Boise State, do they deserve a chance?

[korchiki]

Here is my thinking in the whole +1 playoff thing...

originally i was all for some kind of playoff system...the boise state game was one of the best ones I have ever seen...they went out there and played their hearts out...so here is the scenario...if tosu wins by 10+ like i expect them to and we have a plus one game a week later sure a lot of people would watch and if they win then this argument has no significance...but if they dont win and instead get crushed what becomes of their season and the game against oklahoma...people wont remember that season as an undefeated season with one of the greatest bowl games ever played...instead it is remembered as the season the boise state got crushed by tosu...

just my opinion

 

[kn1f3party]

Do they deserve it? Yes. Will they get it? Nope. We can argue about this stuff until we're blue in the face. The problem is the BCS becomes an arbitrary system that only opens up the ability to play for a National Title to a few more teams. Before it was hard, now it is less hard, but still isn't ideal. Teams like Boise State could run the tables in a playoff and any team in their position deserves at least a chance. But we're still not even on our way there.

In response to korchiki:

I see your point. However, I like the eight team playoff a little bit more. Then we would see if Boise State could "Play Up" consistently. I can't see them defeating Oklahoma, LSU, and tOSU (or whichever teams they would have to play). But, I won't argue with anyone that they deserve a chance. They played well enough to be where they are and silenced a lot of critics, but the void to the next level is large.

 

[BayBuck]

I vote no. Boise came from a subpar conference and played a well-below-average non-conf lineup, then gave their all (going for 2 because they couldn't handle another OT) to barely squeak by a one-dimensional team in OU. They are no more deserving of a title bid than were Tulane 98, Marshall 99, Utah 2004 or Boise 2004.

 

[Thump]

Yes they do.

 

[buckeyeboy]

I vote no. Boise came from a subpar conference and played a well-below-average non-conf lineup, then gave their all (going for 2 because they couldn't handle another OT) to barely squeak by a one-dimensional team in OU.

This pretty much sums up my opinion.

 

[souL]

The WAC is 3-1 in their bowl season, too. Only loss was a 1-point loss by the #4 team in the confrence... and it was just because they were up against Florida speed. The WAC's consistantly a pretty good non-BCS confrence, and to win it, go undefeated, and defeat the Big XII champion means they probably earned a shot.

It's too bad that no one actually KNEW they would earn it until after their last game. As it were said, if Ian Johnson were stopped at the goal line, the discussion about BSU ends.

What if we took the top 8 BCS teams and made a playoff? Well, confrence champions would be on the outside looking in, while 3 B10 teams continued on. Yes, there would be no debate there. What if we took the 6 confrence winners and 2 at-large teams? No Boise? No Wisconsin?

If there's a playoff based on how highly ranked you are, why go try to find tough OOC games? Why not schedule IAA teams and risk as little as possible?

Does a +1 game mean anything? Isn't there just more debate? Louisville, USC, LSU, Boise?

The people that clamor for a playoff act like it would be easy, just throw it in and it solves everything. Between confrence balancing, schedule balancing, confrence title games, and everything else it'd be a colossal mess.

ESPN's just mad that they can't pressure the powers that be enough to change it.

 

[milkman21]

I see your point. However, I like the eight team playoff a little bit more. Then we would see if Boise State could "Play Up" consistently. I can't see them defeating Oklahoma, LSU, and tOSU (or whichever teams they would have to play). But, I won't argue with anyone that they deserve a chance. They played well enough to be where they are and silenced a lot of critics, but the void to the next level is large.

See that whole playoff system makes me a bit nervous, because I think it changes the nature of the college game too much.

If you're making a top-8 playoff (taking the top-8 from before the bowl games, at least) you're including:

1. OSU
2. Florida
3. Michigan
4. LSU
5. USC
6. Louisville
7. Wisconsin
8. Boise State


Here' are a few complaints about that proposed playoff system (or any such system, as similar arguments will result from year to year) :

1. Michigan has already lost to OSU once.
2. LSU has already lost to Florida once.
3. Wisconsin has already lost to Michigan once.
4. LSU and USC have lost twice.
5. BSU has played a powderpuff schedule.
6. LSU would make the playoffs instead of Auburn--a team that beat LSU *and* hails from the same conference *and* shares the same record

A playoff would be fun for a number of reasons, but it would just change the game too much IMO. If you've lost twice this year, then you don't deserve the NC--or a shot at it. If you've lost to a higher-ranked opponent already this year, you don't deserve to win the NC over that opponent by beating them later on. If you skate by on an easy schedule and manage to stay unbeaten, you don't deserve a shot at the NC until you start playing some real opponents on a regular basis.

College football is all about the importance of the regular season. If you want the title, you had damn well better (1) win your games, and (2) win your games against quality opponents. If you don't do that, then you can't win the title. End of story.

That simple formula is also what makes CF so damn exciting. When every game counts so much, there's minimal room for error. Think of how agonizing the Cooper era was, because we came *this* close so many times. Think of how gratifying the Tressel era is, because we're subjecting UM to the fate we suffered before. College football has the potential for the most satisfying victories as well as the potential for the most bitter defeats. It's a sport of extreme emotions, and I think a lot of that would be lost if we switched to the playoffs that everyone "wants".


