Monday, October 20, 2008

The Politics of Losing

Here we are yet again with controversy brewing. We have three undefeated teams atop the BCS standings. Texas, Alabama, Penn State are sitting pretty about half way into the season. Hot on their tails, however, is USC and OU. Each with one loss, they are stalking the top three waiting for a slip up. One late season, critical game, loss and your season is over. We saw it last year and we will see it again this year.

The last few years of college football have taught us one thing. If your going to lose, lose early. Last season USC lost to an extreme underdog in the form of the Stanford Cardinal. They, however, lost early enough in the season that a trip to the Rose Bowl was waiting for them at the end of the year. Look at LSU last season. They lost early on to Kentucky and were able to pull their season back together (even with another loss to Arkansas). Missouri lost a critical late season game to OU and didn't even make it to a BCS game. Even though Missouri got beat by a quality opponent as opposed to the others they were denied a BCS bid. In fact Kansas, who they beat earlier in the season, recieved a BCS bid because they had only one loss.

We may have the same type of set up this season. With USC and OU lurking, Texas, Alabama or Penn State cannot flinch. A late season loss for either of these teams and its all over.

It makes no sense, though. Lets say USC wins out and Penn State loses at some point. In the last week of the season we have #1 Texas, #2 Alabama, #3 USC. Bama now has to finish off either Florida or Georgia to end their season in the SEC championship game. Whoever it is will probably be a top 5 team and no doubt very talented. If Alabama loses for the first time all year to one of the best teams in the league they will be bumped from the national championship game. USC is upset by Oregon State early and plays for a national chamionship while Bama loses to a top-5 team late and is bumped from the BCS completely. It makes no sense.

There a number of scenarios like this just waiting to happen. Playoff anyone?

2 comments:

Ian said...

Glad to see you're back to your blogging, Joseph.

Ian said...

I don't see the problem with a 4-team playoff. 1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3.

In the current format, assuming Texas, Alabama, and Penn State go undefeated, you can't blame people for ranking PSU 3rd because they're in the easier division.

But wouldn't it be more sportsmanlike to give PSU a chance to play Alabama and/or Texas for a title shot rather than being compared based on strength of schedule?