# Let's just bypass the BCS: Who plays for the MNC? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 20, 2011, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570 "2011-11-20T19:49:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/21 "2011-12-03T00:38:40Z")
> [@markdash](#): > > Odd you would mention the non-conference schedule, since this is hardly a positive for Stanford either, what with their tilts against San Jose State and Duke. YOU mentioned the schedules. If you want me to overlook losing to a drastically worse team, you might want to have a team that scheduled a bit tougher opponents than OKST did for it’s non-mandatory conference schedule. > [@markdash](#): > > If you wanted to delve further into each team’s loss, I would argue that Stanford’s blowout loss at home was even worse than OK State’s overtime loss on the road. Seriously? There is certainly an argument about which someone should favor more, the SoS or the quality of the loss, but c’mon man. Losing to a top 10 Oregon team at home is worse than losing to Iowa State? You’re Mayor McReach, Rearchercrat of Reacherland. > [@markdash](#): > > You seem to differ; that’s fine, but even if you give Stanford extra credit for losing to a top 10 team, OK State should get a lot of credit for having a tougher schedule. Of course they should. It’s a close call. But, in the end, I’ll go for the team that lost to a top 10 team than one who lost to Iowa State. (And yes, I’m fully aware that that would mean Alabama should have another shot because they only lost to the #1 team in the nation, but they had their shot at home and lost, so they’re done for me.) ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/22 "2011-12-03T00:58:56Z")
I’d put it this way: Alabama may well be the second-best team in the nation (based on what we know), but LSU-Stanford is the game I would much rather see happen. ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/23 "2011-12-03T01:41:24Z")
I generally don’t like giving too much credit for “good losses.” Yeah, Alabama welcomed LSU into their home stadium and didn’t lose by much. Wonderful. But it’s not uncommon for really good teams to stumble in conference road games. More important is that Alabama’s schedule is overrated. Penn State, Arkansas, and Auburn are all overrated this year. And… well, that’s everyone Alabama beat. If Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma, it would be a mistake to not have them play LSU. If they lose, Stanford is a better backup plan than Alabama. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/24 "2011-12-03T02:04:54Z")
Is this really the BCS’s fault? Pre-BCS, they would’ve tried to match up the top two teams in the AP and Coaches polls (give or take a Rose Bowl team). Right now, both of those polls have #1 LSU and #2 Alabama. The BCS formula is not working against Oklahoma State here. Granted, that may change if OSU beats OU. Which brings up another point I kind of resent. “OSU has to win decisively”. Oklahoma is a pretty good team who has had OSU’s number. It’s a bit unrealistic to demand a blowout, and that presumption may work against OSU. Then again, Okie State can win 34-27 and announce they decisively won. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/25 "2011-12-04T17:47:21Z")
I’m just now realizing how silly I was to leave this poll open until mid-December: we will know tonight who will be slated for the BCSSG. Votes after that will be just for show and registering complaints. So I will pretend the poll will close at 7:00 Central Time tonight for posting the summary of votes. Please get your votes in before then if you want them to be counted in that summary. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/26 "2011-12-05T01:03:49Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > I’m just now realizing how silly I was to leave this poll open until mid-December: we will know tonight who will be slated for the BCSSG. Votes after that will be just for show and registering complaints. > > So I will pretend the poll will close at 7:00 Central Time tonight for posting the summary of votes. > > Please get your votes in before then if you want them to be counted in that summary. Based on that decision, here are how the votes stood at 7:00 Central: ```auto Let's just bypass the BCS: Who plays for the MNC? View Poll Results: Which two teams should play for the National Championship? This poll will close on 12-20-2011 at 01:52 PM LSU 44 93.62% Alabama 16 34.04% Arkansas 0 0% Stanford 12 25.53% Oklahoma State 12 25.53% Virginia Tech 1 2.13% Boise State 2 4.26% Houston 7 14.89% Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 47. ``` After we know how the BCS has decided I can post the winners of the voting. Thanks to all who have participated! ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/27 "2011-12-05T01:44:10Z")
Here are the voters who selected both LSU and Alabama. Congratulations! ```auto Bartman LSU Alabama basset hound LSU Alabama dogbutler LSU Alabama drm LSU Alabama Duckster LSU Alabama Fact of the Matter LSU Alabama Fred Garvin LSU Alabama HubZilla LSU Alabama Marley23 LSU Alabama mkecane LSU Alabama Oakminster LSU Alabama Ogre LSU Alabama Pixel_Dent LSU Alabama sitchensis LSU Alabama Snarky_Kong LSU Alabama ``` ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/28 "2011-12-05T01:53:09Z")
Congratulations to LSU on winning the National Championship! Even if Alabama wins, I won’t recognize them as national champions. They’d only split with LSU while losing on their home turf. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/29 "2011-12-05T02:04:15Z")
