Ohio State never showed up

[Bravo]

The SEC is an incredible conference. Those of you who don't have a chance to see SEC games would understand it better if you saw it.

The analysts on TV always talk about the speed of the SEC teams. I think there is some truth to this, but Ohio State did not seem to be lacking in team speed.

To me, the thing that makes the SEC so tough is not the top teams in the conference every year....its the bottom teams.

I'd take the bottom six teams in the SEC and stack them up against the bottom six in any conference and the SEC teams would slaughter them. I can say confidently that there is more parity in the SEC than in the NFL.

So the upshot is: you almost never have an easy game. 90% of the games are heavyweight fights.

I loved it when Lee Corso a week before the game talked about how LSU didn't deserve to be in the game, how they lost two and had many close calls....I wanted to say...."Lee, you dumbass, it's because there is so much parity and talent in the league that nobody is going to dominate the conference".

It's all of those close games that made LSU confident that they could hang in until the end. Every team in the conference believes they can always come back from being behind....

The SEC had nine teams in bowls.....finished 7-2 and won the National Championship.

Next year's National Champion: The Georgia Bulldogs. Completely and totally loaded....

[mddubya]

Amen Bravo, you're preaching to the choir here. I live in SEC country. Hawaii went undefeated till their bowl game, but if they'd have played in the SEC they probably wouldn't have even made a bowl game. Every year the SEC teams beat and bang on each other and knock themselves out of contention. I was glad to finally see a 2 loss team get a chance to prove they had what it took. And for everyone calling for a Playoff series to decide the Championship,(me included). You'd better get used to seeing an SEC team as Champs if there ever is one!!!!!!!!!

[warbirdlover]

You're probably right about the SEC but that changes over years depending on where the top H.S. prospects want to play. It holds on for long periods of time because the pros look at the top teams (SEC) for talent and the prospects go there to get noticed. In a few years this could swing back to the Big 10 (please!! ) or Pac 10 etc. Kind of like nature and weather, it goes by cycles (and not global warming ).

[Pa Jayhawk]

Not taking anything away from the SEC, they likely may be the toughest conference, but there are several tough conferences every year. The Big 12 finished with 4 top 10 teams, went 5-3 in Bowls games and only had 2 BCS teams because that was a rule to not allow 3. Then for whatever reason the 3rd best ranked team in KU was one of them, the Big 12 was simply overlooked for the national championship chance. What seemed to be the biggest driving factor in this was KU and Georgia were ranked the highest yet because the did not win their conference should not be considered. Who's to say that either 2 Big 12 teams or SEC teams should not be playing for the championship.

Simply put, it is kind of hard to value a team based on their conference, simply because you could have a really weak conference showcasing alot of teams with really good records because they play within their conference. KU being a prime example, they really didn't play a big name team until they reached their conference, and then even within their conference they didn't have the opportunity to play OU.

The reason Hawaii wasn't even close, I think their toughest game was against Washington. They use travel as an excuse, yet had they played any of 3 other Pac10 teams and won, they would likely have been in the hunt. Personally, I doubt Hawaii would have been ranked had they been in any major conference and not just the SEC. They would have been pushing it to make a bowl game in either the SEC, Big 12, Pac10 or Big10

[Pa Jayhawk]

Here is an interesting concept the NCAA should give some consideration too. It is obvious the BCS is a joke. As far back as I can remember the logic and reasoning behind not having a playoff system was that teams would play too many games and the season would extend into the middle of January.

Great logic until you consider that was the intent when teams were playing 11 games and New Years day was the official end of the season. It would appear now that most teams are playing 12-14 games, and for advertising revenue the season is already back to Jan 7th and more each year.

I think it is time the reevaluate their reasoning and either give the players a break and go back to a shorter season, or realize they are being driven by advertising and not care for the players, and admit they sold out and give the fans and competing teams a break and admit their old logic is now a little fuzzy.

Play 11 games, get rid of the conference Championship games. Take the top 12 ranked teams, give 4 a bye and start the games just as you do the bowl games and even play them in the same venue. For teams like Hawaii, if they are not in the top 12, then there is always next year and maybe they should consider loading up their non conference games. KU was no different IMO this year, had they had a tough non conference, I would have been bitter they did not play for the championship, as it stands I am simply happy they won the Orange Bowl, that will teach them next year to play a tougher Non conference schedule. It would be unlikely many/any teams would play over the current 14, and would likely finish the same time or earlier than what they did this year on Jan 7th. Heck, even the Top 8 would likely get the job done.

[steeleri64]

Born in the big easy! I am very proud of LSU. Ironic that the tigers beat the number 1 ranked team ( I know, I know ) and yet USC and Georgia are being touted as better teams for beating Illinois and Hawaii? Either way, National Champs!

[Bravo]

Originally Posted by Pa Jayhawk

Here is an interesting concept the NCAA should give some consideration too. It is obvious the BCS is a joke. As far back as I can remember the logic and reasoning behind not having a playoff system was that teams would play too many games and the season would extend into the middle of January.

Great logic until you consider that was the intent when teams were playing 11 games and New Years day was the official end of the season. It would appear now that most teams are playing 12-14 games, and for advertising revenue the season is already back to Jan 7th and more each year.

I think it is time the reevaluate their reasoning and either give the players a break and go back to a shorter season, or realize they are being driven by advertising and not care for the players, and admit they sold out and give the fans and competing teams a break and admit their old logic is now a little fuzzy.

Play 11 games, get rid of the conference Championship games. Take the top 12 ranked teams, give 4 a bye and start the games just as you do the bowl games and even play them in the same venue. For teams like Hawaii, if they are not in the top 12, then there is always next year and maybe they should consider loading up their non conference games. KU was no different IMO this year, had they had a tough non conference, I would have been bitter they did not play for the championship, as it stands I am simply happy they won the Orange Bowl, that will teach them next year to play a tougher Non conference schedule. It would be unlikely many/any teams would play over the current 14, and would likely finish the same time or earlier than what they did this year on Jan 7th. Heck, even the Top 8 would likely get the job done.

I like your idea...I have had a similar one for years. The BCS is a complete farce.

[Bravo]

Originally Posted by Pa Jayhawk

Here is an interesting concept the NCAA should give some consideration too. It is obvious the BCS is a joke. As far back as I can remember the logic and reasoning behind not having a playoff system was that teams would play too many games and the season would extend into the middle of January.

Great logic until you consider that was the intent when teams were playing 11 games and New Years day was the official end of the season. It would appear now that most teams are playing 12-14 games, and for advertising revenue the season is already back to Jan 7th and more each year.

I think it is time the reevaluate their reasoning and either give the players a break and go back to a shorter season, or realize they are being driven by advertising and not care for the players, and admit they sold out and give the fans and competing teams a break and admit their old logic is now a little fuzzy.

Play 11 games, get rid of the conference Championship games. Take the top 12 ranked teams, give 4 a bye and start the games just as you do the bowl games and even play them in the same venue. For teams like Hawaii, if they are not in the top 12, then there is always next year and maybe they should consider loading up their non conference games. KU was no different IMO this year, had they had a tough non conference, I would have been bitter they did not play for the championship, as it stands I am simply happy they won the Orange Bowl, that will teach them next year to play a tougher Non conference schedule. It would be unlikely many/any teams would play over the current 14, and would likely finish the same time or earlier than what they did this year on Jan 7th. Heck, even the Top 8 would likely get the job done.

I like your idea...I have had a similar one for years. The BCS is a complete farce.