Mr. College Football

By boomer

September 30, 2008 7:35 AM | Link to this

Thanks for leaving out the Bucwipes….aka OSU….saves them from another SEC beatdown

By USC Gamecock

September 30, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this

TONY, you left out USC who should have beat UGA in Columbia; it ain’t over for my beloved Gamecocks yet….

By JoeFann

September 30, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this

Thanks for the look-ahead, Tony! Wow, the SEC schedule is brutal for everybody. Clearly, the Pac 10 and Big 11 having only one team mentioned says a lot about where the power is. If the NC game isn’t between the Big 12 and the SEC, then the BCS is truly as bad as we think! I still think it’s Oklahoma vs UGA, despite last week. This team should peak in the last half just like last year, IF we can get to Atlanta. Of course, that little bee team has a chance to do something to us unseen since Eddie McAshan. It’ll be scary this year.

By spike

September 30, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this

Sorry, Tony. Nice try. But I’m not buying. Let’s have a play off at the end of the season. And let’s can the pre season polls. They are worthless as we have seen. Oh, and USC Gamecock.. I got news for you brother, it’s over for you and S.O.S.

By RAMBLE ON!!!

September 30, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this

Tony, the ACC is 2-1 against the Big Bad SEC. How come you have 5 teams from the most Over rated conference in the history of over rating?

UF can’t even beat little Ole Miss, Awbarn 3-2 Miss St., come on!!!!!!

The jokes on you…

here some viewing pleasure for the big bad sec blowhards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJFLls46Xic

By DP

September 30, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this

What’s with the fixation on looking 3 months ahead to BCS games Tony? Are the regular season games that boring? I figured that your ridiculous column from last week speculating about USC, Oklahoma and Georgia going undefeated just before two of them got knocked off might be embarrassing enough to cause you to write about current developments and this weekend’s upcoming games.

Why don’t you give Nick Saban a call and tell him you’ve already penciled Alabama in for wins over Kentucky (which is 4-0), Ole Miss (which just beat Florida in the Swamp), Tennessee (which was a fumbled handoff from winning at Auburn) and Mississippi State (which has beaten Alabama the last 2 years) and let us know his reaction? You wouldn’t suggest such a thing to Saban because you know it would cost you any credibility you have with him. So why do you insult the intelligence of your readers with this crap?

By Not so fast

September 30, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this

Your assumption on the “impact” of the Oregon State loss is based on having a playoff that would include the champions from each major conference. Nobody wants that. Who wants a 3-loss Big East team in the mix? Most people just want their team to have a shot if they are undefeated or have 1 loss in a difficult schedule. No conference champion should have an automatic bid in a playoff system…just the teams, regardless of their conference, that have proven to be the strongest. If that means a 4-team playoff where 2 of the top 4 teams are from the SEC, so be it. Just as a hypothetical…let’s say Oklahoma, Alabama, Penn State and BYU are the only teams left at the end of the season undefeated. They should be the only teams granted a playoff to determine the national champion. If you have a loss, tough…as you say…the season in itself is like a playoff…every game counts. Set it up anyway you like…Oklahoma vs. BYU, Penn State vs Alabama. Winners play for the National Championship. Now, if there is no one left without a loss at the end of the season, let the polls determine the top 4 teams and go with it. Either way, every game in the season counts.

By Dirty Dawg

September 30, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this

I have the utmost respect for Tony’s opinion, however, I will never understand people who believe a playoff would render the regular season meaningless. If that’s the case, why do we still pack the stands after our beloved teams lose a game? It’s because we love our teams, not because we’re delusional about the possibility of a championship for our team. If we actually adhered to the twisted logic of the BCS proponents, then we wouldn’t watch any games on television unless the teams were undefeated. Give me a break! ….and is it just me or does everyone who likes the BS…sorry…BCS qualify for social security?

By m

September 30, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this

BS!! We need a real 16 team playoff where only what happens on the field matters; Not who some sec homer votes for. Your arrogance is unbelievable. You vote 5 sec teams in the top 10 and then say that is a reason to believe the sec is the best. It is total BS. People like Tony Barnhart and Kirk Herbstreit think that what they THINK is more important than what happens on the field. It is ridiculous. Get opinions out of football. Let what happens on the field count. Tony, have you noticed that no sec team has beaten Miss St anywhere near as bad as Tech did, and Tech played every player on the team. The reason there are all the so-called upsets is that the top 25 is just s bunch of idiotic opinions…it means nothing and it SHOWS each week as the teams that Tony thinks will win almost always lose. Tony, I hate to tell you this..but you suck as bad as Chan Gailey. Thank God and Greyhound that he is gone but unfortunately you are still here.

By Jack Mehoff

September 30, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

And just who did the ACC beat in the SEC to get that 2-1 record? Just about the 2 worst teams in the conference….UF’s loss to Ole P** nonwithstanding….Even a blind hog finds an acorn evey once in a while, and this was the case of UF losing to Ole P**. Wake beating Ole P**? So what. GT beating Missy State? big effin deal. Like I said, you beat 2 doormats. Every conference has em….that’s what Homecoming games are for.

