College football in general is unlikely to fill the bowl slots and will have to get creative to fill them. 6-7 teams, etc.

Woohoo, congrats GA Tech! Being the first 6-8 team is just a few weeks away.

Woohoo, congrats GA Tech! Being the first 6-8 team is just a few weeks away.

How soon we forget about the glorious 2011 UCLA team.

I couldn't tell you the SEC's divisions off the top of my head, and they are no more geographically accurate than the B1G. They just chose the simple names.

GA, FL, SC, TN, KY, Vandy, Mizzou

Bama, Auburn, Arkansas, LSU, A&M, Miss St, Ole Miss

The real outlier geographically is Mizzou in the East. You'd do better to put Auburn in the East and drop Mizzou in the west, but you're not breaking up AU-Bama like that.

How soon we forget about the glorious 2011 UCLA team.

Wow, I sure did forget. I remembered they were 6-7 after the championship game, but I didn't think to check their bowl. They lost to Illinois, gross.

Woohoo, congrats GA Tech! Being the first 6-8 team is just a few weeks away.

1) GT is going to be destroyed by FSU in the ACC Championship.

2) It would be really awesome if something freaktastic happened and they won. Everyone would love to have a team that was destroyed by Middle Tennessee State, at home, go to a BCS game, right?

2) It would be really awesome if something freaktastic happened and they won. Everyone would love to have a team that was destroyed by Middle Tennessee State, at home, go to a BCS game, right?

Don't knock Middle Tennessee State. That's Mississippi State's best win.

2) It would be really awesome if something freaktastic happened and they won. Everyone would love to have a team that was destroyed by Middle Tennessee State, at home, go to a BCS game, right?

That would be glorious. Tech's triple option, a week after what is sure to be a tough, physical game against arch rival Florida could give FSU some trouble. It wouldn't be the most far fetched upset of the season, that's for sure.

Wow, I sure did forget. I remembered they were 6-7 after the championship game, but I didn't think to check their bowl. They lost to Illinois, gross.

AKA, the interim coach bowl.

That would be glorious. Tech's triple option, a week after what is sure to be a tough, physical game against arch rival Florida could give FSU some trouble. It wouldn't be the most far fetched upset of the season, that's for sure.

With no extra prep time for the option, I can easily seeing Tech scoring enough to win against FSU. What I can't imagine is GT's defense managing to get FSU off the field. At all. Ever.

What I can't imagine is GT's defense managing to get FSU off the field. At all. Ever.

Me neither, but FSU's offense maybe be able to keep themselves off the field, ala NC state if they feel the pressure and/or are tired from the week before. Definitely something worth hoping on anyway.

Not sure if this has come up before, but while there is a lot of debate over the best team in Division I, the worst team has the title sewn up. Sagarin has the 1-10 Campbell Camels ranked 246th and last. They lost at home to #244 Davidson and #245 Valparaiso, and also to D2 Shorter University. Their only win was a 10-0 squeaker again the University of Virginia at Wise, an NAIA team with a 3-8 record. Another notable loss was a 70-28 blowout at the hands of #232 Moreheard State. They've only played one D1 team Sagarin rates higher than #194, Old Dominion at #114, to whom they lost 70-14. The only close loss was the 28-21 game with Davidson, but they were behind in that one 28-0 at the start of the fourth quarter.

Sagarin says Campbell played the 238th toughest schedule. #239 is Dayton, and everyone below that was a team that played Campbell.

2) It would be really awesome if something freaktastic happened and they won.

After they beat Georgia for extra holy #### schadenfreude.

And let's give Tech's new found defense some credit. They did hold future B1G team Maryland to 13 points.

They did hold future B1G team Maryland to 13 points.

And it is *hard* to slow down a turtle.

I'll take 7-7 and in a BCS bowl, thank you.

And let's give Tech's new found defense some credit. They did hold future B1G team Maryland to 13 points.

While we're giving our partial credit, WVU managed to hold Maryland to only 21. The only 1-A team to score less than 34 on WVU's "defense".

34 points combined against WVU and GT's defenses is embarrassing. Welcome to the B1G!

Did anyone else watch 60 Minutes from last night? They interviewed Brady Hoke, Dave Brandon (Michigan AD), Denard and Nick Saban. I guess good timing.

Nice little infomercial for both teams, but especially Michigan. I can't tell you how good Brady Hoke has been for Michigan. He's been amazing.

Did anyone else watch 60 Minutes from last night? They interviewed Brady Hoke, Dave Brandon (Michigan AD), Denard and Nick Saban. I guess good timing.

