The BCS Era Is Soon To Be Finished

Looks like it's all over

According to Stewart Mandel, Bill Hancock gave this exciting quote on the current BCS format: "I can officially say that the status quo is off the table."

While this doesn't guarantee that we're heading to a straight-up four-team playoff, we're still heading in the right direction to at least a plus-one format.

Now, with this news breaking out across the college landscape, many commissioners and higher-up executives of the college football world are saying that by the 2014 regular season, the teams might be playing for their spot in a college football playoff. Hell yes. 

The BCS was put in place in 1998, but now it seems it's preparing for its final moments as the main system in determining a national champion. 

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates and opinions on Ohio State athletics

How Jim Delany Finds Traction On The Slippery Slope

More Money - More Headaches

Our friend ProveIt has dropped by again for his third article on ITS. Today he covers just how Delany is working the playoff/BCS scene.

Portions of Delany’s playoff model were recently leaked - a seeded 4 selected using the BCS formula with the 1st round played at the home field of the top 2 teams. The location of the title game would be bid on by prospective hosts.

The Slippery Slope
From the initial SEC proposal to the present, the majors have said they don’t believe a seeded 4 or plus 1 would appreciably impact yearly revenue. They believe a seeded 4 risks becoming a slippery slope to larger formats. They believe larger formats would result in a decrease in revenue for the year. This is the common findings of the networks, bowls, and independent research groups. When dropped like a hammer to the head of mid major commissioners, they have never denied this, choosing instead to quickly change the topic.

It is worth noting:
1. Nobody with access to, and the ability to project from, pertinent information has ever claimed a plus 1 or seeded 4 playoff would result in a notable change in revenue for the year for the majors. They have all claimed a larger format would result in a yearly loss in revenue for the majors.

2. Prior to the recent talks (and perhaps still now), no major had ever stated their conference supports a playoff of any size – this includes the SEC and ACC.

 - If you have a link to show otherwise, it would be greatly appreciated. If you have a series of unsupported plausible sounding statements, you have something anyone could make up.

This is not the 1st Time Delany Walked the Slippery Slope
Courtesy of Pariahwulfen at Off Tackle Empire, Delany promoted a true Plus 1 format to the B1G in 2005.

“Henry Bienen, president of Northwestern University, told Yahoo! Sports that Delany actually favored a playoff-type system that Delany decried in 2005… the so-called Plus-One model, the two top-rated teams that emerged after the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and Orange Bowl were played would advance to a national championship game. “

Some Tests Are Too Easy

Ed. Note: Our friend ProveIt has accepted to share some knowledge with the rest of us in form of a guest post. Be sure to tell him what you think of his article!
Did your favorite sports site or sports writer get all excited when the BCS proposed eliminating AQ status? Well, so did I!


Was he excited when he quoted Delany as open to the idea? Well, so was I!

Does he claim it would create more opportunities for mid majors, would create fewer lopsided match ups, or would open the top bowls to everyone? If so, it’s time to find a new favorite writer.


The proposal to the BCS
Remove the 4 bowls from the BCS. The NCG would be maintained as a separate bowl, and the only bowl under BCS control. BCS AQ status is eliminated. BCS ranking would only be pertinent to the title game. The NCG might be freed to market its location much like the Super Bowl.

Delany stated here "As long as I can go to the Rose Bowl, I'm OK without automatic bids. If (CUSA commissioner) Brit doesn't want automatic bids, that's fine with me. And if he doesn't want me to have one that's OK, as long as I can go to Pasadena. If they (CUSA and MWC commissioners) are saying, essentially, let the system be market based, I can't object to that." This is the closest you may ever see Delany understating his support for an idea.

Let's Go Bowling

So.Much.Football.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! College football is set to embark on yet another bowl season which means games on almost every night starting next week. I’m not going to bore you with another BCS rant because we all know how I feel about the matter… it sucks!

This system is the most un-American way to decide a national champion that I can think of. This country, which was built on the sweat and blood of great men, still lets the BCS get away with this travesty after 13 years. A system that is decided by computers and sports writer/AD opinions is no system at all. I can’t even begin to tell you how lame it is. Would getting ready for a 16 or 8 game playoff this week be any fun?