By Another Ed

September 30, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this

Lighten up everyone. This is just sports we are talking about. The way some of you respond, you act like your life is dependent on who wins and what the opinions are about your team.

By ChattHills Jacket

September 30, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this

PLAYOFF, just make all the major confrences have 12 teams and that they all play each other and one out of conference game such as Clemson-USC, UGA-GT, and the such. Make the academys and Notre Dame join a confrence. Then the SEASON would truly be a playoff and the bowl games would pit the best against the best with little speculation on strength of schedule.

By Not so fast

September 30, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this

I agree with you 100% Dirty Dawg. The argument that no one would pay money to see a playoff game (to save up for the possible national championship game) is also insane. People would still go, especially if you made the bowl games host the playoff games, because most people don’t have a chance otherwise to see their teams play. It boggles the mind that the “powers that be” cannot see the financial possibilities of having a “super bowl” for college football. And we’d have a true champion every year. I’m not in favor of an 8- or 16-team playoff…I think that’s too many teams. But when there are more than 2 deserving teams, we should have a playoff (or a plus 1 game) to fairly get two teams to play for the national championship.

By old gold engineer

September 30, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

The ACC is actually 2-3 versus the SEC this year to my knowledge. Losses by Clemson, NC State, and Miami to Alabama, South Carolina, and Florida respectively.
Some of these teams are bound to fall out of the rankings as conference play separates the wheat from the chaff. And by the way, I think a playoff would destroy the debate that makes college football the sport we love (and I’m at least 20 years away from collecting Social Security).

By FLA DAWG

September 30, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

How disappointing to read your comments Tony. You sound just like a politican who says let’s leave this lousy system in place because afterall, it’s really not THAT bad.

By me

September 30, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

Cut the regular season back to 11 games, and have a four team playoff. The regular will still mean something, and we will have a true national champion in football.

Your argument Tony, holds no maret and you know it. Because of the upsets this weekend, it opens the door for Ohio State to go back to the National Championship game in Miami in your so called playoff.

By Buford Dawg

September 30, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this

Tony, you’re one of the best college football writers going today however I disagree with you on this. Forget about devaluing the season! Forget about a playoff messing up the academic calendar, it works for CSD & basketball! Forget about the joke the current BCS setup is! Let’s have a plus one then let it grow to hopefully a full 16 team playoff incorporating the bowls so all of the games are on neutral sites. The teams that don’t make it in can go to the bowls that don’t be become part of the playoff. Furthermore if that includes the Rose Bowl, PAC10 & BIG10 then fine they’ll be like HBC’s in the CSD by choice they’ll play for there bowl game with no shot at going to playoffs or being champions! It’s high time we decide who the best team in College football is ON THE FIELD through a playoff like is done in every other team sport!

By I'm just sayin'

September 30, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this

You’re right Tony; every other sport on the planet has got it wrong. If they would all just eliminate those silly tournaments and playoffs then people would actually start showing up to regular season games, and the sports writers could vote on the champions… Who’s it going to be this year the Red Sox or the Yankees?

The bottom line is until you have a 16 team playoff the National Champion is someone’s opinion. Also if the regular season is one big playoff how come we are still talking about USC, UGA, UF, and UA? They all lost. It’s my understanding that a playoff means you lose and go home. Speaking of which how did LSU win the BCS last year with two losses, one of which came in their final “playoff” game?

By azcat225

September 30, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

So much anger and bile—-the markets, and the gas problems (at least locally), must be getting to some people. It’s commentary, folks, not some dictator laying out new rules that every one will be forced to live under.

Take a deep breath, get over yourselves, and try to engage in a civil give-and-take.

By SlawDawg

September 30, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

I’ve got to fully agree with Tony. Why does everyone want a playoff? No one pays any attention to the regular season of college basketball because it is close to meaningless. Only the tournament matters. NBA and NHL are just as bad.

By BravesFan79

September 30, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this

Tony what will you write when every team in the nation except possibly BYU has at least 1 loss?? Will you then pick names out of a hat to play for it all??

Until we get all the BS politics out of College Football well continue to have the WORST POST SEASON IN THE HISTORY OF SPORTS!!

I mean seriously stop with all the talk of the “regular season is so awsome” when half the games are played against cupcakes that get smeared by 50 points.

By SC Rules!!!

September 30, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

SEC fan: So lets say that Southern Cal goes undefeated (ahem as they should be ) the rest of the way and the SEC champion has 2 losses the way you see it they the SEC champion is MORE deserving to be in the NC game than SC??? That’s like saying the Tampa Rays don’t deserve to be AL East champions because they’re NOT the NY Yankees!?!? If USC wins out they will be in the NC game if the SEC champion has 2 losses some how so get over it. We’ll be putting an arse whooppin on OU like the ‘05 Orange Bowl.

By Dave-SD

September 30, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

I’m sick and tired of this ‘the regular season is a playoff’ nonsesne. You can, maybe, argue that the BCS title game is a very limitted playoff. But the regular season is not a playoff, it’s the regular season.

