AP Top 10: Final Record -- Key Bowl Results
1. Clemson (14-1): Won CFP Bowl, 35-31
2. Alabama (14-1): Lost CFP Bowl, 31-35
3. USC (10-3): Won Rose Bowl, 52-49
4. Washington (12-2): Lost Peach Bowl, 24-7
5. Oklahoma (11-2): Won Sugar Bowl, 35-19
6. Ohio State (11-2): Lost Fiesta Bowl, 0-31
7. Penn State (11-3): Lost Rose Bowl, 49-52
8. Florida State (10-3): Won Orange Bowl, 33-32
9. Wisconsin (11-3): Won Cotton Bowl, 24-16
10. Michigan (10-3): Lost Orange Bowl, 32-33
This was another clusterfuck for the CFP, as the Big Ten problem reared its ugly head, and we had our first non-champion entry into the Final Four. And it shouldn't happen again any time soon, that's for certain. For the second year in a row, a fatally flawed Big Ten team lost to the eventual champ in the semis by horrific shutout proportions, and the CFP needs to remember this for the future.
But taking a two-loss Big Ten champ wasn't necessarily the answer, either. The problem was the Big Ten was so competitive, but the top teams were propped up by a lot of bad teams beneath them. So that's why the AP Poll has four Big Ten teams from spots 6-10. Not good enough for the top, but still good enough to fill out the ballot.
In essence, by taking Ohio State over Penn State or Oklahoma, the CFP avoided letting a two-loss team into the Final Four—but set a bad precedent for taking an also-ran squad. It was a no-win scenario, but in the end, always stick with the conference champs, people. Always. That's been my rule here since the beginning of time.
Penn State lost its bowl game, anyway, leaving us with the superficial debate between Clemson and Oklahoma. SOS tells us right away that the Sooners didn't have enough in the glove compartment to overcome the extra loss, so it's over before it really begins. Boring, I know.
Congratulations, Clemson.
McMNC Revision:
1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. Washington
5. USC
RUNNING SCORECARD:
Penn State: +1977, +1981, =1982, =1986, +1994
USC: -1962, =1967, +1969, =1972, +1978, +1979, =2003, =2004
Tennessee: +1938, +1942, +1950, -1951, =1998
Washington: +1960, +1991
Georgia Tech: +1952, +1990
Pittsburgh: +1936, -1937, =1976, +1980
Ohio State: -1942, +1944, =1954, =1968, =2002, +2012, =2014
Oklahoma State: +2011
Utah: +2008
West Virginia: +2007
Boise State: +2006
UCLA: +1965
Arkansas: +1964
Mississippi: +1962
Iowa: +1956
Illinois: +1951
Purdue: +1943
Stanford: +1940
California: +1937
TCU: -1938, +2010
BYU: =1984
Syracuse: =1959
Texas A&M: =1939
Georgia: +1946, -1980
Michigan State: -1952, +1953
Michigan: +1947, =1948, -1997
Nebraska: =1970, =1971, -1994, =1995, +1997
Oklahoma: +1949, -1950, =1955, -1956, +1957, =1975, =1986, =2000
Auburn: -1957, +1983, -2010
Maryland: -1953
Clemson: -1981, =2016
Colorado: -1990
Florida State: -1993, =1999, =2013
Texas: =1963, -1969, =2005
Army: -1944, -1945
LSU: =1958, -2003, -2007
Florida: =1996, -2006, -2008
Miami-FL: -1983, =1987, =1989, -1991, =2001
Minnesota: -1936, -1940, =1941, -1960
Notre Dame: -1943, -1946, -1947, -1949, =1966, =1973, -1977, =1988, +1993
Alabama: +1945, =1961, -1964, -1965, -1978, -1979, =1992, =2009, -2011, -2012, =2015
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Friday, January 15, 2016
2015 McMNC: Alabama Crimson Tide
AP Top 10: Final Record -- Key Bowl Results
1. Alabama (14-1): Won CFP Bowl, 45-40
2. Clemson (14-1): Lost CFP Bowl, 40-45
3. Stanford (12-2): Won Rose Bowl, 45-16
4. Ohio State (12-1): Won Fiesta Bowl, 44-28
5. Oklahoma (11-2): Lost Orange Bowl, 37-17
6. Michigan State (12-2): Lost Cotton Bowl, 0-38
7. TCU (11-2): Won Alamo Bowl, 47-41
8. Houston (13-1): Won Peach Bowl, 38-24
9. Iowa (12-2): Lost Rose Bowl, 16-45
10. Mississippi (10-3): Won Sugar Bowl, 48-20
The second year of the four-team CFP was a little better than the first, although that may have been accidental. The committee still messed it up again, although in their defense, there were some circumstances they could not avoid struggling with in the end. That is the problem with a four-team system: It's better to mess up the eighth or 16th team in the playoff, rather than the fourth.
