Oklahoma jumps Texas in BCS standings to claim Big 12 South

[Faygo Kid]

Source: ESPN

1. Alabama
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas
4. Florida
5. UCS
6. Utah
7. Texas Tech
8. Penn State
9. Boise State
10. Ohio State

Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3735383

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Mods: This is breaking news. Means that Oklahoma needs to win against Missouri next weekend to play either Florida or Alabama for the national title - and Texas is out unless OK loses, despite beating Oklahoma by 10 points.

It's as legit as a lot of breaking news stories here, and I say that with no dog in this hunt.

[Captain Hilts]

1. This could spell t-r-o-u-b-l-e. nt

[Faygo Kid]

4. Yep. Pretty tough for Texas, beating Oklahoma head to head.

I thought this might be coming after Texas Tech came back to beat a bad Baylor team in a close one.

Good thing I don't care one way or the other about either team, but it sure does get interesting now, doesn't it?

I do think Texas is better. They have a semblance of a defense. OK has some good linemen, but that's it. I'm not convinced by the Big 12 this year. I think that Penn State - USC game could be very good. USC has the best D in the country, but Penn State is awesome on both lines.

Let the BCS games begin.

[Ishoutandscream2]

2. I agree that Oklahoma deserves this

and I'm a Texan. Oklahoma finished incredibly strong.

[OKNancy]

3. Thanks! I agree

However I'm biased.
Those in doubt should watch the Texas - OU game again.
I imagine the coaches remember it and that is why they have voted OU ahead for several weeks, and also why OU didn't drop much after the loss. I hate it when someone makes this excuse,
but the officals made several bad calls in that game that made an impact on the outcome.

[Idealism]

5. Head to head matters more though, no?

Texas handled Oklahoma on a neutral site, which I thought would've played more

[a la izquierda]

8. Ok...sure...

which is why there was a 3 way tie. Because Texas lost too.

It goes without saying that I am a Sooners fan. We lost to Texas. I wish everyday that we had beaten them. That was everyone could shush about it already.

[Idealism]

12. Just playing devils advocate

Good luck to the Sooners :)

[a la izquierda]

13. Hehehe...

;)

[Tess49]

18. Anyone who thinks Dallas is a neutral playing field has never

been to an OU/Texas game. Just my opinion.

[RoyGBiv]

37. Agreed ...

It's a very weird kind of neutral where either team can effectively garner home field advantage based on how the game is going at any given moment, if we measure home field advantage by crowd involvement.

In any case, I personally believe the "neutrality" of a site being a factor in this is a bit overdone. It's an unmeasurable factor in how well or poorly a team performs. OU is at a distinct disadvantage in this respect at Stillwater, but they still managed to get their late season 60+.

And no one can tell me that "home field advantage" accounted for a significant part of the sound thrashing OU laid on Tech.

It meant more in the old Big-8, especially at places like OU and Nebraska when they played passing teams. Switzer and Osborn had their fields landscaped such that the curve of the field reduced the vision of the quarterback. That's gone away in the current Big-12.

[Longhorn]

42. How is it not neutral? I've been to the game and I've watched it every year since 1973.

There are exactly as many OU fans as UT fans and it is sold out every year. Even if one team is favored to win, I've never heard of tickets being available.

The line between orange and red goes right down the middle at the 50-yard line. Even out in the streets, there are as many OU fans as UT fans. And the game is halfway between Norman and Austin so the largest fan bases travel the same distance. Every play garners the same volume of cheers. They alternate each year on who is the "home" team. Is there something I'm missing?

[Botany]

6. O.U. to play in the national title game?

:wow: :bounce:



Let's go cats!

BTW U.C.S.????? University of Connecticut South?

[MikeNearMcChord]

7. I think Florida will beat Alabama, this is the mess the BCS will have to fight

against again this year, is USC truly the 5th best in the land? Give me the playoffs!

[Stuckinthebush]

11. Don't count out Saban

Tebow is a powerful QB, but the job Saban has done this year with the Tide makes it hard to count them out.

