AP
This weekend's rash of poll-rattling upsets -- nine losses by ranked teams, six of them to unranked foes -- allowed several teams to make considerable rises while barely lifting a finger. One of the primary beneficiaries: 4-0 BYU, which, on a bye week, jumped from 11th to seventh in the coaches poll, eighth in the AP poll.
If the Cougars can reach the top eight by the end of September, where might they be a month from now if they keep winning? Three of the teams above them (using the AP poll) -- No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 4 Missouri and No. 5 Texas -- could well knock each other off by mid-October (OU faces Texas and Texas faces Mizzou), while No. 6 Penn State visits No. 18 Wisconsin in two weeks.
It's time to face a once-unimaginable reality: An undefeated non-BCS team could, for the first time, play for the BCS championship.
No previous party-crasher has received even cursory consideration for the title game, the assumption being that even an undefeated Mountain West or WAC team does not have the same credentials as a one-loss team from one of the major conferences. But no previous such team has ever risen this high, this fast, either. Five weeks into the 2004 season, undefeated Utah was 11th in the polls. On Oct. 1, 2006, Boise State hadn't yet made it out of the 20s. Hawaii was 18th when the first BCS standings were released on Oct. 14 last season.
Conventional wisdom says BYU will eventually hit a ceiling. In '04, for example, Urban Meyer's Utes were seventh when the first official standings were released on Oct. 16. Three of the teams ahead of them (Miami, Florida State and Wisconsin) eventually lost, but Utah moved up just one spot over the remainder of the season.
But the Mountain West of 2008 has already attained far more respect than the Mountain West of '04 thanks to its teams' 7-4 record against the BCS conferences. While BYU's "signature victory" so far -- a 59-0 trashing of UCLA -- might not stand the test of time if the Bruins go 5-7, an undefeated season will require beating its three toughest conference opponents (Utah, TCU and Air Force) on the road.
Make no mistake: BYU will never get the nod over an undefeated SEC or Big 12 team. If a USC or Georgia wins out, it would likely jump back ahead of the Cougars.
But what happens if everybody ahead of them loses (which, at the current rate, seems highly plausible)? Is the nation ready for a national-title crasher? Or will the pollsters eventually invoke a BYU ceiling?
Taylor Walker
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It's way too early. If they're still unbeaten in the middle of November I'll get back to ya about it. Why do you guys at SI insist on stinking up my fanNation?
norka
Total Comments (3388)
That would be the best thing for the BCS, if BYU won the whole shebang. It would in many capitalists eyes seem irresponsible. But everybody wants the underdog to win in big games. This would be the most improbable run ever in CFB History if the Cougs Pull It Off.
Crean n' Crimson-…
Total Comments (602)
It comes down to just what you said - their real signature win is one game over UCLA. Sure, they beat all the weak-to-middlin' teams they played while - in this scenario - maybe no one else did - but is that what makes a national champion these days, dodging everyone with a pulse?
actually, sounds more like the path to the Presidency, so this may be the year for it.
WestCoastWatcher
Bakersfield , CA
Total Comments (8)
Norka don't be a Dorka.
Crean n' Crimson-…
Total Comments (602)
Crean, I got to hand it to ya, you made me laugh. Now if I could only think of something that rhymes with crimson.....Crean n' Crimson don't be mean and winsome. But it really is too early for this nonsense.
norka
Total Comments (3388)
Why do we have to hear every year about the non-bcs team that is going to play in the championship game. Last year it was Hawaii, well we saw how well they did against UGA didn't we? The best team BYU will play the rest of the year is a TCU that got blown out by the Sooners yesterday. Yes they blew out a bad UCLA team, but don't forget they also had to rely on a failed extra point to beat a equally bad Washington team.
BYU doesn't deserve to be in a championship game.
wakeriderof87
Valrico , FL
Total Comments (24)
Your right. It was just funny.
Crean n' Crimson-…
Total Comments (602)
As I said elsewhere, let's take up the chorus...
Playoff! Playoff! PLAYOFF! Playoff! Playoff! PLAYOFF! Playoff! Playoff! PLAYOFF! Playoff! Playoff! PLAYOFF! Playoff! Playoff! PLAYOFF! Playoff! Playoff! PLAYOFF! Playoff! Playoff! PLAYOFF! Playoff! Playoff! PLAYOFF! Playoff! Playoff! PLAYOFF!
mj says abc sux
Columbia, MO
Total Comments (24)
It is abundantly clear... the BCS sucks... Polls suck (at least in the first 4 - 6 weeks)... only one way to go forward... Playoff!
mj says abc sux
Columbia, MO
Total Comments (24)
I agree some sort of play off format should happen sooner than later. Now I'm not trying to be a dorka here but Stewy here is always the first to explain why that will never happen.Of course he's bright and really knows his business but sometimes outside forces can change the landscape unexpectedly. So maybe some bottle necks at the top of the polls will eventually force the issue.
norka
Total Comments (3388)
wakeriderof87, The Cougs are actually squared off to play against the Utes Nov. 22, yeah...the one they play every year. Utes are 15 right now in the polls and if current trends continue, I would argue that being the most important non-BCS game ever played. Winner most likely goes and crashes the BCS and BYU possibly the national championship. Just a little side note, the BYU/Utah game has come down to a couple of last minute heroics the past few seasons. This one is never a gimmie for either team.
