Penn State / Wisconsin

[The Ancient Enemy]

I dont see how it is Penn State's fault that OSU looks sluggish and Michigan hired a new coach.

I still contend that Oregon State is a quality OOC game. What if they scheduled Arkansas? Look at how good Arkansas was last year compared to this year. Penn State can't make their teams play better against other teams.

[ham55]

I think a beat down on a team that dismantled USC is a quality OOC game. If Penn State goes 12-0 and everybody else loses a game, and they don't get an invite to the National Title game, that's a crime bigger than the Auburn team of 2004 that got the screw job of the century.

[deliverance]

It's not quality if they don't end the season ranked. TAE, Arkansas was not a quality win this year, but Texas gets 5 other ranked teams and then a 6th, if they make the Big 12 Championship. What I am saying is that it's a shame that the Big 10 doesn't man up and put a conference title game on their schedule. The team they would play in the conference championship would be ranked and give them another win. 12-1 against 4-5 ranked opponents is better than 12-0 over 1 ranked opponent. I'm sorry that is just how I feel. If PSU stomps Ohio State, I may feel different. It's all speculation right now anyway because there's a lot of football to be played.

[The Ancient Enemy]

Let's play with that notion.

1. How many times has the Big Ten tried to get Notre Dame? They've said no a hundred times because they not want to share revenue. From a business standpoint, ND is making the smart decision. Why should I give you money I earned?

2. Who are they supposed to get? Syracuse? Iowa State? Missouri is not going to leave the Big XII now when they rule the North. Boston College? They just changed conferences. The only viable options are a MAC school or a Big East school, and theose Big East schools are not going anywhere.

They'll add Temple or Toledo or someone and everyone will be in another uproar. To be honest, I think it would be kinda cool if Army or Navy joined. Wouldn't mind seeing the other one in the Big East.

[vman]

Last year, the B10's best OOC win was OSU over 4-9 Washington (2-7 in Pac10). Seriously.

This year, the top B10 OOC wins are:
1) PSU over 3-3 Oregon State at home.
2) MSU over 4-2 ND at home (1/2 of ND's wins are over B10).
3) NW's 4th quarter comback at 3-2 Duke.
4) Purdue over 4-2 Central Michigan at home.
5) Wisc over 3-2 Fresno St on the road.

[deliverance]

Well, I just feel they should really try to get someone. Personally, I don't care who it is. I just feel that it should be either every conference has a championship game or no one does. I'm not saying PSU can totally control it themselves. I am just pointing out that the Big 10 is down and a championship game could have helped them show of their team on another big stage. I just don't want to hear any crying if PSU goes undefeated and a 1 loss team from the SEC or Big 12 gets in over them because I think it is a possibility.

[deliverance]

Let me throw this out there, too. PSU deserves to make a better bowl game than USC, even if they both end up with one loss. Right now everyone is riding USC again, but I can't understand why.

[The Ancient Enemy]

My argument against conference title games is this: If Texas beats Missouri this week, why do they have to play them again?

Play a title game when the two teams have not already met.

[ham55]

The Pac10 is the same way as the Big10. So is the Big East. Had WVU not laid an egg against Pitt last year they would have been in the National Title game over a 2 loss LSU team and not had to play a conference championship game. How many games would they have won against ranked opponents had that been the case? Why does USC, in your opinion, get a pass if they don't play a title game also? Only half the teams in BCS affiliated conferences play a conference title game. Don't act like the Big10 is the ONLY conference out there that doesn't play one.

[deliverance]

I understand the argument, but last year if Texas would have came out on top in the South and Missouri would have came out on top in the North, then they would have played each other. It should never happen that the two best teams in a conference don't play in a season. That is the main reason for it. I have been looking around at some people's Strength of Schedules and PSU is around the 70's right now. Of course, after playing Ohio State and Michigan State it will move up some, but their SOS will end up around 45-50. If they played in a championship game, that could move them to like 30. That's a big difference. I just think the computers will notice PSU's lack of competition. It would be difficult to put them out of the National Championship if they go undefeated, but it is possible.