2014 College Football Season

[Chris_H_2]

I assume you have a gripe with the current rankings. Anything in particular?

I'm guessing it's the whole Baylor/TCU controversy, since it's pretty blatant. Baylor beat TCU, and barring a circular tie like the infamous Texas/OU/TT mess of a few years ago, Baylor should be ahead of TCU, period. This might be a bigger screw job than Kansas getting in the BCS over Mizzou that one year despite the Tigers beating the Jayhawks.

I'm not convinced that a head-to-head where the home team wins is always dispositive. If they played on a neutral field or at TCU, then I can buy that argument. After all, Virginia Tech beat Ohio State at OSU. Using only head-to-head as the criterion, Virginia Tech would always be ranked ahead of Ohio State.

How would you feel if Baylor had lost another game to an opponent that TCU never played? From the sound of it, it shouldn't matter.

This is the problem I have with assigning rankings in general within an organization whose teams don't play the same schedules and don't play common opponents. It's just way too arbitrary. And by slotting a team into a "ranking," you're designating that team as better than every other team that is ranked lower. On Saturday morning, a team could be ranked No. 5, be better than the No. 6 ranked team (based purely on rankings) that is not in its conference or which plays 12 uncommon opponents and which does not even play a game that Saturday, and that No. 5 ranked team could lose to the No. 1 ranked team in the country and, by default, we're now ready to rank it lower than the previous No. 6 ranked team (suggesting that it is now somehow inferior to that team). It's just stupid.

[Chris_H_2]

What does it matter if Florida State is ranked No. 4 as opposed to 3?

[E.H. Ruddock]

What does it matter if Florida State is ranked No. 4 as opposed to 3?

It doesn't other than what part of the country that they play their first playoff game. Also, it shows that they have no intent on sending TCU out of the top 4.

[Chris_H_2]

What does it matter if Florida State is ranked No. 4 as opposed to 3?

It doesn't other than what part of the country that they play their first playoff game. Also, it shows that they have no intent on sending TCU out of the top 4.

The second part is definitely true. As for the first part, if my team has to play Alabama, I would rather do so in the first round after being given weeks to prepare and get healthy.

[Green Habit]

I assume you have a gripe with the current rankings. Anything in particular?

I'm guessing it's the whole Baylor/TCU controversy, since it's pretty blatant. Baylor beat TCU, and barring a circular tie like the infamous Texas/OU/TT mess of a few years ago, Baylor should be ahead of TCU, period. This might be a bigger screw job than Kansas getting in the BCS over Mizzou that one year despite the Tigers beating the Jayhawks.

I'm not convinced that a head-to-head where the home team wins is always dispositive. If they played on a neutral field or at TCU, then I can buy that argument. After all, Virginia Tech beat Ohio State at OSU. Using only head-to-head as the criterion, Virginia Tech would always be ranked ahead of Ohio State.

How would you feel if Baylor had lost another game to an opponent that TCU never played? From the sound of it, it shouldn't matter.

First tiebreaker should be record, of course, and then the second should be head-to-head, if it exists. If it doesn't, then obviously you can't use it. After that is a good question as long as it's objective. Definitely don't use rankings--that's how we got the UT/OU/TT fiasco.

So to answer your questions, OSU is 11-1 and VT is 6-6, so clearly OSU is better. If Baylor lost an additional game they'd be 9-2, and be rightly behind a 10-1 TCU.

This is the problem I have with assigning rankings in general within an organization whose teams don't play the same schedules and don't play common opponents. It's just way too arbitrary. And by slotting a team into a "ranking," you're designating that team as better than every other team that is ranked lower. On Saturday morning, a team could be ranked No. 5, be better than the No. 6 ranked team (based purely on rankings) that is not in its conference or which plays 12 uncommon opponents and which does not even play a game that Saturday, and that No. 5 ranked team could lose to the No. 1 ranked team in the country and, by default, we're now ready to rank it lower than the previous No. 6 ranked team (suggesting that it is now somehow inferior to that team). It's just stupid.

I actually agree with this. The problem is figuring out an alternative that is going to keep everyone happy.

[Monkey_Driven]

I assume you have a gripe with the current rankings. Anything in particular?

I'm guessing it's the whole Baylor/TCU controversy, since it's pretty blatant. Baylor beat TCU, and barring a circular tie like the infamous Texas/OU/TT mess of a few years ago, Baylor should be ahead of TCU, period. This might be a bigger screw job than Kansas getting in the BCS over Mizzou that one year despite the Tigers beating the Jayhawks.

Damn Big 12 Title Game screwed us over.

[Chris_H_2]

Actually, let's clear one thing up. By "rankings," do people generally view them as a team being "better" or "more worthy" than lower ranked teams? Because I'm still troubled by the argument that Baylor should be ranked ahead of TCU because it beat TCU and they both have the same record, but somehow shouldn't be if it has one more loss against an uncommon opponent.

[Monkey_Driven]

Actually, let's clear one thing up. By "rankings," do people generally view them as a team being "better" or "more worthy" than lower ranked teams? Because I'm still troubled by the argument that Baylor should be ranked ahead of TCU because it beat TCU and they both have the same record, but somehow shouldn't be if it has one more loss against an uncommon opponent.

I think everyone has their own way of "ranking" teams.

[BigRedLedbetter]

Def rooting for Missouri, Arizona, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin and K State this weekend for mass chaos.

[verb_to_trust]

What does it matter if Florida State is ranked No. 4 as opposed to 3?

Its all about the money. They are angling to get FSU to play in the sugar bowl instead of having them play on the west coast.

[Chris_H_2]

What does it matter if Florida State is ranked No. 4 as opposed to 3?

