NCAA Football 2008 Discussion - It All Starts Here.
- Thread starter Turbo
- Start date
And Kendall Hunter is knocked out of the game for O-State and Colorado. Dammit. 
I think State will hold on to win, but I sure hope that 2 weeks is enough for him to heal up before they go against Oklahoma. He's a critical part of their offense.
I think State will hold on to win, but I sure hope that 2 weeks is enough for him to heal up before they go against Oklahoma. He's a critical part of their offense.
archeryguy1701 commented insightfully on this in the NFL thread; I realized most of my response was more applicable here:
That would certainly work better than the preposterously unfair setup currently in place—though the time constraint would be unnecessary. Simply allow possessions until one outscores the other after an equal number of them.
The only significant flaw with the college football system, in my opinion? It doesn't require any kind of drive to score points: If you find yourself facing fourth-and-four, out trots your field goal kicker for a 36-yarder—which doesn't exactly mean you've shown any steel.
Move the ball back to the 50 or even their own 40, I say. This would require teams to muster up at least two first downs (or connect on a big play) before a field goal becomes reasonably viable.
Frankly, I think overtime in college football is entirely unnecessary, except in the case of playoff games and the BCS championship. A hard-fought tie is not anticlimactic, and allows each side to take pride in having battled a worthy foe to a standstill.
That would certainly work better than the preposterously unfair setup currently in place—though the time constraint would be unnecessary. Simply allow possessions until one outscores the other after an equal number of them.
The only significant flaw with the college football system, in my opinion? It doesn't require any kind of drive to score points: If you find yourself facing fourth-and-four, out trots your field goal kicker for a 36-yarder—which doesn't exactly mean you've shown any steel.
Move the ball back to the 50 or even their own 40, I say. This would require teams to muster up at least two first downs (or connect on a big play) before a field goal becomes reasonably viable.
Frankly, I think overtime in college football is entirely unnecessary, except in the case of playoff games and the BCS championship. A hard-fought tie is not anticlimactic, and allows each side to take pride in having battled a worthy foe to a standstill.
JM's Top Twenty-Five, Week Ending November 15th, 2008
1 – Texas Tech (10-0)
The Red Raiders could lose a close one in Norman and still end up in the BCS title game, if OU then drops one to Oklahoma State. If it comes down to Texas vs. TTU, will head-to-head be enough to carry the day for Tech? If there's any justice, yes.
2 – Alabama (11-0)
They're starting to look more vulnerable, in my opinion. Florida may well wax them in the SEC championship game.
3 – Texas (10-1)
They're hopin' Oklahoma absolutely shellacks Tech and OSU then finds a way to beat the Sooners. That would be enough to get them home, IMO.
4 – Oklahoma (9-1)
I hope Tech kicks their ass.
5 – Florida (9-1)
Could my beloved Seminoles pull the upset? Nah.
6 – Utah (11-0)
Well, they've got what they wanted: A chance to whup BYU and move on to bigger and better things. Be careful what you wish for: The Cougars are peakin' again.
7 – Southern California (9-1)
I'd have to chuckle if both Southern Cal and Oregon State ran the table, giving the Beavers the Pac-10 title and a Rose Bowl berth—while things opened up sufficiently above USC that they received an invite to the BCS championship game anyway. Could happen.
8 – Boise State (10-0)
I have the feeling Utah's gonna stumble against BYU, which will make BSU ecstatic—assuming they don't do the same against Fresno State.
9 – Penn State (9-1)
They're the highest ranked team with zero shot of playing for the national title—as it should be. Wouldn't it be great, though, if Joe Pa won the Big Ten ... and the Lions found themselves matched with Pitt in a BCS bowl game? Could happen, Part II.
10 – Oklahoma State (9-2)
Can they salvage their season against the hated Sooners? I sure hope so.
11 – Missouri (9-2)
The Tigers edge past Ohio State towards the top ten, but it's pretty much a dead heat between them ... and this idea that the Big 12 South champion is simply going to waltz over them is a specious one.
