Texas Vaults Past USC In Latest BCS Poll

[The Judge]

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network)

The top two teams in the second edition of the 2005 BCS standings remained the same, but their positions changed as Texas managed to leap past Southern California for the top spot.

Last week Southern California held the No. 1 position, but the computer rankings were the deciding factor in Texas' ascension to the top this week.

The BCS system uses a pair of human polls -- the Harris Interactive and the USA Today -- as well as six computer rankings. Each poll counts one-third toward the overall score, while the average of the computers completes the formula.

Southern California (7-0) is the top team in both polls, but the computers rank Texas (7-0) first and USC second. The highest and lowest computer ranking is dropped and the average of the other four makes up the grade.

Only one of the six computers has the Trojans ahead of the Longhorns. Texas is first on the other five computer rankings, but two of the computers have USC fourth and fifth, respectively.

The Longhorns have an overall BCS score of .9763, while the Trojans are close behind at .9756. The margin of .0007 is the slimmest between the top two teams in BCS history.

Still, if Texas and Southern California wind up as the top two teams when the final BCS poll is released on December 4, the two storied programs will play in the Rose Bowl on January 4 for at least a share of the national championship.

The remaining unbeaten teams -- Virginia Tech, Georgia, Alabama and UCLA -- make up the next four spots, but all are well behind the top two.

Virginia Tech is closest with an overall score of .9164, while Georgia is next at .8679. Alabama's grade is .8513 and UCLA's is .7384.

Miami-Florida, LSU, Penn State and Florida State comprise the remainder of the top 10.

The champions from the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12, Big East, Pac-10 and Southeastern Conference make up six of the eight teams in the four BCS games -- the Rose, Orange, Sugar and Fiesta Bowls. The other two spots go to at-large teams.

In the wake of another BCS controversy last year when an undefeated Auburn team was left out of the national championship game that featured USC and Oklahoma, this year's BCS poll has some changes, most notably with the Harris Interactive poll replacing the Associated Press poll in the system. Last year, the AP said the use of its poll in the BCS was never sanctioned and had reached the point where it threatened to undermine the independence and integrity of its poll.

 

[dawgball]

IFFFFFFF (now that's a big if!) Georgia is able to beat Florida and Alabama (assuming they stay undefeated which is unlikely) in the SEC championship, do we even have a shot of getting above an undefeated VTech?

I am almost positive we wouldn't get in the top two if both Texas and USC remain unbeaten.

So, does UGA get past VTech?

 

[Scott4USC]

IFFFFFFF (now that's a big if!) Georgia is able to beat Florida and Alabama (assuming they stay undefeated which is unlikely) in the SEC championship, do we even have a shot of getting above an undefeated VTech?

I am almost positive we wouldn't get in the top two if both Texas and USC remain unbeaten.

So, does UGA get past VTech?

No because that means V-Tech beat Boston College, Miami, and Florida St. Georgia should have scheduled a strong BCS opponent in OOC play. Add that to G-Tech and UGA has a solid case. They only have themselves to blame. Texas playing OSU in OOC play and on the road was smart. Props to them!

 

[Mr Hockey]

Georgia imo would have a strong case. Yes VT would have some huge wins but Georgia should get some major props if they were to possibly beat a top 5 undefeated Alabama team.

What could help Georgia is if Florida beats Florida State.

 

[Lost Hillbilly]

If Virginia Tech stays undefeated, I don't see how Georgia could jump them. Tech would then have wins over GT when they were #15 who beat Auburn, West Virginia which will probably be the Big East Champ, a #11 Boston College, #7Miami, Virginia who beat FSU and then most likely a top 10 FSU team in the ACC title game. I'd like to see the dawgs finish undefeated because that would be a great match up with Virginia Tech in possibly the Sugar Bowl in Atlanta. But IMO, I think Tech and UGA will each have one loss when its all said and done. But IMO I would also think that VA Tech and UGA should jump over Texas if they both finish undefeated considering Texas finishes with Ok. St., Baylor, Kansas and Tex A&M and then either Mizzou or Colorado. Texas' only major wins would be over Ohio St. and Texas Tech to which I think there are fifteen teams that would beat the Red Raiders.

I will be very surprised if there are three or more teams undefeated when the season is over. Bama still has LSU, Auburn, Georgia has the cocktail party, Auburn and Ga Tech, USC and UCLA still clash and the Hokies finish with the above teams.

