Texas survives; BCS supporters rejoice

Not only was it a great night all around for college football fans, it was an even bigger relief for BCS supporters. Alabama is a lock for the BCS title game, after soundly beating Florida in the SEC title game. But the night nearly took a gut-wrenching turn when Nebraska booted a field goal with less than two minutes left, taking a 12-10 lead over No. 3 Texas in the Big XII title game. Magic would ensue for the Longhorns, as Colt McCoy, helped by a few Cornhuskers' miscues and a fortunate throw-away pass, led his team to a field goal attempt with one second left. The kick was good, and the Longhorns will face Alabama in the BCS Championship Game.

I like Texas (the team, not the state); I hope they crush Alabama in the BCS title game. But as Nebraska went up 12-10, it was becoming much more difficult to root against the Cornhuskers.

This is good for college football. I don't like to BCS, but I'm beginning to tire of the monotonous debate over the system's legitimacy. It's about the money, ratings and the big business of college football. Yet, this season, the BCS lucked out big-time, and will look like it "got it right" once again.

But did this Texas team really look like one that could even sniff a win over the Crimson Tide? The Longhorns barely broke 200 total yards against Nebraska. Granted, the Cornhuskers' defense played the best defensive game I've seen in years. But Texas should not have struggled so mightily in tonight's game. Nebraska couldn't move the ball to save its life (although, you could say they in fact did on that last go-ahead drive). Texas' offense had no excuse for such a pathetic performance. Right down to the last drive, Texas had to rely on a Nebraska fuck-up to win the game -- actually, two of them. The Cornhuskers gave Texas great field position on an out-of-bounds kickoff, then a horse-collar penalty on Jordan Shipley which pushed the Longhorns into field goal range.

Meanwhile, Alabama looked like the most impressive BCS Championship Game participant since 2005. Mark Ingram is probably going to win the Heisman Trophy, while Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy played like crap. Toby Gerhart and CJ Spiller aren't on high-profile enough teams to win (I think either aren't getting enough respect). And Ndamukong Suh is a defensive player, so he's not going to win the award, even if he's "the most outstanding player in college football" in 2009 (I think he is).

So there you have it. The college football regular season, save for the Army-Navy game next weekend, is over. 2009 is in the books, and you can't really say it wasn't a successful season. At least, you can't say it wasn't enjoyable to follow. There was no start-to-finish No. 1 team, or No. 2 or No. 3 for that matter.

Tomorrow's final BCS standings shouldn't offer much surprise, and I couldn't be happier. I'll have some stuff about that tomorrow, including my weekly top 25. But for now, on to the bowl season!

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ZN's CFB Top 25 2008 :: Final

Close the book on 2008...

Rank. Team (LW), [Record, LW Result].

1. Florida (3), [13-1, Won vs Oklahoma 24-14]
2. Utah (6), [13-0, Won vs Alabama 31-17]
3. USC (8), [12-1, Won vs Penn State 38-24]
4. Oklahoma (1), [12-2, Lost vs Florida 24-14]
5. Texas (2), [12-1, Won vs Ohio State 24-21]
6. Penn State (5), [11-2, Lost vs USC 38-24]
7. Ohio State (7), [10-3, Lost vs Texas 24-21]
8. Alabama (4), [12-2, Lost vs Utah 31-17]
9. Texas Christian (12), [11-2, Won vs Boise State 17-16]
10. Oregon (13), [10-3, Won vs Oklahoma St 42-31]
11. Boise State (9), [12-1, Lost vs TCU 17-16]
12. Georgia (20), [10-3, Won vs Michigan St 24-12]
13. Iowa (21), [9-4, Won vs South Carolina 31-10]
14. Virginia Tech (22), [10-4, Won vs Cincinnati 20-7]
15. Missouri (24), [10-3, Won vs Northwestern 30-23]
16. Mississippi (NR), [9-4, Won vs Texas Tech 47-34]
17. Texas Tech (10), [11-2, Lost vs Ole Miss 47-34]
18. Cincinnati (14), [11-3, Lost vs Virginia Tech 20-7]
19. Oregon State (25), [9-4, Won vs Pitt 3-0]
20. Michigan State (16), [9-4, Lost vs Georgia 24-12]
21. BYU (17), [10-3, Lost vs Arizona 31-21]
22. Northwestern (19), [9-4, Lost vs Missouri 30-23OT]
23. Georgia Tech (11), [9-4, Lost vs LSU 38-3]
24. Oklahoma State (15), [9-4, Lost vs Oregon 42-31]
25. West Virginia (NR), [9-4, Won vs North Carolina 31-30]

Dropped Out:
Pittsburgh (18), [9-4, Lost vs Oregon St 3-0]
Ball State (23), [12-2, Lost vs Buffalo 42-24]
Boston College (25), [9-5, Lost vs Vanderbilt 16-14]

On the Cusp:
Nebraska (NR), [9-4, Won vs Clemson 26-21]
Florida State (NR), [9-4, Won vs Wisconsin 42-13]
California (NR), [9-4, Won vs Miami 24-17]
Pittsburgh (18), [9-4, Lost vs Oregon St 3-0]
Ball State (23), [12-2, Lost vs Buffalo 42-24]
Boston College (25), [9-5, Lost vs Vanderbilt 16-14]

Notes: I was very tempted to place Utah at the No. 1 slot, but that would have been out of pure bias. I'm not a fan of the SEC, but Florida did stake its legitimate claim as No. 1. I really liked what Utah had done this season. But from top to bottom, the level of competition was a little bit weaker (very little) than Florida's. It was almost too much to get over when the Gators lost to Ole Miss in the Swamp. In the end, though, clamping down on Oklahoma was enough for me. I also wanted to put USC at No. 2, but the loss to Oregon State still sticks out like a sore thumb. I still believe that USC could beat any team in the country, but they didn't. Texas was less than impressive in its win over Ohio State, which seemed too be the first real good defense the Horns faced all year. I won't get into my rah-rah speech about how Penn State played better against USC than most think, but I will say that the Lions are a much better team than the final AP/Coaches Polls show. Alabama, TCU and Oregon (kind of) barely looked like real top-10 teams, especially the Tide and the Frogs, but really, who else is going to go there? The Ducks are probably legit. The rest of the top 25 teams stunk it up this bowl season. The worst game of all being the 3-0 "win" by Oregon State over Pitt. And with that, on to 2009!

