Utah's SOS was higher than Alabama's even though Alabama plays in the SEC, how are you going to explain that one away? Yet even though our SOS was higher, and we went undefeated, we can't be considered for the title? You'll have to explain that one to me as well, and none of this "Utah wouldn't be undefeated in the SEC or Big 12" garbage, because it's quite obvious this year that being undefeated isn't a requirement for the title if your in those conferences. If Bama had gone undefeated or even lost a game during the regular season, and merely beaten Florida they'd be playing tomorrow for the title. Yet Utah has definitively proven that they are a much stronger team AND THEY DID GO UNDEFEATED with a stronger schedule.
I was actually pretty generous with the link I gave you. The NCAA merely ranked the schedule strength based on opponent's win/loss record, and not the quality of said opponents. That is extremely misleading in some cases. For instance, Utah beat 10-4 Weber St. in the Big Sky. I would place money that a 4-8 Baylor team would beat Weber St. Here are some other sources that give alternate strength of schedules based on quality of opponent, which have Utah's SoS ranked:
BCS Computers
Sagarin - 70th (Alabama 58th)
A&H 64th (Alabama 43rd)
Colley 73rd (Alabama 38th)
Massey 36th (Alabama 15th)
Others
99th (Alabama 24th)
101st (Alabama 56th)
83rd (Alabama 41st)
96th (Alabama 7th)
I could list more, but I think the above about says it all. Your SoS argument is invalid. They did not 'definitely' prove anything about being a stronger team with a
weaker schedule and
weaker conference.
Well we kicked the **** out of a team that did so I don't know how you come to that conclusion. Did Bama just not show up because they weren't in the title, that seems just a little bit too convenient to your argument bro.
These are young kids who had the dream of a national title ripped from them in their last game. They came so close but just fell short. After that, it is only human to be less than motivated in a game that they don't want to be in. So yeah, I can easily see why Alabama would not be as motivated to play in the Sugar Bowl against Utah.Like I said, it shows that given motivation and a month to prepare, Utah can win a one-game matchup against a good team. They still haven't proven they can do it in a one week in and out scenario because of the weak MWC.
If bama didn't show up, screw them! That just proves even more how spoiled and pathetic BCS teams are. They can't get up to play in any game that doesn't "benefit" them. Well I can tell you that losing the Sugar Bowl in the fashion they did will be a stain on them going into next year, and they will have to work even harder to get the pollsters to give them a chance.
I disagree. Oklahoma has lost 4 straight BCS games and still there they are with voters' support. Similar with Ohio State. This loss means nothing to Alabama's next year ranking. They will assess the returning talent and perceived schedule strength, not this loss to Utah.
So is the fact that they play in the Mountain West and not the Pac 10 (who the MWC owned this year by the way) the only reason that they can't be permitted to play for the title? If so then this system has to go, because that is in fact the definition of what the anti-trust act was designed to protect against. I hope this season and the lawsuit that may result removes the BCS so Utah and Boise State can finally get the title they deserve.
Who cares about the Pac 10. They suck as a whole this year. I wouldn't brag about MWCs 6-1 record against the Pac 10 because they included wins against Washington (0-12), UCLA (4-8), Stanford (5-7), Arizona State (5-7). The two best wins were against Arizona (8-5) and Oregon State (9-4), middle of the road types. The loss was to California (9-4). So congratulations, you owned teams with combined record of 31-43 (.419). I would hardly say they deserve anything. Your conference on an up year, with the domination of the PAc 10's worst teams, was ranked by Sagarin below the Pac 10.
See here for his conference rankings.
In the article I posted a link to a few days ago, a whole hose of harris poll voters admitted to not watching Utah play outside of the highlights on Sportscenter, and now claim that they would have ranked Utah much higher if they'd make the effort to watch them play, so we can safely assume that if there wasn't this anti mid-major bias in the media, Utah might very well be playing for the title right now, even with their "unimpressive schedule". Because even though the Harris poll folks didn't watch them, they still managed to be ranked #6.
I doubt it. They say what they do after knowing that Utah won. It is used to create a controversy. What about the coaches? The weak MWC and the lack of any impressive non-conference wins caused Utah a national title, not the media. That is a weak argument.
You can dance around the fact all day my friend, but Utah was shafted. I for one hope that this season does what it takes to get rid of this ****** plan for electing a College Football National Champion. In the words of Jim Rome, could this years title game be any more insignificant after what has happened to Utah?
SLC
You were hardly screwed. Utah played in a weak league. Your teams had no impressive non-conference wins. When your league had a shot against an elite league in the Big 12 MWC teams lost to Oklahoma (12-1), Colorado (5-7), and Texas A&M (4-8). You did manage a win against Iowa State (2-10).
Utah had a great year, but frankly the crying and whining is a bit annoying at this point. I'm sorry, but your team's SoS, and the MWCs quality means that your undefeated season is less impressive than even a 1-loss team from the Big 12 or SEC. The win you had in the bowl game was NOT in the BCS national title game. It came after a month of preparation time against an unmotivated team. It was a deserved win, but again, your league proved this year that under a week to week basis, it could not beat high quality opponents. Again, put Utah in the Big 12 and I would bet they would be nowhere close to national title talks, let alone undefeated.
Defend those stats.
