Why it's so hard for Ohio State fans to admit they backed into the title game?

Question

My whole thing is - they got to the N.C. under the currently flawed system...great, way to go. I'm just curious why the entire state of Ohio calls up all the radio stations, are all over the internet message boards saying that they're legit. Do these people really believe that or are they just sticking up for their team? Why is it so hard for them to admit that they played a terribly weak schedule this year? Youngstown State, Akron, Washington and Kent State? Why not toss in a high school team while they're at it? Why do none of them admit that the Little 10 is a horribly weak conference? Or why can't they admit that if they were in the SEC, they would be a 3, maybe 4 loss team? The one tough game they played (Illinois) they lost..at home no less. Is there maybe like 1 objective person in the entire state of Ohio who sees things for what they really are without the scarlet and gray blinders? They also have the nerve to wonder why the rest of us hate them, go figure..

I wasn't necessarily saying LSU didn't back in too. But come on, look at LSU's schedule and look at Ohio State's. LSU played @ Miss. St, VT, South Carolina, Florida, @ Kentucky, Auburn, @ Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee. The strength of schedule comparison is night and day.

For the record, I don't like OSU, but I really don't like LSU either. People might think I'm a Tiger fan based on my view, definitely not though. I just have more respect for LSU because of who they've played. Follow up question though, what will the Ohio people be saying if LSU takes them apart and wins the NC by 40 points?

Answer 1

Here's at least one. Been a 50 year Buckeye fan, graduated in 1971. The best two teams at the moment are USC and Oklahoma. But there are probably, on any given day, at least another ten teams that could win it all if there was a play-off. And Ohio State is one of them. So until we get a true play-off system it is what it is. Maybe you should direct your efforts toward that goal instead of bad mouthing Ohio State.

Answer 2

1. I am an Ohio State Fan and they did back into the N.C, don't blame them, blame the system. Also blame the fact that the top teams kept losing.

2. Two they did play a weak schedule, however they did not lose to weaker opponents like the top teams did. ILLinois is a good team and they beat OSU fair and square.

3. The Big Ten had an off year, it happens in College football. SEC won't always be a powerhouse it goes in cycles.

4. I won't admit the will be an 3 maybe 4 loss team, because they don't play in the SEC. Making a statement that they will suck in the SEC doesn't make sense you can say that about any team in the nation.

5. Like anyother Ohio State fan or anyother I will defend my team. Why am I not allowed to do that, because you don't like them. However childish of you.

6. I bet you think that LSU is the greatest team in regulation right?

7. OSU will be playing tougher schedules again, They are playing an Home and Home Series agains USC, VT and Miami in back to back years. They already did that against Texas.

8. Why won't SEC fans admit that they don't like to play OOC games against tough opponents on the Road no less. The toughest opponent they have played is VT and in the ACC that isn't saying much and they played them at home.

9. Of course you're not an LSU fan you're an SEC fan, so your bias towards LSU in understandable. However if LSU does blow them out by 40 points. I'll still be supporting them, because I'm a fan, I don't jump band wagons like you. What can I do I will still support.

Answer 3

The score is not very indicative of the way the game was really played. Ohio State scored early with a long touchdown run by Wells but that play proved to be a fluke as the running game was nothing more than medicre the rest of the game. Also LSU was up 38-17 until very late when OSU put up that touchdown to get back into a respectable position. LSU scored 24 unanswered by putting together drives and playing great defense following a FG and the Wells touchdown. OSU was 3-13 on 3rd down conversions LSU 11-18. LSU won the turnover battle 3-1

Answer 4

THE BCS: A CLOSER LOOK
Here is the final BCS top 13, with the school, its spot in the coaches' poll, its spot in the Harris poll and its BCS computer average. A bonus: We've included NCAA schedule strength, which is not part of the BCS formula..
Team (Last week)HarrisCoachesComp.Sked
1. Ohio State (3rd)1st1st3rdT-48th
2. LSU (7th)2nd2nd2nd24th
3. Virginia Tech (6th)6th5th1st3rd
4. Oklahoma (9th)3rd3rdT-6th39th
5. Georgia (4th)4th4thT-6thT-25th
6. Missouri (1st)7th7th4th13th
7. USC (8th)5th6th9th80th
8. Kansas (5th)8th8th5thT-81st
9. West Virginia (2nd)9th9th10th47th
10. Hawaii (12th)10th10th12th117th
11. Arizona State (13th)12th11th8th63rd
12. Florida (10th)11th12th11th8th
13. Illinois (15th)13th13th16thT-10t

