Road to the BCS

[Sparlimb]

Two possible ways which both require winning the next 2. Obviously, we have a much better chance at #2.

1. Beat Sconnie and Michigan St, Michigan St also loses to Northwestern and then we beat OSU in the Big Ten Championship game.

OR

2. Beat Sconnie and Michigan St, Michigan St beats Northwestern, still goes to Big Ten Championship game and loses to OSU.

In scenario 2, we are on 6 game winning streak with a win over a top 25 team in Wisconsin, top 15 team in Michigan St. It's not out of the question we'd be ranked in the top 14 from there and we'd have the 2nd best record in the Big Ten. Now I realize this is all extremely unlikely, but #2 is a lot more doable than #1. I'm just glad to speculate about it for once EVER.

 

[BarnBoy]

Am I on the right message board?

This is awesome.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Ohio State's not as unbeatable as a lot of people think. High-powered and dangerous offensively with Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde, absolutely, but the Buckeye defense isn't anything special.

Buckeyes get a little extra love from the talking heads simply because their name is OSU, and because Urban Meyer is their coach. The winning streak they have going is impressive, but this isn't a vintage Buckeye squad.

 

[dpodoll68]

In scenario 2, we'd have the 3rd-best record, not 2nd. And there's almost no chance we could jump into the top 14 with two wins. It's possible, but highly unlikely.

 

[maroonedinCA]

In scenario 2, we'd have the 3rd-best record, not 2nd. And there's almost no chance we could jump into the top 14 with two wins. It's possible, but highly unlikely.

Not to mention getting to the Top 14 doesn't guarantee a BCS invite. It makes you elligible but the bowls still get to select based on their perception of what would move the needle nationally.

 

[Sparlimb]

In scenario 2, we'd have the 3rd-best record, not 2nd. And there's almost no chance we could jump into the top 14 with two wins. It's possible, but highly unlikely.

We'd be 10-2 on the year, Wisconsin would be 9-3 and Michigan St would be 9-3. I'm guessing your saying in the Big Ten. Which means nothing when picking BCS teams. I do agree it is highly unlikely...

 

[dpodoll68]

We'd be 10-2 on the year, Wisconsin would be 9-3 and Michigan St would be 9-3. I'm guessing your saying in the Big Ten. Which means nothing when picking BCS teams. I do agree it is highly unlikely...

No - Michigan St. would be 10-3. If you meant we'd have the 2nd-best overall record in the conference, you should've said so. Saying "2nd best record in the Big Ten" pretty clearly implies conference standings, where, again, we'd be 3rd.

 

[hungan1]

The teams that gets caught napping in the next two weekends will loose... This is blood and guts a-man-o B1G football time!

 

[RailBaronYarr]

Gee, I have a hard time believing coaches and media alike would keep out of of the top 14 with wins over 2 of the 3 best teams playing in the Big Ten right now. All anyone can talk about is how dominant the MSU defense is, how well both O & D for Wisconsin are playing, how severely underrated the Badgers are, etc. Media voters have been leaving us out of the top 25 for weeks because we lack signature wins (ignoring Nebraska of course, who has played pretty well since losing to us). A 10-2 team with wins over Wisconsin, Nebraska, & MSU should absolutely be ranked in the top 14. What more can they do to convince voters?

Beyond that, I think we'd really be rooting for OSU to make the NC game. If OSU is left out and goes to the Rose Bowl, I don't see a different bowl picking us. The Rose Bowl would want to stay with B1G-PAC12 tradition, and would be swayed by our success and story (similar to the 2007 Illinois team which had 1 more loss than we would). But yeah, I don't see the Orange, Sugar, or Fiesta Bowls taking us the way they look to take a Michigan or OSU as at-large..

Obviously that's a pipe dream. But let's win tomorrow and keep the dream alive.

 

[maroonedinCA]

Gee, I have a hard time believing coaches and media alike would keep out of of the top 14 with wins over 2 of the 3 best teams playing in the Big Ten right now. All anyone can talk about is how dominant the MSU defense is, how well both O & D for Wisconsin are playing, how severely underrated the Badgers are, etc. Media voters have been leaving us out of the top 25 for weeks because we lack signature wins (ignoring Nebraska of course, who has played pretty well since losing to us). A 10-2 team with wins over Wisconsin, Nebraska, & MSU should absolutely be ranked in the top 14. What more can they do to convince voters?

Beyond that, I think we'd really be rooting for OSU to make the NC game. If OSU is left out and goes to the Rose Bowl, I don't see a different bowl picking us. The Rose Bowl would want to stay with B1G-PAC12 tradition, and would be swayed by our success and story (similar to the 2007 Illinois team which had 1 more loss than we would). But yeah, I don't see the Orange, Sugar, or Fiesta Bowls taking us the way they look to take a Michigan or OSU as at-large..

Obviously that's a pipe dream. But let's win tomorrow and keep the dream alive.

You're absolutely right. In this scenario 1). OSU to the NC, 2). Minnesota in Top 14 and missing out on the BCG 3). 100th anniversary of the Rose Bowl I see no way for the Gophers to be passed up. Lots of ifs but better than scratching and clawing for MicronPC bowl or whatever.