[Gator_Matt]

15. Bama has a chance, but Florida looks unstoppable

Florida has been steamrolling all competition regardless of whether the opposing defense was highly ranked. They put up 45 points in that slip-n-slide field against FSU. Imagine how many they could score in a dome. To make matters worse for Bama, Florida's defense is lights out. Bama will have to pull a Georgia Tech and stick to a power-running gameplan. Hope they can keep it close in the first half and wear them down in the second. Personally, I think that Bama has overachieved in Saban's 2nd season, and that it'll be a long shot for them to beat the Gators.

[piedmont]

31. They didn't look unstoppable to Ole Miss. nt

[Writer]

9. Responding...

so I can keep up with this thread.

Hook 'em.

[WriteDown]

10. Actually this is a good thing....

The more the BCS is made to look unfair and obsolete, the better.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

14. Pretty clear Florida and Oklahoma are the 2 best teams right now.

Of course Alabama may have something to say about that.

David

[downindixie]

16. All I can say is

ROLL TIDE!

[liberal N proud]

17. The only division of NCAA sports that does not have a playoff system

They need to move to a playoff system and let the system work.

[WriteDown]

19. Isn't Obama actually working on....

establishing a playoff?

[liberal N proud]

20. News to me

But I think he has more pressing issues to deal with than football playoffs.

[WriteDown]

24. Maybe not....

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/othersports/story/FB49CB6530B9FEEA86257509001AB327?OpenDocument

[raystorm7]

21. Texas got robbed! Even my Parents aren't avid football fans, but see their records and the 45-35 win

[raystorm7]

22. The BCS is starting to blame the big 12 for its problems. Remind anyone of something recent?

[Pithy]

23. BOOMER SOONER!

As a Sooner my whole life, I can attest that OU/Texas in Dallas is NOT a neutral playing ground. And OU beat 2 solid teams out of conference this year - Sooners had a much more difficult schedule than TX and finished strong. Can't wait to see what happens between Alabama and Florida! Sam Bradford of OU has an excellent chance of the Heisman this year.

[Stump]

25. The BCS is BS...

Texas beat Oklahoma at a neutral stadium. I think Florida will beat Alabama next week in the SEC championship then things will really be all screwed up. Have playoffs already!!!

[a la izquierda]

26. I'm not trying to be rude, or obnoxious or anything.

But I'm going to say this really slowly: there was a 3. Way. Tie. Head to head does NOT matter. People can complain all they want about the Big 12 and the fact of the matter is that the way the Big 12 breaks ties is cases such as this is terrible. But head to head is moot, the rules are posted and you CANNOT CHANGE THEM in the middle of the game because you don't like where the course is taking you. What are people (not on DU, on sites like ESPN for instance) 5 year olds? That's how 5 year olds deal with things when they don't like what's going on. A loss, is a loss and (in this case) is a loss. There is nowhere in the rules that says losses at home, away or neutral sites count more or less. OU lost. Hey Texas: YOU LOST!!! Tech: LOST, and now all three live with the consequences.
OU should NOT have lost in October, but we did and because Texas played better (probably, I don't know I couldn't watch the game). OU got LUCKY today, but those guys played their hearts out since Dallas and DIDN'T lose again, in the last seconds of the game or otherwise. I'd have been disappointed if OU did not get to the Big 12 game--but Bradford could've rested his injured non-throwing hand and all of Norman would have sung the Missouri fight song so loud it would drown out the Texas cheers.

[fishwax]

27. woohoo!

As a Sooner fan, I'm thrilled they get a shot at a third straight Big 12 Championship. It was a pretty incredible season for the Big 12 South--three teams that definitely deserved to be in the Conference Championship Game, and there's no real way to break that tie that's going to be fair to everyone.

What's lost in all of this discussion about OU and Texas is the fact that Texas Tech is the one that really gets screwed here: they finished with the same record as Oklahoma and Texas, and they beat Texas head-to-head, but while OU gets to the CCG and Texas is guaranteed a BCS Bowl, Tech will likely wind up playing in the Cotton Bowl this year ...

[Broken_Hero]

33. Well, we all knew that TT would get pissed on,

that was apparent over a week ago, Big 12 South is only UT/OU...heaven forbid anyone else get in there.