And we’d need to get to a 24 or more team playoff (i.e. roughly the same size as the division I basketball tournament, relative to the number of teams) before a playoff would devalue the regular season to any significant degree; an 11 conference champs + 5 at-large team playoff would only include teams that won their conference or were otherwise very good.

Also, will people stop with the attempts to force every conference to adopt the abomination that is a conference championship game just because the SEC has one? If we’re blowing up conferences and reorganizing things (since that’s the only way you can get logical conferences of standard size), making 12 ten-team conferences is just as easy as creating 10 twelve-team conferences, and then everyone can play true round-robin schedules ala the Pac 10.

By TommyP

September 30, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

When I think of the “good ole boy network”, Tony, I think of you.

Stadiums are going to be full whether we keep this antiquated system we have now or go to a 4-team playoff at the end of the year. The regular season will stay as important as well.

The only change in the college football talk won’t be who gets into the national title game but which teams make the top 4.

In this day and age, change is needed as there is an argument every single year about which team should be in the big game.

A 4 team playoff would break records in TV ratings and you know it would.

Another change should be that every conference needs a conference championship game. Big 10 and Pac-10 teams get an easy ride (in addition to their weak regular schedule) by not having to compete in a season-ending conference championship.

College football will not lose it’s luster with a playoff so long as it’s not as big as 16 teams.

I’m guessing you were screaming when MLB lowered the mound in 1968?

Or when the TV networks went to scoreboards at the bottom of the screen and first down lines for the viewer.

Again, absolutely no ability to look into the future and project….just keep writing about the past. That’s what got you your job.

By EmperorSaban

September 30, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

Dear Ramble On,

You bumbling idiot. If you did a fact check, you would realize the SEC is 2-2 vs. the ACC, with 2 huge blowouts over your ACC teams, including, the Tide’s rout of ACC-favorite Clemson. Not to mention, South Carolina’s 34-0 rout of No Chance State University (NCSU). I wouldn’t brag about Wake Forest needing the last minute of the game to win at home against the 9th best team in the SEC. But if I were an ACC fan, I too would look for moral victories against the best conference in the land, instead of measuring actual performance (or lack thereof) on the national scene. The ACC is, and always will be, the WAC of the East.

By cvnnj

September 30, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

Tony—love the article, but have to ask: how does UGA get a free pass after losing a home game—down 31-0 at half—to a lower ranked team, and the Buckeyes (who lost to the reigning #1 on the road without their best player) not get any consideration/ Even if they win the Big Ten? And South Florida? Wow…

By ArkyTech

September 30, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

Here’s an argument for a playoff: Two straight years with Ohio State in the NC game!

By Facts

September 30, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

Emperor Saban- when you call people bumbling idiots, YOU might want to have YOUR facts straight. SEC is 3-2, you left out UF over Miami. Ole Miss just beat UF didnt they? So is UF the 10th best team? You really should get the facts straight before you come out and sound like a moron. Nice fact check.

Tony- you are an idiot. This is a terrible article. What happenes when Texas Tech turns out to be crap? These rankings are going to change a great deal in the next 9 weeks. What about the teams that will move into the top 10? The regular season of college football would be just as great if there was an 8 team playoff. Can we atleast have a Plus 1 system? This garbage of the “regular season being the playoffs” is just that, GARBAGE. So BYU, USF, & USC combined have 3 playoff games left, while UGA alone has 5? That makes since to you? Fat, no talent, moron.

By checkit out

September 30, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

Just waiting to hear you shout”we need a new coach”. Lose one or two and you think it is the end of the world. Any fool could look at who UGA plays and see that it would be almost impossible for them to go undefeated. It is still a long season and lots of football yet. As far as a National championship, wellllll, hehehehehe.

By murfdawg

September 30, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

Tony, Look at the teams you have mentioned as possible national champions. I sent this to you once before but here it comes again. Sugar Bowl SEC CHAMP VS BIG 12 CHAMP for the national championship Cotton Bowl Sec runner up vs the Big 12 runner up Chick-fil-a Bowl

Fiesta Bowl

You can rotate the bowl sites every year and keep the bowl people happy. At the end of the bowl season you would have a pretty good idea of the top eight teams.

Oh one more thing. Pac 10 and Big 10(11) can play in the Rose Bowl for the #9 ranking. They can keep their little agreement and continue to play each other like kissing cousins.

The real BIG BOY FOOTBALL is in the SEC and the Big 12.

By robc

September 30, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this

I know why Tony doesn’t want a playoff.. College football is one of the last sports where sports columnist have any power. Let’s eliminate all the opinion, b/c frankly it is not much different than the idiot-driven blogs I’ve come to detest. If Tim Brando says “flies in the ointment” one more time… It’s time to eliminate the priveleged programs and create a fair system where only what happens between the goalposts matters.

By Got 12?

September 30, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this

EmperorSaban,

You forgot that Florida beat Miami.

