Deseret News | College football: BCS selection process

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College football: BCS selection process

BSU/TCU | 11:39 p.m. Oct. 14, 2009

Boise State survived, but didn't impress, beating Tulsa 28-21, a team Oklahoma destroyed 45-0.

BSU will be ranked about 5th in the first BCS poll, then they'll continue to be passed by one-loss AQ teams.

Look for TCU to pass BSU if both stay undefeated.

After their performance tonight on the national stage, the Broncos are out of what slim hope they had of playing in the BCS championship game.

The only team with a winning record left on BSU's schedule is Idaho, and the Broncos play the Vandals on the Smurf turf.

BSU average at best | 7:18 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

BSU beats average Tulsa BARELY... OU beats Tulsa 45-0... BYU beats OU... Hmmmm... Who sounds like the better team here???

BSU what a joke | 7:23 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

I wish on everything BYU could have had BSU schedule, we would be ranked #3 or #4 right now... What a joke BSU is, notice how Lou Holtz and ESPN were shredding BSU saying that they were playing a "evenly matched Tulsa" team and talked on how bad this looks for them because OU killed them.. now #20 OU whiom BYU beat in their own home basically. If the rankings make any sense at all which they dont BSU will drop hopefully to 10 or out of the top 10 next week, what a terrible display for an almighty #5 team in the nation, pretty sure if #6 USC played Tulsa they would have won by 50 and even overrated #7 Ohio State would have beat they by 50, but almighty evenly matched #5 BSU beats them by a miracle of the QB from Tulsa blowing it at the end. Doesnt make too much sense to me... BSU is a fine team, but they should be ranked 15th at best...

Comments continue below

Cougarf@n | 8:08 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

Let's be honest, Boise State never had any hope of playing in the NC game with a sub-100 schedule and they don't deserve to be ranked in the top 5 now. Anyone who watched that game last night can't tell me Boise State is that much better than a Tulsa team that got blown out by Oklahoma. I do believe the better team won last night, but the fact that it was close means BSU is not that great and if either TCU or BYU win out, then they should go ahead of Boise State.

Thank Goodness... | 8:23 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

that Dick "Cougar Club" Harmon is still pushing the BCS possibilities out there as chum for Cougar fans to feed on.

Dick, BYU is not going to make their first appearance in the BCS this year. And Utah will not be repeating a BCS trip this year. So why waste the space on this article?

Cougar fans just can't give up on the BCS. It's killing them.

Did you watch the game?.... | 8:26 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

Boise St. dominated the game, on a night that wasn't perfect. If it weren't for 2 big plays and 2 turnovers, the final score would have been much greater. By the way, the transitive property does not apply to college football. Oh, and what happened to BYU 2 years ago when they played at Tulsa? You must have forgot!!!

Realistic | 8:47 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

BSU is a good team... and that is it... good, not great. They should be ranked but not in the top 10, the sad part is they played a great game for them and they still won by only 1 TD, I almost want them to be BCS so I can see USC beat them by 50 or 60. If BYU beats TCU and wins out they should easily go to a BCS game and leap frog BSU who has a schedule ranked in the 100's, BYU's resume would have 2 top 10 wins on their scheudle and a win VS 4-0 CSU at the time and a very good UTE team, if not the BCS is a joke and makes no sense.

hhh | 8:51 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

The best circus acts and exhibits qualify (BCS). Imagine receivers who run like cheetahs who has five arms and running backs who are half horse. Its a good thing Utah and BYU don't qualify; what a group to be associated with.

Re: Cougarf@n | 8:08 a.m. | 9:00 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

I don't understand what BYU fans think they have accomplished. BYU's only signature win (OU) is looking less and less impressive as the weeks roll by (if OU loses to Texas this weekend they may be out of the polls) and their blow out loss at home is looking worse with each passing week. The rest of your schedule is comprised of WAC caliber teams cellar dwellers from the sorry MWC.

You guys bag on BSU but in all honesty, BYU's schedule is no better. The MWC is not going to a BCS and Cougars...your aspirations of post season play on the national stage were never realistic to begin with. You people are simply out of touch with reality. But, talk it up...it's fun to watch the disappointment.

re: did you watch... | 9:07 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

wow a very touchy touchy Boise state fan that likes to live in the past, 2 yrs ago vs BYU , do you remember that game 6 years ago against... WHO CARES, I love how your only defense is the past, awsome, good one. Being a BYU fan, that is like me saying well if it wasnt for the 29 turnovers and INT's we could have won the FSU game - doesnt work, sorry BSU your avg at best and should have had an OT but you didnt by a miracle. When the ESPN gameday crew is ripping you apart along with your schedule on a weekly basis your in a little bit of trouble, but hey mabye everyone can lose 2 or 3 games in the top 10 and you can play in a NC... maybe???

