YSU, Citadel Games Could Cost OSU, Wisconsin BCS Bids

Marvin, the Duck of Infinite Inexplicability, on the scene for this bizarre little note.

Michigan's loss to Appalachian State just got a little more inexplicable, as a little-discussed change to the Big Ten's rules for determining the conference's automatic BCS representative has just been brought to light thanks to the Ann Arbor News' Jim Carty and MVictors, a Michigan blog. Apparently before the 2006 season the Big Ten slipped in a small change to the selection process designed to discourage games against I-AA teams. The relevant portion of the new bylaws:

2) If there is a tie for the championship, the winner of the game between these two teams shall represent the conference.
3) If there is still a tie for the championship, or if the tied teams did not play each other, the team that played more games against Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams shall be eliminated.
4) If there is still a tie, or if the tied teams did not play each other, or if both teams played the same number of games against an FCS team(s), the representative shall be determined on the percentage basis of all games played.

The same rules apply in the case of a three-way tie that can't be broken by head-to-head; this is a tiebreaker that figures to get used every three or four years or so if past history is any indication. Kudos to the league office for doing what it can to prevent the shameful spread of interdivisional sacrifices.

A question: are Big Ten athletic directors even aware of the change? The prospect of losing out on a BCS bid because you decided to feast on Youngstown State or ~~Appalachian State~~ some other I-AA team instead of Temple, Buffalo, and Florida International like Penn State should be a huge discouragement to any Big Ten team with eyes on a BCS bid. Which begs the question: why the hell did Michigan, Ohio State, and Wisconsin all schedule I-AA teams? There's no functional difference between grabbing a I-AA team and the bottom of I-A, and doing the former puts you at a severe disadvantage should one of the Big Ten's many co-championships get issued in the year you put the spurs to Samford. (Or, yes, they year Appalachian State puts the spurs to you.)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-02-2007 @ 10:11AM

Arby said...

Good for them - if they lose out on a BCS bid then that serves them right.

Although this rule will affect the smaller schools more as they lose out on these paydays which supplements their athletic budget. The small man gets shafted again.

10-02-2007 @ 11:26AM

Beat Visitor said...

I'd love to see this rule in the Big East too. Not only is it embarrassing to see my team (the Scarlet Knights) play Norfolk State, but it's obvious that that 59-0 win (and it wasn't that close) didn't prepare them for the game against a real team (Maryland) that came to town the following week.
http://beatvisitor.com

10-02-2007 @ 1:21PM

Philip Mazi said...

I think it's good that teams like Ohio State play early games against teams like Youngstown State. It gives YSU some exposure and YSU is more team than the bottom echelon of the 1A.

10-02-2007 @ 1:27PM

EnginBlue said...

From what I remember when the ASU announcement came out there was a problem finding a IA school to fill that schedule slot without a home/home arrangement. Hawaii comes to mind. Maybe someone else backed out last minute?

Not that any of that is an excuse. We just wanted more money.

10-02-2007 @ 1:52PM

teke184 said...

From the way the schedules and results look so far, I don't think this will matter this year.

The only three teams in the Big Ten who have not played an FCS team this year are Michigan State, Iowa, and Penn State.

Michigan State has one league loss.

Iowa has two league losses.

Penn State has two, pending the league's decision about whether to vacate Michigan's win over them with the ineligible player.

None of those three teams appears to be a serious contender in the Big Ten title chase this year, although time will tell once the teams like Illinois, Wisconsin, and Ohio State all play each other.

10-02-2007 @ 2:07PM

Jason S. said...

I'm pretty sure each of those teams had those games scheduled before the change took place. From what I know, and I may not know much, teams have their schedules set a few years in advance and this change took place last fall.

10-02-2007 @ 2:47PM

G said...

Jason S. - Not true, in Michigan's case. M scheduled Appalachian State after these rules were published in the 2006 media guide.

10-02-2007 @ 6:51PM

KGar said...

Next year the BCS computer will penalize for playing 2a schools. Mr Rogers will have to schedule teams other than Rust Belt U, Teamsters Titans or whatever other ridiculous opponent the Buckholes choose to send a check to. Has any one else noticed: The Big 11 is not keeping up with other conferences. Recruiting is weak, ssheduling is poor, but most of all, check out the lack of speed from top to bottom vs. the Pac 10 or the SEC. Hate to say it, but Big 11 is becoming a bottom feeder. Come on Big 11, catch up to the 21st century.