By robc

September 30, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this

I couldn’t agree with you more BufordDawg. As a UGA/Wake Forest fan, why should I want to change the system that gives teams in our league an unfair advantage??? B/C the system sucks! A playoff would encourage more out of conference play (UGA vs. Michigan, Auburn vs. Oregon, etc.) which would be great for the sport, it would be more exciting than 25+ non-important bowl games, it would more equally distribute revenue, and most of all.. It would be FAIR, It’s the best sport in the world, except for the good ol boy network in charge of it.

By Richard

September 30, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this

We already have a playoff? Then how do you explain LSU playing for the BCS championship with 2 losses?

(Especially when another 2-loss team Oklahoma had beaten the #1 team in the country the previous week.)

By The Real Roswell Ed

September 30, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this

M shut your freaking pie hole.

You and your Greyhound and your wanker friend Ramble On need to start your own web site and your own blog about how great the ACC is.

The debate could have started with who will win the Campbell err Coastal division. The media picked Clemson and Wake Forest:

Ala 34 Clem 10

Navy 24 WF 17(Navy’s first win against a ranked team in over 2 decades.)

Now let’s take a look at the Norris err Atlantic Division. The media takes Va Tech

East Carolina 27 Va Tech 22

Let’s not forget about these gems:

Mid Tenn St 24 Maryland 14

USF 41 NC St 10

USC 34 NC St 0

The other USC 52 UVA 7

UF 26 Mia 3

So M you and Ramble On keep hanging your hat on Ga Tech blowing out * a 1-4 SEC team that lost to *La Tech or Wake Forest having to go down to the wire against Ole Miss at home. It just makes your argument stronger and stronger.

By the way M, if AU and my sons 6 yr old flag team played AU might not score 6.

Nobody talks about or writes about the ACC because like Tech tearing out seats at their stadium nobody gives a rats behind about it except you 2 and ten other nitwits.

The REAL Roswell Ed!!

PS M when you write in all bold it makes you look like even more of a Summer’s Eve product

By ChattHills Jacket

September 30, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

PEOPLE PEOPLE these are STUDENTS do you know what a STUDENT IS? COLLEGE CLASSES are first on the list of things to do a playoff only makes more money for the colleges, FORD, and ESPN. Just make the confrences all have 12 teams that all play each other and 1 out of conference game ie. UGA vs GT. The League winners play in the top bowls + 1 championship game. There will be a little discussion about the strongest team but, 7-10 times I think the most powerful teams will rise to the + 1 game.

By Just the Truth

September 30, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

This is just the truth (fact). Assuming OU, Texas, Alabama and Penn State lose. If UGA completes the season with 1 loss and wins thw SEC (not likely I think everyone in the SEC will end with 2 or more loses) they should be in the NC game. However If USC or OU complete their season with only 1 loss (a piece) They’ll get the title shot. Every team can have an off day and stumble, UCS, UGA, Florida…, have had theirs. All thing s considered USC, and OU are still the Teams to beat, I think the experts have it right so far. When it’s all over the big time programs will all ebd with 1 or 2 losses this year. Maybe BYU or some of the lesser programs may go undeated but they will be passed over.

By Just the Truth

September 30, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

This is just the truth (fact). Assuming OU, Texas, Alabama and Penn State lose. If UGA completes the season with 1 loss and wins thw SEC (not likely I think everyone in the SEC will end with 2 or more loses) they should be in the NC game. However If USC or OU complete their season with only 1 loss (a piece) They’ll get the title shot. Every team can have an off day and stumble, UCS, UGA, Florida…, have had theirs. All thing s considered USC, and OU are still the Teams to beat, I think the experts have it right so far. When it’s all over the big time programs will all end up with 1 or 2 losses this year. Maybe BYU or some of the lesser programs may go undeated but they will be passed over.

By Archie

September 30, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this

If you playoff fans love playoff football so much… watch the NFL! Why does everyone insist on making every sports league the same? Why can’t people just sit back and enjoy the games? College football excitement is increased dramatically because a seemingly insignificant game like Oregon State- Southern Cal sends a shockwave throughout the sport. With a playoff, that loss wouldn’t even be noticed because USC can still win their conference and qualify for a playoff. Just because you guys don’t like that truth doesn’t make it any less true. With a playoff format, regular season games are not “meaningless” (anybody who says that is choosing their words poorly), they’re just less meaningful than they are with the BCS system. Regular season NFL game are not meaningless, they’re just not as meaningful to the championship race as NCAA regular season games. Though in a different means to the same end, NFL postseason games are more significant than NCAA postseason games (with the exception of the one championship game). Personally, I like both systems just fine, I like the fact that college football emphasizes each and every one of the 12 regular season games. That just draws out the excitement that much longer.

By bb

September 30, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

Tony,

You probably just made a convincing agrument that a playoff is absolutely needed. I see 4 teams in the top 13 that don’t play anyone near the top 10 the rest of the way (and that doesn’t count teams like OSU and Utah hanging around just outside the top 13). Those teams may actually have a better shot at a national championship than the other 9 in the top 13. Are they better teams? We’ll never know without a playoff.

If South Florida wins out while the rest of the top 10 beat each other up, they are almost guaranteed a spot in the title game. Their best wins will be against Kansas (NR) and UConn (#24).

