Did Ohio State earn its title game bid?

[turbotim]

Mark Kriegel, national columnist for FOXSports.com.

Having covered boxing for most of my adult life, I know all about incompetent, inane and corrupted rankings.

This is not that. The BCS is not the WBA, the WBC or the IBF. Yes, everybody except the athletic directors and corporate bowl sponsors agrees that there should be a playoff system. But in lieu of anything so sane, one might admit that this partnership between man and machine actually works pretty well.
That being said, I still don't understand what everybody else seems to be taking for granted: Ohio State.

What exactly did the Buckeyes do to be rewarded with a No. 1 ranking and a chance in the championship game? Everybody talks about the losses. The fact that Ohio State has only one while the other serious contenders have two seems to be their sole qualification.

But what about the wins?

With the regular season now concluded, the benefits of hindsight are considerable. Don't bother wasting your time with an opponent's ranking way back in September or October when they played your favorite school. Rather, consider the team's current ranking. With all but the bowl game to be played, you have a much truer picture. Now: show me a single win that demonstrates Ohio State's prospective merit as national champions.

You can't, can you?

To examine Ohio State's schedule is to understand that Jim Tressel's team merely held serve during a weak year in the Big Ten, a season foreshadowed by Michigan's calamitous loss to Appalachian State back on Sept. 1. As it happened, the Buckeyes would play only two teams that finished in the top 20 in the BCS standings. It lost to Illinois (which finished 13th) and beat Wisconsin (18), though the Badgers were without the services of their star running back, P.J. Hill. OK, neither Tressel nor his team should be held responsible for a bad year in the conference. Rather, more troubling is the inescapable idea that Ohio State was rewarded for taking no risk.

While the Buckeyes were playing Youngstown State, a team like Tennessee was on the road at Cal. While Ohio State was playing that other perennial power, Akron, LSU was playing Virginia Tech. LSU crushed the Hokies — a team that finished third in the rankings — by a score of 48-7. Ohio State doesn't have a victory like that on its résumé. There's nothing even close.



You want the Buckeyes' big non-conference game?

Try Washington. That would be the same 4-9 Washington that Hawaii beat the other night. The difference is, Hawaii is undefeated.

Now people are complaining about Louisiana State suddenly leapfrogging into the championship game. "I didn't think we really got a fair chance," said Georgia coach Mark Richt.

Actually, he had a very fair chance. He just lost it fair and square to Tennessee. While the Bulldogs (not to mention the Buckeyes) were idle on Saturday, LSU beat Tennessee to win the toughest conference in the country.

LSU lost two games in triple overtime. In a normal year, that would have eliminated them from championship consideration. But this wasn't a normal year — the second-ranked team lost seven times — and one hopes there will never again be a season that suffers from the dreadful predictability that has plagued seasons past.

What's more, imperfect is better than untested. It addition to wins over Virginia Tech (3) and Tennessee (16), LSU beat Florida (12) and Auburn (23).

The only guys entitled to gripe are in the Big 12. I mean, how does Kansas get into a BCS bowl and Missouri, the team that beat Kansas just nine days ago, does not?

As of early Saturday night, no one had a problem with Missouri being ranked No. 1. Still, Oklahoma beat them by three touchdowns. Now I know the Sooners have a couple of losses, but to paraphrase a boxing expression, they beat the team that beat the team. And that's a lot more than can be said for the Buckeyes, who beat the team that lost to Appalachian State.

You shouldn't need a computer to tell you that, for one year at least, the Big 12 was bigger than the Big Ten. Then again, I look forward to my vindication on Jan. 7 in New Orleans, where the second-ranked team will finally win a game.

Found this interesting... The underlining, font size, and bold are my emphasis. What do you think?

[Rob]

Tim: It is what it is. OSU is there because they lost only one time. The only other team to do that was Kansas, maybe they should have a gripe. Schedules are made years in advance and that's who OSU had to play this year.

Besides that the coaches ranked them where they are and I don't think all of the coaches are that stupid when it comes to rankings.

I would love to see a + 1 game at the end of this year, but the question would be who should play for the +1.

[dalebert]

Tim there are other teams that play soft schedules before conf games begin. OSU was on a rebuilding yr with losing key postions players in the NFL draft. As a coach i wouldn't be to hard bent to be #1 in the country before i could win the conf title. I think most coaches have that in mind winning their conf first and then let the rankings fall where they may,before worring about a national ranking!

Yes OSU backed into this game, but not by their chosing! There were what 5 teams that could be playing the NC but they lost a game that prevented that from happing! OSU was in the right place at the right time! It is what it is!

No one has to cheer them(OSU) on to victory and they can even walk away a loser....but u know what? They played in the NC AGAIN two yrs in a row! Sorry if i crow a little!

[turbotim]

Tim: It is what it is. OSU is there because they lost only one time. The only other team to do that was Kansas, maybe they should have a gripe. Schedules are made years in advance and that's who OSU had to play this year.

Yep, they are who we thought they were and they are where we thought they would be if this scenerio happened.

Besides that the coaches ranked them where they are and I don't think all of the coaches are that stupid when it comes to rankings.

Agreed. It won't ever be any different until we have a playoff. There are couple if not a few teams who have a legitimate claim at playing for the NC but won't. This may have been a great year so we can see that a playoff is what is necessary for us have a champion who fought their way to the top. I don't know if it will happen, but there are more and more people who are seeing that in may be inevitable.

