The Bowl Championship Series was created 13 years ago to end the dispute of what truly is the best team in college football.
But rather than solve the puzzle, the answers seem more complex.
They didn’t get any clearer when the season’s first BCS standings were released Sunday.
Oklahoma, which has been in the BCS top 10 more than any other school, came in at No. 1 after starting 6-0. Oregon, which is ranked No. 1 by the human polls for the first time in its history, is No. 2 with BCS buster Boise State, which hasn’t lost since the 2008 season, at No. 3.
Therein lies the argument, which seems to always be divided into two camps – the haves (BCS conference teams) and have-nots (non-BCS conference teams).
No matter how many games Boise State continues to win, there’s going to be an element that never will cast a vote for the Smurfs as the top team.
I’ve already taken the stance Boise State shouldn’t be penalized for its schedule, which everyone admitted is not as strong as some of the major conference teams like Alabama, which has faced four top 25 teams in its first six games, Oklahoma or Oregon.
Some agree with that stance.
“If you’re going to say who’d you play, who’d you beat, these teams (Boise State and fellow BCS busters Texas Christian and Utah) shouldn’t even be in the top 10,” ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit said on the network’s BCS Countdown show on Sunday. “But at some point, you have be an evaluator
of a team and look at Boise State. You have to ask yourself, `As a team, can they play with Alabama, can they play with Oregon?’
“I’m not trying to be the voice of the automatic qualifiers. I totally appreciate the grind of playing in the Pac-10 when you have to play nine conference games and how demanding that is. I’m just saying as a voter, I don’t think you can pick up your morning paper and say, `That team won, they move up. That team lost, they move down.’
“It’s more scientific than that, and the voters have to pay attention and do some homework on how you vote.”
Unfortunately, it appears Herbstreit’s cry is falling on deaf ears.
Boise State continues to fall despite beating ranked Virginia Tech and Oregon State earlier in the season and putting up blowout victories every week, including Saturday’s 48-0 thrashing of San Jose State.
I agree with Herbstreit and will say you can’t penalize these teams for who they play, especially when you consider these schedules were made 10 years ago or so.
Ask yourself, where was Boise State in 2000? It certainly wasn’t the power it is now and shouldn’t be penalized for not seeing into the future.
STAY OF EXECUTION
We sent Alabama to the gallows after being upset by South Carolina last week. But losses by No. 1 Ohio State and No. 5 Nebraska put the Crimson Tide back in a solid position.
Alabama, at 6-1, still is behind six undefeated teams. But there is a scenario that would land the Tide in the BCS title game and it’s not far-fetched.
It starts with Alabama, which probably received the most benefit from Nebraska’s loss to Texas, running the table, which is within its means. Alabama faces two of the seven – No. 5 Auburn and No. 6 Louisiana State. If it goes undefeated the rest of the way, it has enough schedule strength – especially when you consider the perception of most voters – to leap schedule-challenged Boise State and Texas Christian. The Tide also would need Oklahoma, which is 6-0, to lose
My belief is the Sooners, who still have road games against undefeated Missouri and Oklahoma State, won’t survive either that or a possible meeting against once-defeated Nebraska in the Big 12 title game.
I’m not ready to put Alabama in my BCS Top 5, but it is just on the outside looking in.
Rose Bowl Top 5
1. Boise State (6-0)
The Smurfs fall from our No. 1 in the BCS back to our top pick for the Rose Bowl after coming in at No. 3 in the first BCS rankings. Boise State, ranked No. 2 in all three human polls, continues to lose points to BCS conference teams, which drops its chances at the BCS title game but enhances a shot at Pasadena.
2. Iowa (5-1, 2-0 in Big Ten)
The Big Ten title runs through Iowa City with the Hawkeyes, whose only loss was at Arizona and host Wisconsin, Michigan State and Ohio State in the coming weeks.
3. Michigan State (7-0, 3-0)
The Spartans, who don’t face the Buckeyes, would need only to beat Iowa on Oct. 30 to all but secure their first trip to Pasadena since the 1988 Rose Bowl.
4. Oregon (6-0, 3-0 in Pac-10)
The Ducks control their own path to the Rose Bowl, but we think they can run the table and get to the BCS title game. First they must beat the No. 1 trap that caught Alabama and Ohio State the past two weekends.
5. Ohio State (6-1, 2-1)
A return trip to Pasadena is in serious doubt after a loss to Wisconsin on Saturday, and you can forget about the BCS title game.
The Buckeyes need help to get to the Rose Bowl. Ohio State needs Iowa to beat the Spartans in two weeks, then hope it can beat the Hawkeyes on Nov. 20. But if Ohio State can’t win at Wisconsin, how is it going to pull the trick against a better Iowa squad?
Others: Oregon State (3-3, 2-1), Wisconsin (5-1, 2-1), Stanford (5-1, 2-1), Arizona (5-1, 2-1), Purdue (4-2, 2-0).
BCS Top 5
1. Oregon (6-0)
The Ducks move up to No. 1 in all three human polls and are No. 2 in the first BCS rankings. The question is can they stay there? Most believe Oregon will. I agree.
2. Boise State (6-0)
The Smurfs took advantage of Ohio State’s loss and moved into No. 2 in all three human polls, but they are losing ground in the computer rankings, which could hurt them in the coming weeks. Losses by Oregon State, which Boise State beat, and Nevada, which faces the Broncos in November, didn’t help.
3. Oklahoma (7-0)
The Sooners, who pounded Iowa State, are No. 1 in the first BCS rankings, but the road to stay there is tough. Oklahoma has trips to No. 18 Missouri and No. 17 Oklahoma State in the coming weeks and a possible meeting against once-beaten Nebraska in the final Big 12 title game if both qualify.
4. Auburn (6-0)
Three years ago, the Tigers were a program in disarray. Today, they are in the BCS title hunt for the first time since being snubbed for the championship game in 2004.
5. LSU (7-0)
The Tigers took a week off from SEC play by defeating McNeese State. This weekend will be much tougher with a trip to Auburn.
Others: Alabama (6-1), TCU (7-0), Michigan State (7-0), Nebraska (5-1), Utah (6-0).