They could match against an undefeated BYU team whose best wins are against UCLA (!), Washington (!!!) and Utah (#15).

Are you kidding me??? Unfortunately, not.

By Andy in Warner Robins

September 30, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

Dang—some of you are idiots or just can’t read—which is it?—Tony didn’t pick his fav 13, he used the polls. so if your beloved suckeyes got left out, there is a reason, they inhale sharply. And I am sorry all of you Almost Counts Conference fans you will never be able to match up with the SEC deal with it.

By ga_tech_92

September 30, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

The problem is the illusion of fairness.

If there is only one undefeated team, does that mean it’s the best team?…..(or just played the easiest schedule)

A playoff is the only truely fair way to answer that question. Just ask Auburn 2004ish.

If there are a handfull of SEC teams with 1 loss, but a couple undefeated teams in other parts of the country. Does it mean the SEC teams aren’t the best teams, just because they have a loss?

A playoff is the only fair way to resolve this question.

The biggest problem with no playoff having the illusion of fairness comes down to being invited based on money. Sometimes smaller schools deserve to go to a B level bowl, but they get skipped over and instead are invived to a D level bowl…….this happens not based on “how good is the team”…but instead it’s based on “how many fans will buy tickets and buy stuff in the host city”….money has nothing to do with the players on the team or proving which teams deserve to go to particular bowls based on “how good they are”.

The bowl system is very corrupt and the only thing it establishes is money in the pockets of the bigger spending schools.

It has almost nothing to do with ‘proving it on the field’. For every example of ‘getting it right’…there are examples of ‘getting it wrong’…it’s what happens when you make “champion” based on “popularity and money”…instead of “kicking the other teams a* all the way to the championship”.

Nothing new here…money talks…championships walk…

By TrueCrimson

September 30, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this

Tony,

You make a valid point. While pre-season picks are so subjective as to have very little value, the polls do tend to work themselves out by the end of the season.

That said, I do believe that we need a small playoff regime at the end of the season. Even if it only includes 4 teams (Plus 1), that would be helpful in those years when the actual best team is in doubt. It happens all too often, even with the BCS system.

I don’t like the idea of a full-blown playoff tournament. It involves too many games. Football requires more downtime between games than do most other sports and I don’t want to see college kids playing 20 games per year.

By Gen Neyland

September 30, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

Again, plain and simple…A conference that refuses to enact a CG need not apply for the BCSNCG. The polls may be altered week to week, so to rate by virture of the human factor today leaves us with what is to be a beauty contest at seasons end. Let the real champions play for a champioship…That is all.

By PTC DAWG

September 30, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

LSU and UGA so called “playoffs” sure do look harder than most.

By Say What??????

September 30, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

Tony,

You picked a good time to stir up this hornets nest given the UGA bye week after a humbling defeat. Argue all you want about the excitement of the regular season, but that same excitement would pale in comparison to a playoff season…not to mention we could all be satisfied that the winner would be most deserving of the title. Don’t forget that the bowls are often full of silly match-ups that do little to quench our thirst (eg., UGA vs Hawaii, USC vs Illinois, LSU vs OSU). Just having a 4-team playoff would be more satisfying and would still make regular season games just as exciting!

Now watch this year as PSU makes a run through the pathetic Big 10 and right into the BS title game without playing a conference championship game where they are destroyed by OU. This whole system sucks!!!

By Eric C.

September 30, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

True Crimson,

“I don’t like the idea of a full-blown playoff tournament. It involves too many games. Football requires more downtime between games than do most other sports and I don’t want to see college kids playing 20 games per year.”

I would agree that we don’t necessarily need 16 teams…however, that format does work at levels “1-AA, II, III.”

This same argument used by the bigwigs is just a cover-up for the real excuse…greed and green. If you do have a 16 team playoff, only a few teams would play more than 13 games anyway…with two teams playing 16 games.

By NCAA Playoffs

September 30, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this

Every other division in college football has a playoff and guess what they’re fantastic! Until the NCAA and all of these money hungry football programs/schools decide to do what’s best for the players AND the fans nothing will change. There’s nothing better then a NCAA football playoff game.. it’s a shame that most of the country is missing out.

By BOOO!

September 30, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

Come on Mr. College Football!

You’re saying that raitngs of a USC-OreSt game would be down if a playoff existed, so the “Powers-that-be” won’t go for a playoff.

How shortsighted! Maybe some regular season games will get lower ratings. But, the college football playoff will INCREASE RATINGS OVERALL!

Everyone will watch every playoff game.

Get the G-D opinions out of NCAA football. Settle it on the field!

By DirtyDawg

September 30, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

I’m the original DirtyDawg around here and I think we can do without some trumped-upped playoff system. I mean just how many times over the years has there been a real debate about who the National Champion should be, or should have been? Auburn the year they went undefeated? Maybe, but is it worth dumping a bowl system that has been pretty good to Division I over the years.