Would a playoff bracket make any money or cause any excitement? Am I laying on the sarcasm enough? The answer is a resounding YES to all of those questions but apparently my bitching and moaning here at ITS for the past 2 seasons has fallen on deaf ears. I guess some dude in NW Ohio screaming into cyberspace hasn’t made that much of a difference. Oh well. Since we have to live with this unfortunate system for now, I wanted to cover the best of this year’s bowl games. Every year there are intriguing matchups that you wouldn’t have otherwise seen during the regular season.

Those oddball games are great entertainment and a spectacular reason to stop talking to your co-workers and family during holiday gatherings! That reason alone is worth its’ weight in gold. So plant your ass in a favorite recliner, grab a cold one and get ready for the last of college football until next fall. Disclaimer #1- This is an Ohio St. blog (if haven’t already noticed). I will not include the Gator Bowl because it is obvious that contest is the best game to watch. There will be tons of pre game coverage on this blog and others so I don’t want to attack this one just yet.

Even though 6-6 wasn’t what we had in mind, the Gator Bowl offers a rare opportunity for retribution and revenge against those swamp rats from Gainesville. You don’t often get opportunities for a rematch when over 100 teams play in your sport so let’s hope the Buckeyes can get that monkey off their back. I really want this win even if it is on a slightly smaller stage than in 2006. Disclaimer #2- I refuse to include the MNC because it is bullshit that Alabama got another shot at LSU. Not only did the Tide not win their conference, they failed to even win their own division. While LSU was busy earning their way in the SEC championship, Bama was at home resting in preparation for the game they already knew they were going to. How on earth is that fair? If I were an Oklahoma St. fan I would be irate with anger.

The SEC bias in this country (ahem.. ESPN) is totally nuts. Alabama had their shot and they lost. Nobody can tell me otherwise. This year’s game is a sham. OK, without further adieu, I give you the best 3 bowl games this holiday season in no particular order.

My Thoughts On Urban Meyer, Michigan, And The BCS/SEC

Here we go again

Before we get into the possible title game rematch between LSU and Alabama (Yawn) I wanted to give some quick hitters on the Ohio St/Michigan game from last weekend.

1) Braxton Miller still has a long way to go with that throwing motion. I counted at least four separate throws that could’ve gone for touchdowns or at the very least big gainers that definitely would’ve switched the momentum. The guy has unimaginable talent in those legs but you have to be the complete package when playing big boy football. I think he has the skill in that right arm of his but it’s yet to be coaxed out by the coaching staff. Luckily there is a new sheriff in town who knows how to handle this type of dual threat quarterback.

2) The defense this year is the worst I have seen at Ohio St. in some time. I know that they are young and another year of experience will do wonders next season but I didn’t expect the difficulty stopping the run. In years past it didn’t matter that OSU had a sub-par offense because all they needed to do was score 14-21 to win. Usually the defense would add another 7-14 and that was the ballgame.

OSU was constantly ranked in the top 10 and the offense just had to do enough to post a W on Saturdays. The turmoil surrounding the program didn’t help but there were way too many big 3rd downs given up on Saturday. If they could’ve stopped Denard on half of those runs I think the outcome is way different.

3) The Urban Meyer fiasco completely overshadowed the game after the whistle finally blew on Saturday. The next two days, all anybody could talk about was the new hire. That must have driven those mouth breathers from up north MAD. They finally get over on us after 7 years and the opposing fan base couldn’t have cared less. I shouldn’t say we didn’t care but the vast majority of our attention was focused on the media frenzy happening in Columbus.

All my Michigan friends could do was try and tell me how “bad” this hire was.  Are you kidding me guys? Our new coach is a home run and it drives you nuts that nobody wanted to talk about the game. A game that you almost lost to a 6-5 team I might add. Ah, the rivalry is back folks. It took a loss by the bucks and a coaching whirlwind to get it back but I think the next five years are going to be fun. If you want to read more on the game there are countless talented writers with way better insight on the contest that I can give you. I spent the day sulking inside of a bottle and haven’t watched the replay yet so let’s move on shall we?