I did. This topic is long overdue for some serious analysis. This was an inch deep story that unearthed absolutely nothing of substance. Not saying it was meant to be an expose, but was aired for a crowd that is probably a cliff notes college football fan that knows little beyond, ND, Michigan, Bama, etc.

I think the ACC will add Georgetown and another team. Georgetown leaves the BE because it is not a football school and would be better off basketball wise in the ACC

Not sure if the ACC would want Georgetown without football.

but if they add an all sports team Georgetown balences out ND as a non football team allowing for divisions in all sports. this is just my on theory but it seems to make a lot of sense to me. the only question is who they also bring in?

Not saying it was meant to be an expose, but was aired for a crowd that is probably a cliff notes college football fan that knows little beyond, ND, Michigan, Bama, etc.

It was a total puff piece, but they made two key points that are related and yet distinct:

1) BCS football pays for all other sports programs at most schools.

2) Despite that football cash, most schools' ADs lose money.

The system cannot stand. Either more money comes into CFB or the "arms race" for coaches, facilities, etc comes to an end. Nobody wants to cut men's lacrosse or women's swimming. It's a lot easier in the court of public opinion to make the argument that it's the bloated excess of the football program, not the cost of the minor sports programs, that should be cut.

_______________________________________________

Michigan is unique in that its AD actually turns a profit. Michigan makes 10 million+ from every home game, (which puts the 10 million guarantee they received from the 'Bama neautral site game in proper perspective -- despite what Dave Brandon argues, they could have made more doing a home and home and given fans of both teams a proper series) but that's not a luxury even most power conference teams can boast. Even in the B1G you see Spartan Stadium or Ross-Ade in Purdue half full.

I don't know what the answer is, but CFB and CBB are like the US in the years leading up to the civil war. Everyone knows the house cannot stand, but nobody wants to fire the first shot. Paying players is at least no longer a taboo topic, that's a good first start.

As Lester Freaman noted, "you start to follow the money, and you don't know what you're gonna find". That's why the NCAA is loathe to investigage. Ask Auburn, O$U, Oregon, USC etc what the price is for knowingly transferring some of the millions they make off of football in ways the NCAA deems illegal -- not much. SLap on the wrist. Couple schollies lost, maybe a bowl man, maybe just a stern warning.

We'll see what happens.

I know Purdue's athletic department is funded through donors and profit only so they at least arnt a burden. really though mens bball and football fund most athletic departments

While we're giving our partial credit, WVU managed to hold Maryland to only 21. The only 1-A team to score less than 34 on WVU's "defense".

To be fair, Stephon Diggs still made the secondary look like they played with clown shoes on. He's just the only receiver they have and he's hurt now.

anyone want to bet a bref sponsorship on the outcome of the nd usc game?

2) Despite that football cash, most schools' ADs lose money.

Isn't that because there is no incentive to make a profit? I thought the attitude was "use it or lose it."

The system cannot stand. Either more money comes into CFB or the "arms race" for coaches, facilities, etc comes to an end. Nobody wants to cut men's lacrosse or women's swimming. It's a lot easier in the court of public opinion to make the argument that it's the bloated excess of the football program, not the cost of the minor sports programs, that should be cut.

I disagree. The "true" value of athletic programs are marketing and keeping alumni involved.

Marketing goes beyond prospective students... large state schools are partially dependent on tax dollars and that money is directly related to schools' ability to maintain a local relationship with taxpayers, the vast majority of whom do not attend the schools.

Big time sports also bring alums back to campus and are a vital part of maintaining relationships with donors. I think most schools are quite happy to operate a manageable deficit because of the real financial value of these intangibles.

Boise State, San Diego State and BYU may rejoin Mountain West\

The talks originated after last week's decision in Denver by the BCS commissioners to award an automatic access bowl berth to the highest-rated champion to the "Group of Five" conferences. That decision in essence put the Mountain West on equal footing, as far as playoff access is concerned, with the Big East starting in 2014.

The "Group of Five" includes the Mountain West, Big East, Conference USA, Mid-American and Sun Belt conferences.

So if the BCS people were intentionally trying to kill the Big East as a football conference, their actions over the past year or so would be different how?

That story sounds fishy to me. It implies that the Big East and Conference USA are two separate things.

Michigan is unique in that its AD actually turns a profit. Michigan makes 10 million+ from every home game, (which puts the 10 million guarantee they received from the 'Bama neautral site game in proper perspective -- despite what Dave Brandon argues, they could have made more doing a home and home and given fans of both teams a proper series)

Not sure how your math works. A home and home gives you the revenue of one home game and no revenue of an away game. It would have been better to just schedule two cupcakes at home with no away games. Hell, I still can't believe Michigan agreed to do a home and home with UConn.

