Today I have been tasked with deciding whether or not the Big Ten did the right thing during the recent realignment by putting Michigan and Ohio State in different divisions. Of course, I was hoping to be the judge for the “Should a conference with 11 (soon to be 12) teams be called the Big Ten?” debate, but I’ve been told that we’ll be waiting on that debate until we start themathdebates.com. I believe that would be an easier verdict to write, but I’ll play the hand that I’ve been dealt and decide whether or not the Big Ten made the right decision.
As both writers alluded to, rivalries are an integral part of the college sports experience and they are very important to fans at all levels of athletics. Given that, I don’t think there is any way Big Ten leadership could have made a decision that would have pleased all the Michigan fans and/or all the Ohio State fans, let alone college football fans around the country that look forward to the Michigan-Ohio State tilt every season. However, my verdict is not allowed to say “They were hosed either way, so officials did the best they could.”
Bleacher Fan makes some interesting arguments as to why the Big Ten’s decision to put Michigan and Ohio State in separate divisions was the wrong one. He thinks the Big XII’s model, to put its historic rivals in the same division, is the way to go. His best point brings up the possibility that Ohio State and Michigan could meet in the last week of the regular season in a completely meaningless, vanilla game because they know they’ll be matched up against each other the following week in a meaningful conference championship game. While any big-time, historic rivalry will probably always have a bit of fire in it, several consecutive years of back-to-back Ohio State-Michigan games would wear on the teams, fan bases, pundits, and recruits.
However, Bleacher Fan loses me when he writes about “an Ohio State-Michigan game for all the marbles.” Perhaps it would be for all marbles in the eyes of Ohio State and Michigan fans, but nationally it would probably, over time, devolve into a division championship game. Also, in the conference’s thinking, an Ohio State-Michigan “divisional championship” game might take the luster off the cash cow they hope the conference championship game will be for them. Bleacher Fan definitely made compelling arguments for and against his position.
Loyal Homer, true to his character, believes the Big Ten made the right decision in splitting its major rivals across divisions. He is a fan of the SEC model where care seems to have been taken to split nationally significant rivalries across divisions. He confirms the point inadvertently made by Bleacher Fan that putting your rivals in the same division can lead to a lackluster conference championship game, at least from a national standpoint. While this may seem like an insignificant issue to the fan bases of the two rival teams, in the grand scheme of conference alignment it may be the most important issue. He correctly points out that the Big XII championship game, in the eyes of many, is played in October between Texas and Oklahoma rather than in December.
This is a tough verdict. Honestly, I am not sure I like a lot of the consequences of conference realignment and I see and understand both arguments here. However, Loyal Homer wins the argument because history has dictated Ohio State and Michigan are often the two best teams in the Big Ten. If they can eliminate each other before the championship game, is there really any point to having a championship game at all? Congrats, Loyal Homer, and enjoy your prize – a pair of Denard Robinson’s shoelaces!
While ESPN will likely be spending its time this Saturday morning touting Florida State’s Visit to Norman, Oklahoma as a title fight rematch from 2000, the reality of this game – this upcoming weekend’s best, by the way – is in the seemingly divergent paths these programs are on… in stark contrast to their predecessors a decade ago.
The Oklahoma Sooners have some questions surrounding their presumed dominance of the college football landscape. The Sooners have had many 10+ win seasons in the past decade, but the program has had blemishes, too, and is also coming off of an 8-5 season it would just as soon forget. After struggling with Utah State unexpectedly in the first game of this season, it is fair to the Sooners have a great deal to prove to fans and pundits alike.
Ten years ago, it was the Seminoles that were the dominant program teetering on the edge of regression. While the Sooners have filled those shoes thus far in 2010, the Seminoles have quietly stepped into the underdog role Oklahoma relished in 2000.
Sure, the Florida State Seminoles were picked to win their ACC division and even the conference title in some circles. But expectations are still, amazingly, low for this team in its first season without Bobby Bowden and Mickey Andrews at defensive coordinator. Christian Ponder is widely regarded as one of the better quarterbacks currently in the game (much like former Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel was in 2000). The team seems to have found some athletes and speed threats like it had in past seasons when the team was dominant. It has only been one week, but this Florida State team just SEEMS different. The players are walking with more confidence and swagger. They seem to believe they can win anywhere at any time. It is exactly the kind of contagious mentality the Sooners used in 2000 to knock the kings of college football of their mountain in the BCS national championships game.