The season is still a long way from being finished and in all likelyhood USC and Texas will be the only two remaining which are undefeated.

 

[Cie]

Imo, UGA loses on Saturday. Bama will lose vs. LSU or Auburn, or both:weed:

 

[Pujo21]

THIS IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT:

V TECH---Beat: NC.St.,Duke,Ohio,GT,W VA,MARSH,MD.
--------------Left: BC, MIA, Va, NC

TEXAS-----Beat: UL LAF, OHIO St, RICE, MIZZO, OK, COLO, T.T.
---------------Left: OK St, BAY, KANS, T.A&M

USC---------Beat: HAWAII, ARK, ORE, AZ, AZ St, N.D.,WASH.
---------------Left: WAS St, STAN, CAL, FRESNO, UCLA

UCLA------Beat: SD St, RICE, OKLA, WAS, CAL, WAS St, ORE St.
--------------Left: STAN, AZ, AZ St,USC

GA---------Beat: BOISE,SC,UL MON, MISS St, TENN,VAND,ARK
-------------Left: FLA, AUB, KY, GT

ALABAMA--Beat: Mid Tenn, So.Miss, SC, ARK, FLA, MISS, TENN
--------------Left: UT ST, MISS ST, LSU, AUB

 

[INtheBLUE]

I'm gonna laugh my ass off literally at the biggest wrench gets thrown in the mix when Stanford beats USC.

 

[Pujo21]

NOT SO FAST with TEXAS...

They have dropped real low in the BCS futures....BUT " IF " Va Tech runs the table , they could leapfrog TEXAS.Texas is playing some real weaklings to finish up and surely USC will be back on top if they should not get upset. they were discussing this on ESPN this evening . They said this is only temporary and that it can get dicey if VA Tech and USC run the table.

USC gets beat you are looking at TEXAS versus VA TECH/GA.

USC wins out and they are in...but those 4 last opponents can do TEXAS in.

USC is -220 to win ROSE BOWL
TEXAS is + 250
Va Tech is at + 600
GA. + 1500
ALA + 1800
UCLA + 2000

 

[INtheBLUE]

Real Quick and stupid question, Everyone keeps mentioning Georgia, Alabama gets overlooked. Does anyone remember 92? Bama won many close games, but still won all of them for the national title!! Georgia has won too but looked just as vulnerable as Bama!

I think it is a moot point because I dont see Texas or USC losing, but its still a point to be made.

 

[Scott4USC]

The question is will either/both polls rank V-Tech #2? Can V-Tech pass Texas despite being currently ranked #3 in both polls? We saw Texas this week pass USC being ranked #2 in both polls. The only team that controls their own destiny is USC unless USC loses their #1 ranking in either/both polls.

If you are a hokie fan, you better pray ESPN/MEDIA starts pimping up V-Techs schedule and downgrading Texas. It has to start right away. Otherwise there is no chance for V-Tech to jump to #2. Texas should win by DD's every week in the 2h of season. So they will look impressive.

Here is an interesting question. What if Vince Young gets injured? Do you put V-Tech pass Texas? Very interesting. I would think there is decent probability of him getting injured since he is a running QB.

 

[Scott4USC]

Once again, BCS set up to get it wrong
Maybe a huge mistake is only way to rid us of this system

link

Don't get me wrong, I love watching the University of Texas play football this season. I could make the case, if I still voted for the Heisman Trophy, that Vince Young, the Longhorns' fabulously versatile quarterback, is the best player in all college football. TV analyst and former Dolphins great Bob Griese made the point the other day, during the broadcast of the Longhorns' whipping of Texas Tech, that it was unfair for Young to be unleashed on Saturdays because he can only be tested by the pros.

No question, undefeated Texas is good. The Longhorns traveled to Columbus, Ohio, and beat Ohio State. They've beaten Colorado, which was ranked in the top 25 at the time. Just three days ago, they popped the Red Raiders, who came into the game undefeated. Texas might prove, by the beginning of January, to be the best team in college football.

Now, here comes the "however" part of this column.

Texas shouldn't be first in the BCS ratings. No one should be ahead of Southern Cal. The Trojans are two-time national champs. They've won 29 straight and counting. While Texas beat one ranked opponent on the road in the Buckeyes, USC defeated then-ranked Arizona State in Tempe and Notre Dame in South Bend. Excuse me, but nothing on Texas's resume matches winning at Notre Dame. And while Young can carry a team, he's not as impressive as reigning Heisman winner Matt Leinart, all-American Reggie Bush and all-American LenDale White.