12 – Ohio State (9-2)
Would a Michigan win be enough to save Rich Rodriguez's job, which I think is in real jeopardy? Probably.
13 – Georgia (9-2)
I think this Georgia Tech game is going to be very interesting.
14 – Ball State (10-0)
I'm beginning to think they deserve a BCS bowl bid if they run the table. I'm fairly certain they'd not disgrace themselves.
15 – Brigham Young (10-1)
Even a win against Utah is probably too little, too late for their BCS dreams, despite the fact that they'd probably thrash either Ball State or Boise.
16 – Michigan State (9-2)
Dream scenario: Michigan beats Ohio State, MSU handles the Lions and then scores a win over USC in the Rose Bowl.
No, I didn't think so either.
17 – Texas Christian (9-2)
I think Air Force can beat 'em.
18 – Pittsburgh (7-2)
This is around the time the Panthers should go into the tank. I'm hoping they avoid it this year.
19 – Cincinnati (8-2)
Their win over Rutgers really bugs me: The Knights should've handled them.
20 – Oregon State (7-3)
You just know the Ducks are layin' for them. A chance to ruin the Beavers' season is something they pray for.
21 – Miami, Florida (7-3)
They're almost back. Here's a prediction: Miami vs. Texas in the 2010 BCS title game.
22 – Oregon (8-3)
Whosoever scheduled The Civil War and gave the Ducks extra time off to prepare is an imbecile.
23 – Louisiana State (7-3)
They almost lost to Troy. That's pathetic. Their once much-vaunted defense has evidently graduated already.
24 – Maryland (7-3)
They're arguably a top ten team if not for the loss to ... get this ... Middle Tennessee State.
25 – North Carolina (7-3)
Crushed Rutgers, struggled against Notre Dame, and lost to Maryland. Who are these guys really?
1 – Texas Tech (10-0)
The Red Raiders could lose a close one in Norman and still end up in the BCS title game, if OU then drops one to Oklahoma State. If it comes down to Texas vs. TTU, will head-to-head be enough to carry the day for Tech? If there's any justice, yes.
2 – Alabama (11-0)
They're starting to look more vulnerable, in my opinion. Florida may well wax them in the SEC championship game.
3 – Texas (10-1)
They're hopin' Oklahoma absolutely shellacks Tech and OSU then finds a way to beat the Sooners. That would be enough to get them home, IMO.
4 – Oklahoma (9-1)
I hope Tech kicks their ass.
5 – Florida (9-1)
Could my beloved Seminoles pull the upset? Nah.
6 – Utah (11-0)
Well, they've got what they wanted: A chance to whup BYU and move on to bigger and better things. Be careful what you wish for: The Cougars are peakin' again.
7 – Southern California (9-1)
I'd have to chuckle if both Southern Cal and Oregon State ran the table, giving the Beavers the Pac-10 title and a Rose Bowl berth—while things opened up sufficiently above USC that they received an invite to the BCS championship game anyway. Could happen.
8 – Boise State (10-0)
I have the feeling Utah's gonna stumble against BYU, which will make BSU ecstatic—assuming they don't do the same against Fresno State.
9 – Penn State (9-1)
They're the highest ranked team with zero shot of playing for the national title—as it should be. Wouldn't it be great, though, if Joe Pa won the Big Ten ... and the Lions found themselves matched with Pitt in a BCS bowl game? Could happen, Part II.
10 – Oklahoma State (9-2)
Can they salvage their season against the hated Sooners? I sure hope so.
11 – Missouri (9-2)
The Tigers edge past Ohio State towards the top ten, but it's pretty much a dead heat between them ... and this idea that the Big 12 South champion is simply going to waltz over them is a specious one.
12 – Ohio State (9-2)
Would a Michigan win be enough to save Rich Rodriguez's job, which I think is in real jeopardy? Probably.
13 – Georgia (9-2)
I think this Georgia Tech game is going to be very interesting.
14 – Ball State (10-0)
I'm beginning to think they deserve a BCS bowl bid if they run the table. I'm fairly certain they'd not disgrace themselves.