So here we are with the underdog Seminoles hoping to knock off the established power program and reassert itself as a major player in college football. Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher has rightly stated that this Saturday’s game is an indicator of where his team’s building process is. He is right. But if the team wins, Florida State automatically gets launched into the conversation as a great team again. They will skyrocket up the polls, and Bobby Bowden’s new book will take a nose-dive in sales on Amazon.com. Losing, in this case, is almost easier than winning. A win brings back all of the old, unreasonable expectations. Fisher must be mentally prepared to handle that.
A not completely irrelevant subplot to a game that is full of intrigue before the teams even hit the field is the awkward reuniting of the Stoops’s brothers, Bob – Oklahoma head coach – and his brother Mark, his former defensive coordinator – now in the same position at Florida State. The two playfully discuss in the media what it was like to grow up as competitive people and the all of the interesting and disposable throwaway stories that are written before big game. Friendly and awkward rivalry or not – both men want to win. There is no competition like that which exists within the confines of a family. This is no rivalry game, but both men will prepare for it thoroughly… probably a bit more in depth than Utah State and Samford.
Oklahoma should win this game. The Sooners are ranked higher, have higher expectations, and a host of outstanding, blue chip professional prospects. The Seminoles are fighters again, clawing their way back to national respect. In many ways, this game will decide the status of each program. Are the Seminoles really on the rise? Are the Sooners really in decline? This game is more than just a non-conference matchup, it is a serious benchmark for the health and prominence of these two programs. I can’t wait to find out what happens.
You might be surprised at my choice for the toughest college football conference. But as much as I am a fan of SEC football, I must remain objective and look at things rationally from a national perspective. It’s the Big XII, not the SEC or any other conference, that is college football’s best conference at the beginning of the 2010 season.
It’s true that the SEC has more teams ranked in the AP Top 25. But if looking at the top of the rankings reveals three Big XII teams reside in the top ten.
The Texas Longhorns, fresh off an appearance in the national championship game, are experiencing life without Colt McCoy, a four-year starter. The Longhorns, however, enter the season ranked fifth. The team seems to be confident in the capable hands of sophomore quarterback Garret Gilbert. Gilbert has some experience thanks to some valuable playing time in last year’s national championship game after an injury to McCoy. As always, an early October date with Oklahoma looms large, but there is also a trip to Lincoln on October 16th. Getting through those two games unscathed is a priority and will put Texas is right where it expects to be… on a course for an appearance in the national championship game.
The Sooners are, in my opinion, are a tad overrated at this point coming off an 8-5 campaign. The Sooners are also replacing a legendary quarterback, Sam Bradford. But the team also has reason for optimism as Landry Jones enters the season as the start quarterback… after quietly throwing for over 3,000 yards last year while subbing for Bradford through much of the season. He did throw 14 interceptions, however, and that number will have to go down some. Oklahoma welcomes Florida State to Norman on September 11 (a great Saturday on the football calendar this season, by the way) and then obviously the battle with the Longhorns in October. That game with the Longhorns will determine the success or failure of this team.
Lying in the weeds is Nebraska. When you think of the 2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers, you think of two things – a near victory over Texas in the Big XII championship game, and Ndamukong Suh. That’s all in the past, though. Head coach Bo Pelini has quickly turned things around in Lincoln and built an outstanding defense. A friendly schedule (only one currently ranked team appears on it) must be getting Cornhusker Nation excited. Are the glory days of Tom Osborne returning? Is the nightmare of Bill Callahan finally a thing of the past? It sure looks that way. A home date with Texas on October 16th has been circled on the schedule for some time now.
In addition to these three highly ranked teams, it is foolish to discount Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. T. Boone Pickens hasn’t spent all this money to let the Cowboys fade back into oblivion. And Texas Tech tries to move past the Mike Leach-Craig James debacle by trying to win a different way with a proven coach in Tommy Tuberville.
There is not another conference with three teams ranked in the preseason top eight. That’s what the Big XII has and that’s why it is the strongest conference to win this season.
On the field, the goal of every college football program is simple – win games.
Off the field goals are very different, although no more complex – make money.
That off-field goal is what was at the very heart of all the conference expansion hysteria over the past month. Whether speaking from the perspective of the conferences, or the universities, money is what fueled the fire.