ITS's BlogPoll Ballot: Week 8

   

 

 

Inside The Shoe Ballot - Week 8

Rank	Team	Delta
1	LSU Tigers - The Tigers took care of business as usual, beating on a Volunteers team that has yet to see a good season in awhile. Up Next: #23 Auburn	--
2	Alabama Crimson Tide - Alabama's Trent Richardson had one of the best moves I've seen on a long 60-70+ yard run, as the Tide rolled to an easy 52-7 win over Ole Miss. Up Next: Tennessee	--
3	Oklahoma Sooners - The Sooners had some early trouble with the Jayhawks, but soon got over it with a 47-17 win. Up Next: Texas Tech	--
4	Stanford Cardinal - Crushing Washington State 44-14, Andrew Luck and company might start dropping some ranks due to their schedule being perhaps one of the easiest in the Top 10. Up Next: #22 Washington	--
5	Wisconsin Badgers - The Badgers made Indiana look silly in a 59-7 win, even using Russell Wilson as a receiver. The Badgers will have to keep winning impressively in the coming weeks to rise. Up Next: #15 Michigan State	--
6	Oklahoma St. Cowboys - The Cowboys had a harder time with Texas than I thought they would, but a 38-26 win is still a decent size, and still over Texas. Up Next: Missouri	--
7	Boise St. Broncos - The Broncos continue on cruise control, this time over cupcake Colorado State. A 63-13 win is good enough to keep them at #7. Up Next: Air Force	--
8	Oregon Ducks - The Ducks rise after losing QB Darron Thomas and already without RB LaMichael James, and yet still producing a large 41-27 win over Arizona State. Up Next: Colorado	1
9	Clemson Tigers - I drop the Tigers 1 spot due to being down 18 points TWICE, to a team that didn't have any business being in that situation. Add to the fact that Tajh Boyd is not 100%, the Tigers could be in for some trouble ahead. Up Next: North Carolina	-1
10	Arkansas Razorbacks - The Razorbacks got off with a BYE and maintain their Top 10 ranking. Up Next: Ole Miss	--
11	Kansas St. Wildcats - The way the Wildcats have been playing has been pretty impressive, and has them 1 spot away from cracking the Top 10. Up Next: Kansas	4
12	Nebraska Cornhuskers - The Cornhuskers had a BYE, and rise one spot as some higher teams fell. Up Next: Minnesota	1
13	Virginia Tech Hokies - The Hokies had trouble with Wake Forest's defense early on, but rolled to a 38-17 win. Up Next: Boston College	3
14	West Virginia Mountaineers - The Mountaineers continue to climb the rankings, with the help of teams falling. This week they had a BYE. Up Next: Syracuse	3
15	Michigan St. Spartans - A huge win over in-state rival Michigan, the Spartans are sitting pretty at #15, and rise 5 spots after shutting down Denard Robinson. Up Next: #5 Wisconsin	5
16	South Carolina Gamecocks - A 14-12 win over Miss State usually won't be enough to rise, but you can thank the losses ahead. The Gamecocks need a new strategy though, as Marcus Lattimore is done for the season, and Stephen Garcia is off the team. Up Next: BYE	3
17	Houston Cougars - Case Keenum in his 6th year of eligibility, has the Cougars perfect, but the question remains who they play. Up Next: Marshall	6
18	Penn St. Nittany Lions - The Nittany Lions defense has something to prove, as Penn State squeaked by Purdue 23-18. Up Next: Northwestern	6
19	Michigan Wolverines - Denard Robinson uninjured, still could not produce anything special against one of the toughest defense's in the country, as Michigan falls to 19th. Up Next: BYE	-8
20	Illinois Fighting Illini - A loss to an unranked Ohio State team at home is quite embarrassing. More telling is the fact that they hadn't scored any points up until late in the fourth quarter. Up Next: Purdue	-6
21	Cincinnati Bearcats - The Bearcats make their first appearance on the BlogPoll ballot, with a close win over Louisville. The Bearcats sit at 5-1. Up Next: South Florida	--
22	Washington Huskies - The Huskies are new to the BlogPoll as well, rolling over Colorado 52-24. Up Next: #4 Stanford	--
23	Auburn Tigers - The Auburn Tigers re-appear after a rise, then fall, then fall again, and now they are back on after handing Florida their 3rd straight loss. Up Next: BYE	--
24	SMU Mustangs - SMU is sitting at 5-1, and have been playing some solid football right now. This is their first BlogPoll, after beating UCF 38-17. Up Next: Southern Miss	--
25	Georgia Bulldogs - After dropping 2 straight, Mark Richt has his Bulldogs back in the BlogPoll after 5 straight wins. Up Next: BYE	--
Dropouts: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Arizona St. Sun Devils, Texas Longhorns, Baylor Bears, North Carolina Tar Heels

