State of the Game - College Football

Yes, as it turns out, I'm an expert on College Football too! Not really, but I do want to see if I can make point here.

I'll be the first to tell you that my Cowboys were lucky to get out of Columbia with a win last Saturday night and honestly, I think they're over-rated for what they've accomplished at #8 this week in the AP poll. That's not to say they aren't that good, but I don't think they've proven themselves yet.

I'll also be the first to say that their only shot at a national title (did I really even utter those words? Yes, but only to make a point, not because I think that is something they can contend for this year) is to run the table. That includes a trip to Austin (to face this week's #1), a trip to Lubbock (current #7 Texas Tech), and a visit from the Sooners (currently #4) between now and the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Mixed in there are a couple of other Big 12 teams that we "should" beat and Baylor, who we should throttle. Then, if all the stars align just the right way and by some miracle we won all of those games we'd have to win the Big 12 Championship game - an almost certain rematch with a really irritated Mizzou (this week's #11). But that's the deal when you start the season outside the top 10 (in our case outside the top 25) and live in the Big 12 South.

For the record, I'm completely okay with the preceding paragraph. If the Cowboys lose a game they should not even be discussed as a title contender.

What I'm not okay with is USC and Penn State being in the driver's seat to a title game. Yes, you read that right, those are the two teams with the best chance at winning out and playing for a title. What's wrong with that you ask? A lot.

USC lost to unranked Oregon State. No offense to the Beavers, but it's not the kind of loss that a team with only one ranked team remaining on their schedule should be able to shake off. Their only important win was at home against an Ohio State team that (and I'm sorry to say this Matt and Aaron) hasn't lived up to its billing this year. USC plays in a joke conference and frankly any loss for them should end all discussion of a title game appearance. They couldn't hack it in the Big 12 south or either division of the SEC.

Penn State. Well, at least they're still undefeated. Who have they played? Wait, no one. They've got to play Ohio State. And who else? I'm drawing a blank. Even undefeated, they don't deserve a shot. The Big 10 (or is it 11) is really weak this year. I'd only retract that if they were undefeated and all teams in both the Big 12 and SEC had at least 1 loss (and even then I don't think they deserve it). Penn State couldn't hack it in the Big 12 south or the SEC either.

Speaking of conference power, a couple of thoughts on that. I will admit that for the last few years the SEC has been the conference to beat. I do think the Big 12 - specifically the south, but certainly Mizzou and Kansas need to be considered in the equation - is tougher than the SEC this year, but it's close. Any team surviving an SEC schedule with 1 loss should get serious BCS consideration.

One other thought on conferences. Any conference without a championship game shouldn't be taken seriously when it comes time to dole out BCS selections - or else championship game results should not be a factor in determining bowl selections. This whole thing where most conferences - and the toughest of the conferences among them - have to play their regular season, then a championship game while others sit around for a month is a joke.