BCS questions

[minn_stat]

Originally Posted by ute4ever

No matter how many mid-majors are ranked in the top 12, only the highest ranked team gets an automatic berth, while the others are merely deemed as eligible for at-large selections.

Amongst the BCS conferences, only teams in the top 14 are eligible for at-large selections, and a conference cannot have more than two teams in the 5 bowls. Therefore, if there are 5 Big 12 and 4 SEC teams crowding the top 14, and only 4 of them can participate, that opens the door for a second eligilbe at-large mid-major to participate.

Scenario:
1) 9 total teams from the Big 12 and SEC in the top 14
2) Big Ten and PAC Ten champs in the top 14
3) 3 mid-majors in top 14

Then not only does it open the door for a second mid-major team to get in the BCS, it **guarantees** it. The 2 extra mid-majors would be the only teams eligible for at-large selection.

This is a real, albeit small, possibility I'd love to see happen. Right now, the three requirements listed above play out like this:
1) There are 8 total teams from the Big 12 and SEC in the top 14. LSU of the SEC is the next BCS team in line (currently #16), assuming someone in front of them falters. Behind them, starting at #18, is a slew of non-Big 12/SEC BCS teams, so this scenario requires LSU to beat Alabama this week.
2) This requires USC to win the PAC-10, which means Oregon State must lose. This is very possible, as Oregon State has to play Arizona and UCLA on the road, and Cal and Oregon at home.
3) There are currently 3 mid-majors in the top 14, although one of them is TCU, who is going to drop out. But BYU (#15) and Ball State (#17) are both in line to move into the top 14 before any BCS teams other than LSU.

Essentially, this scenario requires Ohio State to lose and fall out of the top 14 (they play at #24 Northwestern this week), and for BYU and LSU to replace them and TCU in the top 14, with Ball State moving to #15. Then the BYU/Utah loser will be replaced by Ball State, and if Oregon State loses and LSU wins, the scenario lined up above could happen. This part of the scenario isn't all that far-fetched.

What makes it unlikely is that it obviously requires that the other teams in the top 14 continue to win. But some of them still play each other, particularly in the Big 12 South. In those cases, the losers have to be high enough in the standings to not fall below #14.

[Mormon Red Death]

Originally Posted by minn_stat

Scenario:
1) 9 total teams from the Big 12 and SEC in the top 14
2) Big Ten and PAC Ten champs in the top 14
3) 3 mid-majors in top 14

Then not only does it open the door for a second mid-major team to get in the BCS, it **guarantees** it. The 2 extra mid-majors would be the only teams eligible for at-large selection.

This is a real, albeit small, possibility I'd love to see happen. Right now, the three requirements listed above play out like this:
1) There are 8 total teams from the Big 12 and SEC in the top 14. LSU of the SEC is the next BCS team in line (currently #16), assuming someone in front of them falters. Behind them, starting at #18, is a slew of non-Big 12/SEC BCS teams, so this scenario requires LSU to beat Alabama this week.
2) This requires USC to win the PAC-10, which means Oregon State must lose. This is very possible, as Oregon State has to play Arizona and UCLA on the road, and Cal and Oregon at home.
3) There are currently 3 mid-majors in the top 14, although one of them is TCU, who is going to drop out. But BYU (#15) and Ball State (#17) are both in line to move into the top 14 before any BCS teams other than LSU.

Essentially, this scenario requires Ohio State to lose and fall out of the top 14 (they play at #24 Northwestern this week), and for BYU and LSU to replace them and TCU in the top 14, with Ball State moving to #15. Then the BYU/Utah loser will be replaced by Ball State, and if Oregon State loses and LSU wins, the scenario lined up above could happen. This part of the scenario isn't all that far-fetched.

What makes it unlikely is that it obviously requires that the other teams in the top 14 continue to win. But some of them still play each other, particularly in the Big 12 South. In those cases, the losers have to be high enough in the standings to not fall below #14.

You sound like a guy who reads my posts