 

SB Nation BlogPoll College Football Top 25 Rankings »

ITS's BlogPoll Ballot: Week 5

The last college football weekend in September was a one that left some strong impressions as to who are the dark horses in the national title race. Some big winners were LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma State, Clemson and more. Teams continue to make statements, and we're nearing the point of no return for teams that are undefeated. Some new teams enter this week, as well as previous teams that dropped out. Week 4 is over, and it's time for our BlogPoll ballot for Week 5. See you after the jump!

BCS vs. Playoffs: Another Reason For The Playoff System

Do teams like Boise State deserve a shot?

Ed. Note: This is Brady's response to Danny's take on the BCS

I couldn’t agree with you more Danny. The pre-BCS era was awful and in no way gave us a true national champion. You will get no argument on this point from me. Unfortunately, just because the system was tweaked to get a “national championship game” in the fold doesn’t mean that the NCAA got it right. It is still an incredibly flawed and biased system. The fact remains that teams are still elected to their various BCS games in what amounts to be a beauty contest.

You mentioned that individuals have bias and computers don’t. I don’t think anybody would argue with that. You also noted that by combining a voting public with a non-emotional-by-the-numbers computer entity, one comes up with two teams that the majority of people think should be in a title game.

That is also true but why must the public settle on a majority vote when a playoff bracket, used in almost every competitive sporting competition in this country, could just crown a champion on the field? The combination of computer programs, crazy algorithms and voting could still be used to seed the brackets. Arguments would still exist as to why team A got in over team B on the lower end of the brackets but that wouldn’t bother me as much. If a given team’s reason for missing a 8 or 12 seed (depending on the number of teams) in the playoffs was due to a loss or scheduling a weak out of conference slate then tough luck. I can guarantee no undefeated squads would be left out and the TCU’s of the world would get a fair chance to compete for a national title.

BCS vs. Playoffs: BCS is......OK

The controversial BCS

Ed. Note: This is part 1 of Danny's response to Brady. Part 2 will come next week and will cover more of the financial part of it all.

Moving to a playoff system in the Division formerly known as 1-A is all the rage these days.  Everyone, from U.S. Senators to NBA owners (of all people) has thrown their ideas out into the open.  Now, while the BCS is not a perfect system by any means, I think it has taken some unnecessary heat.  All I would like to do is defend the current system a little bit, so people can stop complaining and whining for a playoff system, and just enjoy the great game of college football.

To everyone that thinks the BCS is the worst thing that has ever happened to college football, what did you think of the pre-BCS years?  There was no designated National Championship Game.  The conferences were very tightly bound to certain bowl games.  Now, bear with me, because conference names have changed a bit, bowl affiliations basically amounted to the Big Ten champion (see: Ohio State or Michigan) playing the Pac-10 champion (also known as USC) in the Rose Bowl, the SEC champion playing an at-large bid in the Sugar Bowl, the former Big Eight champions meeting an at-large in the Orange Bowl, and the South West Conference champions playing another at-large in the Cotton Bowl.  The ACC as we know it now (with Florida State, Miami, and Boston College) was not intact yet.  These at-large teams were either second place teams in major conferences or independent teams that may have played a very weak schedule (PENN STATE).

BCS vs. Playoffs: Playoffs Are Better

Football??

Ed. Note: The first in a series of posts between Brady and Danny on what system is better: The BCS, or the Playoffs.