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Review: 2009 Fiesta Bowl

Well, it was definitely more painful than the Rose Bowl. But we as a conference should be proud (even if for only a day) of Ohio State and the effort the Buckeyes put forth last night against the Longhorns. It took a miracle play by Texas to pull out the win, similar to the Michael Crabtree catch to down the Horns on Nov. 1. But let's not get away from what the Fiesta Bowl really meant.

The Bad - The Big Ten still sucks. Yup, I said it. 1-6 in bowl games this season will earn us that distinction. Sure, one loss was in overtime, one to the latest "best team" in USC, and the other on a miracle in Glendale. But we still suck. I have a strong inkling that it's been really just bad luck for most of these woes. But we still suck. Terrelle Pryor still needs a lot of work on passing, since that's what a quarterback usually does. Penn State and Ohio State couldn't hack it in the end, though the outcomes were a bit different. Were they really? Didn't Ohio State lose by a larger margin to USC, in the same city? Doesn't matter. We still suck.

The Good - The bowl season is over. Lost in a horrid representation by the Big Ten in bowls (except you, Iowa), was the fact that it was a very exciting conference race, and regular season. When was the last time Penn State and Michigan State met, in the last game of the year, with the winner assured a Big Ten championship? Never, actually. Ohio State was still in the thick of things, making the 13-6 win in Columbus even more special for Penn Staters. Let's just hope the bowl committees don't plug ANY Big Ten teams into those at-large slots in 2009. Best to just let us play a normal lineup.

Overall - Jim Tressell can still out-coach your head man. Texas was obviously exposed–as was the entire Big XII this bowl season–as a great team, but not a national champion by any means. But were they really? I think Ohio State just came to play, and could have done that to USC, if all the cards fell right. The Buckeyes will lose a ton of talent this off season, but are they ever really out of it? This game was a good stepping stone out of the Big Ten dark ages. Thanks, Buckeyes.

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Preview: 2009 Fiesta Bowl

No. 10 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Texas

Texas

The Question on Everyone's Mind: Can Texas really do enough?

The Answer to Everyone's question: Not really. The only way Texas can impress the voters into a few No. 1 votes, is if the BCS Championship Game devolves into a sloppy, mistake-laden, 6-3 snoozer. That's not going to happen. Texas could beat Ohio State 63-0, but there's relatively no chance to break the BCS this year.

How the Longhorns can win: Just play their game. Remember (as if anyone will ever forget), 45-35! Texas is only playing in the Fiesta Bowl because the planets aligned for Texas Tech, for one second, on Nov. 1. Outside of that, the Longhorns were the most impressive team from top to bottom. There are plenty of tools on both sides of the ball to beat up on Ohio State, starting and ending with Colt McCoy and Brian Orakpo. Texas should be able to contain Chris Wells, and take advantage of a sketchy Buckeyes offensive line, just enough to win this one comfortably. And while the offense hasn't had a consistent running threat outside of McCoy, it can cause enough problems for the Ohio State defense to keep this one out of the Buckeyes' reach.

Ohio State

The Question on Everyone's Mind: Ok, how about now?

The Answer to Everyone's question: No, not yet, but almost. Ohio State said last year would be different. The Florida loss was just a bunch of snowballing problems, which led to the massive letdown in the championship game. The Buckeyes would be ready for LSU. Not so much. Then came the trip to Los Angeles. This time, no Beanie and a bad quarterbacking situation. Ohio State probably can't beat Texas in this, the fourth round of "yes, we can," but coming close would prove a lot.

How the Buckeyes can win: Well, in case anyone's forgotten, Ohio State is starting more than a few NFL Draft picks on defense. And Texas hasn't faced one like this all season. Terrelle Pryor will have to come up with a (dare I say it) Vince Young-like performance to keep the offense moving, but that could be a tall task for even an experienced quarterback. I have a sneaky feeling that the Ohio State defense will show up hungry and angry tonight, and prevent Texas from lighting things up the way most think. Colt McCoy had plenty of trouble against the active Texas Tech defensive front, and while Ohio State hasn't been super up front, the secondary is better than anything in the Big XII this year, which could make up for any lack of pass rush.

Predictions

What will happen: Figure that this game will look like a watered-down version of the Rose Bowl. Ohio State will hang tough, but a few big plays by McCoy will be just too much to overcome on offense. Texas won't hang 31 on the Buckeyes before the half, but it won't look good.

Score: Texas 26, Ohio State 17

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Someone's not in love with Tebow?

I'll come right out with it. I like CFN, probably more so than any other college football site. Sure, they may not have loved everything I've written about them. But they're still a hell of a lot better than ESPN-types.

What am I getting at? Well, where, anywhere, have you heard someone, anyone dare say that Tim Tebow is not the OH-MY-GOD-HE'S-THE-MOST-AWESOMEST-INCREDIBLE-HANDS-DOWN-GREATEST-COLLEGE-FOOTBALL-PLAYER-IN-THE-HISTORY-OF-MAAAAAN!!!!!!!!!!!

I just read it today, actually, courtesy of a Mr. Pete Fiutak. CFN on Dec. 9, 2008:

"Media, coaches, and everyone surrounding college football, I’m begging you to quit with the insufferable fawning and deification of Tebow like Dick Vitale and the college hoops-types like to do with Tyler Hansbrough, a marginally talented, grindy player who’ll make a nice living sitting on someone’s NBA bench. Tebow is a better football player than Hansbrough is a college basketball player, but running around and screaming “let’s go” all the time and getting in players’ faces doesn’t make him special. It makes him annoying."