Its all about the money. They are angling to get FSU to play in the sugar bowl instead of having them play on the west coast.

When is the last time that money has ever dictated anything in the NCAA? Oh . . . never mind.

[Joesanity]

Ohio State lost to Virginia Tech and they are sitting at 5? Who did they beat to put them there and how did they look doing it?

Michigan St. and damn impressive.

[Monkey_Driven]

Def rooting for Missouri, Arizona, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin and K State this weekend for mass chaos.

Chaos! I'm a little bummed I won't be able to watch the SEC Championship (due to a wedding) but I'm expecting a blowout.

[BigRedLedbetter]

Def rooting for Missouri, Arizona, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin and K State this weekend for mass chaos.

Chaos! I'm a little bummed I won't be able to watch the SEC Championship (due to a wedding) but I'm expecting a blowout.

Unless it's immediate family or a close friend you should skip the wedding. Unpopular opinion but oh well.

I think it will be like the game with Auburn last year. I think you guys will hang until the 4th and get worn down (depth)....I will say something like 41-27 Bama. Actually really hope you do it though.

[Monkey_Driven]

Def rooting for Missouri, Arizona, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin and K State this weekend for mass chaos.

Chaos! I'm a little bummed I won't be able to watch the SEC Championship (due to a wedding) but I'm expecting a blowout.

Unless it's immediate family or a close friend you should skip the wedding. Unpopular opinion but oh well.

I think it will be like the game with Auburn last year. I think you guys will hang until the 4th and get worn down (depth)....I will say something like 41-27 Bama. Actually really hope you do it though.

We are flying to Phoenix for it so it would be kind of odd to skip it.

Our defense will keep us in the game but I don't see us winning unless Bama is looking ahead to the playoff or gets turnover happy.

[BigRedLedbetter]

Def rooting for Missouri, Arizona, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin and K State this weekend for mass chaos.

Chaos! I'm a little bummed I won't be able to watch the SEC Championship (due to a wedding) but I'm expecting a blowout.

Unless it's immediate family or a close friend you should skip the wedding. Unpopular opinion but oh well.

I think it will be like the game with Auburn last year. I think you guys will hang until the 4th and get worn down (depth)....I will say something like 41-27 Bama. Actually really hope you do it though.

We are flying to Phoenix for it so it would be kind of odd to skip it.

Our defense will keep us in the game but I don't see us winning unless Bama is looking ahead to the playoff or gets turnover happy.

Understandable I guess.

Steckel has done a great job.

[Monkey_Driven]

Def rooting for Missouri, Arizona, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin and K State this weekend for mass chaos.

Chaos! I'm a little bummed I won't be able to watch the SEC Championship (due to a wedding) but I'm expecting a blowout.

Unless it's immediate family or a close friend you should skip the wedding. Unpopular opinion but oh well.

I think it will be like the game with Auburn last year. I think you guys will hang until the 4th and get worn down (depth)....I will say something like 41-27 Bama. Actually really hope you do it though.

We are flying to Phoenix for it so it would be kind of odd to skip it.

Our defense will keep us in the game but I don't see us winning unless Bama is looking ahead to the playoff or gets turnover happy.

Understandable I guess.

Steckel has done a great job.

I have skipped weddings before in the name of football .

I am homer but I would argue Mizzou has one of the most underrated coaching staffs in the country. They get 2 or 3 star guys and turn them into first, second, and third rounders.

[BigRedLedbetter]

Def rooting for Missouri, Arizona, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin and K State this weekend for mass chaos.

Chaos! I'm a little bummed I won't be able to watch the SEC Championship (due to a wedding) but I'm expecting a blowout.

Unless it's immediate family or a close friend you should skip the wedding. Unpopular opinion but oh well.

I think it will be like the game with Auburn last year. I think you guys will hang until the 4th and get worn down (depth)....I will say something like 41-27 Bama. Actually really hope you do it though.

We are flying to Phoenix for it so it would be kind of odd to skip it.

Our defense will keep us in the game but I don't see us winning unless Bama is looking ahead to the playoff or gets turnover happy.

Understandable I guess.

Steckel has done a great job.

I have skipped weddings before in the name of football .

I am homer but I would argue Mizzou has one of the most underrated coaching staffs in the country. They get 2 or 3 star guys and turn them into first, second, and third rounders.

Pinkel is a solid coach. I feel like you guys overachieve a lot. I thought Christensen was going to do better at Wyoming.

[Monkey_Driven]

Def rooting for Missouri, Arizona, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin and K State this weekend for mass chaos.

Chaos! I'm a little bummed I won't be able to watch the SEC Championship (due to a wedding) but I'm expecting a blowout.

Unless it's immediate family or a close friend you should skip the wedding. Unpopular opinion but oh well.

I think it will be like the game with Auburn last year. I think you guys will hang until the 4th and get worn down (depth)....I will say something like 41-27 Bama. Actually really hope you do it though.

We are flying to Phoenix for it so it would be kind of odd to skip it.

Our defense will keep us in the game but I don't see us winning unless Bama is looking ahead to the playoff or gets turnover happy.

Understandable I guess.

Steckel has done a great job.

I have skipped weddings before in the name of football .

I am homer but I would argue Mizzou has one of the most underrated coaching staffs in the country. They get 2 or 3 star guys and turn them into first, second, and third rounders.

Pinkel is a solid coach. I feel like you guys overachieve a lot. I thought Christensen was going to do better at Wyoming.

Is it overachieving if it happens a lot? Christensen is a coordinator, not a head coach. Some guys have it and others don't.

[Green Habit]

Wow.

There are going to be some pissed off Beavers around these parts, including my tenant. Riley's always done a good job at Corvallis, and I think he could do the same at Lincoln. BRLB, your thoughts?