2025-2026 College Football Thread

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by supersix4

You mean the Bama team that was coming off a loss that would have put them in the NC game? I watched almost every game that year and the Bama team that showed up against Utah was not the same team that had just played Florida.

When your first loss gets you booted out of the NC game who cares if you have to play Utah

You never know how a really good team is going to play coming off a tough loss. Alabama just played that Sugar Bowl against Utah like they couldn't have cared less and they got rolled.

A lot of people I know last year were thinking the Gators might do the same thing after losing the SEC title game to Alabama. But in the end Tebow gave the Bowl game 100% and the Gators destroyed Cincinnati.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by supersix4

You mean the Bama team that was coming off a loss that would have put them in the NC game? I watched almost every game that year and the Bama team that showed up against Utah was not the same team that had just played Florida.

When your first loss gets you booted out of the NC game who cares if you have to play Utah

I'm very sure it had more to do with Alabama playing a sensational Utah team. One thing about Nick Saban is that he always has he guys ready to go in big games. The upper top tier mid-majors can hang with anybody, there's no questioning that. They're constantly playing with a chip on their shoulder. The BCS also knows that, and they probably don't have to balls to play Boise State or TCU against the best.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I'm very sure it had more to do with Alabama playing a sensational Utah team. One thing about Nick Saban is that he always has he guys ready to go in big games.

But it wasn't a big game (at least for Alabama what did they have left to prove after losing out on an NC that they could beat Utah lmao) lol They just lost a shot to compete for the National Championship not a chance to eek into a BCS game. And for a school and coach like Saban those are pretty much meaningless games unless you get to a National Championship game.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by supersix4

But it wasn't a big game (at least for Alabama what did they have left to prove after losing out on an NC that they could beat Utah lmao) lol They just lost a shot to compete for the National Championship not a chance to eek into a BCS game. And for a school and coach like Saban those are pretty much meaningless games unless you get to a National Championship game.

That D1 football. There is one national championship game and a few dozen other bowl games that mean absolutely nothing. Bowl games are the equivalent of exhibition games

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

That D1 football. There is one national championship game and a few dozen other bowl games that mean absolutely nothing. Bowl games are the equivalent of exhibition games

I just don't know how anyone would get hyped up to play a team like Utah or any team for that matter after being a quarter away from the National Championship... The two situations from a mental stand point are about as far apart as can be.

Also one team had everything to gain from a win and the other had nothing to gain.

[fatediesel]

Also remember that Alabama didn't have fat man Andre Smith, the Outland Trophy winner for best interior lineman, against Utah because he couldn't wait 1 month for the season to end to start taking money from agents so he was declared ineligible. Not saying he would have made a huge difference though.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by supersix4

I just don't know how anyone would get hyped up to play a team like Utah or any team for that matter after being a quarter away from the National Championship... The two situations from a mental stand point are about as far apart as can be.

Also one team had everything to gain from a win and the other had nothing to gain.

I really think you underestimating these western teams. Alabama was certainly disappointed to not be in the national title game, yes. But they still lost a their second biggest game of the year, that's no excuse. Utah beat them straight up in a nationally televised prime time game The kind of game huge programs pride themselves on. You can throw all the excuses in the conversation you want, but the fact remains they lost their BCS bowl game. The Mountain West and WAC champions deserve the right to throw their hat in the ring, they have proven that time and time again. They have proven their talent time and time again, and they seem to be getting stronger as the years go by.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I really think you underestimating these western teams. Alabama was certainly disappointed to not be in the national title game, yes. But they still lost a their second biggest game of the year, that's no excuse. Utah beat them straight up in a nationally televised prime time game The kind of game huge programs pride themselves on. You can throw all the excuses in the conversation you want, but the fact remains they lost their BCS bowl game. The Mountain West and WAC champions deserve the right to throw their hat in the ring, they have proven that time and time again. They have proven their talent time and time again, and they seem to be getting stronger as the years go by.

In what ring? If by national championship game then no, I don't agree. I'm sorry but you can't play games against 2 or 3 respectable programs each with the rest against garbage teams year and expect to play for a championship under the current system, even going undefeated. A 1 loss SEC or Pac-10 team almost any year will be more deserving of that national title game spot than a team like Boise St. or Utah.

