BCS Title Contenders (Can tOSU get there?)

[Telekinesis]

I don't really have to deal with a lot of SEC fans in Ohio, it's usually just people that hate Ohio State even though they live here. Some sort of weird trend that's becoming more and more 'cool'. I'd much rather keep beating Michigan since they seem to have tons of fans in Ohio. I can count more than a few houses down the block that have Michigan flags out in the yard.

However, I can't say that I don't feel the need to crush an SEC team. I'm sad to say that I won't be truly content until we floor one of them. It isn't even that we need to, but rather it's getting really annoying to hear more and more rumbling that we can't hang with them from Michigan fans.

A few dominating performances against that conference would make me a happy camper. I'm pretty disgusted that I can't watch a sports show without hearing about the SEC being some holy football jesus with giant eagles' wings.

 

[bukIpower]

I would like to see us beat a team outside the big ten again in the Rose Bowl before we even think about playing someone for the Championship again. We should have to prove why we are worthy of that spot before we get thrusted ahead of another 0-1 loss team. You know we've had our shot why not let someone else have it for a change?

Count me in the group that wants no part in a BCS NCG. If we get invited, fine whatever I'll keep the fingers crossed against whoever we play and I'll cheer like crazy. However, I think at this point it is a mental barrier. A barrier that we can't pass until this senior class is gone. This senior class has done some amazing things for this university but I think this class wouldn't know what to do in another huge bowl game like the NCG. Mentally, losing games like we've lost the past 3 years has to wear on a team.

I think it's borderline being nieve if we can sit here and believe we deserve another shot. Heck, we're gonna get all we can handle if we get to the Rose Bowl let alone the NCG.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Yeah we have got whooped on in the national stage lately, but that doesn't make me scared to go back there...

We can't be back on top unless we are there and win, so I am all for as many chances as it takes...

You can't tell me we are slower, don't have the talent to go against those teams...If our record and body of work puts us there, then I want to be there and show that we belong...

We all thoguht we belonged before the season, and yeah USC hurt some of that talk, but we were without our best player, and we have 2 totally different players playing in the middle of the offense in Pryor and Brewster...

Long way to go, and no one is unbeatable like the media and all those people with knee jerk reactions will tell you...

 

[Sdgobucks]

For Ohio State to get back into the title game, every other BCS conference team (except 1 team that they would face), would have to have AT LEAST 1 more loss than the buckeyes. tOSU won't get the nod over any other team from a BCS conference if the records are the same, even if we have only one loss to USC, and that team has a loss to a weaker opponent. Is it fair, not really, but its the result of being man handled in the last two BCS games. The voters, and the public at large doesn't want to see tOSU in the title game again. If given another choice, be assured they will take that choice.

I would go as far to say that there is a GOOD chance that if LSU/AL had 2 losses, and tOSU had 1 loss, AL/LSU might get the nod to play say USC, or Oklahoma in the title game.

 

[BuckeyePride]

the way pollsters are ranking tOSU... it will be very very hard to get top 2 rankings.

 

[fanaticbuckeye]

To me its as much about the timing of these losses too...

SEC will beat each other up again all year long, hope nobody goes undefeated. Oklahoma beat Texas and then slip up late in the year (OK St, TTech or CCG). Hope for another USC loss.

What we learned (confirmed) today is, nationally we aren't respected by the pollsters. So if any of the top rated teams lose over the next few weeks, they will fall just ahead of us, assuming they aren't blowouts. Until we beat Wisky and then a top 5-6 PSU team we will start to look pretty again. I believe that the factor that will get the pollsters and pundits excited about us, is the same reason we believe we can belong; TP and Beanie in the backfield together. They are exciting and sexy with a lot of intrigue that everybody knows nationally. Including casual college fans and die-hard homers with no clue about other teams than their own. To me, one thing is an almost certain; we will not jump any of the teams ahead of us without them losing (possibly twice in some cases).

The funny thing about this scenario is last year post-Illinois the majority had virtually given up hope for a NCG because how whacky the final 3 weekends would have to be in order for us to make it. The way this year has started it almost feels like if we win out we have a better than decent shot at playing in the third straight. But at worst we will be in the Rose Bowl, which would be a fantastic opportunity.

 

[exhawg]

I think it's pretty obvious from this weeks poll that they aren't going to let us anywhere near the top this season.

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

Things could go one of two ways for us. We could have FSU's fortune of making it back to the BCS title game for the third straight time despite losing the previous two, or we could end up being like Oklahoma, which lost to LSU handily and then got blown out by SC and never made it back. I'm thinking that we are going to be like Oklahoma. However, convincing wins here on out could change my mind.

 

[BuckeyeBooks]

Wisconsin losing hurt us. Had they won yesterday, and we beaten them, they likely would have been #6. So beating #6 on the road, and then maybe beating a Top 5 team in Penn State later this month could have put us right back in contention as far as the national media is concerend. Especially with having a new QB and our best player back. Makes us a much more dangerous team.

I think this season will end up much like 2005...and I kind of like it. We won't go to the NC game...but maybe we will win a BCS bowl (hopefully the Rose) and be able to say we finished the season as an elite team.

The Big Ten is better than people think this year. While the SEC is overrated, both their elite teams looked bad against bad teams. Had this happened to the Big Ten, they would have said we were overrated...so I will say it about them, whether it is fair or not. Big 12 should be the first conference to get a 1 loss team in.