I encourage you to go read the entire column, as it only get's better. But why hasn't anyone in the main stream media seen this already? Ratings, money, good TV, and oh yeah, ratings. ESPN isn't stupid. Tim Tebow is good looking (when you're the Heisman winner, you can get a lot of tail), a good student (well, for Florida), and super Christian (circumcising young Asian kids is his idea of a vacation). All that sells faster than $8 Bud Lights at a NASCAR race.

I think the problem I have with Tebow, which isn't personal, is that people are equating him being marketable with being a good football player. Colt McCoy could be in the same boat, but isn't. My guess is that it comes down to a simple production difference. Tebow already won a national championship (34-6 since 2006). And while Texas has been very, very good under McCoy (31-7 since 2006), he still won't get a shot at the BCS title.

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ZN's CFB Top 25 2008 :: Pre-Bowls

Who's better: The No. 1 team, or the No. 2 team that beat the No. 1 team? Wow, my head hurts.

Rank. Team (LW), [Record, LW Result].

1. Oklahoma (2), [12-1, Won vs Missouri 62-21]
2. Texas (1), [11-1, DNP]
3. Florida (3), [12-1, Won vs Alabama 31-20]
4. Alabama (4), [12-1, Lost vs Florida 31-20]
5. Penn State (5), [11-1, DNP]
6. Utah (6), [12-0, DNP]
7. Ohio State (7), [10-2, DNP]
8. USC (8), [11-1, Won at UCLA 28-7]
9. Boise State (9), [12-0, DNP]
10. Texas Tech (10), [11-1, DNP]
11. Georgia Tech (11), [9-3, DNP]
12. Texas Christian (12), [10-2, DNP]
13. Oregon (13), [9-3, DNP]
14. Cincinnati (15), [11-2, Won at Hawaii 29-24]
15. Oklahoma State (17), [9-3, DNP]
16. Michigan State (18), [9-3, DNP]
17. BYU (19), [10-2, DNP]
18. Pittsburgh (25), [9-3, Won at UConn 34-10]
19. Northwestern (20), [9-3, DNP]
20. Georgia (21), [9-3, DNP]
21. Iowa (22), [8-4, DNP]
22. Virginia Tech (NR), [9-4, Won vs Boston College 30-12]
23. Ball State (16), [12-1, Lost vs Buffalo 42-24]
24. Missouri (23), [9-3, DNP]
25t. Oregon State (24), [8-4, DNP]
25t. Boston College (14), [9-4, Lost vs Virginia Tech 30-12]

Dropped Out:
(None this week)

On the Cusp:
Mississippi (NR), [8-4, DNP]
West Virginia (NR), [8-4, Won vs South Florida 13-7]
North Carolina (NR), [8-4, DNP]
Nebraska (NR), [8-4, DNP]
Florida State (NR), [8-4, DNP]

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The BCS: A crystal football full of lies

I'm sure someone, somewhere has written or talked about this, but I haven't seen or heard it yet. Have you noticed that the garbage coming from BCS Coordinator John Swofford, has done nothing to prove that the BCS is here to help college football?

"Well, people are talking about it all the time, and that's all the justification we need to keep this system in tact for the next 10,000 years."

No, that's not a real quote from him, but it's really freaking close. The BCS has been assailed by a new wave of "what about us" gangs, mainly from the Big XII (because the Big Ten and Pac-10 aren't a bunch of whiners). Now, I have nothing personally against them, as I'm sure Penn State fans would be kicking and screaming if in Texas' position. But this isn't about them, it's about "the system."

Was there ever an intent by the BCS creators to create the most fair method to select the college football national champion? It seems less likely every day. We all know that college football is more corrupt, full of more kickbacks, favors and lobbying than the Bush Administration. It's always been like that, and always will be. I don't mind, just don't tell me it's "better" now than it was then. To who? You? Because it sure as hell isn't better for us, the fans.

I do love the quote from Swofford, after Barack Obama said he wants to see some sort of college football playoff. Swofford must go by the "Dick Cheney Majority" formula in this one: Majority = <1% of the population.

"For now, our constituencies... have settled on the current BCS system, which the majority believe is the best system yet to determine a national champion while also maintaining the college football regular season as the best and most meaningful in sports."

Of course, that formula only works if the BCS's "constituencies" are actually the fans. (They're not, but I'll get back to that in a minute)

Now, I'm not going to compare the BCS or Swofford to the Nazis or Hitler. That might be going too far. After all, the Third Reich didn't play American college football.

You know, I really wouldn't mind this system so much, if the people who run the damn thing would just admit that they are in it for the money, and have no intention of improving college football's method of naming a national champion.

Swofford better stop this bullshit of portraying us, the college football fans, as his constituencies. We're not; we never were. Those constituencies are the bowl games, presidents and corporate sponsors burning a hole in your wallet. So the BCS should stop pretending to care what we want, because it doesn't. If it or Swofford did care, we'd be saying "buh-bye BCS."

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ZN's CFB Top 25 2008 :: Week 15

Only one more week of rankings left. College football is a crazy sport, isn't it?

Rank. Team (LW), [Record, LW Result].

1. Texas (3), [11-1, Won vs Texas A&M 49-9]
2. Oklahoma (2), [11-1, Won at Oklahoma St 61-41]
3. Florida (1), [11-1, Won at Florida St 45-15]
4. Alabama (4), [12-0, Won vs Auburn 36-0]
5. Penn State (5), [11-1, DNP]
6. Utah (6), [12-0, DNP]
7. Ohio State (7), [10-2, DNP]
8. USC (8), [10-1, Won vs Notre Dame 38-3]
9. Boise State (10), [12-0, Won vs Fresno St 61-10]
10. Texas Tech (9), [11-1, Won at Baylor 35-28]
11. Georgia Tech (21), [9-3, Won at Georgia 45-42]
12. Texas Christian (12), [10-2, DNP]
13. Oregon (18), [9-3, Won at Oregon St 65-38]
14. Boston College (23), [9-3, Won vs Maryland 28-21]
15. Cincinnati (17), [10-2, Won vs Syracuse 30-10]
16. Ball State (16), [12-0, Won vs Western Michigan 45-22]
17. Oklahoma State (11), [9-3, Lost vs Oklahoma 61-41]
18. Michigan State (19), [9-3, DNP]
19. BYU (24), [10-2, DNP]
20. Northwestern (20), [9-3, DNP]
21. Georgia (15), [9-3, Lost vs Georgia Tech 45-42]
22. Iowa (22), [8-4, DNP]
23. Missouri (13), [9-3, Lost vs Kansas 40-37]
24. Oregon State (14), [8-4, Lost vs Oregon 65-38]
25. Pittsburgh (NR), [8-3, Won vs West Virginia]

