I'm sure you can find any information you want out there about the undefeated teams, and who should play for the National Title. There is no playoff, there will never be a playoff, that's just the way it is, even though ever other major sporting event has a playoff system, even Soccer. So, here is how I see it:
The Current Season's Pecking Order:
1. Undefeated SEC champ,
2. Undefeated Big 12 champ,
3. Undefeated Big East champ,
4. Undefeated MWC champ,
5. A 1-loss SEC champ,
6. A 1-loss ACC champ,
7. Undefeated WAC champ,
8. A 1-loss Big 12, 1- loss Big East, or 2-loss Big Ten/11 champ.
Here is why this order makes sense...
NO ONE DESERVES A NC IF THEY DON'T WIN THEIR CONFERENCE.
The SEC is the best conference in the Nation, but only because of the top 2 teams (LSU can argue this as well). No one wants to play Florida, regardless of it's offensive sputters, or Alabama, even with it's lack of a passing attack. Also, who would want to have to play at Death Valley, or at Ole Miss? How about Auburn or Athens? That's right, there isn't a team other than maybe Texas or TCU that might... might... come out unscathed in the SEC with Florida (34) or Bama's (22) schedule.
The Big 12 is looking more and more mediocre at the top every week. Oklahoma St aside, name me a defense with a pulse in the Big 12, especially on the North side. Texas has been fantastic on both sides of the ball, but one-loss to anyone would really implode this team, due to their really week SOS (50). Texas has to win out the regular season to be deserving, and obviously win the championship game.
The
Cincy (SOS 65) versus TCU argument is going to live forever if it comes to this call. IF Cincy beats Pitt AT Pitt, then the overall resume is better than TCU, and that REALLY big win would come late in the season when TCU has nothing left on its schedule. I like TCU, I think TCU is one of the best defenses in the nation, but CINCY would pull ahead in the polls with a win at Pitt.
The MWC Champ, ie TCU (SOS 48), really deserves its shot, especially after a dominant win over a Utah team last week, and road wins against BYU, UVA, and Clemson(which continues to look better). The resume is their, but they needed those games to happen late in the season not early. With nothing left in Wyoming and New Mexico St, even if they win out, Cincy will pull ahead with a win over Pitt.
A one-loss SEC champ is possible, namely if Alabama loses to Auburn or Florida loses to Florida St. The reason this would get somewhat of a pass is they are rivalry games against fairly good teams. Chiznik has definitely sparked something at Auburn, and if this is Bowden's last season with FSU, you know he will have them ready. Also, if the other is undefeated, they will likely be playing the #1 team in the nation for the SEC championship game, and beating #1 will definitely give you some credit. While the polls may not like it, UF and Bama would get passes, and I could easily see the polls pushing either of these one loss teams ahead of Cincy or TCU if either looks iffy at end of season.
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1-loss ACC team would fall next, which would obviously to be Georgia Tech, and no, I'm not a homer for putting them here. With one loss on the resume coming early, and if they win out, they will likely play a Top-20 team in Clemson for the ACC Championship. If the game is instead against Boston College, I dont know that Tech will get enough credit to pull ahead of a Boise or 1-loss Texas. But an SOS of 12, that would only get a boost from a game against Clemson, could push Tech ahead of Boise St in the human polls, while the computers already would put GT ahead.
Boise St, and the WAC (too funny), would get in, if all the above are taken. Boise St has played nobody, and that includes an Oregon team that only gelled after Blount got axed. Oregon's most recent loss put out any fire of beating the best one-loss team in the nation, and crushed an already really weak SOS (91). Their toughest game is against Nevada, who has the best rushing offense in the nation, and could easily be an upset special. But no one is left (or ever was) on the schedule to move them up any further.
The rest are the one-loss scenarios. Texas might even get some credit above Boise, especially if they win the Big 12 Championship, but can you imagine the Blue Field Screamers? I don't see if happening, because that loss would come against Texas A&M or Kansas, both really bad teams. Pitt would probably be next in line, and that would require a huge win over Cincy. It might be hard to explain the loss to NC St, but the Cincy win would push them much higher, maybe higher than Texas. Lastly Ohio St would pull up the last slot, but may get passed by Oregon from the Pac10.
These are my thoughts on how it should play out, obviously not how it will. Overall, I see SEC vs Big 12 - like everyone else - playing for all the marbles, because neither Florida/Bama or Texas are going to lose. Let me know what you think.