Under an 8 or 16 game playoff system then yes, an undefeated small conference school would likely get in the tournament. And ultimately that's where 98%+ of college football fans want to see happen. Nobody but a few people who get paid massive amounts of money to work on these ridiculous "Bowl Committees" like the current system.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Under an 8 or 16 game playoff system then yes, an undefeated small conference school would likely get in the tournament. And ultimately that's where 98%+ of college football fans want to see happen. Nobody but a few people who get paid massive amounts of money to work on these ridiculous "Bowl Committees" like the current system.

That's a bingo. The BCS is flawed in every definition of the word, unless you have two BCS conference teams that are undefeated, it doesn't work. Hell even then it doesn't always work. I think the BCS is really against the little guy and that is what infuriates me about it the most, you can't take away undefeated teams because they are in weaker conferences. They deserve a crack at the title. Until we have a playoff system, I don't see how anyone can truly be satisfied with the national title game. (Unless your team ends up winning of course) I'll have to laugh if we have Ohio State play the SEC winner again. I'd like to see a good game this time around.

[HT-Spunj]

Go Buckeyes!!

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I really think you underestimating these western teams. Alabama was certainly disappointed to not be in the national title game, yes. But they still lost a their second biggest game of the year, that's no excuse. Utah beat them straight up in a nationally televised prime time game The kind of game huge programs pride themselves on. You can throw all the excuses in the conversation you want, but the fact remains they lost their BCS bowl game. The Mountain West and WAC champions deserve the right to throw their hat in the ring, they have proven that time and time again. They have proven their talent time and time again, and they seem to be getting stronger as the years go by.

I'm not saying they didn't win, just go watch the 09 Florida game prior then watch the Utah game two completely different teams showed up, as to be expected.

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Also remember that Alabama didn't have fat man Andre Smith, the Outland Trophy winner for best interior lineman, against Utah because he couldn't wait 1 month for the season to end to start taking money from agents so he was declared ineligible. Not saying he would have made a huge difference though.

lol he's been such a bust, I read an article from this year that said his time maybe running out in Cinci

But yeah he definitely would have helped. He might be a bigger bust then Russell for how amazing he was at Bama and then just to fall at the combine which dropped him from the possible #1 pick, then come into the NFL hurt and lazy after the draft.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by supersix4

I'm not saying they didn't win, just go watch the 09 Florida game prior then watch the Utah game two completely different teams showed up, as to be expected.

To make matters worse teams in Bowl games get exactly the same payout regardless of whether they win or lose. So even the school athletic departments don't care if their school loses a bowl game.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

To make matters worse teams in Bowl games get exactly the same payout regardless of whether they win or lose. So even the school athletic departments don't care if their school loses a bowl game.

I didn't know that lol.

[ChadFL]

On the topic of small conference schools invited to major BCS games I looked it up and it does seem like the system is allowing "BCS busters" into major bowls much better than they used to.

Between 1998 and 2003 there were two undefeated and two 1-loss seasons by non-BCS conference schools. Not a single one got an invite to a BCS bowl game. And one of those two undefeated teams was a very good 1999 Marshall team led by Chad Pennington at QB.

Since 2004 six of eight undefeated non-BCS schools were invited. And believe it or not they have a remarkable 4-2 record. I'm sure a big reason for that is because schools like Boise and Utah take a Fiesta or Sugar Bowl far more seriously than schools like Alabama or Oklahoma.

[Batman1980]

The thing is though Chad, let Boise State play in just ONE and if they get smoked or at least lose, they will shut up about it for a good time to come. I don't see TCU going undefeated, I don't think they're as good as BSU, who now has a clear road to a 0 loss season.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

I don't see TCU going undefeated, I don't think they're as good as BSU, who now has a clear road to a 0 loss season.

Don't be sleeping on Nevada. They are a damn good team with very solid coaching. The Nevada/Boise State showdown could be one of the games you cannot miss.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

Don't be sleeping on Nevada. They are a damn good team with very solid coaching. The Nevada/Boise State showdown could be one of the games you cannot miss.

Nevada's not beating BSU, they're a lot better, could be a close game like the Oregon State and VA Tech games were though.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

The Nevada/Boise State showdown could be one of the games you cannot miss.

Kaepernick is the only reason to watch that game , other wise I'd probably mute it by the half.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

Nevada's not beating BSU, they're a lot better, could be a close game like the Oregon State and VA Tech games were though.

We'll see man, regardless it should be a real barn burner.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

We'll see man, regardless it should be a real barn burner.

Figured it'd be this week the way you're playing it up but no BSU has a virtual bye, playing one of the worst schools in the country in NMSU.