Big 12/BCS Ranting

I noted in my latest Big 12 wrap that I didn't think Oklahoma would fall as far in the BCS as a lot of people were saying, and the latest BCS ratings confirm it. They're sitting in fourth, well ahead of fifth-place Texas, largely on strength of schedule. That will take a bit of a hit this week because they play Baylor, and rounding out the season against Texas Tech and Oklahoma State will only drop it further. But if they win out, they should still stay ahead of Texas by virtue of having beaten them (and the quality win deduction that entails).

They still probably need at least two teams to lose if they are to play for #1, and I don't really see it playing out that way. Plus they have to win all their games, which may not be an easy task if they have to play Colorado again in the Big 12 Championship.

And on the topic of the Big 12 Championship and the BCS, I have a rant that just has to come out. Oklahoma and Texas are clearly the two best teams in the conference. So why can't they play each other for the title? And why couldn't Nebraska and K-State play each other for the title when THEY were the best teams several years ago? Why this arbitrary north-south division? The two best teams should play each other. Period. End of story.

And what about last year's ludicrous spectacle of Nebraska playing in the BCS championship WHEN IT HADN'T EVEN WON ITS OWN CONFERENCE! Texas could take the same route to the BCS title game if Oklahoma stumbles in the Big 12 title game, and some other teams stumble. If a team doesn't win its conference, it has no business playing in the BCS title game.

The best solution is a playoff, of course. But ABC, the NCAA, and university presidents don't want that. Blar.

[Posted at 22:22 CST on 11/11/02] [Link]