Dropped Out:
Florida State (25), [8-4, Lost vs Florida 45-15]

On the Cusp:
North Carolina (NR), [8-4, Won vs Duke 28-20]
Virginia Tech (NR), [8-4, Won vs Virginia 17-14]
Nebraska (NR), [8-4, Won vs Colorado 40-31]
Florida State (25), [8-4, Lost vs Florida 45-15]
MIssissippi (NR), [8-4, Won vs Miss St 45-0]
Tulsa (NR), [10-2, Won vs Marshall 38-35]

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ZN's CFB Top 25 2008 :: Week 14

Is that what the Big XII's "best" team plays like? Well, since they're not the best in that conference anymore, we don't have to worry. Could be a fun three weeks from now until Dec. 7.

Rank. Team (LW), [Record, LW Result].

1. Florida (3), [10-1, Won vs Citadel 70-19]
2. Oklahoma (5), [10-1, Won vs Texas Tech 65-21]
3. Texas (4), [10-1, DNP]
4. Alabama (2), [11-0, DNP]
5. Penn State (6), [11-1, Won vs Michigan St 49-18]
6. Utah (7), [12-0, Won vs Brigham Young 48-24]
7. Ohio State (9), [10-2, Won vs Michigan 42-7]
8. USC (8), [9-1, DNP]
9. Texas Tech (1), [10-1, Lost at Oklahoma 65-21]
10. Boise State (10), [11-0, Won vs Nevada 41-34]
11. Oklahoma State (11), [9-2, DNP]
12. Texas Christian (13), [10-2, Won at Air Force 44-10]
13. Missouri (14), [9-2, DNP]
14. Oregon State (17), [8-3, Won at Arizona 19-17]
15. Georgia (16), [9-2, DNP]
16. Ball State (18), [11-0, Won at Central Michigan 31-24]
17. Cincinnati (20), [9-2, Won vs Pitt 28-21]
18. Oregon (19), [8-3, DNP]
19. Michigan State (15), [9-3, Lost at Penn St 49-18]
20. Northwestern (23), [9-3, Won vs Illinois 27-10]
21. Georgia Tech (NR), [8-3, Won vs Miami, FL 41-23]
22. Iowa (NR), [8-4, Won at Minnesota 55-0]
23. Boston College (NR), [8-3, Won at Wake Forest 24-21]
24. BYU (12), [10-2, Lost at Utah 48-24]
25. Florida State (NR), [8-3, Won at Maryland 37-3]

Dropped Out:
Pittsburgh (21), [7-3, Lost at Cincinnati 28-21]
Miami, FL (22), [7-4, Lost at Georgia Tech 41-23]
Maryland (24), [7-4, Lost vs Florida St 37-3]
North Carolina (25), [7-4, Lost at North Carolina St 41-10]

On the Cusp:
West Virginia (NR), [7-3, Won at Louisville 35-21]
Pittsburgh (21), [7-3, Lost at Cincinnati 28-21]
MIssissippi (NR), [7-4, Won at LSU 31-13]
Tulsa (NR), [8-2, Lost at Houston 70-30]

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ZN's CFB Top 25 2008 :: Week 13

Not much controversy this week. Well, except for LSU sucking, along with the rest of the SEC.

Rank. Team (LW), [Record, LW Result].

1. Texas Tech (2), [10-0, DNP]
2. Alabama (1), [11-0, Won vs Miss St 32-7]
3. Florida (3), [9-1, Won vs South Carolina 56-6]
4. Texas (4), [10-1, Won at Kansas 35-7]
5. Oklahoma (5), [9-1, DNP]
6. Penn State (6), [10-1, Won vs Indiana 34-7]
7. Utah (7), [11-0, Won at San Diego St 63-14]
8. USC (8), [9-1, Won at Stanford 45-23]
9. Ohio State (10), [9-2, Won at Illinois 30-20]
10. Boise State (9), [10-0, Won at Idaho 45-10]
11. Oklahoma State (11), [9-2, Won at Colorado]
12. BYU (13), [10-1, Won at Air Force 38-24]
13. Texas Christian (12), [9-2, DNP]
14. Missouri (14), [9-2, Won at Iowa St 52-20]
15. Michigan State (17), [9-2, DNP]
16. Georgia (15), [9-2, Won at Auburn 17-13]
17. Oregon State (19), [7-3, Won vs California 34-21]
18. Ball State (16), [10-0, Won at Miami, OH 31-16]
19. Oregon (24), [8-3, Won vs Arizona 55-45]
20. Cincinnati (22), [8-2, Won at Louisville 28-20]
21. Pittsburgh (21), [7-2, DNP]
22. Miami, FL (NR), [7-3, Won vs Virginia Tech 16-14]
23. Northwestern (NR), [8-3, Won at Michigan 21-14]
24. Maryland (NR), [7-3, Won vs North Carolina 17-15]
25. North Carolina (18), [7-3, Lost at Maryland 17-15]

Dropped Out:
Florida State (20), [7-3, Lost vs Boston College 27-17]
LSU (23), [7-3, Won vs Troy 40-31]
Tulsa (25), [8-2, Lost at Houston 70-30]

On the Cusp:
Georgia Tech (NR), [7-3, DNP]
Boston College (NR), [7-3, Won at Florida St 27-17]
Florida State (20), [7-3, Lost vs Boston College 27-17]
LSU (23), [7-3, Won vs Troy 40-31]
Tulsa (25), [8-2, Lost at Houston 70-30]

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ZN's CFB Top 25 2008 :: Week 12

If parity was the goal, then I think college football has achieved it. The bottom half of the top 25 is just a nightmare. Anyway, Rose Bowl here we come. Well, hopefully.

