"You'd think the teams themselves (Florida or Oklahoma) would feel a sort of hollow victory if they're named No. 1"

not likely.

"Florida or Oklahomawould feel a sort of hollow victory if they're named No. 1 and they know they're not!"

No.

No.

If they did put Utah in the NC game, do you think Utah would feel hollow because they had some very weak games against weak teams.

No, they would talk themselves into believeing they really deserved to be there.

Also--

Just because the is a smattering of discontent from a few reporters, and about 40,000 people in SLC who think they deserve it won't diminish tonight's accomplishment.

The problem with the Utes whining so loudly is, IF, they go undefeated again next year and get in the NC game, there will be reporters that cover the BCS conferences screaming their heads off about how Utah does not deserve it. They'll say "Utah's just a bunch of babies that cry to get their way".

If Chris Hill, Kyle, and the Ute fans can't gut it up, take it like men and prove it again next year, everyone will remember back to all of this whining, and no one will see Utah as anything but a bunch of babies and whiners, which-they-are-right-now.

Grow-up, MANY teams deserve it-this-year.

Utah's just whining loudest.

No, your the one who is clueless...that was a serious take. Which one of the 5 statements is not a possibility? Lets review:

BYU gets blown out by OU and FSU next year (how is this clueless, it really could happen, or are you a cougar fan that is still in denial about this past, pathetic season?!)

Max Hall out for season injured after only 2 games (defintely possible when playing two teams at the very beginning of the season with fast, crushing defenses, not to mention an inexpierienced O-line which equals poor protection for "blind-side" Maxi)

Cougars go 7-5 for the season make Humanitarian Bowl (Losses: OU, FSU, TCU, UU, and a road trip loss somewhere)

Bronco opts out; accepts coaching offer from Purdue (OK, maybe not Purdue, but he might not be around here forever)

Utes Re-tool and go 11-1 (again, you must be a cougar fan in denial...the utes could certainly do this again)

How is any of this clueless? You will be in denial again, I assume, when the Y starts the 2009 season at 0-2...

We Will Never See the Day Cosmo's in a BCS Bowl.
I Guarantee.
Utah National Champions!

And then when I read the comments from all the jerk Ute fans about BYU playing Oklahoma, I realized that Utah does not have the class, the solid season, and really just played an uninspired Bama team that had their rug pulled out from under them.

Classic Ute comment:
"Real Prediction | 6:45 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009
BYU gets blown out by OU and FSU next year
Max Hall out for season injured after only 2 games
Cougars go 7-5 for the season make Humanitarian Bowl
Bronco opts out; accepts coaching offer from Purdue
Utes Re-tool and go 11-1".

Wishing and injury to a player? Real class there pal. Maybe Utah does need some goals higher than football, like mutual respect of an opponent, not throwing beer or spitting at other fans. This is who we want representing the MWC???



National Champs?

Whoever wins the game tonight.

I JUST SAY GO UTES AND MY HAT OFF TO THE BIGGER TEAM.THEY ARE AWESOME AND IMPRESSIVE AND IT HAS BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF FUN FOR OUR FAMILY. AND WHO COULD BE A MORE AWESOME HUMBLE MAN THAN COACH WHITTINGHAM.

TOO THE CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR THE UTES AND THE MTW CONFERENCE....CONTINUED WINS WILL KEEP US SHAKING AND RATTLING OF THE FENCE CHAINS UNTIL IT IS KNOCKED DDOWN..............CONGRATULATIONS AND YEAH UTES

Whoever put down the Sagarin schedule rankings was pulling numbers out of a hat. Here are the schedule rankings from USAToday's Sagarin ratings.

Oklahoma 8
Texas 10
Florida 19
Utah 70

More proof that the U's "perfect season" doesn't have much ground to stand on.

I'm predicting Louks gets injured in spring practice and Utah goes 1-11 with no offense next season. Utah's only win will be when Utah's defense recovers a kickoff in the end zone for a safety to score their only points of the season.

It's a serious prediction that could happen.

--Avid Utah Fan

lol -- now that is clueless. Louks might not even be the starter next year. Maybe you are the 12 year old mentioned previously.

BTW - I am not a Ute fan...I am a BYU fan, seriously.

I would love to see the Cougs do well next year, I just really think they will not!

I bought into the hype this year (quest for perf., etc...) but next year I will be cautious. Look, bottom line is this: BYU will never be Florida or the U of U - period. Quit draming. Why not, you ask...because the honor code will never be lowered so we can attract 5 or 6 "4.2" 40-cover guys - the south east (SEC and Big 12) have a monopoly. None of those guys wants to go to Notre Dame, Michigan, or Ohio and freeze to death when the can go kick it at the beach afterwards. Those days are gone my friend. Notre Dame, the '84 cougs, Flutie and BC - get real and quit living in the past. Just because Tom Holmoe has a goal to "return BYU to its glory days" doesn't make it reality.

What's the criteria for voting for ranking teams in the AP? Is it who you think the best team is? Is it who deserves to be ranked highest? Is it strength of schedule?

"Best Team"
1. USC
2. Texas
3. Florida

"Deserves highest ranking"

1. Utah
2. Florida
3. Texas/Oklahoma

"Strength of Schedule"

1. Oklahoma (Big 12 + TCU)
2. Texas (Big 12 schedule)
3. Florida

The interesting thing is that the "national champion" (Florida) probably wouldn't be #1 in any of the "criteria" polls above. However, they won the BCS and they will get the most votes based on that win and their popularity. Of the one-loss teams, I think their loss came to the weakest opponent:

Texas (lost to Texas Tech)
USC (lost to Oregon State)
Florida (lost to Ole Miss)

Utah (lost to "the voters")

actually, I guess I have to take that back... a football team made up of the "voters" is really a pretty weak team. But under the BCS, the "voters" get to name the national champion - and they will "vote" Florida.

You are probably right, yeah, those 5 things could happen. But that also means that just about anything could happen.

Like the utes getting shut out in vegas again 27-0 or worse. The rebels will have back their talented young quarterback and it will be a home game for the rebels, so yeah i agree, "the utes could certainly do that again". It "could certainly" be the rebels only conference win again too!! IT COULD HAPPEN

How amazing, one good year and the utes are the terror of all college football. Enjoy this year for what it was, ALL the cards fell in your behalf it happens every now and then. Brag when it is consistently happening year in and year out, which it never will, so again, suck it all in here and now, for tomorrow it will be gone!!