OSU didnt have hardest schedule, but not exactly night and day as you'd like to think

For Robert B. I'd think you'd know that most schools schedule teams years in advance - OSU's big non-conf game this year was supposed to be Wash who admittedly turned out bad, but they were very good when OSU scheduled them several years ago. As for beefing up a schedule, if you don't recall, they just finished two games against Texas the past couple years and for the next 10 years they have home and home series against USC, Miami, Va Tech, Cal, and Oklahoma, so I think its clear that obvious that OSU does try a lot harder than most teams to schedule a marquee matchup with an out-of-conf team...Wash just turned out to be a bust this year

Answer 5

I'm from the state of Ohio and i know they got into the NC by a flawed system... Cause i'm not an OSU fan.

A friend of mine thinks it should be Hawaii (12-0) against OSU (11-1) because as he puts it (logically Hawaii is undefeated and OSU has the next best record)... I didn't tell him Kansas was also 11-1 but their loss was to MIzzou instead of Illinois.

I think it should either be OSU vs. Georgia since they were 3 and 4 before the losing weekend or Georgia and VaTech, since neither was ever no.1 and lost it.
And because VaTech beat a higher ranked opponant than LSU, a higher ranked opponant that had beaten them.

Answer 6

Maybe it is because,,,, we realize Y State, Akron, Kent State are div1aa(perenially playoffs), midmajor, midmajor and Washington as a BCS conference opponent had a bad year...

Why cant LSU(sec) fans realize that Tulane, Middle Tennessee, La Tech are midmajor, midmajor, midmajor ( all 3 middle to bottom of their conference)
This would mean admitting they played an equally WEAK non conference schedule.

As far as Big 10 strength versus SouthLeastern Conference strength?
Both conferences had 10 teams bowl eligible...
H2H last years bowl games? 2-1 Big 10 favor..
H2H last 5 years bowl games? 8-6 Big 10 favor.
H2H last decade bowl games? 13-13 Whitewash.
So tell me by what standards is Big 10 so weak and SEC so strong?
OSU last 5 years in BCS games (yes all 5 years OSU went to a BCS) 4-1...including 1 NC title. That is same amount as any other team has won since the BCS started...

Backing in usually means losing your last game and still getting in... OSU won their last game...they played a 12 game schedule just like everyone else (that didnt have a conference title game (not Big 10 fault, see NCAA rules))
and went 11-1 ...

Answer 7

I think everyone will agree both teams backed in to the national Championship. But...what else do you have. No one else took care of business when they needed to. All season long. Oregon, USC, WVU, Kansas, Missou all had thier shots and couldnt close the deal. This will be a paper championship in my mind but I really think under the current system its hard to find anyone else who should play for the NC.

I really hope Ohio State listens to the criticism and beefs up thier non-conf schedule in the future because even if the beat LSU most of the nation wont see them as a great OSU team like in 2002.

Answer 8

Great question!!
I'm an Ohioan who is NOT an OSU fan (can't stand them OR Columbus, Ohio).

Amid all my despite for them, my real beef is how could a team with such a soft schedule get into a N.C. game?!
Obviously strength of schedule means nothing anymore since the BCS removed that very IMPORTANT factor in their calculations.

Anymore, college sports is about the all mighty dollar. I can't wait to see how much $$ the city of New Orleans and the NCAA will make off of this game.

Answer 9

They're as legit as anybody to be in there. The simple fact is that NO ONE is really legit or very deserving this year. Can you name for me the team that really DOES deserve it? Maybe that's why OSU fans are so defensive. People can point out all the reasons they think Ohio State shouldn't go, but who really SHOULD?

Answer 10

I watched the OU/Mizzou game with a Buckeye fan. He was rooting hard for OU... Funny. He knows they were lucky to get in to the NC game, however he lives in California so perhaps he is less homerized.

BTW way... how else can you look at than OSU backed into the title game? They were idle when they were lofted to #1 by losses of teams that were still playing. Kinda like backing into a win playing golf when you are in the clubhouse. It still counts.