The issue here was two-fold, actually: Michigan State was a crippled Big Ten champion, with one loss and a QB who couldn't throw the ball due to injury. Oklahoma and Stanford were two-loss conference champs, and only one of the schools could advance. To omit MSU because of Connor Cook's shoulder injury would have been unfair to the rest of the Spartans, even if it may have been the right thing to do. Leaving Stanford out of the fray, as a result, leaves us again with a questionable champion.
However, there is little doubt the Crimson Tide were the best team in the country this time around. Ohio State was probably the second-best team in the country, but MSU upset the Buckeyes in Big Ten play (without Cook playing). That was a choke job by Ohio State, in truth, and while Clemson almost pulled it out in the end, the Tigers were an inferior team. However, the Cardinal were evenly rated with Clemson, leading us to question, in principle, whether or not Stanford could have won it all if given the chance. And then there is Houston, too, although we can chuck that out pretty easily based on schedule strength: The Cougars beat four ranked teams, although none of them finished in the Top 10.
Quick comparisons between Alabama and Stanford, then, for argument's sake: The Crimson Tide played the harder schedule, and that pretty much kills the comparison right there, since the Cardinal had two losses. One defeat was the first game of the season, on the road, which Pac-12 teams notoriously do not do well in when the time zone is different. But Stanford also lost at home to unranked Oregon by two points, which killed its hope for CFP glory. Alabama lost to Mississippi at home by six points in the third game of the season, demonstrating once again that if you're going to lose, do it in September.
Congratulations, Alabama.
McMNC Revision:
1. Alabama
2. Stanford
3. Clemson
4. Ohio State
5. Houston
RUNNING SCORECARD:
Penn State: +1977, +1981, =1982, =1986, +1994
USC: -1962, =1967, +1969, =1972, +1978, +1979, =2003, =2004
Tennessee: +1938, +1942, +1950, -1951, =1998
Washington: +1960, +1991
Georgia Tech: +1952, +1990
Pittsburgh: +1936, -1937, =1976, +1980
Ohio State: -1942, +1944, =1954, =1968, =2002, +2012, =2014
Oklahoma State: +2011
Utah: +2008
West Virginia: +2007
Boise State: +2006
UCLA: +1965
Arkansas: +1964
Mississippi: +1962
Iowa: +1956
Illinois: +1951
Purdue: +1943
Stanford: +1940
California: +1937
TCU: -1938, +2010
BYU: =1984
Syracuse: =1959
Texas A&M: =1939
Georgia: +1946, -1980
Michigan State: -1952, +1953
Michigan: +1947, =1948, -1997
Nebraska: =1970, =1971, -1994, =1995, +1997
Oklahoma: +1949, -1950, =1955, -1956, +1957, =1975, =1986, =2000
Auburn: -1957, +1983, -2010
Maryland: -1953
Clemson: -1981
Colorado: -1990
Florida State: -1993, =1999, =2013
Texas: =1963, -1969, =2005
Army: -1944, -1945
LSU: =1958, -2003, -2007
Florida: =1996, -2006, -2008
Miami-FL: -1983, =1987, =1989, -1991, =2001
Minnesota: -1936, -1940, =1941, -1960
Notre Dame: -1943, -1946, -1947, -1949, =1966, =1973, -1977, =1988, +1993
Alabama: +1945, =1961, -1964, -1965, -1978, -1979, =1992, =2009, -2011, -2012, =2015
1. Alabama (14-1): Won CFP Bowl, 45-40
2. Clemson (14-1): Lost CFP Bowl, 40-45
3. Stanford (12-2): Won Rose Bowl, 45-16
4. Ohio State (12-1): Won Fiesta Bowl, 44-28
5. Oklahoma (11-2): Lost Orange Bowl, 37-17
6. Michigan State (12-2): Lost Cotton Bowl, 0-38
7. TCU (11-2): Won Alamo Bowl, 47-41
8. Houston (13-1): Won Peach Bowl, 38-24
9. Iowa (12-2): Lost Rose Bowl, 16-45
10. Mississippi (10-3): Won Sugar Bowl, 48-20
The second year of the four-team CFP was a little better than the first, although that may have been accidental. The committee still messed it up again, although in their defense, there were some circumstances they could not avoid struggling with in the end. That is the problem with a four-team system: It's better to mess up the eighth or 16th team in the playoff, rather than the fourth.