Rank. Team (LW), [Record, LW Result].

1. Alabama (1), [10-0, Won at LSU 27-21 (1OT)]
2. Texas Tech (4), [10-0, Won vs Oklahoma St 56-20]
3. Florida (3), [8-1, Won at Vanderbilt 42-14]
4. Texas (6), [9-1, Won vs Baylor 45-21]
5. Oklahoma (5), [9-1, Won at Texas A&M 66-28]
6. Penn State (2), [9-1, Lost at Iowa 24-23]
7. Utah (8), [10-0, Won vs TCU 13-10]
8. USC (9), [8-1, Won vs California 17-3]
9. Boise State (11), [9-0, Won vs Utah St 49-14]
10. Ohio State 12), [8-2, Won at Northwestern 45-10]
11. Oklahoma State (7), [8-2, Lost at Texas Tech 56-20]
12. Texas Christian (10), [9-2, Lost at Utah 13-10]
13. BYU (13), [9-1, Won vs San Diego St 41-12]
14. Missouri (14), [8-2, Won vs Kansas St 41-24]
15. Georgia (15), [8-2, Won at Kentucky 42-38]
16. Ball State (16), [9-0, Won vs Northern Illinois 45-14]
17. Michigan State (17), [9-2, Won vs Purdue 21-7]
18. North Carolina (18), [7-2, Won vs Georgia Tech 28-7]
19. Oregon State (NR), [6-3, Won at UCLA 34-6]
20. Florida State (25), [7-2, Won vs Clemson 41-27]
21. Pittsburgh (NR), [7-2, Won vs Louisville 41-7]
22. Cincinnati (NR), [7-2, Won at West Virginia 26-23]
23. LSU (19), [6-3, Lost vs Alabama 27-21 (1OT)]
24. Oregon (NR), [7-3, Won vs Stanford 35-28]
25. Tulsa (NR), [8-1, DNP]


Dropped Out:
West Virginia (20), [6-3, Lost vs Cincinnati 26-23]
Georgia Tech (21), [7-3, Lost at North Carolina 28-7]
Northwestern (22), [7-3, Lost vs Ohio St 45-10]
Minnesota (23), [7-3, Lost vs Michigan 29-6]
California (24), [6-3, Lost at USC 17-3]

On the Cusp:
Virginia Tech (NR), [6-3, Won vs Maryland 23-13]
Air Force (NR), [8-2, Won vs Colorado St 38-17]
West Virginia (20), [6-3, Lost vs Cincinnati 26-23]
Georgia Tech (21), [7-3, Lost at North Carolina 28-7]
Northwestern (22), [7-3, Lost vs Ohio St 45-10]
Minnesota (23), [7-3, Lost vs Michigan 29-6]

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Racism, in a Red State? No way

A recently dismissed Texas Longhorns lineman, Buck Burnette, posted something really bad on his Facebook page. While I would never, EVER, say what he said, I'm almost more upset that he was so ridiculously retarded to say it "aloud" in the first place. You see, I grew up in Northeast New Jersey. If we said that (and actually meant it, as this kid did) we could come home missing a few teeth and plenty of internal bleeding, and not just from black people. I'm not going to preach. Yes, people shouldn't really get so upset over words. But, I wonder what white people would say if they were enslaved for 300 years, then treated like sub-humans even after they were "free." I know I wouldn't be too happy.

And don't give me the "well, all the liberals hated Bush out loud." True, the far-left has said pretty rough things about President Bush, over the last eight years. But if I even have to explain the differences between that, and what Burnette said, then you're just as bad as him.

This nation should watch more South Park, and admit that we just "don't get it." I know I sure don't, and don't even pretend to.

Burnette should be happy he was kicked out of the Longhorns program. I can't even imagine the world of hurt he would be in, the next time he took the field.

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Why Penn State should now be No. 2

As No. 1 Texas lost tonight in Lubbock, coupled with No. 8 Florida's demolition of No. 6 Georgia, I immediately started the inevitable argument: Who should be No. 2 now? I came up with a few reasons why Penn State shouldn't get jumped by any other team this week, specifically Texas Tech or Florida.

1. Texas Tech's win wasn't as impressive as Penn State's in Columbus. Tech won a night game, at home, against a Texas team that was a bit overrated overall, and very overrated on defense. State won a night game, away, in a stadium where the home team only lost three games since 2001, against an Ohio State team that wasn't overrated overall, but definitely underrated on defense coming into the game. Texas Tech also made several costly mistakes, like turnovers, penalties and gave up many big plays for scores. Penn State played a very clean game, away remember, without turnovers, no penalties and never gave up even a touchdown.

2. Florida already lost a game, at home, to a very mediocre Mississippi squad. In college football, you must win your games first, then argue for a spot in the National Championship game. Until there aren't any undefeated BCS-conference teams (Alabama, Penn State and Texas Tech are the only three left), you have no place in the title picture. Should Bama, PSU or Tech fall, then Florida can reenter the race.* And if the final polls come down to which team's loss was "better" or "worse," then the check list goes: 1. Home loss, or away loss? 2. How good or bad was the other team? 3. Was the game result close, and was the entire game close?

3. Penn State's schedule is tougher than the doubters suggest. Have you noticed that every time anyone (ahem, Mark May, Desmond Howard & Co.) runs down Penn State's "soft" non-conference schedule, they always leave out that pesky team from Corvallis? Yeah, Penn State embarrassed that same Oregon State team which beat Southern California. Throw in Ohio State, Wisconsin (yes, still a tough place to play) and Illinois, and you've got a decent schedule. Florida lost to Ole Miss, and beat very clearly overrated LSU and Georgia teams, neither of which were true road wins. I'm not saying Florida's schedule was easier than Penn States, just not hard enough to jump an undefeated Penn State in the rankings.

