Let's compare the schedules of the Top 6 teams

We could get screwed here. If USC and TX are 1 and 2, when the real polls come out, we could run the table and still not play for the NC. TN, Mich, and OU will all fall. I could see TX going undefeated and who the hell does USuck play that will beat them? I know this is pure speculation, I'm just thinking out loud.

 

Regardless of who is where and whatnot, the writers want to see the 2003/2005 NC game played.... go ahead and buy your tickets b/c LSU will play USC in Pasadena, both being undefeated.

 

Yup. Welcome to the "Big Media" Era of CFB. Like it or not, the "traditional schools" get the bias in today's BCS. It's there from the outset and it's real. Most else being equal, the media will use it's influence to engineer the BCS selection that provides the most favorable ratings matchups. It's blatantly about the benjamins

It's not about who is the "best team." It's about who can get through the season without a hiccup. Louisville could be a spoiler for the BCS this season. If they played in the SEC, they would be a mid-level SEC team, but because they play no top 20 teams on their schedule, they could easily be undefeated this season. Their toughest game is at West Virginia, Brohm is a talented QB, and their defense is adequate enough to get it done.

IMO, you can't say that about any SEC team, even one as strong as LSU. That's what is wrong with the system..... you get penalized for playing stiffer competition.

 

So, do you really believe the media controls the coaches as well as each other when it comes to the polls? And who are the traditional schools that get the benefit of this bias that don't belong in that top 10? Are all of them not worthy, or just a select few? Is Tenn. considered a traditional school? What would your top 10 look like without this bias?

 

JMO, but I would substitute the the word Influence for control, but the outcome is the same. Schools like Notre Dame, USC, Michigan, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio State, and Alabama are considered tradional powers from CFB's Golden era. In the new era, these schools are desired because of their past, not necessarily because of what they can produce today.

The current system is completely ingrained with bias. For example, you mention coaches. Most coaches that vote in the coaches poll (which has been a major BCS selection component) don't have time to keep up with their own agendas, let alone find time to research 25 other teams for the purpose of polling. So what do they do? More than 90% admit to getting much of their info from SportsCenter (ABC/Disney) ..... so they do their voting based on a media source. That's the definition of influence in it's most basic form.

Until a playoff is established, it's just a "mythical" NC.

 

I might have to join just to give you rep points.

If the media was running the show, as suggested, then fUSC would have been picked over LSU in your championship game. If the media wanted "most households", then Auburn would have played fUSC last year as there is a greater population in SEC states than in the Big 12.
Looking at this year's rankings, it would appear the media is giving the SEC it's proper due. As a Big Ten guy, I could argue that Minnesota (God, I hate those fans) has more right to be ranked in the top 25 than Alabama... they beat them and have most of their team coming back.
So unless you're a Michigan (who, btw, is one of few "tradition" schools still playing at the highest level), the rest of us will continue to jam the media every time our team isn't given the respect we so well deserve.
If the media wasn't there to decide the best teams, who would do it.............. us?

 

The system didnt allow it, so the next year the system was changed to give the media more say.. that shows their power...

OU is considered part of the Texas market, which in itself is a bigger market that all of the south (other than florida).

The "traditional" school deal kicked in with LSU in 2003 and with Auburn in 2004... had it been Florida, Alabama, or Tennessee (maybe even Georgia) in those spots, there would have been no championship questions.

 

Why on earth would you pull the Florida population base out of the numbers to make a point that there then would be more people in the Big 12 if Florida didn't count?

Is that like saying Burger King would be #1 if McDonald's wasn't there?

 

The system didnt allow it, so the next year the system was changed to give the media more say.. that shows their power...

No one is denying "influence"... the original statement was about "control".

Don't sweat the petty stuff,
pet the sweaty stuff.

 

:hihi:

Because the Florida market was killing his point, so it was easy to just throw them out of the market. Atlanta will be thrown out next.

To say that the coaches votes are based on Sports Center opinions is also pretty laughable IMO. These guys may not do the rearch they should due to time constraints and other issues, but I'm pretty sure they form there own opinons. I'm also sure that many of them think the guys on ESPN are stupid like almost all college football fans seem to think.

And why the hell would the media and or the coaches give a rats ass who was ranked where? The TV media is broken up into several different segments and get thier income from several different markets.