The issue here was two-fold, actually: Michigan State was a crippled Big Ten champion, with one loss and a QB who couldn't throw the ball due to injury. Oklahoma and Stanford were two-loss conference champs, and only one of the schools could advance. To omit MSU because of Connor Cook's shoulder injury would have been unfair to the rest of the Spartans, even if it may have been the right thing to do. Leaving Stanford out of the fray, as a result, leaves us again with a questionable champion.
However, there is little doubt the Crimson Tide were the best team in the country this time around. Ohio State was probably the second-best team in the country, but MSU upset the Buckeyes in Big Ten play (without Cook playing). That was a choke job by Ohio State, in truth, and while Clemson almost pulled it out in the end, the Tigers were an inferior team. However, the Cardinal were evenly rated with Clemson, leading us to question, in principle, whether or not Stanford could have won it all if given the chance. And then there is Houston, too, although we can chuck that out pretty easily based on schedule strength: The Cougars beat four ranked teams, although none of them finished in the Top 10.
Quick comparisons between Alabama and Stanford, then, for argument's sake: The Crimson Tide played the harder schedule, and that pretty much kills the comparison right there, since the Cardinal had two losses. One defeat was the first game of the season, on the road, which Pac-12 teams notoriously do not do well in when the time zone is different. But Stanford also lost at home to unranked Oregon by two points, which killed its hope for CFP glory. Alabama lost to Mississippi at home by six points in the third game of the season, demonstrating once again that if you're going to lose, do it in September.
Congratulations, Alabama.
McMNC Revision:
1. Alabama
2. Stanford
3. Clemson
4. Ohio State
5. Houston
RUNNING SCORECARD:
Penn State: +1977, +1981, =1982, =1986, +1994
USC: -1962, =1967, +1969, =1972, +1978, +1979, =2003, =2004
Tennessee: +1938, +1942, +1950, -1951, =1998
Washington: +1960, +1991
Georgia Tech: +1952, +1990
Pittsburgh: +1936, -1937, =1976, +1980
Ohio State: -1942, +1944, =1954, =1968, =2002, +2012, =2014
Oklahoma State: +2011
Utah: +2008
West Virginia: +2007
Boise State: +2006
UCLA: +1965
Arkansas: +1964
Mississippi: +1962
Iowa: +1956
Illinois: +1951
Purdue: +1943
Stanford: +1940
California: +1937
TCU: -1938, +2010
BYU: =1984
Syracuse: =1959
Texas A&M: =1939
Georgia: +1946, -1980
Michigan State: -1952, +1953
Michigan: +1947, =1948, -1997
Nebraska: =1970, =1971, -1994, =1995, +1997
Oklahoma: +1949, -1950, =1955, -1956, +1957, =1975, =1986, =2000
Auburn: -1957, +1983, -2010
Maryland: -1953
Clemson: -1981
Colorado: -1990
Florida State: -1993, =1999, =2013
Texas: =1963, -1969, =2005
Army: -1944, -1945
LSU: =1958, -2003, -2007
Florida: =1996, -2006, -2008
Miami-FL: -1983, =1987, =1989, -1991, =2001
Minnesota: -1936, -1940, =1941, -1960
Notre Dame: -1943, -1946, -1947, -1949, =1966, =1973, -1977, =1988, +1993
Alabama: +1945, =1961, -1964, -1965, -1978, -1979, =1992, =2009, -2011, -2012, =2015
Thursday, January 15, 2015
2014 McMNC: Ohio State Buckeyes
AP Top 10: Final Record -- Key Bowl Results
1. Ohio State (14-1): Won CFP Bowl, 42-20
2. Oregon (13-2): Lost CFP Bowl, 42-20
3. TCU (12-1): Won Peach Bowl, 42-3
4. Alabama (12-2): Lost Sugar Bowl, 35-42
5t. Florida State (13-1): Lost Rose Bowl, 20-59
5t. Michigan State (11-2): Won Cotton Bowl, 42-41
7. Baylor (11-2): Lost Cotton Bowl, 41-42
8. Georgia Tech (11-3): Won Orange Bowl, 49-34
9. Georgia (10-3): Won Belk Bowl, 37-14
10. UCLA (10-3): Won Alamo Bowl, 40-35
The first year of the four-team playoff is in the books, and because the committee got the wrong four teams in, well ... this is why I post. We really need an eight-team playoff, at least, but it will have to wait for another ten years before I can stop this blog. Great.
