BCS Rankings: 2012

[IrishFBfanatic]

Guys...human voters were more impressed with Oregon last week too. We didn't play great vs. Pitt, Oregon played great vs. USC...but we've played 9 games!!! Oregon won one tough game, proved their O is legit and proved their D is barely "big 12 worthy" (and yes that means it's non existent).

Computers know that the whole season matters...people dont. If the people rank us #4 and Oregon #2, that is EXACTLY what they did last week. Just gotta hope the computers don't give a magical major point boost for beating one opponent this late in the season. Our 17 point win v. OU is bigger than Oregon's USC victory. Add in the other big wins and we still have a better resume. Unless Oregon gets #1 votes from the humans, not sure they will really pass us.

We will see, though.

 

[ARALOU]

Irish need to win out. They need to beat Wake and BC convincingly. They need to hold USC to very few points and score a few . Something like 28 to 10. That will show fans they are legit on both sides of the ball. Let the chips fall where they may. Bama got exposed this weekend. They came back to the pack some. Oregon may have improved their claim to a shot. KSU looked ok but didnt overly impress. Pitt needs to win out to help a little.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

I think, as well all witnessed yesterday, anything can happen against any team. Obviously Coach isn't going to root against the teams ahead of us, but we all are.

Hypothetical for you guys. If our schedule was reversed, with the bulk of the hard games being played at the end instead of the beginning... How do we look to the voters?

 

[wakeuptheechoes]

It helps us, that both Stanford and Oklahoma won yesterday. It even helps us that Michigan won yesterday. I will be pulling for BYU they should win their final 3 games and finish strong. Every opponent we beat helps us when they win. Stanford could help us a lot if they win out. In my humble opinion if Stanford, Oklahoma, BYU, and Michigan win out we will play for the National Championship provided we also win out.

Here is why I think that. Obviously if Stanford wins out that will include beating Oregon. If Oklahoma wins out that would make Oklahoma and Stanford both top ten teams. If BYU wins out that makes them 8-4 a decent team. If Michigan wins out they would finish 9-3 with their losses being to Alabama, Notre Dame, and Nebraska. I think that land them in the top 20. This will bode very well for strength of schedule. In my opinion these scenarios are possible.

 

[ThePiombino]

It helps us, that both Stanford and Oklahoma won yesterday. It even helps us that Michigan won yesterday. I will be pulling for BYU they should win their final 3 games and finish strong. Every opponent we beat helps us when they win. Stanford could help us a lot if they win out. In my humble opinion if Stanford, Oklahoma, BYU, and Michigan win out we will play for the National Championship provided we also win out.

Here is why I think that. Obviously if Stanford wins out that will include beating Oregon. If Oklahoma wins out that would make Oklahoma and Stanford both top ten teams. If BYU wins out that makes them 8-4 a decent team. If Michigan wins out they would finish 9-3 with their losses being to Alabama, Notre Dame, and Nebraska. I think that land them in the top 20. This will bode very well for strength of schedule. In my opinion these scenarios are possible.

That certainly would make things easier for ND being in the NCG. Still not 100% convinced we jump KSU, however. Hopefully they stumble a little and put doubt in the minds of the human poll voters.

 

[woolybug25]

That certainly would make things easier for ND being in the NCG. Still not 100% convinced we jump KSU, however. Hopefully they stumble a little and put doubt in the minds of the human poll voters.

Anybody hearing anything on the injury Klein sustained? Any chance he misses time?

 

[phork]

TCU is the last chance for KSU to lose. Oregon has a few and the last real challenge for Bama is the SEC Championship game.

ND can only win out and hope for the best. It won't matter how bad we beat these teams.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Anybody hearing anything on the injury Klein sustained? Any chance he misses time?

He looked fine but hopefully he's out.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

RT @NDHardin #ND remains No. 4 in both AP and USA Today Coaches' polls this week. #Irish #fb

.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Nothing can really be said that hasn't already. I will emphasize one thing only; there will be hell to pay if ND is undefeated and left out of the NC game, yet this scenario seemingly gets more realistic with every passing week.

 

[Rocky2820]

Nothing can really be said that hasn't already. I will emphasize one thing only; there will be hell to pay if ND is undefeated and left out of the NC game, yet this scenario seemingly gets more realistic with every passing week.

The inverse is also true, I believe. ND already gets bashed around the country for perceived favoritism (i.e., bowl invites not deserved). If ND passes Oregon, say, even though Oregon stays undefeated, our boys had better win the NC or else the ND favoritism talk will go on for ages.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

TCU is the last chance for KSU to lose. Oregon has a few and the last real challenge for Bama is the SEC Championship game.

ND can only win out and hope for the best. It won't matter how bad we beat these teams.

Unless Texas learns how to play defense within the next three weeks...

 

[North Buffalo Irish]

TCU is the last chance for KSU to lose. Oregon has a few and the last real challenge for Bama is the SEC Championship game.