So there you go. Argue all you want. That's what college football is about, "every week is a playoff," right?

*This situation should actually remedy itself. Should Bama go undefeated, and Florida wins out, they'll meet in the SEC title game, eliminating one of them from NC consideration. Plus, Texas Tech will have to run the table, which would be very impressive, earning the Red Raiders their spot in the NC game above any one-loss team.

**On Alabama: while I do believe Penn State could beat Alabama, the Crimson Tide gets my nod for No 1 right now. That's not due to the lack-luster win over Arkansas State (which Penn State bumped from its 2008 schedule in favor of Oregon State, just saying), but because they have a slightly better resume, right now, than the Nittany Lions.

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National Picks, Week 10

I figured since I have some extra time this week, I'd take some shots around college football. Mind you, these picks were formulated from about 10 percent research, 90 percent gut feel.

Outright Upsets:
Tennessee over South Carolina
Pitt over Notre Dame

Does not cover/watch for outright upset:
Florida St. over Georgia Tech
Utah over New Mexico

Does not cover:
Texas over Texas Tech
Oklahoma over Nebraska

Covers:
Oklahoma St. over Iowa St.
Florida over Georgia

*Ed-Yeah, I know I didn't do Joe Pa's presser. But hey, you've already read about it everywhere else, so why would you care about reading it here? Plus, beating up on ESPN is more fun.

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ZN's Top 25 2008 :: Week 10

The top three is really boring this year, isn't it? Not for Penn State fans. We are quite happy right now.

Rank. Team (LW), [Record, LW Result].

1. Texas (1), [8-0, Won vs. Oklahoma St 28-24]
2. Penn State (2), [9-0, Won at Ohio State 13-6]
3. Alabama (3), [8-0, Won at Tennessee 29-9]
4. Oklahoma (4), [7-1, Won at Kansas St 58-35]
5. Florida (6), [7-1, Won vs Kentucky 63-5]
6. Texas Tech (7), [8-0, Won at Kansas 63-21]
7. Georgia (12), [7-1, Won at LSU 52-38]
8. Oklahoma State (9), [7-1, Lost at Texas 28-24]
9. Utah (11), [8-0, DNP]
10. USC (5), [6-1, Won at Arizona 17-10]
11. Texas Christian (13), [8-1, Won vs Wyoming 54-7]
12. Boise State (14), [5-0, Won at San Jose St 33-14]
13. Ohio State (8), [7-2, Lost vs Penn St 13-6]
14. BYU (18), [7-1, Won vs UNLV 42-35]
15. Missouri (20), [6-2, Won vs Colorado 58-0]
16. Minnesota (21), [7-1, Won at Purdue 17-6]
17. Florida State (25), [Won vs Virginia Tech 30-20]
18. Ball State (23), [8-0, Won vs W. Michigan 38-16]
19. Tulsa (24), [8-0, Won at Central Florida 49-19]
20. Michigan State (NR), [6-2, Won at Michigan 35-21]
21. North Carolina (NR), [6-2, Won vs Boston College 45-24]
22. LSU (10), [5-2, Lost vs Georgia 52-38]
23. Oregon (NR), [6-2, Won at Arizona St 54-20]
24. West Virginia (NR), [5-2, Won vs Auburn 37-17]
25. Notre Dame (NR), [5-2, Won at Washington 33-7]

Dropped Out:
South Florida (15), [6-2, Lost at Louisville 24-20]
Georgia Tech (16), [6-2, Lost vs Virginia 24-17]
Pittsburgh (17), [5-2, Lost vs Rutgers 54-34]
Northwestern (19), [6-2, Lost at Indiana 21-19]
Cincinnati (22), [5-2, Lost at UConn 40-16]

On the Cusp:
Connecticut (NR), [6-2, Won vs Cincinnati 40-16]
Maryland (NR), [6-2, Won vs NC State 27-24]
South Florida (15), [6-2, Lost at Louisville 24-20]
Georgia Tech (16), [6-2, Lost vs Virginia 24-17]
Northwestern (19), [6-2, Lost at Indiana 21-19]

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ZN's CFB Top 25 :: Week 9 2008

The top is really starting to separate themselves from the rest of the pack.

Rank. Team (LW), [Record, LW Result].

1. Texas (3), [7-0, Won vs. Missou 56-31]
2. Penn State (1), [8-0, Won vs. Michigan 46-17]
3. Alabama (2), [7-0, Won vs. Ole Miss 24-20]
4. Oklahoma (4), [6-1, Won vs. Kansas 45-31]
5. USC (5), [5-1, Won at Washington St 69-0]
6. Florida (6), [6-1, DNP]
7. Texas Tech (8), [7-0, Won at Texas A&M 43-25]
8. Ohio State (9), [7-1, Won at Michigan St. 45-7]
9. Oklahoma State (11), [7-0, Won vs. Baylor 34-6]
10. LSU (10), [5-1, Won at South Carolina 24-17]
11. Utah (12), [8-0, Won vs. Colorado St 49-16]
12. Georgia (14), [6-1, Won vs. Vanderbilt 24-14]
13. Texas Christian (NR), [7-1, Won vs. BYU 32-7]
14. Boise State (16), [5-0, Won at Southern Miss 24-7]
15. South Florida (17), [6-1, Won vs. Syracuse 45-13]
16. Georgia Tech (NR), [6-1, Won vs. Clemson 21-17]
17. Pittsburgh (NR), [5-1, Won vs. Navy 42-21]
18. BYU (7), [6-1, Lost to TCU 32-7]
19. Northwestern (25), [6-1, Won vs. Purdue 48-26]
20. Missouri (13), [5-2, Lost at Texas 56-31]
21. Minnesota (22), [6-1, DNP]
22. Cincinnati (23), [5-1, DNP]
23. Ball State (24), [7-0, DNP]
24. Tulsa (NR), [7-0, Won vs. UTEP 77-35]
25. Florida State (NR), [Won at NC State 26-17