The dilemma for the College Football Playoff committee was Florida State: The Seminoles were undefeated and the defending champs. They had to be in the playoff, even if they were an inferior team in their own conference to Georgia Tech. FSU beat the Yellow Jackets, 37-35, in the ACC title game, so that was that. But clearly, the Seminoles did not belong in the Final Four. Either TCU or Baylor did, by any independent analysis. But again, FSU left the committee in a bind, since it would have been impossible to leave the undefeated, defending champs out in the first year of the playoff format. The logic is sound, even if it did mess up the whole thing.
Even if TCU had made it into the FInal Four, the right two teams did end up playing for the title. Still, we have to look at TCU and Ohio State here in terms of their schedules, their margins of victory, and everything else we can.
First, SOS: The Buckeyes played a significantly better schedule, according to Sports-Reference.com (our new standard of measurement now). In fact, only Baylor played a worse schedule among teams that finished in the Top 10. So the edge there going to Ohio State.
Big wins: TCU beat five teams that were ranked at the time of the games by an average of 19.6 points per contest. That's impressive, although the Horned Frogs; a 39-point win in the Peach Bowl skews the tabulation a little bit. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes beat four ranked teams by an average of 25 points per victory; a 59-0 victory over Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game is the outlier there. The edge again goes to Ohio State.
The losses? TCU lost by three points on the road to Baylor in a game it should have won. Ohio State lost by 14 points at home to Virginia Tech, a team that finished the year just 7-6 after a minor-bowl victory. The Horned Frogs definitely have the edge there, big time, as that Buckeyes loss was just inexcusable. But the old adage rings true: Better to lose early than late. TCU's loss came in October, and it cost the Horned Frogs an outright Big XII championship—which still might not have been enough to overcome FSU's instinctual edges.
There's little doubt TCU might have given Ohio State a better fight in the CFP title game than Oregon did, but that's not saying much. In comparisons, the Buckeyes still get the edge over TCU by enough to make this a very comfortable decision. But it's a game we would have liked to see.
Congratulations, Ohio State.
McMNC Revision:
1. Ohio State
2. TCU
3. Oregon
4. Alabama
5. Michigan State
RUNNING SCORECARD:
Penn State: +1977, +1981, =1982, =1986, +1994
USC: -1962, =1967, +1969, =1972, +1978, +1979, =2003, =2004
Tennessee: +1938, +1942, +1950, -1951, =1998
Washington: +1960, +1991
Georgia Tech: +1952, +1990
Pittsburgh: +1936, -1937, =1976, +1980
Ohio State: -1942, +1944, =1954, =1968, =2002, +2012, =2014
Oklahoma State: +2011
Utah: +2008
West Virginia: +2007
Boise State: +2006
UCLA: +1965
Arkansas: +1964
Mississippi: +1962
Iowa: +1956
Illinois: +1951
Purdue: +1943
Stanford: +1940
California: +1937
TCU: -1938, +2010
BYU: =1984
Syracuse: =1959
Texas A&M: =1939
Georgia: +1946, -1980
Michigan State: -1952, +1953
Michigan: +1947, =1948, -1997
Nebraska: =1970, =1971, -1994, =1995, +1997
Oklahoma: +1949, -1950, =1955, -1956, +1957, =1975, =1986, =2000
Auburn: -1957, +1983, -2010
Maryland: -1953
Clemson: -1981
Colorado: -1990
Florida State: -1993, =1999, =2013
Texas: =1963, -1969, =2005
Army: -1944, -1945
LSU: =1958, -2003, -2007
Florida: =1996, -2006, -2008
Miami-FL: -1983, =1987, =1989, -1991, =2001
Minnesota: -1936, -1940, =1941, -1960
Notre Dame: -1943, -1946, -1947, -1949, =1966, =1973, -1977, =1988, +1993
Alabama: +1945, =1961, -1964, -1965, -1978, -1979, =1992, =2009, -2011, -2012
1. Ohio State (14-1): Won CFP Bowl, 42-20
2. Oregon (13-2): Lost CFP Bowl, 42-20
3. TCU (12-1): Won Peach Bowl, 42-3
4. Alabama (12-2): Lost Sugar Bowl, 35-42
5t. Florida State (13-1): Lost Rose Bowl, 20-59
5t. Michigan State (11-2): Won Cotton Bowl, 42-41
7. Baylor (11-2): Lost Cotton Bowl, 41-42
8. Georgia Tech (11-3): Won Orange Bowl, 49-34
9. Georgia (10-3): Won Belk Bowl, 37-14
10. UCLA (10-3): Won Alamo Bowl, 40-35
The first year of the four-team playoff is in the books, and because the committee got the wrong four teams in, well ... this is why I post. We really need an eight-team playoff, at least, but it will have to wait for another ten years before I can stop this blog. Great.