The Pac-10 and Big Ten each wanted to grow from ten to sixteen teams, essentially transforming into “Super” Conferences with the ability to create tremendous financial gain for each respective organization. The Big XII was hoping to retain its core membership so that it could stay in business, and not lose money.
For the various programs that were invited into those conferences, the question each had to answer was simply which would provide more financial gain, their current or prospective future conference.
Now that the dust has settled, and we can apply that 20-20 vision which only hindsight allows, there is no doubt that the biggest winner is the University of Texas with its decision to remain with the Big XII.
In addition to the gain in influence which Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds has realized by essentially dictating the direction of not only his school, but for much of the NCAA, Dodds managed to secure for Texas a RIDICULOUS sized piece of the Big XII pie.
Thanks to the (understandable) desperation of those in charge of the Big XII conference, the folks who knew that losing Texas to the Pac-10 was tantamount to a death sentence for the entire organization, had to extend an offer that the Pac-10 could not match, and one the Longhorns could not refuse. Texas had no problem taking advantage of the Big XII’s vulnerable position.
As the university capable generating the greatest revenue for the Big XII, Texas was already in line to draw approximately $20M through the Big XII’s television revised contracts with FOX and ESPN. Adding to that, though, is a right that was granted to the school which would not have been available if Texas were to join the Pac-10. That right is for the University of Texas to create its own specific television network, making it the first of its kind.
While Texas will still have to compete with ESPN and FOX for broadcast rights to their marquis events (primarily those that take place on the gridiron), the University have the power to broadcast the school’s events in nearly every sport.
When launched, the Longhorns TV Network is expected to generate as much as $3M to $5M per year in additional revenue for the University. In addition to that increased revenue, the University now has an opportunity for greater exposure for all of its athletic programs.
Before the Super Conference negotiations started Texas was receiving between $7M and $10M per year. After the negotiations are concluded, Texas realistically could net as much as $25M per year, all while owning and supporting its own television network.
Going to the Pac-10 would have been good for Texas, but it wouldn’t have been THAT good!
Three years ago, had the Pac-10 offered an invitation of membership to Texas and the rest of the Big XII, they may have gotten some takers. Ten years, ago, they would have almost certainly succeeded in their quest for REAL expansion (Colorado and MAYBE Utah doesn’t count as REAL expansion). But, timing is everything, and the Pac-10 simply picked the wrong time to pursue its expansion.
Why did the Pac-10 fail in its quest for expansion (at least in terms of stealing six teams from the Big XII)? It was unable to woo Texas away from the Big XII. It is as simple as that. If the Pac-10 had been able to successfully convince Texas to change conferences, all the other ducks would have lined up in a neat little row to follow suit.
As the assumed leader of the Big XII, it is Texas that all the other member schools of the Big XII take their cues from. Where Texas goes, the others will follow.
There are only a few universities around the country who, like Texas, essentially can make their own fortune. Schools like Florida, Alabama, and Ohio State are also among those select few schools. As the “premier” programs in college football, they each enjoy the luxury of not having to depend as much on the success of others to inflate their own reputations.
Or consider the situation from another angle – being the University of Texas means more than being a member of the Big XII Conference. Texas is the only school in the Big XII that can confidently say that.
That is not to imply that Texas doesn’t need conference affiliation. Rather, I am simply implying that Texas will be successful as a program REGARDLESS of Conference. If Texas were to join the Pac-10 or the Big Ten it will find success, just as surely as it will be successful by remaining in the Big XII. It is among the elite programs in the country, and as such it enjoys the privileges of independence in that regard.
For the rest of the Big XII, full of programs that cannot claim the same level of consistent relevance and success (with the only possible exception being Oklahoma), value is determined as much by the company they keep as it is by their own success on the field.
It is more prosperous for teams to hitch wagons to those other teams which attract more (and better) attention. It is good for the schools financially, which leads to better recruiting and exposure, which leads to even more money, and the cycle continues.
Consider Baylor.
In terms of a pecking order within college football programs from the state of Texas, Baylor ranks fourth or fifth at best. In a football rich state, Baylor must compete for recruits against the likes of Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, and Houston (just to name a few).