The NCAA basketball tournament is at full throttle and our Ohio St. Buckeyes have been as good as advertised up to this point. George Mason hardly stood a chance on Sunday with OSU’s onslaught of 3 pointers and the physical presence of Jared Sullinger on the inside. The Buckeye’s move on to Newark, NJ to face the Kentucky Wildcats on Friday night. With any luck, and continued hot shooting from the outside, OSU will move to the regional finals against the winner of North Carolina/Marquette for a chance to head down south for the Final Four.

Without a doubt, March Madness is this country’s greatest sporting event. The excitement and revenue that is generated from this tournament is astronomical. There are upsets and buzzer beaters every year that get your heart pumping no matter what team you root for personally. Nothing can compare to the drama that Cinderella teams such as Butler and George Mason create when they beat the odds and take down national powers. I am not a huge Basketball fan by any means but am gripped annually by this event.

With all the success and excitement that Basketball creates in this country every March, I wonder what football could do with a similar format. The ridiculous, unfair and laughable way the NCAA decides to crown its’ champion on the gridiron still dumbfounds myself and the population at large. Tournament brackets are so easy and obviously fair to set up one can lose their mind trying to figure out why a computer formula is in charge of crowning a champion. This is America! We decide things on the field.

The Mark Cuban Situation

Ed. Note: This post was written by Brady.

Hold on, one second BCS.

After stating his desire to create a college football playoff system, Mark Cuban (current owner of the Dallas Mavericks) has started a company called Radical Football in an effort to expedite the process.  According to a story first published in the San Diego Union-Tribune, Cuban said that the company’s goal is “to impact college football so that the last two teams playing are the best two teams”.  Cuban referred to the BCS as “an inefficient business where there’s obviously a better way of doing it and added that Radical Football intends to “advance towards that goal”.

Cuban is unsure what the structure of the company will be or how many it may take to staff it although he already has one employee in Brett Morris.  “he is real engaged in this” said Morris who has experience at a national marketing agency along with holding the promotions coordinator title at Notre Dame.

Big Ten Bowl Game Countdown

Uhhh, Go Legends & Leaders?

With bowl season approaching at a breakneck speed (that last statement is dripping with sarcasm), it is time to look at the teams that our Big Ten brethren will be facing this holiday season. Obviously the most important and entertaining contest will be in New Orleans on January 4 but I wanted to rank the other conference match ups from “watching paint dry” territory (cough… Illinois… cough) to "extremely relevant and compelling" territory.

While the top of this list was fairly easy to iron out it got a lot tougher towards the end. There are some great games to be played this bowl season and the Big Ten will have its’ hands full trying to come out with a winning record. So, without further adieu, here is my Big Ten bowl list for the 2010 season.

The BCS Bowls Are All But Set

With yesterdays much expected wins by Auburn, Oregon, and Virgina Tech, the BCS bowls have finally shaped up for good. Barring anything insane happening the BCS Bowls are set, and ready to go. Here's what they look like right now:

BCS Championship: #1 Oregon vs. #2 Auburn

Rose Bowl: #3 TCU vs. #4 Wisconsin

Sugar Bowl: #6 Ohio State vs.#8 Arkansas

Fiesta Bowl: #9 Oklahoma vs. UConn

Orange Bowl: #13 Virgina Tech vs. #5 Stanford

At first glance, these are pretty decent match-ups. Oregon vs. Auburn is going to be a fun one to watch, because of the no defense policy they strictly enforce there. I honestly think that Oregon wins because they have a slightly better defense. TCU gets the first "At Large" bid for the Rose Bowl and will get a true test against Wisconsin (please, god Wisky, don't screw this up). Obviously the Sugar Bowl has been looked at, but it's still a very nice game. I might be a little of a homer, but this one should be a Buckeyes win as long as they can do what they have done in November.

The Fiesta Bowl this year is a scrub, and UConn literally has little to no chance against Oklahoma. The Orange Bowl to me seems like a very good match-up. Virgina Tech isn't someone to sleep on, but Stanford is obviously going to be the favorite in this game. The Cardinal have Andrew Luck and a stout defense. I want to see how these play out.

Of course, nothing is set in stone, until the BCS Countdown tomorrow. After that, we're going bowling!

TCU To Join Big East, 2012-2013 Season

Coming to a conference near you!