Dropped Out:
Wake Forest (15), [4-2, Lost at Maryland 26-0]
Michigan State (18), [5-2, Lost vs. Ohio State 45-7]
North Carolina (19), [5-2, Lost at Virginia 16-13]
Connecticut (21), [5-2, Lost at Rutgers 12-10]
Vanderbilt (20), [5-2, Lost at Georgia 24-14]

On the Cusp:
Boston College (NR), [5-1, Won vs. Virginia Tech 28-23]
Kentucky (NR), [5-2, Won vs. Arkansas 21-20]
Virginia Tech (NR), [5-2, Lost at Boston College 28-23]
Maryland (NR), [5-2, Won vs. Wake Forest 26-0]
Oregon (NR), [5-2, DNP]

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ZN's CFB Top 25 :: Week 8 2008

With Oklahoma's shoot-out loss to Texas in Dallas, there's a big shakeup on top of my weekly rankings. I'm fully ready to take the worst homerism shots all year, and you'll know why in a second. Let me just say, I rarely rank teams where the "common belief" ranks them, just because everyone else is ranking them there. Sure, Texas beat Oklahoma, and the Sooners were supposedly the best team up until three days ago. But Georgia was also the best team, as was USC. So you can't tell me that there's no way, no how that Penn State can be the No. 1 team right now. If Texas wins this week, yes, I might put them at No. 1 over Penn State. But right now, treating Wisconsin like a junior varsity high school squad, in Madison, at night, looks a lot more impressive than winning a one-dimensional shoot out on a neutral field, at 11 a.m. local time.

Rank. Team (LW), [Record, LW Result].

1. Penn State (4), [7-0, Won at Wisconsin 48-7]
2. Alabama (2), [6-0, DNP]
3. Texas (7), [6-0, Won vs. Oklahoma 45-35]
4. Oklahoma (1), [5-1, Lost vs. Texas 45-35]
5. USC (10), [4-1, Won vs. Arizona St. 28-0]
6. Florida (14), [6-1, Won vs. LSU 51-21]
7. BYU (6), [6-0, Won vs. New Mexico 21-3]
8. Texas Tech (9), [6-0, Won vs. Nebraska 37-31]
9. Ohio State (8), [6-1, Won vs. Purdue 16-3]
10. LSU (5), [4-1, Lost at Florida 51-21]
11. Oklahoma State (15), [6-0, Won at Missouri 28-23]
12. Utah (12), [7-0, Won at Wyoming 40-7]
13. Missouri (3), [5-1, Lost vs. Oklahoma St 28-23]
14. Georgia (11), [5-1, Won vs. Tennessee 26-14]
15. Wake Forest (20), [4-1, Won vs. Clemson 12-7]
16. Boise State (16), [5-0, Won at Southern Miss 24-7]
17. South Florida (17), [5-1, DNP]
18. Michigan State (23), [5-1, Won at Northwestern 37-20]
19. North Carolina (22), [5-1, Won vs. Notre Dame 29-24]
20. Vanderbilt (13), [5-1, Lost at Mississippi St 17-14]
21. Connecticut (21), [5-1, DNP]
22. Minnesota (NR), [6-1, Won at Illinois 27-20]
23. Cincinnati (NR), [5-1, Won vs. Rutgers 13-10]
24. Ball State (NR), [7-0, Won vs. W. Kentucky (AA) 24-7]
25. Northwestern (19), [5-1, Lost vs. Michigan St 37-20]

Dropped Out:
Kentucky (18), [4-2, Lost vs. South Carolina 24-17]
Auburn (24), [4-3, Lost vs. Arkansas 25-22]
Wisconsin (25), [3-3, Lost vs. Penn State 48-7]

On the Cusp:
Tulsa (NR), [6-0, Won vs. SMU 37-31]
Virginia Tech (NR), [5-1, DNP]
Texas Christian (NR), [6-1, Won at Colorado St 13-7]
Georgia Tech (NR), [5-1, Won vs. Gardner-Webb (AA) 10-7]
Pittsburgh (NR), [4-1, DNP]
California (NR), [4-1, DNP]
Oregon (NR), [5-2, Won vs. UCLA 31-24]

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ZN's CFB Top 25 :: Week 4 2008

It's no big shocker that USC held at No. 1. BYU and Wisconsin made the biggest jumps, as the Cougars' dismantling of UCLA was mostly ignored because of USC/Ohio State. While Ohio State and Auburn fell the farthest, with the Tigers' "win" was almost as bad as Penn State's infamous 6-4 loss to Iowa in 2004. Arizona State, Cal and Kansas dropped out completely. It was a fun week.

Rank. Team (LW), [Record, LW Result].

1. USC (1), [2-0, Won vs. No. 2 Ohio State]
2. Oklahoma (4), [3-0, Won at Washington 55-14]
3. Georgia (3), [3-0, Won at South Carolina 14-7]
4. Missouri (6), [3-0, Won vs. Nevada 69-17]
5. Penn State (5), [3-0, Won at Syracuse 55-13]
6. BYU (10), [3-0, Won vs. UCLA 59-0]
7. Oregon (9), [3-0, Won at Purdue 32-26]
8. Florida (8), [2-0, DNP]
9. LSU (12), [2-0, Won vs. North Texas 41-3]
10. Ohio State (2), [2-1, Lost at No. 1 USC, 35-3]
11. Wisconsin (18), [3-0, Won at Fresno St. 13-10]
12. South Florida (16), [3-0, Won vs. No. 13 Kansas 37-34]
13. Auburn (7), [3-0, Won at Miss. St. 3-2]
14. Texas Tech (13), [3-0, Won vs. SMU 43-7]
15. Utah (14), [2-0, Won vs. Utah St. 58-10]
16. Texas (15), [2-0, DNP (PPD)]
17. Kentucky (21), [3-0, Won vs. MTSU 20-14]
18. Wake Forest (19), [2-0, DNP]
19. East Carolina (20), [3-0, Won at Tulane 28-24]
20. Alabama (25), [3-0, Won vs. W. Kentucky (I-AA) 41-7]
21. Clemson (NR), [2-1, Won vs. NC St. 27-9]
22. Fresno State (22), [1-1, Lost vs. No. 10 Wisconsin 13-10]
23. Texas Christian (NR), [3-0, Won vs. Stanford 31-14]
24. West Virginia (24), [1-1, DNP]
25. Nebraska (NR), [3-0, Won vs. New Mexico St. 38-7]

