Open Thread: The Various Championship Games
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:28 PM ^
Has an unranked team beat a top 10 team in a championship game in the BCS era?
I can't think of any
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:33 PM ^
Actually, the mumbling about Division I is that this game is Rick Neuheisel's swan song.
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:41 PM ^
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_12_Championship_Game
Gotta love Wikipedia. In 1996 (pre- BCS era), Unranked Texas beat #3 Nebraska 37-27.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEC_Championship_Game
And the SEC Championship game has never even featured an unranked team
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:43 PM ^
It explains all the sympathy for Nebraska in 1997....
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:34 PM ^
I remember that game. My Nebraskan buddies at the Air Force Academy were catatonic for days after that.
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:30 PM ^
You could probably hear a fart ten rows behind you. 10-0 Bobcats now, incidentally.
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:46 PM ^
It's weird listening to the commentators when they always say "OHIO" instead of the bobcats.
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:37 PM ^
The MAC needs to play this game at one of the schools home venues.
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:58 PM ^
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:41 PM ^
....among the Huskies cheerleaders....*remembers the whole marriage thing*
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:36 PM ^
Hell of a nice pan by the cameraman. Football was a great creation. However, I think that the volleyball type shorts may win in a vote for me as to best invention. Some of these smaller conference schools "bring it" in the women department. (See North Texas)
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:43 PM ^
Oregon is a 32 point favorite in the inaugural Pac12 championship game. I can't remember one that bad since I watched Texas beat Colorado 70-3 in the Big12 championship in '05.
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:44 PM ^
I personally couldn't believe that Longhorns team would allow even 3 points against itself.
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:48 PM ^
.....believe in necessarily swarming to the ball up front. Ten yards behind the secondary is where they prefer to catch up with it.
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:49 PM ^
Am I crazy for thinking that UCLA might give Oregon a game?
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:52 PM ^
I must admit that this was a secret hope of mine. After all, it would make the game watchable and what else is UCLA doing right now anyway?
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:03 PM ^
I think you're crazy. UCLA is pretty bad. You can play as emotional and motivated as you want, but they're still bad and Oregon is really good. Oregon will score at will against UCLA.
EDIT: Looking at UCLA's schedule, they allowed 45+ points 4 times this year. Oregon is better offensively than all of those teams, except maybe USC (who scored 50).
December 3rd, 2011 at 12:06 AM ^
Sorry aquaman, this game will rival Texas-Colorado 2005 for lopsidedness (it's a word). I think the home field advantage in this game is worth 49 points...
btw, why shouldn't all conference championships be played at the home field of the conference leader? Look at the attendance in the MAC championship.
edit: there's a reason I never, Never bet on sports...
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:12 PM ^
I'm not saying that UCLA will win, but 2006 USC would like to remind you not to overlook UCLA
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^
would like to remind you that it happened 5 years ago
December 2nd, 2011 at 9:10 PM ^
....at this point, yeah
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:50 PM ^
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:02 PM ^
So the MAC champion is used to the building for when they play in the Pizza Bowl a few weeks down the road.
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:59 PM ^
Let's go OU!! brain stompers are on me whenwe win!!!
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:02 PM ^
Already, it's getting good in Eugene....
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:04 PM ^
Gus Johnson giving an intro for the Pac-12 title game almost makes it sound like this will be a tight, hard fought game.
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:04 PM ^
Best thing about the PAC 12 championship game... Gus Johnson.
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
That is true... but... this intro has me terrified about what Fox is going to do with the Big Ten championship game.
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:07 PM ^
Even if the PAC 12 game is a blowout, at least they have a stormtrooper in the crowd.
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
No comments while UCLA enters the field? Strange
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:11 PM ^
....the Ducks mascot will enter "Easy Rider" style? A terrible inequity.
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:13 PM ^
Trophy looks like a vagina
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:14 PM ^
Sort of reminds me of an oh-too-familiar-circumstance from last year.
And with that I'll just shut my pie hole!
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:17 PM ^
....of the MAC Championship Game yet.
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:20 PM ^
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:18 PM ^
How the hell did they decide to play the game at Autzen Stadium? That seems incredibly unfair, or is that only for this year?
Also, anyone having audio issues with the fox broadcast?
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:22 PM ^
Pac-12 decided to award the championship game to the team with the better record. I think it's a good idea; rewards the best team and gives them the best shot of being a BCS #1 or #2, and virtually guarantees a sellout and a good crowd. I doubt this game sells out if they put it in San Francisco.
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:31 PM ^
I have to hand it to the new PAC12 commissioner. He has done some pretty intelligent things to increase revenue and the conferences likelihood to make a BCS Championship Game with this setup.
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:38 PM ^
Totally agree. The only way these things work are as home games.
It's the same reason a 6/8/16/128 team neutral site playoff won't work for football. Having an actual home team guarantees a sellout and gives the game a better atmosphere. Imagine trying to travel to a Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and Sugar Bowl in three weeks. There aren't too many fans who can pull that off.
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^
I believe whoever is ranked higher hosts. I could be wrong.
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:19 PM ^
Did #51 on UCLA eat a whole village?
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:19 PM ^
I just think it would be funny. Not happening but they fire the coach then go to the rose bowl at 7-6... That would be funny.
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^
And the game is over...
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^
Nice start. fumble on 2nd play. Get ready for a ginormous blowout.
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^
Tragically brief. Fumble.
December 2nd, 2011 at 9:20 PM ^
vroom! vroom! vroom!
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:25 PM ^
aaaaand game over.
December 2nd, 2011 at 8:25 PM ^
Brutally short. Touchdown.