Yes, I watched the game... | 9:07 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

I can't believe the BSU tricksters gave up 2 trick plays. BSU acted like they had never seen a trick play before. If Wilson had gotten the call on his cheap shot to the back of the receiver 2 seconds after the ball sailed over his head and Tulsa's qb completed the pass my 6-year-old could make -BSU would have lost. Tulsa dominated 1st/4th - BSU dominated 2/3. BSU won, but they were lucky to do it.

Just 2 plays and 2 turnovers? | 9:29 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

2 big plays and 2 turnovers? That's HUGE. Any game can be swung by 2 big plays and 2 turnovers. BYU could have beaten Oklahoma 30-10 if it they had 2 big plays and 2 more turnovers. Then again, OU could have beaten BYU 25-10 if they had 2 big plays and 2 turnovers. What's your point? BOISE barely won to an UNRANKED team. They will fall on the rankings.

Unfortunately | 9:47 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

BYU is not playing in a BCS bowl this year. Unfortunately the die has been cast. MWC teams have to go undefeated to go to a BCS bowl. Perfection is required.

WAC teams have to go undefeated AND hope that no MWC teams go undefeated to go BCS bowling. An undefeated MWC team will go over an undefeated WAC team every time.

Here we go again | 9:55 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

We cannot start talking trash because BSU won by one touchdown, especially if you are a UTE. We have a tendency to play games like that, but we still won. BSU won the game, they may not have covered their spread or won it as large as you would have liked but they beat the team that was given to them.

To the guy claiming no MWC team will go to the BCS I think TCU stands a good chance of doing that. All they have to do is win out and you will see them jump Boise State. BYU while you have somewhat of a chance, it doesn't look great. Beating TCU will not get you in over BSU.. they will take the undefeated non-bcs team over the 1 loss BYU team.

@Realistic | 10:00 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

Since you appear to think strength of schedule should have enough weight to put a 1 loss team (with a thougher schedule) ahead of an undefeated team with a weaker schedule, I'm wondering the following.

How do you feel about BYU's 1984 championship season? Surely, you must think it was undeserving since there were 1 loss teams that played a much tougher schedule. Face it, there are a lot of similarities between BSU today and BYU of the 1980's.

Also, CSU wasn't 4-0 when BYU played them. They were 3-0 with a big win over Weber State (that should have been a loss) and over Nevada-Reno. CSU is not a great team, nor were they when BYU played them. And, the jury is still out on Oklahoma. Don't count wins against ranked teams as good wins unless that ranking was somewhat deserved. Kind of like Pittsburgh/BYU in 1984 who ended up 3-8. Let's just see how good Oklahoma and Florida State end up before saying how tough of teams they were.

@BSU What a Joke | 10:05 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

Prior to the BSU/Tulsa game, the Sagarin computer rankings list BSU as having a tougher schedule than BYU to date. After the games of this week, the difference will become greater as Tulsa is >>> than SDSU.

Sure, BYU will get a boost from the TCU and Utah games but so far, BSU has had the tougher schedule. BYU's schedule is only like the 4th or 5th toughest in the MWC so far.

So, I wouldn't go bragging about how BYU would be undefeated today if they had played a tougher schedule!

re re cougarf@n | 10:16 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

Oviously Re: CougarF@n has 0 idea of who is in the wac, when Idaho is 1st in your conference, you have some issues... Dont compare the MWC and the WAC, the MWC isnt strong but the WAC is elementary, give me a break. Sorry "unbeatable" BSU almost lost to amazing Tulsa, dont worry you'll be fine, you play southwestern Idaho state valley college of Buffalo next week, you should hopefully win that one too...

Anonymous | 11:03 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

I blame the voters for a lot of this mess. When THEY voted Hawaii so high with their 115 rated schedule they set the standard. Now you just have to schedule all the Cal State Davis' in football-go undefeated and scream for a BCS bid. IT'S all for the MONEY isn't it? I don't blame Boise for their lousy out of conf. as much as the voters. If they would show some nerve and give Boise a low rating for their playing DAVIS, Miami- Ohio, Bowling Green, Tulsa it would end all this STUFF! I reallly don't want to hear about how good B.G. was in 2005, Tulsa 2 years ago, Miami when Big Ben was there. Boise knew exactly what they were doing when they scheduled this stuff. SCHEDULE A FEW MORE OREGON's and people like me would shut up- but then you wouldn't be undeafeated every year!!!! I didn't give BYU any credit when they scheduled N. Iowa any more than Cal State Davis-give me a break....Show a backside or get out of DIV. 1.