[a la izquierda]

36. But what a classy bunch...

I wasn't in Norman for the game, but my husband was (it's where we live). And their fans were nothing but fun after the game. Disappointed, but fun, nice people.

[Condem]

28. Maybe, faygo

One more nail in the BCS coffin. We can only hope.

[dakota_democrat]

29. What're the odds the Big 12 takes the BCS out of their tie-breaking formula?

I'm thinking it's between 100% and "It's gonna fucking happen".

[a la izquierda]

30. As an OU fan...

I heartily hope so. I think it is completely ridiculous. In a way (a small one) I feel bad for Texas. But you can't blame Oklahoma...blame the stupid Big 12 rules and the BCS. We didn't do anything wrong...we didn't even pander (cough, cough) this week.

[Capt. America]

32. Boomer Sooner and Roll Tide! A great BCS match up because...

...neither team has the classless Urban Meyer coaching for them. Not only does he look like he was weaned on a lemon, but he likes to roll up the score for "style" points (see: 70 against the hapless Citadel).

[Awsi Dooger]

34. I can't believe anyone takes the Big 12 seriously

It's garbage football. We've seen that for years. Oklahoma can't stop a meaningful possession vs. a competent BCS bowl opponent. Last year West Virginia was scoring in 3 plays or less throughout the second half. USC was laughing throughout the 2004 title game in the Orange Bowl. And the only reason Texas contended in the 2005 game was USC had an injury savaged defense, by far USC's worst defense since the program restored to prominence in 2002. In any other recent season USC would have shattered Texas. And it still would have been a comfy victory if Ting the pathetic reserve safety hadn't dropped an inept pass by Vince Young when USC led 38-26 with a few minutes remaining. It should have been a simple INT to end the game.

This year will be no different. Let's see, Oklahoma surrendered 45 points versus Texas and 41 versus Oklahoma State. And you're telling me they are going to win a national title game? Best of luck. You always handicap vulnerability first and foremost, and Oklahoma has demonstrated plenty, this year and recent years. They will squash Missouri then be handed on a silver platter to the SEC, particularly if it's Florida as the opponent. A young Alabama team would be less of a cinch to outscore Oklahoma, but there's no way I'm believing in the panty hose Big 12. All season they have been overrated mush, showcased on ABC late Saturday night since fans love high scoring crap, which camouflages ineptitude. Oklahoma holding Texas Tech down at home means zero. That's was the easiest bet of the year. I was driving cross country that night and didn't even bother to check my -3.5 first half and -7 for the game until late 3rd quarter. You'll never go broke underestimating Mike Leach in a road game like that.

In 2000, Oklahoma stifled clueless Bobby Bowden and his ancient senior QB. That was more a condemnation of Bowden and his pathetic schemes than superior defense by the Sooners. The BCS was already crap at that point and Miami would have dismissed OU handily if the BCS had spit out the proper matchup.

[trumad]

35. Snarf--- Bring back Nebraska...

[RoyGBiv]

38. Here's my question for those upset ...

What is the alternative for the Big-12 South title?

I keep seeing a lot about head-to-head. Okay, fine. If we take the BCS completely out of it and presumably then all ranking systems that include a subjective element, we're left with head-to-head between three teams. Texas beat OU. OU beat Tech. Tech beat Texas.

Without the ranking system in the mix, what's the determining factor? Points?

Okay. Texas beat OU by 10. Tech beat Texas by 6. OU beat Tech by 44.

What is the genius equation that reconciles that mess?

One answer I've heard suggested is that you take Tech out of it because they lost so badly and then go head-to-head with Texas-OU. Predictably, this was a Texas fan who said this. To be fair, though, if you take Tech out of it because of the spread of their loss, what, precisely, do you do with the fact an "inferior" team who lost so badly still beat you? Does that count for nothing?

This is a serious question. I said before, after the OU-Tech game in fact, that someone is getting screwed, and to my mind with the way everyone is talking, the team getting screwed the hardest is Tech because they're being cast aside as though they don't matter anymore.