The BCS does cause a LOT to talk about though.

I would love to see a + 1 game at the end of this year, but the question would be who should play for the +1.

Yeah, I just don't know if that would help or not. It may for the times that happened like in 03. But this year, it wouldn't..

[DaJudge]

Tim: It is what it is. OSU is there because they lost only one time.

By that logic, why isn't Hawaii playing for the National Championship?

[Rob]

Tim: It is what it is. OSU is there because they lost only one time.

By that logic, why isn't Hawaii playing for the National Championship?

Because they do not belong to a BCS Conference.

[turbotim]

There are other teams that play soft schedules before conf games begin. OSU was on a rebuilding yr with losing key postions players in the NFL draft. As a coach i wouldn't be to hard bent to be #1 in the country before i could win the conf title. I think most coaches have that in mind winning their conf first and then let the rankings fall where they may,before worring about a national ranking!

Yep, there is no doubt. But what I think gets people is that they are only in b/c of their reputation. If they went by Win Loss, then Hawaii would be in. I wonder what OSU's soft schedule is compared to Hawaii's. I know that OSU probably had a tougher schedule.

I guess the writer is pointing out that we can see why LSU made it to the NC game. We can be confident that they reached it in fashion that is competitive. But OSU? If we were to go on the same reason for OSU then I would have to choose Hawaii #1 and OSU or Kansas for #2. Had OSU had the name Hawaii. With the same teams to play and everything(beating the same teams and losing to the same team), I would say that Hawaii would still not be in the NC game.

It seems that the voters have that mindset. It goes for the big teams in the SEC too. Don't get me wrong. As Rob said with WV having this only chance to make it to the NC game. In a playoff, the TEAM determines who the champions really are not sports writers, fans, or others. The team decides on the field. LSU hasn't shown me they are the best and I don't think I would pick them to win the NC if we had a playoff. I would go with GA or USC. It would be fun to see Hawaii move up in the playoffs getting respect and such. And other teams as well.

Right now our system is flawed and this year proves it more than any other. The Rose Bowl shows us that some people care more about tradition and money then anything else. USC and Illinois, that's ridiculous.

I know I have gone on long enough. Sorry, this bowl season seems to leave me bereft. The only great thing is that MS State is going to a bowl. I guess, I should be thankful for at least that. LOL....

I know, I just have to accept it. It's all about the money. That’s life, it’s not fair, and yada yada yada…. : )

No one has to cheer them(OSU) on to victory and they can even walk away a loser....but u know what? They played in the NC AGAIN two yrs in a row! Sorry if i crow a little!

Understandibly so..... I think OSU has a great chance of winning.

[DaJudge]

Tim: It is what it is. OSU is there because they lost only one time.

By that logic, why isn't Hawaii playing for the National Championship?

Because they do not belong to a BCS Conference.

Which just goes to show how screwed up and retarded the current system is. Non conference teams are automatically shut out, with no chance of ever being national champs, even if they are the best team that year. Does Hawaii belong in the National Championship game this year? No, because Hawaii isn't one of the two best teams out there. But neither is OSU, and neither is LSU. The only way to fix this problem is a playoff system.

[turbotim]

Which just goes to show how screwed up and retarded the current system is. Non conference teams are automatically shut out, with no chance of ever being national champs, even if they are the best team that year. Does Hawaii belong in the National Championship game this year? No, because Hawaii isn't one of the two best teams out there. But neither is OSU, and neither is LSU. The only way to fix this problem is a playoff system.

This is the short version of what I said. haha

[dalebert]

But neither is OSU, and neither is LSU

Then can someone please tell me...WHo Is?

And then anyone else can give you reasons why they are not...its just too crazy this year

[Rob]

Tim: It is what it is. OSU is there because they lost only one time.

By that logic, why isn't Hawaii playing for the National Championship?

Because they do not belong to a BCS Conference.

Which just goes to show how screwed up and retarded the current system is. Non conference teams are automatically shut out, with no chance of ever being national champs, even if they are the best team that year. Does Hawaii belong in the National Championship game this year? No, because Hawaii isn't one of the two best teams out there. But neither is OSU, and neither is LSU. The only way to fix this problem is a playoff system.

DaJudge & Tim, it is what it is. Put OSU, LSU, UGA, USC, WVU who ever you want and let them play Hawaii schedule this year and the aforementioned teams will all be undefeated. Non BCS schools are shut out of the NC but not the BCS as long as they finish in the top 12 of the BCS standing, which Boise and Hawaii both have done in respective years. I have no problem with the current system in place by OSU and LSU being selected. OSU went through the Big Ten with one loss, LSU went through the SEC with two losses and won the championship game. Of course that argument could be made for OK but I think we all agree that the SEC is much tougher than the Big 12. We all agree the only way to fix it is have a playoff, but the fact of the matter is there is not a playoff in D-1, so we have to let coaches (and by the way have you seen how some of those guys voted? If not visit the sports section of USA Today) and computers tell us who are the top two teams that should play for the NC.

[dalebert]

Rob where do u find how the coaches voted?

[Rob]

Dalebert,

Here's the http://www.usatoday.com/sports/graphics ... sh.htmlink

[dalebert]

its not a good link....i cant get to it.....

[Rob]

Dale, go to usatoday.com and click on the sports section, then College football home and then scroll down the page on the right hand side till you come to the topic "Wild football season brings us back to starting point. you'll find it there.

That is the link that it gives though.