Note: J.P. Giglio is one of 60 AP voters.
Alabama got its shot at LSU, and lost. I don't think Alabama deserves another shot at the No. 1 Tigers in the Bowl Championship Series title game.
But the AP is not part of the BCS equation nor is it asking its voters which two teams should be in the "national" title game. The AP asks us to rank the top 25 teams in order.
So who's No. 2, Oklahoma State or Alabama?
There's no definitive answer.
Oklahoma State has a great offense (No. 2 in the country in scoring) and Alabama has a great defense (No. 1 in scoring).
Oklahoma State (11-1) has three wins over teams ranked in the final regular-season AP top 25 (Oklahoma, Kansas State and Baylor), while Alabama (11-1) has two (Arkansas and Penn State).
The strength of schedule favors Oklahoma State, a Big 12 team, over Alabama, an SEC team, because Alabama didn't crossover with Georgia or South Carolina from the SEC East. Seven of Oklahoma State's wins are over FBS teams with at least a 7-5 record, compared to three for Alabama.
The biggest difference between the two teams is their respective losses. Oklahoma State lost in overtime, on the road, to a 6-6 conference opponent (Iowa State). Alabama lost in overtime, at home, to a 13-0 conference opponent (Louisiana State).
So Alabama deserves to play for the BCS title because it has a "better" loss? If you thought the BCS was screwed up before, try to wrap your brain around that one.
If it hasn't been painfully obvious all season (or the last 20), college football is long past due the need for a playoff. This is just the latest example why, with an even bigger reason looming if Alabama beats LSU on Jan. 9.
twitter.com/jpgiglio
1. LSU (1)
2. Oklahoma State (4)
3. Alabama (2)
4. Boise State (3)
5. USC (5)
6. Oregon (6)
7. Stanford (7)
8. Arkansas (8)
9. South Carolina (9)
10. Wisconsin (14)
11. Michigan State (11)
12. TCU (16)
13. Michigan (17)
14. Kansas State (18)
15. Baylor (19)
16. Clemson (21)
17. Virginia Tech (10)
18. Georgia (12)
19. Oklahoma (13)
20. Southern Miss (22)
21. Houston (15)
22. Nebraska (20)
23. West Virginia (23)
24. Arkansas State (25)
25. Penn State (NR)
Out: Texas (24)
Comments
There will never, never, ever, never
Mon, 12/05/2011 - 00:11 — UNC1998be a college football playoff. I agree with Giglio (1st time, hehe) here. Bama had a chance, at home, and couldn't do it. LSU has proven itself the best... it's time for the next challenger. Of all who are left who deserves it? Oklahoma State. Yes, they lost a game. That said.. down the stretch they turned it back on, and totally destroyed Oklahoma in their last game. That was a statement in Oklahoma and in college football.
LOL
Mon, 12/05/2011 - 08:48 — NewNCOSU was ranked #2 and undefeated in all the polls. They were next up...until they ran into lowly Iowa State. When Alabama lost to LSU, the fell behind Oklahoma State and Stanford. OSU had the opportunity to play LSU in the national championship game with a victory against Iowa State. They lost...Stanford lost...so, guess who was next up...according to the polls. Alabama is next up....Now, you don't believe in the polls, then why do we have them.
Alabama
Tue, 12/06/2011 - 18:21 — UNC1998already played LSU.... at home..... and lost. I guess the BCS championship game should be cancelled, and the crystal ball just be given to LSU. If every week matters it's all been decided. Yes, Ok. St. lost to Iowa St. If folks are going to say "Bama missed fg's, Bama should've, could've won" I'll say "Ok St. lost 2 coaches the day before the Iowa St. game. No, it wasn't football coaches, but they were human beings, and part of the athletic family at Ok. St. Add Bama's SOS to that, and I'll say yes, I looked at poll(s). I looked at the coaches' poll, and it was a freaking joke.
1998
Tue, 12/06/2011 - 23:16 — BeezerHeelYou can't tell a f'ing Bam anything.
Did you guys know
Sun, 12/04/2011 - 20:57 — gvillegatrAnd you may have heard this in the last few days, but the BCS doesn't even know how the formulas work on all of the computer rankings but one ! Unbelievable. Some one please step in and remove the BCS from Div 1 Football.
It's past time
Sun, 12/04/2011 - 19:04 — Guitarman51The so called national championship game is nothing but a sham exhibition. It is way past time for a playoff even if it is only four teams after the bowls, or using four BCS bowl games as the quarterfinals of a championship.
Is this really the best way to crown a champion?
Sun, 12/04/2011 - 17:18 — NewNCIf the goal is to match up the two best teams, then it should be Alabama vs LSU. If the goal is to match up the two most deserving teams, then it can be any team. When Alabama lost to LSU in November, all Oklahoma State had to do was beat Iowa State, and we wouldn't be having this discussion. I still can't get over Iowa State beat Oklahoma State. A 6-6 team. Now, Yes, there was a plane crash involving a OSU basketball coach. I don't see the connection between that and losing to Iowa State. If you want to make an excuse for losing to a bad Iowa State team, perhaps OSU lost because the game was played on a Thursday. If you just want an excuse. A lot of people is tired of the SEC winning the National Championship. Unfortunately, the best football is played in the SEC. I believe the two best teams should play for the National title, regardless of conference affiliation or any of the other lame reasons for not having the two best teams playing one another. But let's be honest, this is not the way to crown a champion. But even with a playoff..The SEC would still put two teams in the NC game. The only way to prevent it is to have a rule that only 1 team from the SEC can make the playoff.
Let's get some things straight
Sun, 12/04/2011 - 18:37 — gvillegatrAlabama can hang their hat on two wins: Arkansas and Penn St. Ha ! The Bams beat NOBODY else worth a crap. This team isn't any better than the three loss team from last season. They just played an easier schedule this year.
The SEC was not the typical SEC this season. The Big XII was like your typical SEC though. Re-read the blog.
Iowa St being 6-6 is not what I consider "bad" but if you do, go ahead. I consider anything under 3 or 4 wins as "bad.". I would say Iowa St is simply an average team. .500.
Like I said, I'd gone back and forth with the airplane crash. It happened less than 24 hrs before kickoff (which was on a Friday night, not thursday) and you know that's all they heard in that short window and some of these guys and especially coaches has to know them on some level.
I think it did play some role. How big ? I can't say.
If OSU beats Iowa State, there is no debate
Sun, 12/04/2011 - 22:49 — NewNCIowa State is a bad football team. Nobody in the Big 12 plays defense...Nobody. Again, there is no way an Iowa State football team should beat Oklahoma State whether the plane crashed or not....I believe Auburn, South Carolina, Florida, Mississppi State would have finished in the top 3 in the Big 12. Oklahoma State defense was #107 in the country. How in the heck were they going to stop Alabama or LSU. Maybe Iowa State beat Oklahoma State because the game was played on a Friday. LSU and Alabama didn't seem to have a problem getting up for inferior opponents. That's the sign of a good football team. They beat the opponents they were suppose to beat. Again, a playoff is the best way to end these debates.
And
Tue, 12/06/2011 - 21:04 — gvillegatrNo one in the SEC plays offense with exception to Arkansas. Your point ???
I've gone back and forth on one thing
Sun, 12/04/2011 - 15:43 — gvillegatrDid the Okie St plane crash play into the emotions of the football team less than 24 hours before their away loss to Iowa St ?
Either way, Okie St has done more than Alabama and deserves the right to play in the Title game against LSU.