Baylor, as a stand-alone university, will NEVER be able to effectively compete with Texas (for example) on a consistent basis in terms of recruiting four and five-star prospects. However, if a prospect is debating between Baylor or Houston, Baylor can use their Big XII membership as a recruiting tool that Houston (from Conference USA) cannot. Baylor can offer athletes the opportunity to play in the country’s biggest stadiums, against the toughest teams, all with a strong likelihood of getting (at least) regionally televised matchups.
Houston, which plays alongside Rice, UTEP, and SMU, cannot offer the same exposure that Baylor can as a member of the Big XII.
Just as in real estate, it is better to own the worst house in the best neighborhood, rather than owning the best house in the worst neighborhood. So when you consider the “real estate” market of college football today, the best neighborhoods to be in are those that include “elite” programs.
Right now, the Pac-10 neighborhood, without Texas, simply cannot offer the same prestigious affiliation that it once was able to.
For nearly a decade, the Pac-10 has been dominated by one single program – USC. While other programs (such as Cal, Oregon, and Stanford) have found temporary success on a season-by-season basis, the conference has been primarily defined as USC’s neighborhood.
Unfortunately for the Pac-10, USC is currently experiencing a fall from grace. While this fall from grace will probably not damage the school (or its parent conference) irreparably, it has nonetheless further tarnished the reputation of a conference that has struggled in recent years. The drop in stock for USC has corresponded to a drop in stock for the entire Pac-10 conference, and as a result, the allure of competition among the schools in the Pac-10 simply does not provide enough benefit to convince the lesser schools of the Big XII to change the collective allegiance.
Had the Pac-10 been successful in wooing Texas, the situation would have been very different.
Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma State, and even Oklahoma are far better situation by keeping company with Texas than they would be in joining the ranks of a currently disgraced USC and the rest of the substandard Pac-10.
I have already spent some time this week researching and writing about how I believe the Big XII is a better overall conference than the SEC. Surprisingly, many of our readers did not agree (please take note of the heavy sarcasm). College football fans do not have to wait long to recharge this conference debate, as high rankings and expectations invade Stillwater, Oklahoma Saturday as #13 Georgia visits #9 Oklahoma State in the best game of the upcoming weekend.
This game is important for many reasons. First, one of the biggest stories for college football this season involves which conference is the best conference, and the only two legitimate participants in that debate to begin the season are the SEC and the Big XII. Last season the SEC was a touch better than the Big XII, especially in bowl games as Ole Miss defeated Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl and, of course, Florida crushed Oklahoma in the BCS national title game. But, 2009 is a new season and fans and pundits alike are focusing on this game as the first impression and benchmark to judge if the balance of power in college football has begun to shift.
But this game is more than just conference versus conference. Each team is also struggling for recognition within their respective divisions and conferences. Georgia is living in the shadow of their cocktail cohorts, Florida. Oklahoma State is overshadowed not only by their intrastate rival Oklahoma, but by virtually every other team in the Big XII South (sorry, Baylor). A win for either team changes the way their opponents and the media perceives them. For Georgia, it would be a significant road win against a tough opponent to start the season. There may be more pressure on Oklahoma State to win this game since it is a home game, and since the Cowboys return a powerhouse trio of skill players in junior wide receiver Dez Bryant, senior quarterback Zac Robinson, and junior running back Kendall Hunter.
While Oklahoma State returns important skill players, Georgia is looking to replace several. Gone are starting quarterback Matthew Stafford and starting tailback Knowshon Moreno. Enter Joe Cox and the oft-injured running back Caleb King battling with the impressive new name running back, Richard Samuel.
In short, Oklahoma State – and by extension the Big XII – is expected to win the first big contest of the season. The most pressure is on the Cowboys, and it is becoming obvious. Head coach Mike Gundy this week banned his players from speaking to the media. While I believe sometimes the media gets more bent out of shape that they should about a coaching decision that limits their access, the story does give some insight into the mindset of the coach steering the program. Sports Illustrated’s Andy Staples called Gundy’s decision a “classic pucker move.” The decision places even more public pressure on Gundy. Fans do not mind odd behavior from their coach – as long as the team is winning.
Each team shares the spotlight on the first afternoon of college football in the 2009 season. A win is important for the immediate future of each program. If Oklahoma State wins, they are considered legitimate contenders in the Big XII, and Oklahoma is a little more concerned about Bedlam. If Georgia wins in an upset the team gains much needed confidence, not only in more experienced offensive in defensive lines, but also in a new starting quarterback. Winning an important road game against a major conference opponent is a big deal, and a very good way to start the season.