Using TDS logic | 11:08 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

So if Utah beats TCU and BYU they will play in a BCS game right??

I believe that TCU will jump BSu if they are undefeated, but TDS lost much more than the game when they got distroyed by FSU, face it, they lost any BCS change as well!! BSu will not lose and TDS has proven they aren't anything special and they are average at best in the post season.

If Utah does manage to go undefeated from here on out that would mean beating a top 10 TCU team and an unranked TDS, still not enough to jump BSu so BSu is in complete control of their future and will be blown out in any BCS game they reach!

Utah's BCS way in | 11:10 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

The only way Utah can get a BCS bid is if they win the rest of the season and HOPE USU spanks BSU.

BSU prove it then | 11:34 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

BSU fans you are missing the point... You are ranked #5, if you can tell me why you deserve to be ranked #5 with convincing evidence THIS YR then I will change my mind frame, I dont want what happened in years past or even last year, tell me what you have done THIS YR to be ranked #5 ahead of USC, Ohio State, Miami, LSU and Iowa?? Please tell me?? Because their 1 loss is better than your stuggle vs UC Davis,Tulsa and terrible display vs terrible Fresno State, so go ahead and start with the excuses, stats from the last 3 years and your amazing strength of schedule, I am very interested to hear this... I would love to see you play with Florida who played LSU in their home VS 80K people, an LSU team who was #4 in the country and they still beat them by 10 with a QB who almost wasnt even cleared to play... They beat them by 10 and you a #5 team in the nation somehow ahead of LSU beat unranked Tulsa who lost by 45!!!! to #20 OU by only 7 points... so plz let me hear it??

@BSU Prove it... | 12:13 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

BSU doesn't have to play with Florida, LSU, or even Texas. It would be nice if they played someone tough...Oregon was a good win, but the WAC is so bad this year, how can one justify a lofty ranking when the entire conference is so pathetic.

As we learned from the article yesterday, BCS teams don't want to schedule BSU, BYU, Utah, or even TCU. It's not the schools fault, it's the fault of the BCS conference commishes. All the mtn west teams can do is win the games they schedule with OOC opponents.

Oh, and to those bashing the Oklahoma win, get a life. OK is a great team and will give Texas all they can handle. They've had the injury bug too.

BYU BCS Garbage | 12:59 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

Can BYU fans please stop bringing in the Cougars when they discuss BSU not being deserving. BSU can beat 12 high school teams, and they will still be more deserving than a team who got destroyed at home by a team whose only wins are @BYU and a late comeback win over Jacksonville State @ home.

BYU IS NOT GOING TO THE BCS. They had all the pieces positioned just right and blew it. A team who cannot run the ball on even a DII school rushed for like 300 yards against BYU.

Stop the delusions down south. Either BSU or TCU will be in a BCS game, that's it. Even Utah has a more realistic shot than BYU if they win out. Only loss on the road against the current #12 team in the country. And you don't hear Utah fans clamoring for the BCS. Oh, right, we've been there already, TWICE. My bad.

1984 rehash | 1:19 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

I know, BYU didn't play any ranked teams in 1984.

Every college football fan, sportscaster and, more importantly, poll voter knew that.

From late November, when BYU was ranked #1 for the first time, until early January, when votes in the final poll were cast, BYU's schedule was heavily scrutinized.

And when the final votes were cast, the majority of voters in every major poll, including the AP and Coaches polls, felt that BYU had accomplished enough to deserve to win the National Championship.

It was controversial. But, it was fair.

Oklahoma made its case.

Washington made its case.

BYU made its case.

Then, the voters decided and BYU won!

What could be fairer than that?

It was certainly more fair than the current system!

Cougarf@n | 1:26 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

TCU and BYU are in a position to reach the top-12 of the BCS by year's end if they win out (TCU is already about there and BYU would climb fast if they beat TCU) so they are both squarely in the BCS discussion. Boise State almost certainly needs to lose for BYU to have a chance, but TCU could pass up Boise if BSU keeps playing like they have the last two weeks (I did watch the game and Boise State looked nothing like Bradford-less Oklahoma did when they plastered Tulsa 45-0). I think Boise State more likely than not wins out and they'll be highly favored in each game, but they're not unbeatable.

I guess it's possible for Utah, but not as likely since they've got further to go and they have no quality victories like BYU's win over Oklahoma or TCU's away games in ACC territory (albeit against crummy teams). With TCU and BYU on the schedule and all the goodwill from last year, it's certainly not impossible. "Utah's BCS way in" is right. A lot can happen in seven weeks of football.

