# 2014 College Football General Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 30, 2014, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937 "2014-08-30T03:58:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/242 "2014-10-12T00:16:29Z")
Didn’t I hear on gameday that Arkansas was going to use 1964 retro style jerseys for todays game? The HAWG jerseys look like modern vintage to me. Hard to believe that the LSU/Florida game was about the 5th most interesting game in the SEC this week. Behind MSU/AUB Behind Ole Miss/TAMU Behind UGA/Mizzou Behind Bama/Ark The LSU/Florida game used to one of the marquee games of all college football. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/243 "2014-10-12T00:18:46Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > No…it would be irrefutable proof of a corrupt system. The SEC West is incredible this year. No legitimate way an SEC team doesn’t make the playoff. I’ve an honest question, because I don’t know the answer. What quality out-of-conference teams has the SEC West beaten? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/244 "2014-10-12T00:29:10Z")
> [@zoog](#): > > Remember when University of Miami had a football program that drew a crowd? Check this out: > > [http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2014/10/11/6962393/miami-hurricanes-football-attendance-cincinnati](http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2014/10/11/6962393/miami-hurricanes-football-attendance-cincinnati) > > Unreal. Probably a bigger crowd at the UM library this afternoon. That is fucking jaw-droopingly empty. I’m shocked. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/245 "2014-10-12T00:36:13Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I’ve an honest question, because I don’t know the answer. What quality out-of-conference teams has the SEC West beaten? K-State’s only loss this year was against Auburn (in Manhattan). West Virginia’s two losses this year were against Oklahoma and Alabama. LSU beat Wisconsin. Arkansas beat Texas Tech Ole Miss beat Boise St (Ok, not that good this year, but when scheduled BSU was good) The SEC West is undefeated outside the SEC West. They have not lost a non conference game nor have they lost against the SEC East. Bama one loss is against Ole Miss Auburn one loss is against MSU Ark losses have been against TAMU and Auburn LSU losses have been against MSU and Auburn. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/246 "2014-10-12T00:39:18Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > That is fucking jaw-droopingly empty. I’m shocked. According to the [Box Score](http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=400547687), attendance was 43,953. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/247 "2014-10-12T00:43:53Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > According to the [Box Score](http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=400547687), attendance was 43,953. :dubious: :dubious: is right. That seems impossible. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/248 "2014-10-12T00:49:20Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > The SEC West is undefeated outside the SEC West. They have not lost a non conference game nor have they lost against the SEC East. Aren’t we, at this point, looking at Mississippi and Mississippi St. as the SEC West leaders? Who have, at this point, one of them has beaten Boise St. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/249 "2014-10-12T01:09:33Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Aren’t we, at this point, looking at Mississippi and Mississippi St. as the SEC West leaders? Who have, at this point, one of them has beaten Boise St. That is not the question you asked earlier. This is the question: > [@](#): > > I’ve an honest question, because I don’t know the answer. What quality out-of-conference teams has the SEC West beaten? Ole Miss and Miss State were not expected to be atop the SECw standings halfway through the season. I would imagine that quality OoC foes are not lining up to play 2nd Tier SEC teams. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/250 "2014-10-12T01:41:37Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Aren’t we, at this point, looking at Mississippi and Mississippi St. as the SEC West leaders? Who have, at this point, one of them has beaten Boise St. Ummm…State has beaten three top 10 teams in the last three weeks. LSU in Death Valley at night, TAM, and Auburn. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/251 "2014-10-12T01:58:36Z")