Bust_the_BCS
Salt Lake City , UT
Total Comments (2)
It's true that Stewart is always quick to defend against calls for a playoff by citing reasons while it won't happen any time soon. If it's ever going to happen it's going to require a groundswell of popular support, and I see Stewart's constant appeal to the obstacles to a playoff as little more than just another obstacle to a playoff.
Also, forget about a playoff -- can we start a movement to revert to the old clock rules? Games are over way too fast this season.
schrecklich
New Haven , CT
Total Comments (16)
As a BYU fan I hope this article doesn't put the jinx on them. I agree it is way too early in the season to be thinking about that. BYU has a tough road ahead to get there. (Obviously the three games Mr. Mandel listed). That would be great to see what happens if they do indeed win out. But unfortunately I do think there would be that "BYU ceiling". The rest of the country would not let that happen...send them before an SEC team or Big 12 team. It would certainly spice up the talk though! I think they do have the talent this year to do it!
twsso
Gilbert, AZ
Total Comments (1)
One correction. With the MWC and Utah especially (top 5 in all 4 polls) doing so well in the computer polls (I know it's early but it's a trend) particularly over the Pac, I don't see how USC passes up BYU in the BCS if 1) Utah beats Oregon St. and 2) BYU wins out.
BYU has a higher ranking and a tougher SOS from her on out. Even if USC jumps them in the Coaches poll the 1/3 computer weight might be too much overcome unless Ohis St. dominates the Big 10. Mainly b/c the Pac is so weak.
That would essentially mean that it would take at least two 1-loss or undefeated Big 12, SEC or Big 10 teams to keep them out. It's a strong possibility. But they have yet to do anything impressive on the road and still need to face AFA, Utah and TCU.
briannel
Total Comments (12)
its great that all bcs conference lovers like to bring up a Hawaii team (with a poor defense)getting blown out by Georgia but in their bias they seem to forget that Utah killed Pitt and BSU beat Oklahoma. that is 2-1 in bcs bowls.
Dbroke380
Provo , UT
Total Comments (10)
It's funny that you posted this article today, Stewart, because it saved me from writing you an email for the mailbag asking the very question in the title of this post!
As I believe you stated sometime during this offseason, if 2008 ends like 2007 did and a strong team like BYU stays undefeated, they have as good a shot as anybody to make it to the championship. Not only are they ranked high enough already, but they've still got a couple of big games left. Plus, they're the perfect non-BCS team to make the jump--they have enough history and tradition not to just get brushed off by poll voters. They've already got a national championship, so they're a leg up on a Utah or Boise State in the credibility department.
I don't want to jinx it, but it really seems like this is shaping up to be a perfect storm for the ultimate BCS Bust.
It even has the potential to kickstart the MWC's campaign to get an auto-bid, which would really shake up the postseason picture.
Jams
Gainesville, FL
Total Comments (46)
I don't know if BYU is truly a legitimate contender - I really haven't seen that much of them facing stiff competition. However, if ANYONE can justify USC staying in the top 10 after the egg they laid against what is realistically a mediocre team, then certainly BYU has at least a legitimate argument. How can anyone say that USC's PAC 10 schedule than BYU's? That is absurd, especially considering the fact that MWC has owned the PAC 10 thus far this year.
BruceS1G
Pelham , AL
Total Comments (3954)
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Timmythetiger
Dover , PA
Total Comments (1)
BYU didn't rely on a bad celebration call against UW in order to win the game. Had UW made the extra point that would have only sent the game into overtime. BYU's offense was unstoppable in the second half of that game and I'm not sure anything would have changed in overtime. In many ways I feel like that call was more unfair to BYU than to UW because BYU would probably have won that game in overtime.
Valentine 13
Kenmore , WA
Total Comments (3)
BYU, Utah, or Boise are good teams but even if they are undefeated, they do not deserve to play in the BCS title game over a 2 loss Big 12 team, a 2 loss SEC team, a two loss Big 11 team, a two loss USC team, a 1 loss ACC or 1 loss Big East Team. Even as bad as USC looked the other night, does anyone really think that BYU would belong on the same field in a BCS title game. I grudgingly agree that these teams sometimes belong in the lesser BCS games, but not the title game. Their SOS does not warrant it unless they have played at least two or three top teams like everyone in the power conferences has to. They have beat up on the Pac 10 this year but the Pac 10 is awful. Weren't people talking about Hawaii being left out of the title game last year?
War Tigers
Slidell , LA
Total Comments (80)
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