Re:re re cougarf@n | 10:16 a.m. | 1:55 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

"you play southwestern Idaho state valley college of Buffalo next week,"

I think YOU don't know who is in the WAC. BSU plays Hawaii next week and I don't believe the team you cited above even exists.

btw...I too agree that the lower end of MWC is no better than the WAC. BSU's schedule is week because they are in the WAC and BYU's schedule is equally week (except for 1 game this month and one next month).

I agree with Re: Cougarf@n | 8:08 a.m. | 9:00 a.m. and I think that poster knows more than you do about college football and what is going on. So there!

Cougarf@n | 2:09 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

Re: BYU BCS Garbage: Please read this post slowly so that your little wee brain can process it. If the highest ranked non-AQ team (whether its BSU, TCU, BYU or Utah) is in the top 12 of the BCS rankings then they will play in a BCS bowl. If Boise State loses, then a TCU or BYU team that wins out would go, and an undefeated TCU might pass up Boise State regardless of whether they lose.

If TCU had beaten Utah last year they'd have gone to the sugar bowl with one loss instead of Utah. Even BYU, who had three ugly losses last year, finished #16 in the final BCS rankings, so stop acting like it's impossible for BYU to get there with one ugly loss. Utah could make it if they won out and Boise lost, but after the CSU game I think Utah loses at least two more games. Also, Houston might come back into play if Utah were to win out so that scenario would be a close call.

If it's TCU that's fine with me, but I'd, of course, rather have my cougars go.

@1984 rehash | 2:30 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

You are correct. But, during the controversy, BYU fans defended the schedule and BYU's #1 ranking.

Now, BSU is ranked #5 with a weak schedule. These same BYU fans are critical of BSU and saying they don't "deserve" to be ranked where they are.

My question is, "why the difference". To me, if you argue that BYU should have been #1 in 1984 despite a weak schedule, there is no way you can argue BSU should be punished because of a weak schedule.

@BSU prove it then | 2:33 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

Why does BSU have to prove anything?

BYU won a national championship with a similar weak schedule and didn't have to prove anything on the field. They even got to play a 6-5 team in their bowl. All the while, their fans defended the lofty ranking to all the critics.

Why should BSU have to prove their #5 ranking? What's good for the goose is good for the gander, no? All BYU fans that were around in 1984 should be at the top of the BSU fan club. I don't understand how they can defend the one and be critical of the other. It makes no sense.

BYU and BSU | 4:17 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

You can't make comparisons in a vacuum. Every season is different. Just because one team won a National Championship with an undefeated season doesn't mean another team in a different year deserves to win the National Championship just because they go undefeated.

BYU got to #1 by a combination of BYU winning all of their games and everyone else losing at least once. It wasn't just that the contenders lost, it was also who they lost to. Oklahoma lost to a very mediocre Kansas team. If the Sooners had beaten Kansas, BYU would never have been ranked #1 and we wouldn't be having this discussion.

BSU is hardly in that position.

There are still NINE undefeated teams ranked in the Top 25. If four or five of them finish undefeated, then of course who they played and how they played is going to be a factor.

Who can say that an undefeated #21 South Florida, with a win over Florida State, and remaining games with #8 Cincinnati and #9 Miami wouldn't be more deserving than Boise State.

Boise State had a chance to make their case last night and didn't.

re: Cougarf@n | 5:05 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

If this, if that, this might, that might, maybe this, maybe that.

1)Boise is not losing. Their toughest game left is against a Nevada team who lost to CSU by 15 points.

2)Oklahoma is likely dropping their 3rd game of the season Saturday. Combine that with an FSU team who has given up, and BYU's strength of schedule is tanking, and will show up in the BCS rankings.

3)TCU last year would have had 1 loss if they'd have held off Utah, just like BYU would have if they win out. BIG difference is that loss. TCU lost @ Oklahoma, who finished #2 before the bowl games. BYU lost @ home, to FSU, by 26 points, a team who is 2-4, with wins @BYU and over Jacksonville State. Your hypothetical math might be possible, but do you really think the polsters are going to keep moving BYU up into BCS territory after that loss? Even beating TCU at home will not jump the Cougars even into the top 12 likely. Beating #12 TCU @ home last year moved the Utes up....1 spot. Don't expect a 6-7 spot jump if you beat TCU.