15 – Brigham Young (10-1)
Even a win against Utah is probably too little, too late for their BCS dreams, despite the fact that they'd probably thrash either Ball State or Boise.
16 – Michigan State (9-2)
Dream scenario: Michigan beats Ohio State, MSU handles the Lions and then scores a win over USC in the Rose Bowl.
No, I didn't think so either.
17 – Texas Christian (9-2)
I think Air Force can beat 'em.
18 – Pittsburgh (7-2)
This is around the time the Panthers should go into the tank. I'm hoping they avoid it this year.
19 – Cincinnati (8-2)
Their win over Rutgers really bugs me: The Knights should've handled them.
20 – Oregon State (7-3)
You just know the Ducks are layin' for them. A chance to ruin the Beavers' season is something they pray for.
21 – Miami, Florida (7-3)
They're almost back. Here's a prediction: Miami vs. Texas in the 2010 BCS title game.
22 – Oregon (8-3)
Whosoever scheduled The Civil War and gave the Ducks extra time off to prepare is an imbecile.
23 – Louisiana State (7-3)
They almost lost to Troy. That's pathetic. Their once much-vaunted defense has evidently graduated already.
24 – Maryland (7-3)
They're arguably a top ten team if not for the loss to ... get this ... Middle Tennessee State.
25 – North Carolina (7-3)
Crushed Rutgers, struggled against Notre Dame, and lost to Maryland. Who are these guys really?
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Way to lose, Troy. 
Winning the Civil War while depriving them of both the Pac-10 title AND their first Rose Bowl in 44 years? That would be priceless.
I thought that was a pretty clever move by Oregon's AD at the time. I'm not sure how it will turn out other than letting some banged up players have a little more time to heal. Oregon State is peaking at just the right time and I'm never sure which Ducks are going to show up to play.
Ah. I stand corrected. It is of course a smart play on Oregon's part. I was assuming someone in the Pac-10 had to approve it.
Doesn't it feel a tad dishonorable, though?
Actually, I have to correct myself. I did a little research and apparently the Washington Huskies were originally scheduled for this week. Television money got the game moved back to August 30th. So it wasn't actually a clever move, just a profitable one. I should have known that the Ducks wouldn't have normally scheduled a rivalry conference game to start the season without a good reason. But for whatever reason, things worked out well.
Here's an interesting scenario. If:
Yeah, I know. I still think it's funny.
- Oklahoma beats Texas Tech
- Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma
- Missouri beats Texas in the Big 12 title game
- Auburn beats Alabama
- Florida State beats Florida
- Florida beats Alabama in the SEC title game
- Utah beats BYU
- Notre Dame beats USC (yeah, right)
- Baylor beats Texas Tech (yeah, right, the sequel)
- Michigan State beats Penn State
- Boise State wins out
Yeah, I know. I still think it's funny.
I just realized you're going to be rooting for the Ducks in a couple weeks when they take on Oregon State. It'll be good to have you on my side for a change.
I confess that it'd be terribly cool for Oreg. St to win out and go to their first Rose Bowl in however long it's been - 40 years? OTOH a loss sends USC to the Rose Bowl and increases the likelihood of Ohio St. getting into a BCS bowl. This is when the season is at its most fun. So much can happen with the remaining games, regular season and conference championships. Just when you think you have it all figured out .... it all changes again.
I just realized you're going to be rooting for the Ducks in a couple weeks when they take on Oregon State. It'll be good to have you on my side for a change.
Hopefully, Arizona will take care of business before that...
USC could go 11-1 and not go to either the BCS Championship (which they don't really deserve) or the Rose Bowl. Then again, if OSU wins out, a six point loss on the road doesn't look all that bad.
It's a bummer that USC needs help, but that's the way it goes.
It's not the means of choice, but don't knock it. Sometimes all a team needs is that chance to live one more day.
Aside from that... why did the Trojans have so much trouble with Standofr yesterday? Have the Cardinal gotten that much better?
