Is it possible to have two BCS Busters in one year, one as an automatic bid and the other as an at-large bid? Conventional wisdom and articles across the nation say a resounding "no way."
I, however, am of the firm opinion that this is the year in which two BCS busters may very well happen, and here's why.
It all stems from the fact that no more than two teams from any conference may participate in a BCS game.
Let's rightfully assume that the top two teams in both the Big 12 and SEC get BCS games. That eats up two BCS games, leaving three remaining. Let's also assume Penn State and USC win their conferences (that doesn't take a stretch of the imagination).
What does that leave? Not much.
We're left with two games. The ACC and Big East send their sorry champions, and a BCS buster—probably Utah or Boise State—also takes a spot. We're left with one at-large bid, which is the key to the second BCS buster.
The Big 12 and SEC are already done with two from each conference, and the ACC, Big East, and Pac-10 don't have a second team near enough in the rankings to contend for the spot. Who does that leave?
The only BCS choice that makes sense is Ohio State. The Buckeyes will most likely win out the rest of their season and finish barely inside the top 10. The question is, "is there a non-BCS team that has the stuff to take the bid over Ohio State?"
Boise State
The Broncos may have a pup schedule ahead of them, but it's not much less than the Buckeyes. Boise State is already ranked higher than Ohio State and will likely remain that way if they win out.
Ball State
The Cardinals' schedule from here out is actually quite tough, playing perhaps the No. 2 and No. 3 teams of their conference. If they win those, it's no stretch to think that an undefeated Ball State could leapfrog a two-loss Ohio State.
Brigham Young
With their remaining schedule including a near-top 25 Air Force and an easily top 10 Utah, the Cougars could see their value rise dramatically in the last two weeks of their season. Taking a co-championship in what is considered by most to be the third-best conference in the nation (behind only the Big 12 and SEC) could spell recognition enough to get a bid over the Buckeyes.
Yes, we may and we should see two BCS Busters this year.
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about 1 month ago
It's good to make people aware of this. A lot of people wrongly think that it is impossible to have multiple non-BCS teams in BCS bowls, rather than improbable.
about 1 month ago
"in what is considered by most to be the third-best conference in the nation"
Not so fast my friend. Not sure who you're talking to, but "most" consider the Big 10, Pac 10, and ACC stronger than the MWC this year.
It's not impossible to have multiple non-BCS teams in the bowls this year, it's just not going to happen. If Oregon State wins out, USC will get one of the at-large spots, with the higher ranked of Utah/Boise St getting the other. If Oregon State loses and Ohio State wins out. Ohio State will get that 2nd at large bid. There is no way that any of the major bowls passes on a 2 loss OSU team, even in favor of an undefeated mid-major. There's just too much name recognition and money from a large alumni fan-base.
about 1 month ago
Some good points Ron. I didn't consider the possibility of Oregon State winning out. That would indeed crush the possibility of a second BCS busters. That aside, Ohio State is indeed the biggest and mostly likely threat to having two BCS busters. I only raise the point that there is indeed a chance that a higher-ranked non-BCS team will get it instead. BYU has plenty of name-recognition having won a National Championship before, and Boise State has been ranked in the BCS repeatedly over the past decade, including a BCS Bowl win a few years back that made national headlines.
The Big 10 and ACC can MAYBE make claims of being better than the Mountain West, but the Pac 10 absolutely can not. In direct MWC vs. Pac-10 matchups, the Mountain West won 6 out of 7. The lowly UNLV beat the lowly Arizona State, and the elite Utah beat the elite Oregon State. Can there really be any question? The only Pac-10 victory was a decent California beating an average Colorado State.
Check out the poll on this page for my evidence as to the MWC being third best in people's eyes. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/80167-mountain-west-conference-teams-causing-major-bcs-problems/poll_results#poll
about 1 month ago
Good points, Boise State has the upper hand, and what they need is Ohio State to lose and fall out of the top 14, because these two schools are fighting for the last spot. It is realistic that Michigan State could lose to Ohio state but not climb high enough to be in the top 14, or just have Michigan beat OSU.
Ball State could make it but it needs Boise State to lose and hope BYU loses against Utah.
IF two teams make it lets hope that they do not play each other, because that would suck
about 1 month ago
For sure about that. I think the bowls will select BCS conference teams for their first team before selecting the last 2 non-BCS teams. That being said, matching against the ACC or Big East champions may not be too much of an improvement over Utah-Boise.
about 1 month ago
It is for sure a possibility. But I really don't think it will happen if BYU beats Utah. If Utah wins and Boise St. wins out then it should happen.
about 1 month ago
The possibility does exist but there is a very slim chance it will happen. The Bowls choose who they want from the at-large field. There is a lot that goes into the decision making but the bottom line is money. If it were to come down to Ohio State or any of the teams you mentioned, Oio State would get the nod. They have consistently proven that they will make the bowls money. OSU has one of the largest fan bases in all of college football and the fans travel in droves. It is not uncommon for OSU fans to travel even without a ticket to the game. This gives them an edge.
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