and 2? Like 2005? Texas would have to beat a one loss team after beating USC? Or do we make it mini playoff? Of does everyone go to their bowl tie ins and then we re poll after New Years Day? A lot of moving parts.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Mini playoff, top 4 teams. Your “play in” or “playoff” game is just like a normal bowl, you show up a week early and take tours of the city and go to disney and all that crap that fake college fans dont even realize takes place but that is a vital part of the bowl experience.
The winners of the two play-in games (which rotate b/n bowls) then play the next week for the title. It preserves the current bowl system (which has to be part of the deal) but does fix most of the problems.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
i just saw this. didn’t know he had green hair.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
i’m all for a final four-type playoff but i am satisfied with the current system.
i used to be a strong playoff proponent but i’ve flipped in recent years. but if there must be a playoff, just put the winners of the bcs games into a final four-type playoff.
there’s a reason why college football has never been more popular. why kill the golden goose?
November 16th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Anyone else see the absurdity in this statement? Am I missing something or if there typically only one BCS Title game each year?
November 16th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I tried to figure it out and it made my head hurt.
November 16th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
It a CFB post by TBL. What did you expect?
November 16th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Well there’s the actual BCS Title game and then whatever bowl game USC is in.
/because they should have been in the title game
//most talented X loss team in history
November 16th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
the big ten is a joke. the big 12 is just as big of a joke this yr. texas’ schedule is ridiculous.
November 16th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
You can rip a team for their non-conference schedule and it is well-deserved. But, you cannot place blame at Texas for the fact that the Big 12 just completely sucks this year. Nor can you place blame on Ohio State for being better than everyone in the Big 10 for the last 5 years. It’s not Bevo’s or Brutus’ job to make their league opponents better.
Woot! It’s 4:16 and Michigan still sucks!
November 16th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Solid piece by Brett for once in weeks. Definitely not much to miss in college football until the BCS “national” championship game.
Cheer for your local team or alma mater, but otherwise that BCS has really fucked things up not to mention a system whereby almost half the teams in college football play in some bowl game.
November 16th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
I’d be all for an eight-team playoff ending with Pitt at #8 over OSU. I don’t know what Brett is thinking in having OSU over Pitt. I’ll put Notre Dame over Iowa right now for sure without Stanzi, whose impact has shown in retrospect greatly except for their woeful play to comeback against more woeful Indiana.