Each program has the opportunity this Saturday to set the tone for their teams, their conferences, and their seasons. Not only will this be the best game of the weekend, it will be the most interesting when considering the far-ranging conference versus conference implications.
There are very few things in sports today that evoke as much passion (and draw as much ire) in fans as does the college football season. Sports Geek found that out yesterday at the hands of some very passionate (albeit EXTREMELY biased) SEC fans on our site and on Twitter! It is that ability for (sometimes blind) loyalty that makes college football fans the best of any in the nation, and also makes debates such as these the most fun to have (I am admittedly biased and short-sighted when it comes to the support of MY favorite college teams)!
As for yesterday’s debate, conference sub-divisions in college athletics can be a double-edged sword, sometimes providing advantages, and other times disadvantages to the schools within those sub-divisions. While Sports Geek and Loyal Homer both made outstanding cases for their respective conferences, it is the current DISADVANTAGE of conference sub-divisions that leads me to award this debate to Loyal Homer.
Sports Geek very accurately highlights the fact that the Big XII South has some outstanding depth in football, and if this were a discussion about which was the best sub-division, the Big XII South would take the cake without any argument whatsoever. The ability for teams in that division to produce on offense is unmatched in any other sub-division in football. However, when discussing the conferences as a whole, sub-divisions must be ignored, and the ENTIRE conference must be considered.
While teams like Missouri and Kansas may have talented players on their team, the lack of parity across the Big XII conference cannot be ignored. For example, in 2008, Missouri was NOT one of the best two teams in the Big XII. A much better pairing for the Big XII Championship matchup would have been to pit Oklahoma against Texas (one of the DISADVANTAGES of sub-divisions). The Big XII South is in an entirely different class than are the teams from the Big XII North.
During the 2008 Mid-American Conference (MAC) basketball season, a similar situation of imbalance took place. In the MAC-West, Ball State finished with the top record of 7-9, the same record as LAST place Ohio University in the MAC-East. While the stages might be different (MAC basketball vs. Big XII football), the end result is still the same. There is far too much imbalance in the Big XII.
The SEC, on the other hand, provides much more balance across the entire conference. Sure, the SEC has programs which are more dominant than others (what conference does not?), but the relative talent from top-to-bottom in BOTH divisions of the SEC is such that it provides for a much more solid conference overall.
As Loyal Homer points out, the bottom teams in the SEC last year were able to turn in better performances throughout the year than their Big XII counterparts. Iowa State in the Big XII was not able to win a single inter-conference game. Meanwhile in the SEC, every team was able to win at least twice within their conference.
Over the last 10 years, the SEC also leads in a head-to-head comparison with the Big XII whenever schools from those conferences have met on the field. Since 1999, the SEC and Big XII have met 34 times, including 21 bowl games, and it is the SEC that holds the edge, totaling 19 collective wins to only 15 losses.
While the teams at the top of the conferences may shuffle in and out of those top-level rankings, the overall performance of the SEC has established them as a better conference over the past decade, and to Loyal Homer’s point, I just have not seen enough to convince me that 2009 will be any different.
Continuing with the theme of football week here at The Sports Debates, we bring another compelling topic to the America’s collective football fan conscience – college football power conference supremacy. This is an argument heard all around the country, from noisy drunks in your backyard to the casual conversation between friends over email… “MY team’s conference is BETTER than YOUR team’s conference.” Instead of ending another battle royale in fisticuffs or worse – Tom Cable style – we shall settle the matter more humanely. We hope.
What makes the Big XII the best conference for the upcoming, here-before-you-know-it 2009 college football season is that it does not even need both divisions of the conference to be the best conference in college football. The Big XII South is loaded top to bottom, with two national title contenders in Texas and Oklahoma expected to battle for the division championship along with a perpetually dangerous Texas Tech and sleeper du jour Oklahoma State waiting to break through to the conference championship. A down but occasionally dangerous Texas A&M, followed by an offensively explosive Baylor team, round out the division.