> [@Doctor\_Who](#): > > TCU v Baylor - this should be a blast. 2 high-powered offenses. TCU’s reliable defense and their confidence after knocking off Oklahoma? This is exciting. Exciting doesn’t begin to describe that game. I thought I was gonna have a heart attack in the 4th quarter. Sheesh! ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/252 "2014-10-12T02:59:07Z")
**Oak** , Frank is from Ohio. I think he might have some of that B1G SEC Envy. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/253 "2014-10-12T03:44:58Z")
That may be some of it, but to just automatically say that the SEC _must_ have a spot in the Playoff (even with a two loss champ being a reasonable possibility) is to basically say that the Playoff is the SEC plus three. That’s not the way it was designed and has never been stated as a condition. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/254 "2014-10-12T13:23:06Z")
There is no Big Ten envy of the SEC. The Big Ten is far superior to the SEC in terms of the quality of the institutions. In football, the Big Ten has the courage to schedule road games against quality opponents, whereas the SEC adheres to the Schedule Every Creampuff philosophy. Look at the non-conference games of the “mighty” SEC west: West Virginia Florida Atlantic Southern Mississippi Western Carolina Nicholls State Texas Tech Northern Illinois Alabama-Birmingham San Jose State Kansas State Louisiana Tech Samford Wisconsin Sam Houston Louisiana Monroe New Mexico State Boise State Louisiana-Lafayette Memphis Presbyterian Southern Mississippi Alabama-Birmingham South Alabama Tennessee Martin Lamar Rice Southern Methodist Louisiana Monroe What do you have- West Virginia, Wisconsin, Boise State, and Kansas State. Four decent teams, none of which are having particularly good seasons. About the only people this impresses are the pollsters, who Suck Every Cock, and the SEC faithful themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/255 "2014-10-12T14:00:22Z")
Great point. I would love to see the SEC bravely take on McNeese State, Western Illinois, FAU, Northern Illinois, Jacksonville State, Northern Iowa, James Madison, Indiana State, Southern Illinois, UMass, MTSU, San Jose State, Howard, or Youngtown State. But those South Eastern Cowards will always take the cowardly way out and duck these powerhouses. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/256 "2014-10-12T14:19:07Z")
Let’s see… Indiana went to Missouri and beat them. Maryland played West Virginia, Michigan played Notre Dame and Utah, Michigan State went out to Oregon, Illinois went to Washington, Iowa went to Pittsburgh, Nebraska played Miami FL, Ohios State played Virginia Tech, Northwestern played California, Purdue played Notre Dame, Wisconsin played LSU in their neighboring state of Texas. Not that the Big Ten plays some creampuffs, but the Big Ten’s non-conference schedule is infinitely more challenging than the SEC. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/257 "2014-10-12T14:37:48Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Let’s see… Indiana went to Missouri and beat them. Maryland played West Virginia, Michigan played Notre Dame and Utah, Michigan State went out to Oregon, Illinois went to Washington, Iowa went to Pittsburgh, Nebraska played Miami FL, Ohios State played Virginia Tech, Northwestern played California, Purdue played Notre Dame, Wisconsin played LSU in their neighboring state of Texas. Not that the Big Ten plays some creampuffs, but the Big Ten’s non-conference schedule is infinitely more challenging than the SEC. Okay - so we’ve moved on from the cupcake argument. Is the Big Ten’s non-conference schedule \> SEC’s non-conference schedule this year? Okay I’ll agree to that for the purposes of discussion. But I think it’s far outweighed by the fact that the SEC’s conference schedule \> Big Ten’s conference schedule. Like comically greater. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/258 "2014-10-12T14:47:33Z")