Alabama’s only good SEC wins were against Arkansas and Auburn, both of whom were overrated. Arkansas had one good win, got clobbered in the two other games they played against good teams, and ended up 6th in the BCS rankings. Auburn had one good win and got clobbered in all their losses, yet finished the season 25th in the BCS. Both “good” wins were against South Carolina, who eked out a win against Georgia early in the season and clobbered Clemson. Oklahoma St. crushed their rival to win their conference, but miss out because they happened to lose later in the season than Alabama did. What a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/30 "2011-12-05T02:06:39Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Alabama’s only good SEC wins were against Arkansas and Auburn, both of whom were overrated. Arkansas had one good win, got clobbered in the two other games they played against good teams, and ended up 6th in the BCS rankings. Auburn had one good win and got clobbered in all their losses, yet finished the season 25th in the BCS. Both “good” wins were against South Carolina, who eked out a win against Georgia early in the season and clobbered Clemson. > > Oklahoma St. crushed their rival to win their conference, but miss out because they happened to lose later in the season than Alabama did. What a joke. Also, it was to IOWA STATE. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/31 "2011-12-05T02:08:45Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Also, it was to IOWA STATE. And right after the fatal airplane crash and the emotional aftermath. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/32 "2011-12-05T02:11:02Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Also, it was to IOWA STATE. That doesn’t say anything about the rankings of Arkansas and Auburn. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/33 "2011-12-05T02:16:40Z")
It doesn’t say anything about lots of things. But you said they missed out because they “happened to lose later in the season,” as if their loss was comparably telling otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/34 "2011-12-05T02:20:32Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Also, it was to IOWA STATE. Alabama has already lost to LSU. I think the question of whether LSU or Alabama is the better team has already been decided. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/35 "2011-12-05T02:22:21Z")
And Iowa State is better than Oklahoma State by the same logic, so I guess OK St. is right out? ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/36 "2011-12-05T02:23:14Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Alabama has already lost to LSU. I think the question of whether LSU or Alabama is the better team has already been decided. And it’s already been decided whether OK State is a better team than Alabama, and they’re not. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/37 "2011-12-05T02:26:36Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > And Iowa State is better than Oklahoma State by the same logic, so I guess OK St. is right out? OK, so Iowa State should be in the championship. Works for me. ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/38 "2011-12-05T02:27:08Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > And Iowa State is better than Oklahoma State by the same logic, so I guess OK St. is right out? Alabama lost at home to LSU. Oklahoma State lost on the road, in double overtime, in a back-to-back road game, on a short week, against a team coming off their bye week. Granted, I would still be heavily opposed to the rematch if Alabama had lost under circumstances that were not so decisive in proving they did not deserve another shot. But I would not say that LSU had clearly proved themselves better, I would just say under the current system Alabama should not get a do-over. ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/39 "2011-12-05T02:32:21Z")
> [@Carmady](#): > > Alabama lost at home to LSU. Oklahoma State lost on the road, in double overtime, in a back-to-back road game, on a short week, against a team coming off their bye week. > > Granted, I would still be heavily opposed to the rematch if Alabama had lost under circumstances that were not so decisive in proving they did not deserve another shot. But I would not say that LSU had clearly proved themselves better, I would just say under the current system Alabama should not get a do-over. Oh, because there was no controversy regarding the possible Alabama touch-down (that was ruled to be an interception after the fact) during the Alabama-LSU game that might’ve changed the WHOLE course of the game, dispensing with the need for overtime? And Tyran Mathieu’s “holding” penalty, injuring an Alabama player and sending him out of the game, that makes LSU an automatically better team, and Alabama a worse team vs. Oklahoma State? Please. LSU played a crappy game that day, and so did Alabama. If we’re going to talk strength-of-schedule, then OK State probably should be playing Stanford, and LSU and AL should both be sent to the Sugar Bowl. But that won’t happen, because the BCS do have a slight bias in-favor of the SEC. ---
**Author:** ![azraiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@azraiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/azraiel)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570/40 "2011-12-05T02:37:03Z")
I won’t recognize an Alabama win, because they’ll have split the first two games of a best of three series. I won’t recognize an LSU win because they will not have played the best team to determine the championship,. There is no justification under heaven for slotting Alabama into the MNC ahead of Oklahoma State. Another year. Another year without a true champion. I hate the BCS. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-just-bypass-the-bcs-who-plays-for-the-mnc/603570.md?page=3)