The dilemma for the College Football Playoff committee was Florida State: The Seminoles were undefeated and the defending champs. They had to be in the playoff, even if they were an inferior team in their own conference to Georgia Tech. FSU beat the Yellow Jackets, 37-35, in the ACC title game, so that was that. But clearly, the Seminoles did not belong in the Final Four. Either TCU or Baylor did, by any independent analysis. But again, FSU left the committee in a bind, since it would have been impossible to leave the undefeated, defending champs out in the first year of the playoff format. The logic is sound, even if it did mess up the whole thing.
Even if TCU had made it into the FInal Four, the right two teams did end up playing for the title. Still, we have to look at TCU and Ohio State here in terms of their schedules, their margins of victory, and everything else we can.
First, SOS: The Buckeyes played a significantly better schedule, according to Sports-Reference.com (our new standard of measurement now). In fact, only Baylor played a worse schedule among teams that finished in the Top 10. So the edge there going to Ohio State.
Big wins: TCU beat five teams that were ranked at the time of the games by an average of 19.6 points per contest. That's impressive, although the Horned Frogs; a 39-point win in the Peach Bowl skews the tabulation a little bit. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes beat four ranked teams by an average of 25 points per victory; a 59-0 victory over Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game is the outlier there. The edge again goes to Ohio State.
The losses? TCU lost by three points on the road to Baylor in a game it should have won. Ohio State lost by 14 points at home to Virginia Tech, a team that finished the year just 7-6 after a minor-bowl victory. The Horned Frogs definitely have the edge there, big time, as that Buckeyes loss was just inexcusable. But the old adage rings true: Better to lose early than late. TCU's loss came in October, and it cost the Horned Frogs an outright Big XII championship—which still might not have been enough to overcome FSU's instinctual edges.
There's little doubt TCU might have given Ohio State a better fight in the CFP title game than Oregon did, but that's not saying much. In comparisons, the Buckeyes still get the edge over TCU by enough to make this a very comfortable decision. But it's a game we would have liked to see.
Congratulations, Ohio State.