I disagree. The "true" value of athletic programs are marketing and keeping alumni involved.

Totally agree - I'm an alum of two vastly different programs (Rutgers and Michigan). Michigan has a pull where alumni will go back every couple of years take their family, walk around campus, watch a game and maybe make a donation. For a lot of alumni Rutgers has no pull. I know plenty of people who would never set another foot on campus (even if they lived in NJ) because they see no reason to. Over the past 5-10 years or so, more and more have been going to games and there has been interest. Hell up until this past year, the only reason I would go is to get a fat sandwich. I don't think current interest level is enough to justify putting BTN on a basic tier, but in a couple years it might.

Andy Katz is reporting that Louisville may bump UConn for the ACC bid.

Andy Katz is reporting that Louisville may bump UConn for the ACC bid.

Might as well add both of them and pull in another as well.

NM

So, if the following happens:

1) USC beats ND.
2) UGA beats GT and Bama.
3) UF beats FSU
4) Oregon wins out

Do you play a national championship of UGA vs Oregon, or do you rematch UGA/UF?

Do you play a national championship of UGA vs Oregon, or do you rematch UGA/UF?

I think that depends on whether UCLA beats Stanford or not. If Oregon wins out with a PAC-12 championship, they probably go. If they win out and don't get the extra win against a ranked team, probably not.

I'm not sure Macon to Orlando could survive a rematch of GA/FL for the national championship.

Under Armour CEO Unwilling to Foot the Bill for UMD’s $50 Million ACC Exit Fee

Do you play a national championship of UGA vs Oregon, or do you rematch UGA/UF?

I think the writers will do all they can to avoid an all SEC matchup.

Georgia/Florida for the national championship would be interesting in that it would be the worst BCS national championship teams we've ever had, and probably would have for decades to come.

Do you play a national championship of UGA vs Oregon, or do you rematch UGA/UF?

Anyone who watched the UGA-UF game would never vote to have that slopfest replayed.

I think the writers will do all they can to avoid an all SEC matchup.

The writers poll is not part of the BCS formula. It's the coaches poll, the Harris poll and select number of computer polls.

I'm not sure Macon to Orlando could survive a rematch of GA/FL for the national championship.

They would need to tell Miami that they aren't hosting the game, it's going to JAX.

Anyone who watched the UGA-UF game would never vote to have that slopfest replayed.

Unfortunately, there's a good chance very few coaches or Harris Poll voters actually watched that game.

Unfortunately, there's a good chance very few coaches or Harris Poll voters actually watched that game.

As opposed to what other game? It was a sloppy, defensive game. It's hard to imagine a national championship game like that.

As opposed to what other game?

Well, plenty of coaches were busy with their own games and likely didn't watch any games during the 3:30 time slot that day. Some Harris Poll voters seem to not watch many games at all.

Other games going on at the time were Texas Tech-K St and Ohio St.-Penn St. I'm sure those attracted plenty of eyeballs. I watched most of the Georgia-Florida game once the K-St game got out of hand, and plenty of it early on too. It was poorly played.

It was a sloppy, defensive game.

There is sloppy, and then there is 9 turnovers and 24 penalties for 227 yards in a single game. Only the fans of those teams would want to see that again. I mean, I'm sure you want it to be replayed, Georgia sure looks like they would win a second time.

It was a sloppy, defensive game.

That was not a defensive game, it was just plain sloppy.

Another SEC rematch would be awful. Last year Alabama was clearly the best team all year. Florida isn't.

That was not a defensive game, it was just plain sloppy.

it was very physical, but agree with rest.

Alabama was absolutely not clearly the best team all year. They lost a game, only played PSU OOC and didn't have to play in the SECCG. LSU, meanwhile, beat Alabama in Alabama, beat Oregon @ a neutral site & @ WVU OOC and won the SECCG.

Only the fans of those teams would want to see that again. I mean, I'm sure you want it to be replayed, Georgia sure looks like they would win a second time.

I wouldn't mind seeing OR in the national championship if they win out (inclusive of the PAC-12.) After Alabama's team and Oregon's offense, I just don't see a lot of separation between teams otherwise. If UGA played Notre Dame 10 times this year, you'd probably have two 5-5 teams. UF isn't notably better or worse than either of those teams. The thought experiment is what happens if Alabama loses the SEC, in my mind. (I know they will send ND to the championship game if they win at USC, because people overrate ND all the damned time, and it seems even moreso this year, since they don't have PSU to senselessly goggle over anymore.)

LSU looked so bad in the BCS title game, and Alabama was IMO the better but unlucky team in the first game that it made me overlook that LSU was #1 pretty much all season. I withdraw my previous statement.