Update #1 10:16 AM EST: According to Joe Schad, TCU will announce their joining the conference 2 PM EST, 1 PM CT.

TCU is now accepting membership into the Big East, in all sports. They will join in the 2012-2013 season. An announcement will likely come early this week. It might not make much sense right now, but it's designed to add another football school that's actually good into the Big East, which hasn't been good as of late.


This would now mean that TCU is in a BCS school, which means they get an automatic bid once they join, if they win the conference. 


"The Big East had said a few weeks ago it wanted to get its football membership to 10 teams. The league also made an offer to Villanova, a member in all sports but football, to move up from FCS to the Big East."


"The current four-year evaluation period for the BCS concludes in December 2011, so TCU's past BCS rankings – three consecutive top 11 BCS rankings, including this year – will transfer to the Big East since it joined the league before the 2012-13 school year.

The current 2008-11 evaluation period is being used to determine if a seventh conference earns automatic qualifying status for the 2012 and 2013 regular seasons – and the Mountain West (TCU's current home) will not qualify. The Big East, however, already has its automatic qualifying status for the 2012 and 2013 regular seasons by virtue of the contracts, Hancock said.

Adding TCU also would strengthen its position when the league starts renegotiating its television contracts that expires after the 2013 season."


- Fanhouse 


Updates as they come

Referees, BCS Thoughts

Just that stud.
AP Photo/Amy Sancetta

All during the game on Saturday against Michigan, referees were like hawks when it came to unsportsmanlike conduct. This included fighting (which, there was plenty of) excessive celebration, and holding up gloves to the 7th largest crowd for the OSU-Michigan game. Wait, what?

Yes, the referees had the balls to penalize Ohio State players all game long for holding up their hands and with the Nike provided gloves that formed a block "O". Of course, this didn't stop the Buckeyes, because hell, this is THE Game, and nothing was going to stop them from celebrating like they were supposed to. Look, I don't have a problem with referees flagging players for excessive celebration, but holding up your hands and forming a Block O isn't anything against the opposing team. Mr. Jay Z, sir, that is a penalty.

If Nike gives Pro Combat uniforms, and they also hand out the gloves, then the team in question also has to wear the gloves. It's just how it works. So why is that every time they did what they were told, Ohio State was penalized? Obviously it's not Nike's fault. They've done it before, and here, and here, and here. This is a lot of penalty's waiting to happen. There were no flags at all in those games, everyone seemed to think it was the next big fashion statement for the NCAA. Which by the way, I think the gloves look amazing and wish they would wear them every game.

Live Blog: #7 Ohio State vs. TTUN

It's time for the last regular season game against That Team Up North. The Buckeye's are in the 'Shoe for the last time this season, and the seniors are ready to go out with a bang. On the line is a BCS bid, and bragging rights. Join us at 11:45 to get this show started!

ITS's Top 25: Week 13

#1 Oregon (-) - BYE

#2 Auburn (-) - BYE

#3 TCU (-) - BYE

#4 LSU (-) - A close win over Ole Miss moves LSU to a 10-1 record.

#5 Boise State (-) - Easy 51-0 win over Fresno. Broncos face their final test against Nevada, so we'll see where they land.

#6 Wisconsin (-) - A bigger win over Michigan than some folks realize. They've beaten Iowa, OSU, and Michigan in same season since awhile!

#7 Ohio State (-) - Big win at Iowa 20-17. Pryor had good leadership in the 4th quarter, willing their way to victory.

#8 Stanford (-) - The Cardinal demolished the Bears defense, 48-14.

#9 Oklahoma State (-) - Justin Blackmon isn't getting enough credit for this team, as they continue to roll.

#10 Michigan State (-) - The third Big Ten team in the Top Ten since about Week 5. MSU has won every game since their loss to Iowa

Troy Smith Shines Again, BCS Thoughts

Is there anyone else you would rather see?

Troy Smith got his first start 2 weeks ago in London. Many didn't expect much, because this was Alex Smith's team. With the 1-6 49ers trailing early, Troy Smith started to make his comeback, and not just for that game. He lead his team to a 24-16 victory over the Broncos, while going 12/19 for 196 yards and a Touchdown in running and passing. Also, he had no interceptions. It was a great performance, but everyone thought that it was a one time showing by Smith.