Dropped Out:
Arizona State (11), [2-1, Lost vs. UNLV 23-20]
California (17), [2-1, Lost at Maryland 35-27]
Kansas (23), [2-1, Lost at No. 19 USF 37-34]

On the Cusp:
Illinois (NR), [2-1, Won vs. ULL 20-17]
Michigan State (NR), [2-1, Won vs. Florida Atlantic 17-0]
Florida State (NR), [2-0, Won vs. Chattanooga 46-7]
Virginia Tech (NR), [2-1, Won vs. Georgia Tech 20-17]
Georgia Tech (NR), [2-1, Lost at Virginia Tech 20-17]

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If you want respect, schedule good teams, Part 3 of 4

3/4.

Part 2/4.
Part 1/4.

Everyone argues that strength of schedule should mean everything in college football, until someone calls their team out on scheduling Directional Community College...

As promised, here's the top five weakest schedules BCS bowl teams have played from 2003 through 2007. Here’s my criteria for selection:

-I-AA schools! Like in Schedules, Part 2 the addition of I-AA schools has a huge impact on the relative ease of a team’s schedule. Most of the teams on this list have at least one I-AA opponent on there. While some of those I-AAs are very good teams, and others are a close step up from high school ball, they are all a detriment to any pro-strength of schedule argument. Face it, if you want to get respect for your team’s schedule, then play teams in your own classification.

-Opponent records, looking back. Was a team hyped in the beginning of the year, only to fall flat on its face? Sure, beating Michigan State in September looks good, but how good is it when they’re in one of those patented late-season meltdowns. Even in the bowl games, beating a team that was thought to be unstoppable all year, then was blown out in its last regular-season game, seriously diminishes the significance of playing them in the bowl.

-Opponent conference affiliations. Think of this as a two-parter. If a team plays in the MAC or the Sun Belt, do you think its schedule is nearly as difficult as one from the Big Ten or SEC? I don’t care if a team plays five strong OOC games; if it doesn’t play more than half its schedule against strong competition, it’s not a strong schedule.

So here's what I came up with. THIS IS ALL IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER!

Just missed the cut. Close, but not easy enough...


Boise State started out 2006 with a real bang, playing a I-AA with a losing record. Oregon State was a nice win, but nothing real special. The Beavers are middle-of-the-pack Pac-10, so any decent team has a shot at beating them. Outside of the Fiesta bowl win over Oklahoma, the only other team with double digit wins was Hawai’i. Also playing seven teams with non-winning records won’t win any points with me.


If it wasn’t for the Red River Shootout against Oklahoma, this schedule would have been a complete joke. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a thousand times better than the Mid-Majors’ schedules, but to only play three ranked teams the entire season isn’t very good. To top that off, only one of them finished with more than nine wins, and Oklahoma was blown out in the BCS national championship game. The second best regular season game was against Texas Tech, which won eight games.


So now that the SEC fans are laughing at the rest of the BCS teams, here it goes. In 2003, LSU won the BCS national championship, but didn’t have to work that hard to get there. It was a down year in the SEC, and LSU jumped at the opportunity. The first three wins were near automatic, and outside of the Georgia game, any good team should beat all of the remaining opponents. I know there are three games against top-10 opponents, but the two wins against Georgia is a glaring smudge on LSU’s credibility. This schedule is much less spectacular than the SEC fans want to think.

Now, for the top five easiest schedules among BCS bowl teams from 2003-2007...


I do love Kansas State. They usually follow right along with the other Big XII folks by telling I-AA “Come on down! We’ll give you lots of money to lose to us!” I know KSU played mostly teams with winning records, but when you have those two glaring I-AAs on there, you can’t expect to be taken seriously. The only reason this isn’t the clear-cut most horrible schedule is due to the two top-ten teams played late in 2003.


It must be a Kansas thing. Right on the heels of its state rival, the Jayhawks could sum up the 2007 schedule as nothing less than The Mediocre Express. I’ve never seen so many teams hovering around .500 in my life. Throw in Florida International—the Panthers won their last game of the year over North Texas to avoid going winless—and this schedule has a hard time using Missouri and Virginia Tech to compensate for the top 11 teams.


If I were to actually rank these schedules, I think this one would go right to the top. When the best team played is only ranked No. 25 at the end of the year, you’re in trouble. Utah’s 2004 schedule featured no teams with 10 wins or more. That’s rough, especially since the Ute’s BCS opponent lost four games. There’s not much more to say about this one. It’s pretty clear cut.


On the flip side, however, look at Pittsburgh’s 2004 schedule. Playing in a Virginia Tech and Miami-less Big East really killed all possible chances for this schedule to be considered tough. But then again, if those two were still in the league, Pitt wouldn’t have won the conference. Boston College was the best team on the schedule until the bowl, and the only other team to win more than nine games was I-AA Furman. The I-AAs strike again!


Hawaii was a good team in 2007, but its schedule cloaked the fact that the Warriors were still a far way off from competing at the BCS level. I’m still not really sure how people (I’ll admit it, I thought they had a change against Georgia) just looked past Hawaii’s schedule. I mean, for God’s sake people, more teams lost 10 games than won ten games. A MAC team could have gone undefeated playing Hawaii’s 2007 schedule.

Check out Schedules, Part 4, which should be out by next week. In that, I’ll go over which premier games I’m looking forward to in the next five seasons. Hope you enjoyed the “bests and worsts” of BCS bowl team schedules. Well, actually I don't really care if you enjoyed it. But thanks for reading anyway.

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