Bama most likely going to repeat
Still a few games to go but you have to imagine Bama is the odds on favorite to play in the title game where they will proceed to destroy ND. Bama is a good team, and might even be the best team in the nation (certainly looked that way before the A&M game). Although it's annoying that the SEC is going to play in the title game again for sure now (if not Bama then Georgia) I can't really complain abou them deserving it.
Here's my question though, when was the last time a program caught this many breaks this late in the year to win titles back to back? Alabama didn't win its division last year, wins the title. Alabama behind three undefeated teams in week 11 and #1 and #2 lose (#1 loses by 30 to an unranked team?!) A great team for sure but I've never heard of a program getting such luck with how things have shaken out for them back to back years.
November 17th, 2012 at 11:45 PM ^
at least 3 threads for this.
November 17th, 2012 at 11:45 PM ^
November 18th, 2012 at 3:14 AM ^
Oh yeah? Where was our break in 2006?
November 18th, 2012 at 7:26 AM ^
Our break in 2006 was escaping the Ball State game without losing.
November 17th, 2012 at 11:46 PM ^
Damn you, Gene Smith.
November 17th, 2012 at 11:49 PM ^
You guys might have had a Rose Bowl, but a 1-loss OSU isn't going to the MNC over a 1-loss SEC Champ
November 17th, 2012 at 11:49 PM ^
Good thing you're ineligible; we're tired of watching you lose to SEC teams on the big stage.
November 18th, 2012 at 1:54 AM ^
November 18th, 2012 at 2:35 AM ^
November 18th, 2012 at 4:13 AM ^
Yinz = Classic Pittsburgher...
November 18th, 2012 at 7:28 AM ^
It must be nice to play with semi-pro players like Troy Smith and Terrelle Pryor...
November 18th, 2012 at 7:58 AM ^
...and Maurice Clarett.
An entire decade of cheating under Tressel (Clarett at the beginning, Smith in the middle and Pryor, et.al. at the end...and these are only the examples we KNOW about) and all they got was three ships a year for three years and one year of postseason play ban. Unbelievable.
November 17th, 2012 at 11:47 PM ^
So damned disappointing. I really wanted the SEC locked out of this MNC game, despite Alabama probably being the best team in the country (again.) There's no way in hell Notre Dame stands a chance against anyone that has a shot at being in the title game. Their undefeated season is a fluke and they'll be destroyed by whatever SEC team wins out.
November 18th, 2012 at 9:58 AM ^
If there is any kind of silver lining to the Irish making the BCS Championship Game it will be the pleasure I get of watching the myth of their resurgence ripped apart by whatever SEC opponent they face.
November 17th, 2012 at 11:47 PM ^
November 17th, 2012 at 11:50 PM ^
November 17th, 2012 at 11:51 PM ^
Not sure I'd say that the Michigan game should have been a loss for them. That sounds ridiculous when we turned the ball over five times.
November 18th, 2012 at 12:02 AM ^
We turned it over 6 times and we lost by 7 points. We should have won that game, although the luck involved in that game was a bit different than their luck in other games.
November 18th, 2012 at 7:37 AM ^
We *could* have won that game. Part of being better than another team at football is not turning the ball over six times. They played better than we did. They were the better team that night because they put more points on the board.
November 18th, 2012 at 12:09 AM ^
1st quarter, out-play ND, get to the ND 10 twice, no points
3rd quarter, out-play ND, time consuming length of field drive falls victim to fumble, no points
4th quarter, trade two length of field drives with ND
2nd quarter, DRob throws three meaningful picks, the whole quarter is played giving ND short fields, ND wins that qtr 10-0
If DRob doesn't throw those 2nd qtr picks, we're in a game. If we capitalize on the three trips to the ND 10 in the 1st & 3rd qtrs, we win. We did outgain ND 299-239.
November 17th, 2012 at 11:52 PM ^
I'm not actually that upset (except for the Michigan game) with Notre Dame's lucky season because they are going to get destroyed in the title game.
What I meant regarding breaks is I've never seen a team that repeatedly "did not control their destiny" by screwing up very late in the season and then somehow getting miracles to happen in front of them to win the title. Oklahoma State losing to Iowa State and Kansas State losing to Baylor both seemed extremely unlikely at the time. These are title contenders losing to .500 teams very late in the year.
November 17th, 2012 at 11:48 PM ^
If you had told me at the start of the year that we would have a Bama/ND MNC, I would have turned off my TV for the year.
Worst case scenario...
November 17th, 2012 at 11:52 PM ^
November 17th, 2012 at 11:49 PM ^
If ND loses and it is Alabama/Georgia vs. Florida title game there will be a college football civil war vs. the SEC ( I mean ESSSS EEEEE CEEEE)
November 17th, 2012 at 11:51 PM ^
It looks like until something happens to change the recruiting antics in the South, this is how things go. College football versus the NFL development league.