Consider the Big XII North a sleeping giant. Missouri won the division last year on the strength of an excellent quarterback in Chase Daniel. However, the quarterback waiting to take the reins at Missouri is former Parkway West High School’s signal caller, Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert was widely believed to be the best quarterback recruit in the country two years ago… if not for that Terrelle Pryor fellow. An always dangerous Kansas team returns ANOTHER senior quarterback to the conference in Todd Reesing, and Nebraska is beginning to regain their storied form under now second year head coach Bo Pelini. (We do not have to pretend that Iowa State or Kansas State are any good.)
The Big XII is stacked as a conference in both divisions, from top to bottom. But, the SEC is a good conference, too. Why is he Big XII better? It comes down to coaching, recent history, and star power.
Coaching
Texas coach Mack Brown and Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops are national brands. All college football fans know their names and their reputations (somewhere Mack Brown is pointlessly clapping on the sidelines). However, it is important to acknowledge the other minds and up and coming coaching talent in this very competitive conference. Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, the mad scientist, is one of the more innovative minds in coaching today, and perfect for the Red Raiders. Likewise, Bo Pelini is ideal for the Cornhuskers to again instill the confidence and toughness Tom Osborne Nebraska teams used to have. Perhaps the fastest rising star in the Big XII coaching ranks is Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy. Known mostly for a tirade designed to protect a player, he is also the offensive coordinator and has recruited well enough to position his offense as one of the best in the country every season. Despite the recent dominance of the Oklahoma Sooners in conference play, they are never a sure bet to win Bedlam with Gundy stalking the opposite sideline.
Recent History (2008)
The top three teams in the strongest division in the SEC, the SEC East, lost a combined 10 games last season. The Big XII’s strongest division, the Big XII South, had only five total losses in their top three teams. The SEC had just three teams with 10 plus win seasons, while the Big XII had four… and another two teams that won nine games.
Sure, I get that 2008 is not 2009. But, while the SEC has seen a lot of turnover in the conference’s star power (the NFL’s number overall draft pick in Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, for one of many possible examples), the Big XII returns their best players.
Star Power
While Tim Tebow is the SEC’s undisputed best player (it is not even close), the Big XII boasts last year’s Heisman Trophy winner AND runner up. Sleeper Heisman candidate, wide receiver Dez Bryant, also plays in the Big XII at Oklahoma State. While the Big XII is primarily known for their offense – and it should be – it has excellent defensive stars, too. Baylor middle linebacker Joe Pawelek was in the top 10 in the country in tackles (he had 128 total) and interceptions (he grabbed six). Nebraska’s massive defense tackle, Ndamukong Suh, plays in a four point stance and wreaks havoc on opposing centers, drawing many double teams and still managing to pressure and sack the quarterback. Oh, and the dynamic Suh also returned two interceptions for touchdowns in 2008… and caught one as a fullback in the goal line package.
Traditionally college football conferences, if they have one good team, are top heavy. That is, they have one excellent team that dominates the conference competition, and the remaining teams accept the beat down (and the payday). The Big XII is an exception. The Big XII South ALONE is an exception.
The interesting thing to consider about these conferences is that they are largely different. While the SEC has historically built teams based on superlative defense, the Big XII dominates with unmatched offensive capabilities. While the Big XII is closing the gap on defense with standouts like Pawelek and Suh, the SEC’s collective offense is stuck in neutral (even with the great Tim Tebow… I mean, did Auburn even score an offensive touchdown last season?).
The Big XII has better teams, more depth, great coaches, the momentum of recent success, and tremendous personnel. It is clear that the best conference in college football for this season is the Big XII.
No matter how much the fans of the Big Ten, Pac-10, and even the ACC this year would LOVE to disagree, the two most powerful conferences in college football in 2009 are the SEC and the Big XII.
Last season, these teams OWNED the top ten rankings. From the Big XII (South), Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State each spent considerable time in the BCS hunt. Meanwhile in SEC country, Florida, Alabama, and Georgia all took turns at some point during the season respectively ranked as the best team in the nation.
In fact, four of the top five teams in the final BCS standings came from those two conferences, and the National Championship matchup was a clash between SEC champ Florida and Big XII champ Oklahoma. Many also felt that Texas, who only missed the Big XII championship because of a tiebreaker, was JUST as worthy of a national title shot.
The 2008 season was proof of the dominance in college football today by the two most powerful conferences.
After the 2009 preseason polls were announced, it became evident that the experts are expecting more of the same for this upcoming season. Six of the top ten spots in the AP rankings are occupied by schools from those two conferences, including each of the top three spots (Florida
- #1, Texas – #2, and Oklahoma – #3).