Just my thoughts.

 

[korchiki]

Do they deserve it? Yes. Will they get it? Nope. We can argue about this stuff until we're blue in the face. The problem is the BCS becomes an arbitrary system that only opens up the ability to play for a National Title to a few more teams. Before it was hard, now it is less hard, but still isn't ideal. Teams like Boise State could run the tables in a playoff and any team in their position deserves at least a chance. But we're still not even on our way there.

In response to korchiki:

I see your point. However, I like the eight team playoff a little bit more. Then we would see if Boise State could "Play Up" consistently. I can't see them defeating Oklahoma, LSU, and tOSU (or whichever teams they would have to play). But, I won't argue with anyone that they deserve a chance. They played well enough to be where they are and silenced a lot of critics, but the void to the next level is large.

I kinda agree...it would be interesting to see how they would play in a playoff system...i still dont think they would win against LSU, tosu, USC...but they would make a great run and it would be great to watch

 

[zincfinger]

Personally, I think not. For those who disagree, I'd ask two questions.

1) Does the "they won every game they played, therefore they deserve a shot" argument apply universally? Should an undefeated D1-AA team get a shot? An undefeated D2 team? How about an undefeated high school team?

2) What do you think Boise State's record would be if they played Ohio State's or Florida's schedule? Anything fewer than 3 losses?

Sure, Boise State proved that a mid-major can, in a good year, play with the "big boys". But no one should have doubted that, and it had in fact already been proven. Furthermore, it's one thing to be able to play with the big boys, and another thing entirely to be able to beat them consistently over the course of an entire season. Boise State won one game against a decent, but not great (this year) major conference school. And they won it in a way that doesn't really give confidence that they could do it repeatedly. More to the point, it seems to me that if you give Boise State a title shot, you're not so much declining to penalize them for their conference affiliation, you're actually rewarding them for it.

 

[Crystal76]

I believe they should be. Bosie and Ohio State are the only two undefeated teams, and by all rights Bosie should have went to THE game.

Now let's just say for arguments sake that Florida, Ohio State and Bosie State were all undefeated. Then I think Ohio State and Florida should play for the Nat. Championship. Mainly because of their strength of schedules.

 

[RhodeIslandBuck]

I think they do, they're a great story and they are one of two undefeated D-1A teams in the country.

But if it did happen I don't think it would be much of game.

 

[zincfinger]

I think they do, they're a great story and they are one of two undefeated teams in the country.

No, there are a lot of undefeated teams in the country. Boise State is one of the two undefeated teams in the country that is labeled as being NCAA division I-A. But is Boise State's D-1A really the same as OSU's, or Florida's, or a host of other teams'?

 

[Best Buckeye]

No, they are close to 100 In strentgh of schedule. And a lower echelon team. If they get into the top five that's good enough for them.

 

[G-FORCE]

Personally, I think not. For those who disagree, I'd ask two questions.

1) Does the "they won every game they played, therefore they deserve a shot" argument apply universally? Should an undefeated D1-AA team get a shot? An undefeated D2 team? How about an undefeated high school team?

2) What do you think Boise State's record would be if they played Ohio State's or Florida's schedule? Anything fewer than 3 losses?

Sure, Boise State proved that a mid-major can, in a good year, play with the "big boys". But no one should have doubted that, and it had in fact already been proven. Furthermore, it's one thing to be able to play with the big boys, and another thing entirely to be able to beat them consistently over the course of an entire season. Boise State won one game against a decent, but not great (this year) major conference school. And they won it in a way that doesn't really give confidence that they could do it repeatedly. More to the point, it seems to me that if you give Boise State a title shot, you're not so much declining to penalize them for their conference affiliation, you're actually rewarding them for it.

1. Against Ohio State? Of course not. However EVERY undefeated D1-AA, D2, and high school team gets a shot at THEIR National Title. D-1 football is the only sport where you can have a perfect season and not een get a chance at the NC.

2. Who knows? Do I think they would, no. However nobody can say they KNOW they wouldn't.

 

[zincfinger]

This is Boise State's schedule this year:

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]8/31[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Sacramento St[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica] W 45-0
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]9/7[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Oregon State[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica] W 42-14
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]9/[/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-1]16[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica]at Wyoming [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]W 17-10
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]9/23 [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Hawaii[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica] W 41-34[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]9/30[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica]at Utah W 36-3
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]10/7[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Louisiana Tech [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]W 55-14
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]10/[/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-1]15[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica]at N[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]MSU [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica] W 40-24[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]10/21[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica]at Idaho[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica] W 42-26
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]11/1 [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Fresno State [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]W 45-21
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]11/11 [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]at San Jose St[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica] W 23-20[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]11/1[/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-1]8[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Utah State [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]W 49-10[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]11/[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-1]25 [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]at Nevada[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica] W 35-7
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]1/1 [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Fiesta Bowl Oklahoma W 43 42 OT[/FONT]

There are two serious games on that schedule: Oregon State at home, and vs. Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Every other game, with the arguable exception of vs. Hawaii, would be nothing more than a tune-up, for a legitimate national championship contender. How can a team be considered a national championship contender when their schedule is populated almost entirely with what would be considered tune-ups by the real contenders?