To be rated higher than the two-time champion, you ought to have done something to demonstrate you're better than the champ ? and Texas has not done that. Neither has Virginia Tech, Georgia, Alabama or UCLA, all of them undefeated.

But this is what the BCS does. Every year, through some formulaic nonsense, the BCS tells us something most of us don't believe. And the sad, sad thing is, this flawed indicator determines who plays for the national championship in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4 in Pasadena, Calif.

There are circumstances, however unlikely, that could leave Texas and Virginia Tech ranked ahead of Southern Cal at the end of the season because of what the BCS claims to value. That would mean the back-to-back national champs could go undefeated and not have a chance to defend their title.

An undefeated Virginia Tech would have beaten 13th-ranked Boston College, sixth-ranked Miami and perhaps 10th-ranked Florida State in the first ACC championship game. You think beating those teams wouldn't vault Virginia Tech? Admittedly, it's a little much to assume Tech will run the table. We've seen the Hokies go 7-0, 8-0 and then crash through the floor.

Meanwhile, Texas is already ahead of Southern Cal (even if only by the slimmest margin). And the Longhorns aren't likely to lose to Baylor (4-3), Kansas (3-4), Texas A&M (5-2) or Oklahoma State (3-4). It could be, however, that an undefeated Longhorns team gets hurt in the BCS rankings by a weak Big 12 schedule.

The point is, any system that makes it possible, no matter how remotely, that an undefeated Southern Cal team could be left out of the Rose Bowl is too stupid to live with. People (mostly college presidents) who defend this system and argue against a playoff shouldn't be able to wake up with a clear conscience.

Two years ago, a one-loss USC team had to settle for playing Michigan while Louisiana State and Oklahoma duked it out for the championship in the Sugar Bowl. Last year, an undefeated Auburn team most of us thought was one of the two best teams in the country, was left out of the championship game while Southern Cal dusted overrated Oklahoma.

Some of us were hoping that the BCS would be embarrassed enough to go away . . . or be sent away. But we weren't that lucky. It's back, tweaked a bit and still embarrassingly inadequate.

I'm for an eight-team playoff, which this year would include USC, Texas, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Alabama, UCLA, and probably Miami and LSU. If one of them slips, then Penn Sate, Florida State and Oregon would join in. Would one of the one-loss teams be angry over being left out? Yes, absolutely. But that's not as unforgivable as an undefeated team ranked in the top three having no chance to win on the field.

I'm wondering if the only quick way out of the BCS is to have something so unjust and infuriating happen that the public demands change. Though USC ought to be first in the BCS, perhaps I should be rooting for USC to go undefeated, yet finish third. A Texas-Virginia Tech Rose Bowl with Leinart/Bush/White playing anywhere else might help inch college football to a playoff.

 

[INtheBLUE]

Good link Scotty,

I really hope that USC finishes 3rd and doesnt get a chance to defend it's title. It would take something like that to force a re-look at the playoff. Also If Tech goes undefeated and jumps Texas, they will be in the same boat as Auburn last year. Again, Public Outcry!! ANARCHY!!

What would really be COOL if USC, Texas, Va Tech, and Georgia/Alabama all end up undefeated. Talk about FAN RAGE!! You would end up with 2 undefeated teams at the end of it all and BOTH would have a legitimate gripe they should be crowned National Champions! I would be the first in line to see the added game between these two played in Atlanta, Georgia on Jan 11th.!!!

 

[sdf]

Once again, BCS set up to get it wrong
Maybe a huge mistake is only way to rid us of this system


Now, here comes the "however" part of this column.

Texas shouldn't be first in the BCS ratings. No one should be ahead of Southern Cal. The Trojans are two-time national champs. They've won 29 straight and counting. While Texas beat one ranked opponent on the road in the Buckeyes, USC defeated then-ranked Arizona State in Tempe and Notre Dame in South Bend. Excuse me, but nothing on Texas's resume matches winning at Notre Dame. And while Young can carry a team, he's not as impressive as reigning Heisman winner Matt Leinart, all-American Reggie Bush and all-American LenDale White.

To be rated higher than the two-time champion, you ought to have done something to demonstrate you're better than the champ ? and Texas has not done that. Neither has Virginia Tech, Georgia, Alabama or UCLA, all of them undefeated.

i didnt bother reading further.

1) MichSt won at NDame...so exactly how impressed should we be that U$C eeked out a very fortunate win there?

2) LSU won at ASU...so exactly how impressed should we be that U$C eeked out a win there?
Not to mention ASU got it handed to them by Stanford....the same Stanford squad that lost to UC Davis.

3) Oregon beat ASU at ASU worse that U$C did. so exactly how impress should we be that U$C eeked out a win there? Just because ASU was ranked doesnt mean they are a top25 team. In fact, seeing how they are 3-4 proves they arent.
Texas, though, has beaten 3 teams ranked in the top 25 that are STILL in the top 25.

4) When Texas played at OhioSt, everyone claimed they couldnt win there because NO ONE wins at OSU at night.

5) Just because U$C won the MNC last year doesnt mean they are owed anything. I would still rank them #1, but that doesnt mean they HAVE to be #1. If those voters who follow college football closely that have seen Texas and U$C play multiple times deem Texas a "better" team, then so be it.


5) How much better would Young be if he had Reggie Bush running behind him this year? Imagine all the pressure that would be taken off VY because teams couldnt KEY on him or else Bush will go off on them.

How much better is Matt Leinart because Bush and White run behind him? How much better is Bush and White because they have leinart?

See, Texas' opponents can key on VY because he *IS* the team. He makes that team go. VY is the MVP of college football. MVP does not mean Heisman winner...but you have to admit Texas would not be where they are without VY.

LenDale White has already shown this year that U$C can win without Bush. LenDale has outrushed Reggie in 3 games this year alone! LenDale has more TDs then Reggie too, albeit on more carries.

Texas is outrushing U$C...and they have neither Reggie nor LenDale.


:sadwave:

 

[INtheBLUE]

Sure is going to be an interesting end this year!!

 

[Scott4USC]

1) MichSt won at NDame...so exactly how impressed should we be that U$C eeked out a very fortunate win there?

USC is the #1 team in the country and USC/ND are huge rivals. USC is not MSU. ND had 2 weeks to prepare and Weis been preparing for MONTHS for USC. Get it?

2) LSU won at ASU...so exactly how impressed should we be that U$C eeked out a win there?
Not to mention ASU got it handed to them by Stanford....the same Stanford squad that lost to UC Davis.

Didn't USC get royally screwed by the refs in that game? Even Pac 10 commissioner said so! Isn't USC #1 team in the country? Isn't USC going to get ASU's best shot in hostile environment? Didn't Nebraska in the 90's lose to ASU @ASU when they were #1 in the country?

ASU put up 560 total yards offense against LSU D. Didn't LSU need 2 special teams TD's and a 40+ yard 4th down bomb to beat ASU?

I think ASU had 3 punts blocked against Stanford and starting QB Keller not 100% healthy. Stanford was without good players against UC Davis.

3) Oregon beat ASU at ASU worse that U$C did. so exactly how impress should we be that U$C eeked out a win there? Just because ASU was ranked doesnt mean they are a top25 team. In fact, seeing how they are 3-4 proves they arent.
Texas, though, has beaten 3 teams ranked in the top 25 that are STILL in the top 25.

Ohio St. is the only impressive win for Texas. We can't judge Texas Tech because they have not played anybody and Texas got TT @Texas.

Let me repeat myself. When you are playing the #1 team in the country, you play and prepare differently. USC got ASU's best game. Oregon didn't. Why don't understand this. This is why NOBODY has won 3 straight National Championships. You get everybodies best shot! Get it? ASU, Oregon, and ND all have super talented teams. All 3 have explosive offenses that can score on anybody in the country if they are clicking.

4) When Texas played at OhioSt, everyone claimed they couldnt win there because NO ONE wins at OSU at night.

That was an impressive win for Texas IMO the reason Texas is #2. Otherwise, they have no case to be ranked #2 in the polls.

5) How much better would Young be if he had Reggie Bush running behind him this year? Imagine all the pressure that would be taken off VY because teams couldnt KEY on him or else Bush will go off on them.

Texas is loaded with talent just like USC.

How much better is Matt Leinart because Bush and White run behind him? How much better is Bush and White because they have leinart?

I agree they help Leinart and make him look good. But how much better are they that Leinart is the QB? Same thing. Help each other.

See, Texas' opponents can key on VY because he *IS* the team. He makes that team go. VY is the MVP of college football. MVP does not mean Heisman winner...but you have to admit Texas would not be where they are without VY.

I may be in the minority with this statement but I think Texas would be fine without Young. Stick that Bowling Green QB or VIck in the offense and would it miss a beat? BG and Tech don't have the talent and OL that Young has. Young didn't look great against Ohio St. yet many praise him for that game. He was below average QB up until late 4th quarter. People forget that.

LenDale White has already shown this year that U$C can win without Bush. LenDale has outrushed Reggie in 3 games this year alone! LenDale has more TDs then Reggie too, albeit on more carries.

I thought that too until the ND game. ND stopped White but coudn't stop Bush.

But I think Weis saw how dominating White was coming into the game that he had his D sell out on White everytime he entered the game. Whenever USC playactioned off White, ND D collapsed the LOS and USC WR's were open. Sometimes USC dropped the easy passes.

Texas is outrushing U$C...and they have neither Reggie nor LenDale.

Isn't USC out passing Texas? USC is a balanced team. USC can beat you rushing or passing or both. Texas is mainly a rushing threat.

 

[The Judge]

USC is a balanced team. USC can beat you rushing or passing or both. Texas is mainly a rushing threat.

Texas has 1,618 yards passing this year and 1,808 yards rushing. That is just about as ballanced as you get. But I forgot, Young is horrible passing quarterback.

I await your next novel on this subject that you obviously know nothing about.

 

[Dice34]

i didnt bother reading further.

1) MichSt won at NDame...so exactly how impressed should we be that U$C eeked out a very fortunate win there?

2) LSU won at ASU...so exactly how impressed should we be that U$C eeked out a win there?
Not to mention ASU got it handed to them by Stanford....the same Stanford squad that lost to UC Davis.

3) Oregon beat ASU at ASU worse that U$C did. so exactly how impress should we be that U$C eeked out a win there? Just because ASU was ranked doesnt mean they are a top25 team. In fact, seeing how they are 3-4 proves they arent.
Texas, though, has beaten 3 teams ranked in the top 25 that are STILL in the top 25.

4) When Texas played at OhioSt, everyone claimed they couldnt win there because NO ONE wins at OSU at night.

5) Just because U$C won the MNC last year doesnt mean they are owed anything. I would still rank them #1, but that doesnt mean they HAVE to be #1. If those voters who follow college football closely that have seen Texas and U$C play multiple times deem Texas a "better" team, then so be it.


5) How much better would Young be if he had Reggie Bush running behind him this year? Imagine all the pressure that would be taken off VY because teams couldnt KEY on him or else Bush will go off on them.

How much better is Matt Leinart because Bush and White run behind him? How much better is Bush and White because they have leinart?

See, Texas' opponents can key on VY because he *IS* the team. He makes that team go. VY is the MVP of college football. MVP does not mean Heisman winner...but you have to admit Texas would not be where they are without VY.

LenDale White has already shown this year that U$C can win without Bush. LenDale has outrushed Reggie in 3 games this year alone! LenDale has more TDs then Reggie too, albeit on more carries.

Texas is outrushing U$C...and they have neither Reggie nor LenDale.


:sadwave:

How impressed should we be with the Oklahoma win, who was beat by TCU, that same TCU team was beat by SMU(1-4) the next week, then SMU was killed by texas A&M the following week, oh wait lets not forget that Texas A&M team the next week got 31 pts put on them by Texas State.

You know what all that crap means not a damn thing. Who gives a Flying Fvck. It won't be right til we get a playoff

 

[Scott4USC]

Texas has 1,618 yards passing this year and 1,808 yards rushing. That is just about as ballanced as you get. But I forgot, Young is horrible passing quarterback.

Well statistically they are a balanced team!

:clap: :clap: :clap:

I don't think teams fear their passing attack.

I await your next novel on this subject that you obviously know nothing about.

Then why don't you put me on IGNORE? You will never see a post from me again!

 

[dawgball]

Georgia should have scheduled a strong BCS opponent in OOC play.

not to get tangled in any heated debates, but Georgia did have THEN #18 Boise St. to open the season which has unfortunately turned out to be a joke.

5 wins over top 20 teams (does it matter if they are OOC?) is a pretty good year. This is assuming that Bama makes it to SECC in the top 20.

Just a thought.