But which conference between the SEC and the Big XII is going to be the toughest?
Last year, it appeared that the South division of the Big XII was the deepest, with as many as four teams being ranked in the top ten BCS standings at the same time, but it is the SEC who has claimed the last three national titles, and who are the nearly consensus favorites to win the crown again this season.
Loyal Homer will argue that the SEC is the best conference in college football for the upcoming season. Its continued dominance on the grandest stage has once again set them up as the premier conference.
Sports Geek will argue that the Big XII is the best conference. The level of talent within the Big XII is too deep for the SEC to compete, and 2009 could be the year that the Big XII ends the recent streak of SEC championships.
Let me clear the air right now with a very definitive statement – The Big East is one of the six best conferences in college football.
First, a note to Loyal Homer: One team does not a conference make! As an SEC fan, you should have known better than to argue otherwise. The SEC is not considered a conference favorite because of just one team. Instead, the success of LSU, Florida, and a cheating Alabama have propelled the SEC into the recent limelight.
To place the worth of the entire Big East on the shoulders of their preseason favorite, who just didn’t live up to expectations last season, is a misguided argument (although West Virginia still finished the season at 9-4 and ranked in the top 25 – not exactly a disappointment).
By your standards, I guess you would also argue that the SEC should not be allowed an automatic BCS bid. Their top preseason team last year, the Georgia Bulldogs, was ranked number one in the nation, but did not live up to expectations. Instead, they finished outside of the top 10 with a meager 10-3 record, only one game better than the “pitiful” Mountaineers (who, by the way, had a new head coach and lost star running back Steve Slaton).
The question today is not about the preseason favorite within the Big East. It is about whether or not the Big East is still one of college football’s top SIX conferences, and whether or not it still deserves an automatic BCS bid every year.
Sports Geek, in raising the question, brings up several interesting points, and claims they point to a “fall from grace” for the Big East. Those points include the departures of Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College to the ACC, only to be replaced by the University of South Florida, Cincinnati, and Louisville.
With all due respect to our esteemed judge for this debate… Sports Geek could not be more wrong.
To begin, it is laughable to say that the Big East misses Miami right now! Consider that ‘The U’ (since leaving the Big East) has not finished better than 7-6 since 2005, actually posted a losing record in 2007, and lost to the only top 25 team they played last year (a blow-out against the Florida Gators). That is not exactly a boast-worthy performance, and I’m sure the ACC isn’t hanging any Hurricane performances on their refrigerator right now.
As for the Big East’s replacements, let’s consider what they’ve done which actually ADDS to the Big East’s credibility:
South Florida –In 2008, they defeated #13 Kansas, and were undefeated in inter-conference play. They finished the season at 8-5, which is a better record than Miami and is just slightly less impressive than the results of Boston College (9-5) and Virginia Tech (10-4).
Louisville –In 2006, Louisville finished the season ranked in the top 10 with a record of 12-1, their only loss coming by way of a then-undefeated Rutgers, also a Big East team.
Cincinnati –Finished in the top 25 in 2007 AND 2008, posting records of 10-3 and 11-3 respectively.
I would consider each of those performances upgrades over Miami!
As for the rest of the Big East, here are some other points to consider:
Bowl Eligibility – Out of the eight teams in the conference, six of them were bowl eligible in 2008! That’s 75% of the conference! No other BCS-conference can make that statement, as the Pac-10 (50% made bowl appearances), Big XII (58%), Big Ten (63%), SEC (67%), and ACC (67%) all had much lower participation rates!
Bowl Performances – The Big East turned in a very impressive bowl record of 4-2 last year! That’s a greater win percentage than the ACC (2-6), the Big Ten (1-6), and the Big XII (4-3). In fact, only the Pac-10 (5-0) and SEC (6-2) turned in better bowl performances than the Big East last year.
The fact remains that the Big East produced a greater percentage of winning records than any other conference in college football, and performed better than all but two conferences in bowl play.
Based on those statements, a non-BCS conference in college football cannot argue they are more deserving of an automatic BCS bid than the Big East.
On the other hand, perhaps the ACC should be a little worried!!!
And we're back... Should college coaches look into criminal and juvenile records when recruiting? The verdict says YES! http://bit.ly/dZ5LF311 months ago
Posted by Optimist Prime 
