OT(?): Kent St. may automatically qualify for a BCS bowl
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/11/28/bcs-computers-kent-state/index.html
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bcs-implications-niu-vs-kent-195333184--ncaaf.html
As the above links note*, Kent St. will go to a BCS bowl if it finishes in the top 16 of the BCS standings and finishes ahead of the champion of an AQ conference. As of today, the Golden Flashes are 17th in the BCS rankings (see below) and ranked ahead of every Big East team. They have the chance to up their rankings when they play No. 21 (in the BCS) NIU tomorrow.
Arguments for Kent St. include the fact that they are 11-1 and that they beat the glorious football power that is Rutgers (yes, our Rutgers). An argument against is that they lost 47-14 to Kentucky and that their best win was against the glorious football power that is Rutgers. The fact that they are named The Golden Flashes is an argument both for and against, I think.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/polls/bcs/
What sayeth you about this? To me, being in the top 16 and ranked ahead of an AQ champion is not much of a hurdle. Of course, being the champion of the Big East isn't much of a hurdle either. I wish the FBS had just scrapped all of the conference-related rules for the years left before the switch to the playoff.
*Thanks to vnperk for pointing out that the first link only implies what I said above about the BCS rules. The second link confirms it.
November 30th, 2012 at 5:10 PM ^
Yeah, that's all I was saying. Looking at the BCS standings, Texas is close enough behind Kent State that a win against #6 Kansas State would almost certainly jump them over Kent. And obviously UCLA beating Stanford would keep them above Kent State.
November 30th, 2012 at 6:46 PM ^
FSU or Nebreska losing coupled with either K-State winning of Stanford winning could do the job as well. Have to think FSU would get hammered in the human poles if they lost to GT and have their computer rankings crash as well. Guessin Ok is probably to far in front of K-State, but they could easily lose at TCU. If things are close Boise St. losing would give K-State a bump in both human polls. Anyone think N.Illinois would have any shot at all if they beat Kent State?
November 30th, 2012 at 10:50 PM ^
Man I hope Nebraska doesn't lose. That would be just embarrassing for the B1G if Wisconsin goes to the Rose Bowl this year.
November 30th, 2012 at 4:43 PM ^
November 30th, 2012 at 4:53 PM ^
There are $28.6 Million reasons to root for Kent to win and go to either the Orange or Sugar Bowls (that is unless the guys in yellow jackets skim it all away). That spare change will help all of the athletic departments of the MAC schools, each of whom can use it.
November 30th, 2012 at 5:56 PM ^
Kent State vs. FSU would be a barn burner
November 30th, 2012 at 6:11 PM ^
The two teams I will laugh at if this happens are:
1. The school hyped to play in huge bowl only to find out they play Kent State so like no one will watch, and
2. The school who though they'd play in a BCS bowl only to find out Kent State took their spot.
Lord knows if Michigan fell into either of those spots we'd be pissed as all get out.
November 30th, 2012 at 6:47 PM ^
Florida will probably be none to impressed with playing Louisville instead of Ok if this happens.
December 1st, 2012 at 8:39 PM ^
If we get to a BCS bowl game and had to play Kent, I'd take the win. A BCS win is a BCS win.