My point here is, the system is a problem. I agree with that. But I see a lot of tearing down of the system without a reasonable alternative being offered that does take into account all the factors. The "head to head" stuff only works if you just close your eyes and ignore one of the teams in the three-way tie.

[JonLP24]

39. Me, I'd try by Strength of Schedule or strength of victory(Like the NFL)

By SOS Oklahoma would come out up top, I don't know how to rate by strength of victory but Oklahoma would probaly come out on top in that scenario. It may not be the best way to break a tie-breaker but it is better then relying on the BCS I guess.

[RoyGBiv]

40. I would agree with that ...

A lot of Texas fans don't (today, for this specific controversy) because it turns out like you mention.

The "head-to-head" line of reasoning is being advanced with the assumption that Tech isn't in it at all. That is, the BCS standings *do* matter ... right up to the point it goes against one's interests.

A 3-way tie is unusual, and no system is going to please everyone. I think we just may as well accept that. I dislike the BCS, but I think a lot of people are forgetting the equally contentious controversies involving "split" championships. So, there has to be some system that's a bit more than some people in a room casting votes.

Not even a playoff is going to be as cut and dried as people want to wish it to be. You'll have the same complaints about who did or did not get into the playoff, and those complaints will be louder because the season itself will end up shorter with probably fewer non-conference games, so teams didn't get a chance to prove themselves, blah blah blah ...

[Longhorn]

43. How do the SEC, PAC-10, Big-10, etc., do it?

I don't know but I've read that that is what the Big XII will look at when they change it and whatever the other big conferences use would have resulted in Texas going to the Big XII championship game if we had used the same system.

[RoyGBiv]

44. SEC ...

SEC uses the BCS unless the second-highest team in that ranking is within five places of the top. At that point, it goes to head-to-head between the top two. IOW, the BCS is used to eliminate one of the three teams in the three-way tie.

So, in that case, the BCS would be used to eliminate Texas Tech, and Texas would get the nod as the Big-XII South champ and go on to face Missouri. Meanwhile, OU would maintain the #2 ranking and, without some sort of shenanigans in the human voting or strangeness in the computer rankings, OU could still go to the National Championship game.

And if anyone thinks *that* would satisfy anyone except the team that happens to benefit from it at the time it is used, I have a few bridges to sell you.

I don't know about the others, but I think they work pretty much the same. As far as I'm concerned, it's still 6 of one, half a dozen of another. The system is fundamentally incapable of removing the subjective element.

OnEdit: I'm going to rant a minute 'cause I've been inundated at work about this today. (I'm in Texas and from Oklahoma, so I get hit with all kinds of stuff.)

What gets me is this. Reasonable Longhorn, Sooner, and Red Raider fans knew the moment the OU-Tech game was over that someone was getting screwed unless an upset happened. The upset didn't happen. So, we knew, the end result is basically a flip of a three-sided coin, except it isn't three-sided because all the controversy is about OU and Texas. Well, excuse me, but Tech is a part of this three-way tie thing.

Now, here's an interesting scenario that I didn't hear anyone really talk about much over the weekend before OU got past O-State. What if Oklahoma State had won?

You've got a two-way tie, and head-to-head, Tech beat Texas.

Yet, I listened to a lot of Longhorn fans screaming their heads off hoping OU would get beat on Saturday.

My point is that in all of the arguments, a lot of people just aren't thinking rationally. The language is couched in terms of fairness, but that's not what anyone really seems to mean unless "fairness" just means "for my team." It's the same with the sports announcers, most of whom are just thrilled with the fact there is a controversy. I don't care what they say about how much they hate it. They lie. This gives them much to talk about, much to complain about. It sells advertising.

I'm an OU fan. I think Texas is getting shafted. I think Tech has been woefully disrespected. And I think the Big-12 is going to get its ass handed to it in the bowls again this year. We beat each other up all season long, expend our frustrations on each other in some controversy like this every damn year it seems, and then when the big games come, we tend to fold ... with certain notable exceptions of course.

</rant>

[Tektonik]

41. If there was a playoff system, the national title game would be UF vs. USC

no doubt