McMNC Revision:
1. Ohio State
2. TCU
3. Oregon
4. Alabama
5. Michigan State
RUNNING SCORECARD:
Penn State: +1977, +1981, =1982, =1986, +1994
USC: -1962, =1967, +1969, =1972, +1978, +1979, =2003, =2004
Tennessee: +1938, +1942, +1950, -1951, =1998
Washington: +1960, +1991
Georgia Tech: +1952, +1990
Pittsburgh: +1936, -1937, =1976, +1980
Ohio State: -1942, +1944, =1954, =1968, =2002, +2012, =2014
Oklahoma State: +2011
Utah: +2008
West Virginia: +2007
Boise State: +2006
UCLA: +1965
Arkansas: +1964
Mississippi: +1962
Iowa: +1956
Illinois: +1951
Purdue: +1943
Stanford: +1940
California: +1937
TCU: -1938, +2010
BYU: =1984
Syracuse: =1959
Texas A&M: =1939
Georgia: +1946, -1980
Michigan State: -1952, +1953
Michigan: +1947, =1948, -1997
Nebraska: =1970, =1971, -1994, =1995, +1997
Oklahoma: +1949, -1950, =1955, -1956, +1957, =1975, =1986, =2000
Auburn: -1957, +1983, -2010
Maryland: -1953
Clemson: -1981
Colorado: -1990
Florida State: -1993, =1999, =2013
Texas: =1963, -1969, =2005
Army: -1944, -1945
LSU: =1958, -2003, -2007
Florida: =1996, -2006, -2008
Miami-FL: -1983, =1987, =1989, -1991, =2001
Minnesota: -1936, -1940, =1941, -1960
Notre Dame: -1943, -1946, -1947, -1949, =1966, =1973, -1977, =1988, +1993
Alabama: +1945, =1961, -1964, -1965, -1978, -1979, =1992, =2009, -2011, -2012
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
2013 McMNC: Florida State Seminoles
AP Top 10: Final Record -- Key Bowl Results
1. Florida State (14-0): Won BCS Bowl, 34-31
2. Auburn (12-2): Lost BCS Bowl, 31-34
3. Michigan State (13-1): Won Rose Bowl, 24-20
4. South Carolina (11-2): Won CapitalOne Bowl, 34-24
5. Missouri (12-2): Won Cotton Bowl, 41-31
6. Oklahoma (11-2): Won Sugar Bowl, 45-31
7. Alabama (11-2): Lost Sugar Bowl, 31-45
8. Clemson (11-2): Won Orange Bowl, 40-35
9. Oregon (11-2): Won Alamo Bowl, 30-7
10. UCF (12-1): Won Fiesta Bowl, 52-42
This was the final year of the BCS, and good riddance. Never did the sport need a playoff as much as this season, although maybe that is just hyperbole. Either way, once again, the SEC placed a team that had no business being in the title game into the title game, and that team almost won it, sadly. Auburn reached the title game thanks to these two miracles (a 4th-and-18 prayer and the Kick Six), and in the end, both teams in the Rose Bowl were better candidates for the title game, not to mention several other also-ran squads that didn't win a conference title. This simple rating system shows Auburn to be the sixth-best team in the country, but since the SEC buys its way into every BCS title game ... yeah.
Either way, losing the title game eliminates them from this discussion. Really, this year's analysis comes down to FSU, MSU, Oklahoma, and UCF. We have to look at SOS here in order to sort out whether or not any team can unseat the Seminoles.
Florida State's SOS was 86-80 was .516, not including its game against Bethune-Cookman (non-major opponent). That's pretty solid, and it eliminates two-loss Oklahoma from the conversation. The Sooners did not have an SOS over .700, that's for sure (.540), although their schedule was better the the Seminoles' schedule.
But what about MSU and UCF? Michigan State's SOS was .491 (not including its game against non-major Youngstown State), and UCF's SOS was .472—meaning Florida State was worthy of the championship belt. For what it's worth, the Spartans were the first Big Ten team ever to win all its conference games by double digits, but that wasn't enough to get the system to admit them to the title game.
Congratulations, Florida State.
McMNC Revision:
1. Florida State
2. Michigan State
3. UCF
4. Oklahoma
5. Auburn
RUNNING SCORECARD:
Penn State: +1977, +1981, =1982, =1986, +1994
USC: -1962, =1967, +1969, =1972, +1978, +1979, =2003, =2004
Tennessee: +1938, +1942, +1950, -1951, =1998
Washington: +1960, +1991
Georgia Tech: +1952, +1990
Pittsburgh: +1936, -1937, =1976, +1980
Ohio State: -1942, +1944, =1954, =1968, =2002, +2012
Oklahoma State: +2011
Utah: +2008
West Virginia: +2007
Boise State: +2006
UCLA: +1965
Arkansas: +1964
Mississippi: +1962
Iowa: +1956
Illinois: +1951
Purdue: +1943
Stanford: +1940
California: +1937
TCU: -1938, +2010
