Does the BCS Know how to Handle Oklahoma State?
The Oklahoma State Cowboys are undefeated and have the makings of a great season in their hands. They have a deadly offense led by senior quarterback Brandon Weeden and last year’s Fred Biletnikoff Award winner Justin Blackmon. They are currently ranked 4th in the BCS Standings, but the problem is who is ahead of them.
Currently sitting at 3 in those rankings are the Oklahoma Sooners, the Cowboys’ rival. The two meet in Stillwater, Oklahoma on December 3.
So let’s run through a few scenarios.
Say these two teams are undefeated going into the final game of the season against each other. If Oklahoma wins, then they will probably go to the BCS Championship Game. After all, they were the preseason top-ranked team. Since the two teams in front of them, LSU and Alabama, play each other, the Sooners may be ranked either 1 or 2 going into their game against Oklahoma State. That means that Oklahoma would likely play the winner of the SEC.
But what if the Cowboys win? If the Cowboys win and finish the season 12-0, do they get a spot in the BCS Championship game? They are the next team in line in the BCS Standings, but there is no guarantee that they get that spot.
There are currently ten undefeated teams in the country. At the end of the season, the highest number of teams that could be undefeated is 7. Either Alabama or LSU will lose. At least 2 of the 3 undefeated Big XII teams have to end up losing.
But it seems like there are two tiers of undefeated teams forming. The top tier, Oklahoma, LSU, and Alabama, all likely get a ticket to the BCS Championship game if they win out. If only one of these teams remain standing, it will be a frenzy to take the remaining spot in the BCS Championship Game. As many as six teams could have an argument for that spot.
Does Oklahoma State deserve a spot over any of these teams? It seems fair if you don the orange and black. But these other teams would object.
An undefeated Wisconsin team should certainly be deserving of the BCS Championship Game. Clemson is certainly making a strong case for themselves. They even have two SEC teams on their schedule despite being in the ACC. And there is always the ever-present question, “What do we do with an undefeated Boise State?” Stanford still has Andrew Luck, but they have a tough schedule remaining. If they win out, media hype around Luck could push them into the game.
Oklahoma State has their ranking partly because of their offense. They pass for almost 400 yards per game and rush for another 150. They score almost 50 points per game. The criticism for the Cowboys is on the defensive side of the ball. They are giving up over 27 points per contest. Interestingly enough, the only team in the country that scores more than Oklahoma State is Wisconsin. The Badgers average over 50 points per game and hold their opponents to less than 10. Wisconsin is currently ranked behind Oklahoma State at 6, but the polls often reflect trends. Wisconsin plays their final games at 23 Illinois and at home against 21 Penn State. Then comes the first ever Big 10 Championship game. But all of this could be overshadowed by the Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State game.
So which team is “hotter?” The team that finishes the season against two ranked teams or the one that beats a national powerhouse in the top 5? There is a lot of football left to play, so all undefeated teams need to maintain their perfection. In a year like this, there is no room for error. Unfortunately, there isn’t even room for this many undefeated teams.