What about the Texas team that just beat up Tech [an overrated "quality win" for K-State] pretty good on Saturday? If UT can build off that win, they absolutely have the talent to give K-State all they can handle.

Re: Notre Dame opponents

Navy has also quietly gone 6-3, with Troy, Texas State and Army remaining. They can easily get to 8-4 if not 9-3. Miami also controls their own destiny to get to the ACC Championship Game. It would be huge if the Canes could get to Charlotte, and somehow beat FSU to get to a BCS bowl.

It really hurt that Sparty totally choked the Nebraska game away. That would have given Michigan a great shot at getting to the Rose Bowl and obviously have helped MSU's record (beating NW and Minny would have gotten them to 8-4). Purdue and BC are dead, but every other opponent could/should be in a bowl game, with the likes of Oklahoma, Stanford, USC and potentially Miami landing in some high-caliber bowls.

EDIT: The more I look at Michigan State's schedule... ugh. 1-point loss to Ohio State, 3-point 2OT loss to Iowa, 2-point loss to Michigan (largely inconsequential to our SoS) and a 4-point last-second to the Huskers. What could have been.

 

[WaveDomer]

TCU is the last chance for KSU to lose. Oregon has a few and the last real challenge for Bama is the SEC Championship game.

ND can only win out and hope for the best. It won't matter how bad we beat these teams.

Texas A&M can take out Bama. Especially after a hard fought game at LSU. Not saying they will do it, but they have a decent shot.

 

[Yes]

Unless Texas learns how to play defense within the next three weeks...

To be fair they held TTU to 22 points yesterday.

 

[Rocky2820]

Texas A&M can take out Bama. Especially after a hard fought game at LSU. Not saying they will do it, but they have a decent shot.

I agree. Hopefully Bama comes out flat following the LSU game, and A&M can punch them in the mouth a couple times early. Wouldn't shock me.

 

[stlnd01]

I agree. Hopefully Bama comes out flat following the LSU game, and A&M can punch them in the mouth a couple times early. Wouldn't shock me.

Yeah. I watched some of A&M's game yesterday. Their offense was impressive.

 

[stlnd01]

What about the Texas team that just beat up Tech [an overrated "quality win" for K-State] pretty good on Saturday? If UT can build off that win, they absolutely have the talent to give K-State all they can handle.

Re: Notre Dame opponents

Navy has also quietly gone 6-3, with Troy, Texas State and Army remaining. They can easily get to 8-4 if not 9-3. Miami also controls their own destiny to get to the ACC Championship Game. It would be huge if the Canes could get to Charlotte, and somehow beat FSU to get to a BCS bowl.

It really hurt that Sparty totally choked the Nebraska game away. That would have given Michigan a great shot at getting to the Rose Bowl and obviously have helped MSU's record (beating NW and Minny would have gotten them to 8-4). Purdue and BC are dead, but every other opponent could/should be in a bowl game, with the likes of Oklahoma, Stanford, USC and potentially Miami landing in some high-caliber bowls.

EDIT: The more I look at Michigan State's schedule... ugh. 1-point loss to Ohio State, 3-point 2OT loss to Iowa, 2-point loss to Michigan (largely inconsequential to our SoS) and a 4-point last-second to the Huskers. What could have been.

Would be great for us if Miami could somehow win the ACC. They're a young team, getting better all the time, and they gave FSU a game the other week. So who knows.

As for Sparty, what can you say? All four of their losses beside us have been brutally close. With some breaks they'd in the top 10. The only person more frustrated with their season than Mark Dantonio might well be Brian Kelly.

And then, of course, Michigan had to go crap the bed against Nebraska the week after beating MSU. That may have been a draw for our SOS, but they'd be pushing the Top Ten now if they'd won. Alas, college football...

Ultimately, though, it's getting pretty hard to argue against Alabama and Oregon as the two best teams in the country when it comes to the eyeball test.. And like it or not we're running fourth with the clock winding down. Style points and schedule strength aren't going to cut it for us. We need people to lose.

 

[drayer54]

Anybody hearing anything on the injury Klein sustained? Any chance he misses time?

Looks bad. TCU is no slouch, I'll bet they try and play him. It's not like he isn't a big part of that offense. @ Fort Worth could bump up the Irish another spot.

Ohh yeah, GIG EM! (My new phrase of the week)

 

[drayer54]

Yeah. I watched some of A&M's game yesterday. Their offense was impressive.

That Aggie offense is for real. Solid O-Line with some future NFL talent, stellar young qb, and a good play caller from the days of Mike Leach. The defense has a top 10 draft pick who is a sack machine. They are improving more every week than any other team in the country IMHO.

This could be the toughest game left for Bama in the regular season.

Ohh yeah, did you see those classy athletes from Bama?
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/r8TORdRPyPg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[ACamp1900]

Just taking a quick look around the net/ blogosphere there are more cases being made over how ND doesn't deserve a BCS spot.... ANY spot... Then there are cases being made for a title chance....