November 17th, 2012 at 11:58 PM ^
November 18th, 2012 at 12:45 AM ^
"No way Florida gets in over Oregon." -- I wouldn't be so sure about that. Even last week, all but one of the computers had Florida ranked ahead of Oregon. The Oregon loss will certainly widen that gap and close (or even flip) the gap Oregon had over Florida in the polls. Obvs Florida would have to beat FSU.
November 17th, 2012 at 11:49 PM ^
November 17th, 2012 at 11:55 PM ^
November 18th, 2012 at 12:12 AM ^
While lots of scenarios are possible, LSU in the title game is not one of them.
ND, Georgia, and Alabama all control their own destiny. Next would be FSU, Oregon,and Florida probably in that order.
November 18th, 2012 at 12:49 AM ^
Don't think a 2 loss LSU team gets in before a 1 loss Oregon team. So it seems like that scenario would also require another Oregon loss, but who knows?
Also, would a one loss ND team fall behind a 2 loss LSU team? That one would be interesting.
November 17th, 2012 at 11:54 PM ^
I'm more mad Oklahoma won. And if today taught you anything wouldn't it be to assume nothing. Alabama still has a rivalry game and a championship game. While Notre Dame still has to go out west.
November 17th, 2012 at 11:58 PM ^
They had the 4-9 ranked teams in the BCS before Oregon and KSU fell apart.
November 17th, 2012 at 11:55 PM ^
Nick Saban sold his soul to the Devil...I thought this was common knowledge?
November 18th, 2012 at 12:11 AM ^
November 17th, 2012 at 11:55 PM ^
Ohio got to the championship game in 06, then had a similar thing happen to get back in 07. Only they had like 6 teams ahead of them lose in the last two weeks. That was pretty lucky too, unless you count the fact they had to play Les Miles' "damn strong" LSU team in the title game.
November 17th, 2012 at 11:58 PM ^
McCaron better learn to play better against good defenses.
November 18th, 2012 at 12:18 AM ^
November 18th, 2012 at 12:01 AM ^
The process is sabotaged for the SEC. How do you explain why there are 6 teams in the top ten with TAMU and USC sitting ahead of FSU and Clemson when the ACC schools have 1 loss and the SEC schools have 2 losses. I am referring to the ESPN Poll. It's fixed for the SEC to be there every year. Bama loses to 15th ranked TAMU and only drops to #4. But the first game of the season we loses to #1 BAMa and drops 15 spots. Thats total BS
November 18th, 2012 at 12:05 AM ^
Bama's loss was close ... and it would seem odd to have dropped Bama below the team they beat on the road the week before (LSU). So there's that.
The only way to end the SEC bias is to beat them on the field, especially in the championship game. Wish someone other than ND was in line to try this year, although what I just watched from Oregon makes me think Bama would have destroyed them.
November 18th, 2012 at 12:09 AM ^
November 18th, 2012 at 12:14 AM ^
Yeah I loved the SEC- FCS challenge that took place today. Jacksonville ST, Wofford, Alabama A&M, Sam houston ST, Georgia Southern. Come on now.
November 18th, 2012 at 12:25 AM ^
November 18th, 2012 at 7:34 AM ^
You have a point in one respect, but you also don't.
It's pretty commonly understood that an early loss doesn't hurt teams as much as a late one. Michigan (and most/all other Big Ten teams) played their cupcakes early in the year, meaning all their tough games come down the stretch. If Michigan loses to a traditionally decent Iowa team in the last week or two, that's more present in voters' minds than a loss back in September.
Meanwhile, the SEC teams try to play their tough opponents early and then coast down the stretch, including basically a rest week against FCS teams. Oh, you got dinged up during the SEC schedule? Well, that's okay because we're playing Jacksonville State the week prior to the SEC Championship, so go ahead and rest that ankle.
November 18th, 2012 at 12:17 AM ^
I think that if tonight taught us anything, it's that anything can change any given week in college football.
Alabama may well win again, but to say that now is premature at best. Play the games.
Oh...and beat Ohio.
November 18th, 2012 at 12:33 AM ^
Bama-LSU again, 4 games in 15 months. Can't wait, grrr.....
November 18th, 2012 at 12:57 AM ^
Bama isn't as good as a lot of people here want you to believe. They didn't play that hard of a schedule and their defense has been struggling. I don't think they will score easily on ND, but on the other hand I doubt ND would score much against Bama. Also even though Georgia isn't great I wouldn't be shocked if they beat Bama.
November 18th, 2012 at 1:19 AM ^
There is a long way to go...ND has to beat USC, 'Bama has to beat Auburn (obvious) and win the SEC title game against Georgia, Florida has to beat FSU to have a shot...this post is way, way too early.
It's very possible that neither ND nor 'Bama are in the championship game.
November 18th, 2012 at 7:41 AM ^
ND has to beat USC without Matt Barkley. I don't think they'll run away with it, but I'll be surprised if they don't pull that off.