Here’s my take. What are there, 25-30 bowl games? That means there are 25-30 teams - players, coaches, fans, recruits - that go home happy every year. Not just one and bunch of ‘other guys’. And what are you gonna do, tell the top four bowls - assuming an eight-team playoff - that they have to move their ‘New Years Day’ - Holiday Celebration ‘feature’ attraction to as far back as the first week in December? Or the second or third week? Christmas? The bowls have meant a lot of money to the communities in which they are held and to the teams and conferences that participate. How many fans would be in a position to attend several away games to follow their team(s) to the finals?…tickets, travel, etc., etc., etc. Even the, so-called, ‘One-Plus’ game has it’s limits…for example, a few years back after Texas and USC played in the BCS game, what would you have done, have them play again? And, potentially another one after that one if USC had won the second?

As much as we complain about the BCS, I don’t believe the alternatives offer much of a solution…and to what end? So that the fans of, maybe, one other team, don’t have a complaint? ( And think of the number of teams that would complain about not being included in the top eight.) Or that the sportswriters/commentators have something to talk about for a few weeks.

Keep it the way it is - tweaked as necessary - but keep it.

By tjs

September 30, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

Play off good idea, use the format for DIV 1AA, II,III,it will be more exciting than the NCAA hoops tournament…Which right now is the ultimate in college sports…final two USC & Ala…roll- Tide -roll….

By PTC DAWG

September 30, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this

6 BCS Conference Winners (assuming they are in the top 15) and the next 2 ranked at large, IF a conference doesn’t have a top 15 champion, up the amount of at large teams) Use the current BCS poll to get these 8. Use the current 4 BCS bowls for first round games…Or open up the bid to any bowl that wants to pay…

What are they waiting on?

By Jim Mora

September 30, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

Playoffs ?

Playoffs ?

Don’t talk to me about…Playoffs ?

By Walton

September 30, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this

Well, how about all those recent cases where a team lost their last game of the season or a game very late in the year and still made the Championship game. That isn’t like a PLAYOFF at all. I think some are confusing playoffs with competitive league. It isn’t the same thing. NFL games are all important because they get you into the playoffs but it isn’t the same thing because playoffs are win or go home. Lastly, there is so little inter-conference play that all the rankings: poll, BCS are full of subjective nonsense. That is why you need a playoff because no one has any idea in a given year if the best SEC team is better than the best PAC-10 or best Big-10 team unless they decide it on the field of play. If you keep the playoff small (8 teams) then every game is still as important as they are today.

By Agreed

September 30, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

PTC DAWG- exactly. Lets go sell this to CBS. You can have these 8 teams in a playoff, and then still have some garbage bowls as well. The winner, and REAL NC, would only play 2 more games than everyone else that was bowl eligible. Thats not a big number, and if the first round was played around the same time as the first toilet bowls (early/mid Dec., just make the playoffs a Friday and Saturday night thing) then the NCG could still be first week in January. There we go, just fixed NCAA football.

By Your Mom

September 30, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

**Who really friggin’ cares? Blah, blah this…Blah, blah that. (insert dumb statistic).

How does all of this back and forth make anything better?**

By David

September 30, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this

Why do people give you so much respect as an authority on college football?. I don’t get it. You are as phony as your dye job. What color is that anyway? Didn’t you pick Alabama lose to Georgia?

By Hey Your Mom

September 30, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this

I tink I met yur mom at a truck stop off the 95, bout 11-12 yers go, that bout yur age, wright? She watent a bad looker, missin a couple front teeth doe, but man what a rack. He11 I think I might be yur daddy.

Boy run down to da stor and get me som cigs.

By Dave

September 30, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this

The only true playoff I see represented in those schedules is the playoff to become the SEC champion. It doesn’t seem fair to compare the “playoff” schedules of USC, BYU and South Florida with those of the SEC… or even Big 12 teams represented in the top 13.

By TrueCrimson

September 30, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this

Any team can lose a single game on a given day. Any single game elimination playoff system would still allow for the possibility that the “best” team would be excluded.

I define “best team” as the team that would win the majority of ten games played against a given opponent considered “second best”. We will never have a perfect system. It will always be a compromise. There is something to be said for tradition.

By David

September 30, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this

You’re right, it all comes down to $. But I don’t buy into your argument at all about people talking everywhere because USC lost only because it may cost them the title and that is why ratings are high. Come on. If there were an 8 team playoff an early loss still may cost them a spot in the field of 8. Do you honestly think with only a dozen or so games that a team would take a game off? Neither the competition no the interest will fade if it changes to a playoff. The only think that will change is that MORE people will watch college football since the champion won’t be decided by voting…kind of like ice skating. College football doesn’t deserve to be associated with ice skating.

By hal from hinesville

September 30, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this

ok first of all there should be a 16 team playoff. like has been said so many times it is the only 1A sport without a playoff( ncaa tournameent in baseketball and playoff in baseball). you could still use the “almighty bowls” and rotate for which games they host. event though as the greatest announcer(larry munson says) the almighty t.v. rules. ok back to playoff. it would be so fair for conferences that are the best in the country and play a brutal schedule just playing their conferences teams, a.k.a. the SEC as shown by their rankings. no doubt at ga., or auburn or many others could beat the tar out of the top teams in other conferences in the country. do you remember the almighty ohio state, and others in the past playing an SEC team? in ohio states case they had the “fastest” quarterback(and some say player) in the country. the announcers were saying florida’s line was so young. i said before the game if you play one year in teh sec you ain’t young no more! fla LINEMAN( U HEAR ME) proceeded TO RUN DOWN the so called infamous quarterback in the country Troy Smith. i don’t care what anyone says(prove me if you want to) their ain’t no football like the South!! go dogs and ga. southern eagles!