The hate is alive and welll

 

[Rocky2820]

Just taking a quick look around the net/ blogosphere there are more cases being made over how ND doesn't deserve a BCS spot.... ANY spot... Then there are cases being made for a title chance....

The hate is alive and welll

Polarizing as ever. Go figure.

 

[Downinthebend]

If this 2012 bowl projections, Week 11: Alabama-Oregon title game, Cotton Bowl rights a wrong - SBNation.com holds true (bAMA-Oregon, ND-KSU) If we beast KSU do we split the title with the winner of Bama/Oregon?

Nd only recognizes consensus championships, so if it was AP but not BCS ND wouldn't claim it, would they?

 

[ACamp1900]

It would be interesting to see what the school decides if they get left out but beat the other team in a bowl game and the AP takes a we will force a split title stance....

Nd claims every year the AP has awarded.... It'll be interesting... He'll of a lot of football from here to there though

 

[phork]

The AP is a non functioning poll. It does not decide anything nor have any bearing on the BCS. The AP writers pulled out long ago and subsequently are meaningless now.

The coaches are obligated to vote the NCG winner as the BCS champ.

For those arguing against ND being in a BCS. Really? At 12-0 and 11-1 and playing the schedule that no one thought we could go 8-4 on, kiss my lily white ***. NCG is different because there are 4 quality teams vying for 2 spots. Someone is going to be butt hurt.

 

[Downinthebend]

The AP is a non functioning poll. It does not decide anything nor have any bearing on the BCS. The AP writers pulled out long ago and subsequently are meaningless now.

The coaches are obligated to vote the NCG winner as the BCS champ.

For those arguing against ND being in a BCS. Really? At 12-0 and 11-1 and playing the schedule that no one thought we could go 8-4 on, kiss my lily white ***. NCG is different because there are 4 quality teams vying for 2 spots. Someone is going to be butt hurt.

Ap awards a championship independent of the BCS. They actually have split a title before.
2003 NCAA Division I-A football season - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[TheChosen1]

Anybody hearing anything on the injury Klein sustained? Any chance he misses time?

Dan Wetzel‏@DanWetzel

Source: KState's Collin Klein was taken out Saturday over concerns of a possible concussion. Didn’t know he just scored TD. Story coming

 

[tommyIRISH23]

I think Stanford and Oregon will be an interesting game. Stanford should steal ND's philosophy and play ball control. I think theyll be able to run the ball on Oregon. I also think that Oregons offense runs on timing, and Stanfords defensive line could give them fits.

As i side note, I think Oregon would get smashed by Alabama. Their offensive line would get overpowered by Alabama, and the speed of Alabamas defense would neutralize a lot of their big play ability, Alabama would have both Oregons lines beat up bad in the fourth quarter. Alabama would also run all over Oregon eating the clock and keeping Oregon's offense on the sideline.

I dunno, after yesterday...I think that ND may fare better against Bama than ORegon. KState is really good, but have yet to face a legit defense. Not saying they wouldnt move the ball, just not sure at this point. ND vs Kstate would be fun. I think ND would win. And, if Golson plays more like an experienced soph with the month long bowl break, we might be able to beat anyone

 

[stlnd01]

I think Stanford and Oregon will be an interesting game. Stanford should steal ND's philosophy and play ball control. I think theyll be able to run the ball on Oregon. I also think that Oregons offense runs on timing, and Stanfords defensive line could give them fits.

As i side note, I think Oregon would get smashed by Alabama. Their offensive line would get overpowered by Alabama, and the speed of Alabamas defense would neutralize a lot of their big play ability, Alabama would have both Oregons lines beat up bad in the fourth quarter. Alabama would also run all over Oregon eating the clock and keeping Oregon's offense on the sideline.

That's pretty much what Auburn did to Oregon a couple of years ago, and Alabama has a better D than Auburn did. On the other hand, I'm not sure Bama has a Cam Newton-level playmaker.
As for Stanford/Oregon, it would be awesome for us if Stanford won, and maybe they could disrupt that offense, but Stanford would still need to score more points than they have been against better teams. Plus the game's in Eugene, which is a pretty tough place to play.

 

[IrishLion]

Kansas State, with or without Klein, has three tough games left. TCU can keep the score low enough to have a chance, Baylor has the ability to run with K-State in a track meet, and Texas could certainly ride their win over Tech to a strong finish.

Bama is going to get Texas A&M's best shot, but Manziel is going to have to play flawless, especially in the first half. If A&M can get a lead early, Bama won't be able to pound them into submission. Also, they can't overlook Western Carolina. And I think Georgia/Florida could run with them on a good day. So there is hope.

I honestly don't see anybody stopping Oregon's offense. The hope here is that Stanford or Oregon State can control enough clock to stay within a score, and hope to make a play late. Highly unlikely with how efficiently Chip Kelly gets all of that speed to operate.