Frankly, I'm not worried about going to the NC game. Some Buckeye fans seem spoiled. Some think it is NC game or bust...like we should be there every year, and if we aren't it's a bad season. That's BS thinking. [censored] the NG game quite honestly. Winning the Big Ten, going to the Rose Bowl...and especially beating Michigan. That's what is important. Up until '98, we couldn't even go to the national championship game. Now all of a sudden, it's all that CFB is about. I look at the NC game as a bonus. If we get it, fine, let's go see if we can win it...but if we don't, who freaking cares. It's all about winning the conference and beating Michigan. And for those of you who that don't think so, then go be a fan of a [censored]ing SEC team or something...since they already think that their Conference championship is the NCG. I'm sick and tired of hearing about the NCG. If you can't feel the bliss I do out of winning the Big Ten and beating Michigan...then I feel sorry for you...cuz it has felt great the past three years!!!! And I am hoping for a fourth. Quite frankly, I could give a flying [censored] with what Florida or Georiga or Oklahoma or whoever is "hyped" by the media does. That is unless they are playing the Big Ten.

Great post, ***** in my book, because it's exactly what I was thinking and saved me the typing time.

 

[morbitzerker]

I really just want to go to a Rose Bowl this season, and I think that's where the voters will send us, if the team wins the Big Ten and any other team finishes with one loss. And there is the possibility of the team playing USC again, which would be a good shot at redemption, and playing the Trojans twice in one year and early next, could help with some recognition, if the team can keep it respectable and get at least one win. But I want this team to send the Seniors out with a good game, and help the next generation to get acclimated to a BCS Bowl setting.

 

[fourteenandoh]

Wisconsin losing hurt us. Had they won yesterday, and we beaten them, they likely would have been #6. So beating #6 on the road, and then maybe beating a Top 5 team in Penn State later this month could have put us right back in contention as far as the national media is concerend. Especially with having a new QB and our best player back. Makes us a much more dangerous team.

I think this season will end up much like 2005...and I kind of like it. We won't go to the NC game...but maybe we will win a BCS bowl (hopefully the Rose) and be able to say we finished the season as an elite team.

The Big Ten is better than people think this year. While the SEC is overrated, both their elite teams looked bad against bad teams. Had this happened to the Big Ten, they would have said we were overrated...so I will say it about them, whether it is fair or not. Big 12 should be the first conference to get a 1 loss team in.

Frankly, I'm not worried about going to the NC game. Some Buckeye fans seem spoiled. Some think it is NC game or bust...like we should be there every year, and if we aren't it's a bad season. That's BS thinking. [censored] the NG game quite honestly. Winning the Big Ten, going to the Rose Bowl...and especially beating Michigan. That's what is important. Up until '98, we couldn't even go to the national championship game. Now all of a sudden, it's all that CFB is about. I look at the NC game as a bonus. If we get it, fine, let's go see if we can win it...but if we don't, who freaking cares. It's all about winning the conference and beating Michigan. And for those of you who that don't think so, then go be a fan of a [censored]ing SEC team or something...since they already think that their Conference championship is the NCG. I'm sick and tired of hearing about the NCG. If you can't feel the bliss I do out of winning the Big Ten and beating Michigan...then I feel sorry for you...cuz it has felt great the past three years!!!! And I am hoping for a fourth. Quite frankly, I could give a flying [censored] with what Florida or Georiga or Oklahoma or whoever is "hyped" by the media does. That is unless they are playing the Big Ten.

yes, yes and yes

 

[MrCodeDude]

There is no way Ohio State even sniffs the MNC. A lot of people do not want to see them in one and with the one loss to USC, they have an excuse. USC can finish with two losses and I still think they'll have a better chance of getting into the MNC than Ohio State.

Realistically, I think if Oklahoma gets past Texas, they're going to go in. Next bid is either going to go to the SEC champion or USC if either finish the season with two or less losses.

Right now, our image is hurting. I don't care too much what bowl we go to, just that we win, and we win convincingly. Another loss (either in a BCS bowl or the MNC) is going to absolutely destroy us in the general public's eyes.

 

[bukIpower]

Yup... We just need to beat someone in a BCS bowl. If we get smashed again ohhh boy. I'm hoping for the Rose bowl and nothing more to be honest.

 

[BB73]

I think it's pretty obvious from this weeks poll that they aren't going to let us anywhere near the top this season.

I'd say they won't let a 1-loss tOSU finish ahead of a 1-loss Big12 champ or a 1-loss SEC Champ, or a 1-loss USC.

But I think a 1-loss tOSU would be ahead of a 1-loss ACC or 1-loss Big East Champ.

And I think that's the way it should be this year. But that still gives tOSU a chance - there's a lot of football left.

 

[Steve19]

People here think that the press is out to get Ohio State. They were singing our praises before the season began and our team was demolished in the biggest game of the year. True, we didn't have Beanie Wells, but that game may not have been close even with him.

Until we demolish someone big, bury them in a big score, and then do it again, you can forget any national championship game. We have embarrassed sports writers every time they supported us for years. They won't come back to the well again without seeing a lot of evidence that they won't get embarrassed again.

I think we will be very fortunate to make it to the Rose Bowl and to finish in the top 5.