Duh | 5:51 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

I love BYU but, but with the top 25 matches this weekend, if anyone below BYU beats the higher ranked team, it won't matter what BYU does to San Diego State, they won't move up. Case in point is Oklahoma, whom BYU beat, if they win over Texas even by 1 point, they will move above BYU. You can count on it even with a loss to them. Any team who is close to the top 25, if they beat a top ten team, they will move above BYU. It has happened the last two weeks. I can read, can you?

re: 5:05 pm | 6:19 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

It's interesting how you criticize Cougarf@n for speculating "if this", "if that", etc., and then use your own speculating to "prove" your opinion.

1) Nevada may not be the toughest team left on Boise State's schedule; have you considered Idaho 5-1 who did beat CSU?

2) You're assuming that Oklahoma, which played in the NC game last season and has their returning Heisman Trophy winner back is going to lose to Texas. You're assuming that FSU, which lost to 3 Top 25 teams by 4, 4, and 10 points is going to tank the rest of the season.

3) And your TCU argument is riddled with woulda, coulda, shouldas.

Movement in the polls is based as much on what the teams immediately above and below you do as what you do.

Yes, Florida State was an ugly loss, but it's not the first time a Top 25 team has suffered an ugly early season loss and it's certainly possible for a team as well known and well respected as BYU to redeem themselves by finishing with an 11-1 record with wins over 2 or 3 Top 25 teams.

re: Duh | 6:38 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

you can read, but can you think

remember, On any given Saturday!!!

UPSETS are common in early October and nobody knows for sure what's going to happen.

Texas Tech vs. #15 Nebraska
#11 Iowa vs. Wisconsin
#17 Kansas vs. Colorado
Missouri vs. #16 Oklahoma State
#4 Virginia Tech vs. #19 Georgia Tech
#3 Texas vs. #20 Oklahoma

Any or all of those mid-level Top 25 teams could lose. Yes, Oklahoma would probably pass BYU in the polls if the Sooners beat Texas, but in the larger scheme of things, an Oklahoma win over Texas would improve BYU's chances for an BCS berth.

And for those who've written off Florida State, don't be surprised if the Seminoles come roaring back to finish strong, especially if, as many are speculating, this turns out to be Bobby Bowden's final year. Wounded teams like Florida State are notorious for doing the unexpected for an outgoing coach.

TED | 11:14 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

A win is a win and a loss is a loss! When are you dough heads going to get it? The UTAH JAZZ loose to a team by forty one night and beat them by thirty the next time they play them. It happens with all teams. So get over this WE BEAT THEM WORSE THAN YOU DID THING. CHEEEEEZZZZ! Get some brains before you speak. This is why a playoff is the only way to crown a champion. A team that can win four or five games in a row against teams that are coming off a win or two wins or three wins ect.

Cincinatti | 7:23 a.m. Oct. 16, 2009

They had a solid defeat over a ranked team on the road and are undefeated and #8. BSU barely beat a very average team on the road who was not undefeated. Cincinnati will jump BSU and BSU will drop a few spots.

Actions speak loudest | 7:55 a.m. Oct. 16, 2009

The only way any BCS talk has any meaning is if you win all your games. If you don't win them all then go home and sulk because you have to be a winner, not a whiner.

Undefeated | 10:31 a.m. Oct. 16, 2009

"The only way any BCS talk has any meaning is if you win all your games."

Tell that to last the last 3 National Champions!!!

2006 Florida 13-1
2007 LSU 12-2
2008 Florida 13-1

Be careful how high you set the bar Utah fans, it may be a loooong time before you reach that height again.

Cougarf@n | 10:45 a.m. Oct. 16, 2009

I've always said that BSU most likely wins out and at this point they'll certainly have to lose for BYU to pass them up, so don't misinterpret my posts as saying BYU is going BCS bowling if they win out. That said, all Ewe fans talking out of your Yewt will see BYU in the BCS top-12 if they win out. I guarantee it.

Pollsters can and will forgive an ugly early season loss and it's not like BYU has to go up 15 spots in the polls. We're talking about a modest 6-8 spots in the polls in seven weeks. That's easy to do if they can beat the two ranked opponents remaining on their schedule. BYU doesn't need to move up 5 spots in one week and other teams can (and will) jump BYU. Some weeks BYU will move up 1-2 spots while other weeks they'll stand still because teams below them jump them. But they'll move up a spot or so on average.

This is all academic if BYU loses, but if BYU wins out you know I'll be right on.

broncosinbcs | 8:51 p.m. Oct. 24, 2009

haha funny how u byu folk talk about how bsu ALMOST lost to tulsa, when u got taken out behind the wood shed by a sub par fsu team AT HOME. hahahahahahah tcu and utah are the only good teams in the mwc

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College football: BCS selection process

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Reader comments College football: BCS selection process

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College football: BCS selection process