Akron Defense - Better Than OSWho?

[UAZipster0305]

I'd say that most SOS data is flawed in that it's not based on exact science, and I'd also say that most opinions are flawed because they're based on flawed data which can be further degraded by emotional rather than logical interpretation. People are continuously trying to improve the data collection and interpretation, and it's gotten better over the years I've been following it. But it's never going to be perfect. So we have to kind of muddle along by considering all the different methods of ranking SOS and all the various interpretations, and then consider all the opinions and rationale that people express in various places, including this forum. Then you just make your own best estimate from all that, with the understanding that flawed input results in flawed output.

The solution is simple. All FBS conference champions get a berth in a 16 team single elimination playoff system and the other spots are filled by at-large selections using a computer system like the BCS. Final round games are rotated in name with traditional bowl games. Every school begins play in their conference. At the end of the season, teams not in the playoffs play four out of conference games to determine relative strength of conference used for the BCS computer system strength of schedule for the following year. When eliminated from the championship playoffs, schools may opt to participate in the cross-conference games, or not. No more whining about strength of schedule, and the traditional powers and conferences can no longer bully everyone else. Let's settle it on the field. Any team that wins four games in a row among the top 16 in the country deserves to be called National Champions.

[g-mann17]

The solution is simple. All FBS conference champions get a berth in a 16 team single elimination playoff system and the other spots are filled by at-large selections using a computer system like the BCS. Final round games are rotated in name with tradition bowl games. Every school begins play in their conference. At the end of the season, teams not in the playoffs play four out of conference games to determine relative strength of conference used for the BCS computer system strength of schedule for the following year. When eliminated from the championship playoffs, schools may opt to participate in the cross-conference games, or not. No more whining about strength of schedule and the traditional powers and conferences can no longer bully everyone else. Let's settle it on the field. Any team that wins four games in a row among the top 16 in the country deserves to be called National Champions.

Makes too much sense.

[Balsy]

The solution is simple. All FBS conference champions get a berth in a 16 team single elimination playoff system and the other spots are filled by at-large selections using a computer system like the BCS. Final round games are rotated in name with traditional bowl games. Every school begins play in their conference. At the end of the season, teams not in the playoffs play four out of conference games to determine relative strength of conference used for the BCS computer system strength of schedule for the following year. When eliminated from the championship playoffs, schools may opt to participate in the cross-conference games, or not. No more whining about strength of schedule, and the traditional powers and conferences can no longer bully everyone else. Let's settle it on the field. Any team that wins four games in a row among the top 16 in the country deserves to be called National Champions.

But that would be fair. That would be equal. What on earth is the incentive for the big schools (State Ohio, Alabama, Florida, etc...) to give up their choke hold on a system that only benefits them?

[skip-zip]

The real question to which I'm not sure there's a definitive answer is how a top 10 SOS team with one loss should be compared to a #40 or #50 SOS team with no losses. It gets down to interpretation at some point

Dave,

This is a great point that should not be overlooked. It IS all about interpretation, because we've all been roped into a system where there's so much of a human element in the equation. Probably a good reason why this system is being scrapped next year, and SOS is supposedly going to play a much bigger role.

We'll find out next week if Auburn can make up the gap in points, but you have to ask yourself, how did one loss put them so far behind a team that was playing nobody's when they were in the process of playing 6 ranked teams, including a #1 and #5 in consecutive weeks?

The system obviously is not working.

And if the "undefeated" is indeed the overwhelming characteristic to determine national title contention, where's the push for NIU to be considered for the title game? I'll give you the answer. It all has to do with the fact that NOBODY will dare to put them closer to the top of the polls at the start of the season. Only the name teams get those spots, which clearly provides an advantage when you run the table.