By Uncle Johnny

September 30, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

What are you guys smoking? Lets get back to the real intent of Colleges. Get an EDUCATION. Only a small percent of the players in college make it into the Pros and very few of them make it big.

Just ask yourself, who were the National Champs for the last ten years? The only thing a National Championship means is a sales bonus for Walmart selling teeshirts, hats and bumper stickers.

The only thing a so-called playoff means is future time away from the studies.

By shane #1

September 30, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this

Uncle Johnny, So baseball, basketball, volleyball, and tennis players and golfers don’t miss class time for their championships? And Tony,You must be right about the regular season, without the big dance Duke and Carolina would probably sellout every year. The fact is that the BCS makes an obscene amount of money with their bowls. The playoffs will come about when the university presidents get greedy, or greedier, and start looking around for more money. Then playoffs will be all their idea.

By Born2Buzz

September 30, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this

Tony, here is something i want to know. What are the TV ratings for the bowl games the last 5 years. I’d bet they are down. The BCS has ruined the bowl games, making all but one meaningless, and in the case of some like the UGA v Hawaii game last year, unwatchable. The fact that FOX has control of the BCS bowl games and insist on cramming 3 minutes of commercials down our throats every change of possesion doesn’t help either.

AS others have said, the regular season will always produce packed stadiums and good ratings because fans love their teams.

I don’t favor a playoff either, but at least it would make for more than 1 game in the bowl season to be meaningful. And it would allow for more teams to have a shot as opposed to the few select teams that the voters “think” should be the best.

If I had my choice, just go back to the old bowl system, let the voters select a champ, then we get to argue for the entire offseason whether the voters are a bunch of idiots or not.

By Hey hal from hinesville

September 30, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this

Settle down ther Homer. I think the polls clearly show the BIG 12 is the best conference in the county. Now set down and think about goober.

By Hey hal from hinesville

September 30, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this

Settle down there Homer. I think the polls clearly show the BIG 12 is the best conference in the country. Now set down and think about that, Goober.

By Big Bee

September 30, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this

Who pi$$ed in the Real Roswell Eds cornflakes. Loose a game and loose your mind. People like you are the ones that give the rest of UGA fans a bad name. Cool it Ed, you will win some more games but a NC, sorry not this year old buddy. The sooner you learn that Football is just a game for children and young men you will grow up.hehehehehe

By The Real Roswell Ed

September 30, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this

Bee:

I’m an AU fan there Hoss.

By ChattHills Jacket

September 30, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this

So, college football should start in July and finish in February just in time for March Madness that is now an April Championship, or like the NFL where the Superbowl games no longer match the years they are played in? Wait I get it Summer vacations start and we go to High School Baseball playoff and then when the teams win they return the next year to show their championship rings to the student body. The 4th of JULY can be the kickoff of college football and Labor day is now when they finish the LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES. People get over it and play the games and keep in mind that we are talking about College Student Athletes that are going to school not blowing out their knees for you but for a chance at a degree. A 14-15-16 week(game) college football season is not for the player but for all you wannabes and money grubbers. Season starts last week in August and the season ends on January 1st. Bowls are over when the holidays are over and you go to work and your kids go to school. AMERICA the LAND where everybody wants in your pocket and you let them in and then complain about paying for the things that really matter in life while you blow your check on FUN. NO PLAY OFF NEEDED No “WORLD CHAMPION” needed. Last Time the NFL champ did not play the Arena and Canadian Football champ so how can they be called World Champs. NBA and MLB don’t play all the other World champs so lets get then in to the act to. Maybe Football, Baseball, Basketball, and Hocky can all be played year round and you pick who to spend your money on and they we will know who the TRUE SPORT CHAMP is. I bet on BASEBALL. To many injurues for football to be the same team you start the season with. Basketball can’t outlast all the Drug busts over a year. Baseball to slow and boring and you would have to have 57 in the Bull Pen. Soccer won’t play in the US even with the Illegals, same for hockey.

By shania

September 30, 2008 5:47 PM | Link to this

Auburn? Dude, you are clueless

By Eric C.

September 30, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this

Dirty Dawg…you’ve got to be kidding. I can think of only a few times when there wasn’t controversy.

True Crimson…no system is perfect, but you’re a fool if you think a playoff isn’t better than public opinion. If what you say is true, then let’s scrap all playoff systems…make the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, High School Football, etc. etc. etc all declare championship games without a playoff system. Yeah…that would go over real well. The heck with tradition.

By Thank you RobC

September 30, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this

I too am so sick of hearing Tim Brando and his ‘fly in the ointment’ crap. I swear, it is the only phrase that guy has!