Yesterday, Troy got the start again, this time against the St. Louis Rams (a game filled with Buckeyes). With another outstanding performance, (he went 17/28 for a career high 356 yards and a touchdown), ESPN gave this quote:

"After getting back into the NFC West race with two gutsy performances by their new starting quarterback, the San Francisco 49ers think they've finally found the right Smith for the job."


A starting job? For the man that you said couldn't start, because he was too small and wouldn't be able to see over the offensive line, and that his running ablilty was overrated? How's this possible?


"Coach Mike Singletary wouldn't pick his starter for next week, but it's fairly clear Troy Smith energizes his teammates in ways Alex Smith hasn't mastered."


I think it's obvious who he should go with. Buckeye Nation is proud of Troy Smith, and we're all rooting for the man that brought Ohio State a great season and a Heisman Trophy. He proved he's still got it.

Buckeye's Adjustments Foils PSU's Upset.

Howard seals the deal
AP Photo/Al Behrman

The Nittany Lions gave the Buckeyes everything they had in the first half. It was enough, but they had to continue with the domination. They couldn't. The first drive in the 2nd half set the momentum for Ohio State from the get-go. Down 14-3, Tressel and the Buckeyes rode on the back of Daniel "Boom" Herron for the second straight game. He finished with 21 carries for 190 yards and a score. The score was the one that cut the 11 point deficit (biggest comeback for Tressel in his 10 years at OSU). Right away, the crowd went from booing and quiet, to loud and cheering. McGloin threw, Torrence picked, and the rest was history.

After that score, there was no looking back for the Buckeyes, as they would score 3 more times, winning 38-14. Terrelle Pryor was decent, but only threw the ball just 13 times, completing 8 passes for 139 yards with 2 touchdowns against 1 interception. In the first half, he struggled to find a rhythm, and it showed, as the offense itself wasn't ready to play physical, Ohio State football. Tressel improved to 27-4 in November games as Ohio State's head coach -- and 3-4 in the week after a bye. Joe Paterno who was closing in on his 401st win, instead got his 133rd loss.


With this win, the Buckeyes moved to 9-1 on the season and remain in a three-way tie with Wisconsin and Michigan State atop the Big Ten standings. The Buckeyes have two tough games remaining, as they travel to Iowa next week and come home to face Michigan the week after. Wisconsin heads to Ann Arbor next week and plays Northwestern at home the following week, while MSU has the easiest schedule, hosting Purdue and traveling to Penn State.

ITS's Top 25: Week 11

Last week, we were having trouble getting the Top 25 post up, so I apologize for that, Blogger tends to screw us over from time to time. I have the rankings, they just weren't posted, so I'll still have the teams rising from where they were and falling from where they were.

 

#1 Oregon (-) - A 53-16 shellacking (yes it's a real word) of Washington just keeps moving the Ducks forward towards a national championship.

#2 Auburn (-) - It was Chattanooga. Calm yourselves SEC.

#3 LSU (11) - It took a 4th down, but so did pretty much every other win, as the cardiac cats continued to win games, this time against Alabama. Yeah, Alabama.

#4 TCU (-) - A fantastic win over Utah would normally make them go up a spot, but LSU beat Alabama!

#5 Boise State (-) - Wow, Boise came this close to dropping out of the Top 5. They really play no one. Nevada has the best shot, and they'll probably get blown out 35-3.

#6 Wisconsin (-) - This whole Top 10 is just a big cluster of teams that could be in the championship game. I said could, calm down Madison.

#7 Ohio State (-) - BYE


#8 Nebraska (6) - A 1 point win over Iowa State isn't going to cut it for a Top 5 team.


#9 Stanford (11) - Beat the tar out of one of the better opponents they will face, 42-17. Arizona never stood a chance.


#10 Michigan State (15) - 3 Big Ten teams back in the Top Ten for awhile, it seems. Ohio State, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan State are all vying for the Rose Bowl. Many think Ohio State will jump Wisconsin, but I can't be too certain of that.