Here’s a thought experiment: Michigan State’s schedule v Mississippi State’s schedule. I will resolve all close calls in Michigan State’s favor: Below I will use the format: Mississippi State’s opponent/Michigan State’s opponent/my determination of which has the tougher opponent. Week 1 - So Miss/Jacks State/TIE Week 2 - UAB/Oregon/advantage: Mich State Week 3 - S Alabama/E Michigan/TIE Week 4 - LSU/Wyoming/advantage: Miss State Week 5 - Tx A&M/Nebraska/TIE Week 6 - Auburn/Purdue/Advantage: Miss State Week 7 - Ky/Indiana/TIE Week 8 - Arkansas/Michigan/advantage: miss state Week 9 - UTM/Ohio State/advantage: mich state Week 10 - Bama/Maryland/advantage: miss state Week 11 - Vandy/Rutgers/advantage: mich state Week 12 - ole miss/penn state/advantage: miss state By my count that’s 3 for mich state, 5 for miss state, and 4 pushes. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/259 "2014-10-12T15:03:28Z")
The week by week analysis is probably not that far off, but the cases where Michigan State’s games were tougher than Miss St’s are orders of magnitude greater. Plus I’m unconvinced that Alabama is a more worthy foe than Maryland, having just barely squeaked by an unranked team by one point. I’m also not convinced that at season’s end, Penn State won’t be a better team than Mississippi. And totally off the wall here, but what’s with “Ole Miss”? Just call yourselves Mississippi, for God’s sake. We don’t say “Ole Mich” up here. At the end of the day, be you Mississippi or Mississippi State, you still gotta live in Mississippi. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/260 "2014-10-12T15:39:23Z")
Perhaps an independent viewpoint might be worth considering in the “which conference is mightier?” debate. [Jeff Sagarin’s College Football Ratings](http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm) places the conferences in this order: ```auto CONFERENCE CENTRAL MEAN SIMPLE AVERAGE TEAMS WIN50% 1 SEC-WEST (A) = 91.19 90.48 ( 1) 7 90.63 ( 1) 2 PAC-12(SOUTH) (A) = 79.83 78.61 ( 3) 6 79.19 ( 3) 3 BIG 12 (A) = 79.82 79.41 ( 2) 10 79.66 ( 2) 4 SEC-EAST (A) = 79.20 78.43 ( 4) 7 79.09 ( 4) 5 PAC-12(NORTH) (A) = 77.46 77.73 ( 5) 6 77.62 ( 5) 6 BIG TEN-EAST (A) = 74.67 75.35 ( 6) 7 75.09 ( 6) 7 ACC-COASTAL (A) = 74.44 74.41 ( 7) 7 74.42 ( 7) 8 ACC-ATLANTIC (A) = 74.26 74.17 ( 8) 7 74.27 ( 8) 9 BIG TEN-WEST (A) = 73.96 73.21 ( 9) 7 73.51 ( 9) 10 I-A INDEPENDENTS (A) = 70.16 70.25 ( 10) 4 70.18 ( 10) 11 MWC-MOUNTAIN (A) = 65.69 65.25 ( 11) 6 65.39 ( 11) 12 AMERICAN ATHLETIC (A) = 63.82 63.42 ( 12) 11 63.58 ( 12) 13 MISSOURI VALLEY (AA)= 63.09 63.13 ( 13) 10 63.10 ( 13) 14 MWC-WEST (A) = 61.79 61.09 ( 15) 6 61.37 ( 15) 15 CONFERENCE USA-EAST (A) = 61.73 62.41 ( 14) 7 62.02 ( 14) 16 MAC-WEST (A) = 59.94 59.16 ( 17) 6 59.60 ( 17) 17 CONFERENCE USA-WEST (A) = 59.81 60.22 ( 16) 6 60.12 ( 16) 18 SUN BELT (A) = 54.43 55.02 ( 18) 11 54.75 ( 18) 19 MAC-EAST (A) = 53.55 54.18 ( 19) 7 53.97 ( 19) ``` ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937/261 "2014-10-12T16:37:22Z")
Lets see, **Frank** is the poster that opened this can of worms about the SEC West OoC schedule and when he didn’t like the answer he narrowed it down to the Mississippi State. No doubt, Miss State has been a 2nd tier SEC team for years and years. But IMO, elite OoC schools don’t want to play 2nd tier Conference teams, from any of the Big 5 conferences. They want to play cupcakes or they want to play other elite OoC schools. You just don’t see games like Ohio St vs Miss State team in the regular season. Or Alabama vs Illinois. Or Oklahoma v Duke. The SECe teams plays 4 instate OoC rivals which are typically bowl bound, (FSU, Clemson, GaTech, and Louisville). Seeing that UF, USCe, UGA and UK manage to play a rival OoC foe, I think TAMU could have kept the Longhorns on their schedule. (but it takes two to tango). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-college-football-general-thread/696937.md?page=14)