By SC Rules!!!

September 30, 2008 7:06 PM | Link to this

shane#1, Hey there cool breeze! I agree with your take on the greed factor, that is what is driving this whole mess now. The 1-AA, D-II/III have a playoff system to really determine the champion at each respective level vs the 1-A boys. The only diff besides talent is the $$$!! Coach Channeled in and said for me not to worry he had them boys hunkerin’ down in practice and things will get right real quick. Catch ya pool side in Miami!

SEC fan (i.e. Lizard, Bungal & War Chicken): So after spending some time in this blog over most of the past year it seems to me your ONLY real gripe with Southern Cal being recognized for any success they’ve enjoyed is that it doesn’t come against any competiton y’all feel is worthwhile even acknowledging. With of course the times we’ve put an arse whoopin on y’all but again THOSE losses by y’all didn’t count for (insert excuse). So if the wins against the SEC don’t count what will??? DO NOT say: “Why don’t you play a real team like in the SEC”??? We’ve done this and y’all fail to recognize, yet we are 4-0 in the 00’s against the SEC. I’m just curious. What/who classifies as a worthy opponent to allow you to say once and for all that USC is a good team that is worthy of some props? Now I know we stunk worse than a skunks backside last week, but those games are few and far between. Here’s to a great remainder of the season.

By Hey SC Rules!!!

September 30, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this

Why do you pander to these jerks? They keep talking how tuff the SEC is, BS the BIG 12 looks better. They keep changing the excuse to fit the defeat. The only team in the SEC that can even try and matchup with USC’s history is Alabama (they have a GREAT TRADITION). They had fallen on some hard times but their coming back. LSU has been one of the top programs this past decade but the others are just not consistent. The Big 10 and PAC 10 are soft right now, but that will change. The elite programs over the past decade have been USC, OU, LSU and OSU. End of story….Fight On….

By War Eagle

September 30, 2008 9:27 PM | Link to this

Teams peak at certain times of the year, no one knows when this happens. UGA peak after Auburn game finishing #2. Florida and LSU with NC last two years peak after close loses. Auburn beat UGA 24-6 2004, and were untouched afterwards. UGA got beat early last year and laid down against Tenn, but began to improve after this game.UGA schedule is not last years, so the dawgs will really start climbling the mountain..GOOD LUCK

By War Eagle

September 30, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this

SC RULES….2006-FLORIDA, 2007, LSU SEC on a roll Its War Eagle, not War Chicken, you post like Bama fan, are you an impersonator?? Its it LA, Los Angeles or LA Lower Alabama?

By jk

September 30, 2008 10:39 PM | Link to this

Look at the ACC FSU beat colorado WF beat Miss Tech beat Misstate VT beat nebraska Miami beat Texas a and m SEC Tenn lost to ucla miss state lsot L tech etc>>>>> So OVERRATED!!!

By Mike

September 30, 2008 10:47 PM | Link to this

Gamecocks? Forget about a national championship, or even a conference championship, just focus on winning the state of south carolina

By Sam Drucker

September 30, 2008 10:55 PM | Link to this

Too much football left to play tony but georgia is a scratch.

By Bill

October 1, 2008 12:05 AM | Link to this

As an Auburn fan, our being 13-0, winning the SEC, winning the Sugar Bowl…with the 5th hardest schedule in the nation and beating 5 top 10 teams in one year and not getting a chance to play for the 2004 national championship begs for a playoff. Thanks for including us in the NC talk for this year…we better find an offense soon though.

By EmperorSaban

October 1, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

Dear Facts,

While you may be correct about my having left off UF’s win over Miami (26-3, ANOTHER blowout SEC victory), I believe even the most astute observer (yourself not included, of course) would realize the point I was making was to challenge the premise that the ACC could even dream of having a winning record against the mighty SEC.

And not surprisingly, you have shown a complete inability to base your comments on any sensible prognostication. Yes, Ole Miss will likely finish 9th in the SEC while Florida, will likely finish 2nd-4th in the SEC (after a blowout victory over Florida State). So yes, when all is said and done, Wake Forest, a projected division winner in the lowly ACC, will have needed a come from behind win AT HOME to defeat what will amount to the 9th best SEC team.

It’s somewhat comical that you attack Tony for writing what you deem a “terrible article”. Most sportswriters have chosen to write an “if the season ended today” piece after the first month of the season, which is what Tony did, essentially.

Before you get to calling people idiots and morons, you might want to consult a dictionary, as “since” is not the same thing as “sense”, and “happens” does not end in -es.

Are there any other gems of wisdom that you can offer to this board, free of charge?

ROLL TIDE! 41-30!

“That was the best funeral I have ever been to.”

By LES

October 1, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

OH BOOMER, YOU STUPID MORON, I HOPE YOU LIKE THE BYU vs. S. FLA MATCH UP FOR THE NCG. ALSO, WITH ALL THESE OTHER TEAMS BEATING UP ON EACH OTHER, THE BUCKEYES WILL MAKE IT TO THE TOP, CREAM DOES RISE. AND SH@#HEADS LIKE YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING.