GolfHos

Texas hadn't backed out of their game with Utah this year forcing Utah to pick up Weber State.

Obviously, everything else remaining the same, a Utah win would/should have them 5-0 against ranked teams and a very, very, very strong argument for a #1 ranking.

A Texas win... does that put them in the national championship game?

[correction: Texas didn't back out.  Utah was forced to reschedule when TCU came on board.]

I think their argument is strong today no matter. One of the problems with the system is the ESPN-ization of the sport. They, along with the human polls, determine the glamour teams early on and it's too difficult for the Utah/Boise St./etc. squads to climb the mountain during the season to get in position for the title game.

If the system isn't going to change I would like to see the first polls come out somewhere around weeks 5-7. This gets past the nonconference and into the conference schedule and might let one of these teams into the top 10 before the end of the year.

But I am a HUGE proponent of a playoff. 8 teams. I haven't seen an argument yet that is persuasive against it. This year is a perfect example of 5-6 teams with legitimate arguments for being in the title game.

prolly not because there is nothing right or fair about the current system. it's all about who they want in the title game.

I agree with you guys about Utah and the BCS in general.  There will be a few weeks of incense and outrage, hand-wringing in extremis and then back to business as usual.  The best we Ute fans can hope for is the writers to make a statement in some way.  If the BCS gets a few weeks of intense mocking that's about all we can expect to get out of this season.  Of course, that depends on the results this week.  A Florida or Oklahoma blowout and it's a moot point.  The winner will sweep the polls and Utah will probably end up 4th at best.

My question is really about Texas.  I think that game would have been played very early and a Utah loss would have them ranked around ten right now but it would definitely have been a feather in Texas' hat.  Enough to get them to the championship match which they arguably should be in already.

That's the issue this year. Texas has a claim but TT beat them and hasn't looked good in their last couple of games. A Utah win would've looked good but then you have to ask the question, would a one-loss Ute team have been in the Sugar Bowl against Alabama?

My gut says no because it would have been an even bigger hill to climb for Utah. Much more than a OK, Texas, Florida, etc. Then the go to Fuzzy's Funtime Festival Bowl presented by Advil Cold and Sinus against Illinois. Hypothetically.

While it would still have been a good non-conference win for Texas I'm not sure it would have changed what happened at the end. But who knows?

Fuzzy, I think we're saying the same thing from different angles.

It might not have been clear but I think a Texas win over Utah and Utah at 12-1 puts Utah at #10 or so.  No Sugar Bowl.  Off to Phoenix, Las Vegas, whatever.  Case closed.

But would it have made enough of a difference for Texas?  Sure TT fell apart but Texas beat Oklahoma.  The latter is enough for me to be honest.  That stupid tie-breaker based on BCS ranking thing was ridiculous.  Talk about putting your troops under foreign command. 

Fair enough to say that a win against Utah instead of whomever they replaced us with would have had Texas winning that ridiculous tie-breaker and playing for the gold medal?

Aaah. I think my 2nd cup of coffee just kicked in.

If Utah is in the top 12 at 11-1 (last BCS poll before bowls) I believe it definitely would have improved Texas' RPI/SOS/PhD/HTFU/FBI/CIA/KGB ranking to get them into the top 2.

Did Texas pick up Florida Atlantic or UTEP or ?? Not sure what happened to their schedule but a win over the Utes would have been much better for them than those teams.

Of course had Utah won we might be watching them play Florida.  8)

the other part of the issue is without TCU in the MWC then everyone else's SOS falls and hence UTAH's SOS falls too (even while playing Texas)

that said,  considering the worst or 2nd worst MWC team pimpslapped TENN in their own house,  UTAH beat supposedly awesome ALA by more than UF did,  it's a shame they don't at least get a chance to play for the supposed 'title' .  Do I think they would beat OK?  No.  But that doesn't mean they shouldn't get their chance too.      12 Team playoff just like the NFL would be best (Current BCS ranking formula, Top 4 get a 1st round bye) With a weak ACC and Big East, a season long MWC owning of the PAC10 (sans USC), and the obvious failure of the BCS this year, hopefully we'll at least get momentum towards a +1 title game in 2-3 years.

If TX and Utah played it sure could have changed the bcs rankings.  We got kind of lucky with our SOS with Cinci and TCU ending the season so high.  That is surely what put us over the edge in the rankings. 

I think Utah has as much if not more of an argument than USC and TX about being left out. 

A playoff would be great so we could have a team that is hot get on a run and win it all.  This almost 6 week layoff is crazy. 

My cat's breath smells like cat food.