BYU: =1984
Syracuse: =1959
Texas A&M: =1939
Georgia: +1946, -1980
Michigan State: -1952, +1953
Michigan: +1947, =1948, -1997
Nebraska: =1970, =1971, -1994, =1995, +1997
Oklahoma: +1949, -1950, =1955, -1956, +1957, =1975, =1986, =2000
Auburn: -1957, +1983, -2010
Maryland: -1953
Clemson: -1981
Colorado: -1990
Florida State: -1993, =1999, =2013
Texas: =1963, -1969, =2005
Army: -1944, -1945
LSU: =1958, -2003, -2007
Florida: =1996, -2006, -2008
Miami-FL: -1983, =1987, =1989, -1991, =2001
Minnesota: -1936, -1940, =1941, -1960
Notre Dame: -1943, -1946, -1947, -1949, =1966, =1973, -1977, =1988, +1993
Alabama: +1945, =1961, -1964, -1965, -1978, -1979, =1992, =2009, -2011, -2012
1. Florida State (14-0): Won BCS Bowl, 34-31
2. Auburn (12-2): Lost BCS Bowl, 31-34
3. Michigan State (13-1): Won Rose Bowl, 24-20
4. South Carolina (11-2): Won CapitalOne Bowl, 34-24
5. Missouri (12-2): Won Cotton Bowl, 41-31
6. Oklahoma (11-2): Won Sugar Bowl, 45-31
7. Alabama (11-2): Lost Sugar Bowl, 31-45
8. Clemson (11-2): Won Orange Bowl, 40-35
9. Oregon (11-2): Won Alamo Bowl, 30-7
10. UCF (12-1): Won Fiesta Bowl, 52-42
This was the final year of the BCS, and good riddance. Never did the sport need a playoff as much as this season, although maybe that is just hyperbole. Either way, once again, the SEC placed a team that had no business being in the title game into the title game, and that team almost won it, sadly. Auburn reached the title game thanks to these two miracles (a 4th-and-18 prayer and the Kick Six), and in the end, both teams in the Rose Bowl were better candidates for the title game, not to mention several other also-ran squads that didn't win a conference title. This simple rating system shows Auburn to be the sixth-best team in the country, but since the SEC buys its way into every BCS title game ... yeah.
Either way, losing the title game eliminates them from this discussion. Really, this year's analysis comes down to FSU, MSU, Oklahoma, and UCF. We have to look at SOS here in order to sort out whether or not any team can unseat the Seminoles.
Florida State's SOS was 86-80 was .516, not including its game against Bethune-Cookman (non-major opponent). That's pretty solid, and it eliminates two-loss Oklahoma from the conversation. The Sooners did not have an SOS over .700, that's for sure (.540), although their schedule was better the the Seminoles' schedule.
But what about MSU and UCF? Michigan State's SOS was .491 (not including its game against non-major Youngstown State), and UCF's SOS was .472—meaning Florida State was worthy of the championship belt. For what it's worth, the Spartans were the first Big Ten team ever to win all its conference games by double digits, but that wasn't enough to get the system to admit them to the title game.
Congratulations, Florida State.
McMNC Revision:
1. Florida State
2. Michigan State
3. UCF
4. Oklahoma
5. Auburn
RUNNING SCORECARD:
Penn State: +1977, +1981, =1982, =1986, +1994
USC: -1962, =1967, +1969, =1972, +1978, +1979, =2003, =2004
Tennessee: +1938, +1942, +1950, -1951, =1998
Washington: +1960, +1991
Georgia Tech: +1952, +1990
Pittsburgh: +1936, -1937, =1976, +1980
Ohio State: -1942, +1944, =1954, =1968, =2002, +2012
Oklahoma State: +2011
Utah: +2008
West Virginia: +2007
Boise State: +2006
UCLA: +1965
Arkansas: +1964
Mississippi: +1962
Iowa: +1956
Illinois: +1951
Purdue: +1943
Stanford: +1940
California: +1937
TCU: -1938, +2010
BYU: =1984
Syracuse: =1959
Texas A&M: =1939
Georgia: +1946, -1980
Michigan State: -1952, +1953
Michigan: +1947, =1948, -1997
Nebraska: =1970, =1971, -1994, =1995, +1997
Oklahoma: +1949, -1950, =1955, -1956, +1957, =1975, =1986, =2000
Auburn: -1957, +1983, -2010
Maryland: -1953
Clemson: -1981
Colorado: -1990
Florida State: -1993, =1999, =2013
Texas: =1963, -1969, =2005
Army: -1944, -1945
LSU: =1958, -2003, -2007
Florida: =1996, -2006, -2008
Miami-FL: -1983, =1987, =1989, -1991, =2001
Minnesota: -1936, -1940, =1941, -1960
Notre Dame: -1943, -1946, -1947, -1949, =1966, =1973, -1977, =1988, +1993
Alabama: +1945, =1961, -1964, -1965, -1978, -1979, =1992, =2009, -2011, -2012
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