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AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHh HAAAAAAAAAA hahahahaha LMAO, Ohio State will challenge for the title about as much of a challenge as they did last year. LOL This site is crazy man, pure madness!

hey they will challenge for a big Ten title.

The Beer is for ..........Sooner!

He may have overextended making 2 claims in the same throw down.

If OSU gets past Michigan on the road (Michigan may have the best under achievers and the most over rated coach in college football, but that's another blog), they will be in the title game. At the very least, I don't see them getting blown out against the other 3 undefeated teams.

Unless its another blow out, with so may starters returning, they will be high or maybe even #1 in the polls at the beginning of next year (sorry, but winning out the season counts for more than hype and a couple of losses). Not certain what USC looks like, but if they get an early season win against a perennial powerhouse, they will control their own destiny from there.

If they finish out next year 11-2, 12-1, or win it all with most of the starters returning, they will again face the same scenario.

The 2nd half of the claim is tough to argue against unless you put forth they won't beat USC. i haven't seen USC this year or know what they are graduating/returning, so I can't comment there.


The 1st half is a bit tough. Would like to see some more detail about how many are leaving, how many are freshmen/sophomores, etc. from the teams he places ahead of the OSU class - not saying there isn't any, just saying Sooner isn't detailing them.

Before you dismiss them (I had no idea they are winning with half the team freshmen/sophomores) don't underestimate how hard it is to win out - just ask LSU, Oklahoma, and Michigan (really good teams, but Kentucky and Colorado hardly look like powerhouses, and you don't want my comments on loosing to Div 2).

If someone has a better entry, list it with some details. if you have a better entry, detail it, otherwise don't beat up on PROVE IT just because your teams couldn't finish against teams they should have dominated.


As for last year's championship game, that' another blog (though it is worth noting the Big 10 went 2-1 against the SEC in the bowls last year).

no way they wont even win this year and next year. I know Brian Robiske and he will jump soon so yea

I think the key word in there is challenge...They challenge every year, so do all the other big time schools...they are young and very talented, but as OSU fans have come to know players leave early. If they continue to recruit well in state and in the south they will always contend for a title shot with Tress.

The Big Ten seems to be down this year and that makes it an easier task for a great record. They will compete even if the opposition is tough year in and year out so with a weaker conference this year and the possibility of that continueing I can definitely see them in NC contention more so than usual.

I think we will see OSU and OU battle for the top spot next year, they are both young and gettting better, and Stoops is an Ohio boy which makes him and OU the next best thing in my book.

xxx84 No offense but there are 121 Division I - bowl subdivision teams. In theory they all can "contend." I take it to mean a Top 5 team or at very least a BCS Bowl team every year. 65 of these are teams in the automatic bid BCS Conferences. If you only take the top 1/2 that is still 32 teams. Not to mention last year there was Boise State this year there is Kansas (would be considered bottom 1/2 of BCS teams prior to this year).

If his notion of 'Contend' is as broad as you say than the TD is a pointless exercise

I think that OSU will nearly always challenge for a NC. Not saying that they will win, or even make it to the NC, but just the elite level the program is on alone will make it a contender. Similar to that of OU, USC, Florida, LSU, Mich. These are the colege elite. Often there are party crashers, ie Boise St., but these teams will year ina nd year out contend for a title. There may be an off year that the teams need to reload, but for the most part, they'll always be in NC talks.
I second the claim that sooner in WA should have picked one, my guess is OU, and argued why they are a better young team. That being said, I think OSU and OU will open next season #1 and #2, depending on how the season closes out. Both teams are filled to the brim with young talent. On second thought, toss Florida in there as well. Really, no one can really tell how the players will develop and how quickly. An example would by OSU's rb Wells and OU's rb brown. Both are very talented sophs. But, for all we know, one could end up plateauing and never exceeding their current level of play while the other becomes the next Adrian Peterson. It is all speculation.

Realistically to challenge you need to be able to get to the National Championship game. From there, upsets happen all the time just as they happen all season long.

Although there are exceptions, there are several requirements:

1-It really helps if you start out in the upper half of the polls. In a weird year like this, unranked teams can climb in the polls and find themselves in position to play in the Championship. What is far more common is that you will have 3 undefeated teams, or several 1 loss teams, fighting for a chance to play a #1 undefeated - if you are in a battle like this, it is tough to make it to the Championship game unless yo atart out high in the rankings.

Finishing with a 11-2, 12-1, or 13-0 record this year with almost every starter returning will get OSU near the top. Check off OSU here.

2-Starting players with the ability to win out the regular season (or get thru with only 1 loss as noted below).

OSU may do it this year. With almost everyone coming back, USC is the biggest obstacle to repeating.

3-The right teams scheduled.
-Ideally, you want to be from 1 of the 6 major conferences (don't expect another BYU anytime soon)
-Play a big name team (like Texas or USC or Miami) (OK - so maybe Miami won't be as impressive as when OSU shceduled them a couple of years ago)
-Play that big name team so early that if you win out you can take control of your own destiny -or- if you loose you have time to climb the polls again and work your way above the other 1 loss teams.
-Play a big name team late so if you loose against he big name team early, you have something to point to so they can boost you above the 1 loss teams, or you have someone to point to so you can cement your standing.

USC early. The Michigan rivalry late. Check off OSU here.

4-You then need to win. Not an easy task - look at some of the upsets so far this year, then come back and check the records of the winners at the end of the season. When you are at the top, every team plays you like they are playing for the National title. The top 10 has been decimated this year by teams that couldn't pull this off.

Florida was an embarrasment (that's a whole other blog). this aside Tressel has a long list of upset wins and few upset losses. He keeps his players up for every game, whether its rival Michigan or Akron.

Hmmm - OHio State - Oklahoma - I would be glued to the TV anywhere to watch that regardless of the records - I love seeing perrenial powerhouses square off (who from either conference didn't like watching OSU-Texas, and who from the Big-10 PAC-10 won't enjoy watching USC-OSU next year?).

So, there's been lots of talk of Oklahoma, but how about some numbers - how many leaving/graduating.

In OSU vs. Oklahoma debate

1. 18-19 returning staters vs ??? (I couldn't find this on the web)

2. I still point out these 18 kids have beaten teams every bit as tough as Colorado (my sympathies - when I was in college Ohio State always had a mediocre team beat them and take them out of contention).

3. Nation's #1 Defense. Sure, you may knock the competition, but these kids have only allowed 2 offensive units to score more than 1 TD (14 of the 17 Mich State points came from turnovers returned for TDs) (7 of the 17 Penn State points came from a KO return for TD) (even Washington's 2nd TD came with less than a minute to play).
OSU - #1 in Defense
Oklahoma - #19

4. Talent at the skilled positions on offense (OK - maybe the QB isn't NFL caliber, but he's good enough, the wide receivers will get their chance to play on Sundays, and Wells will get a chance to make a run for the Heismann). its not just the competition, the offense is getting better with each passing week - shouldn't be a surprise - the 2nd game of the season represented 1/2 the starting experience for about 1/2 the starters.

5. So you think the pollsters are too biased (too easy of a comparison to reiterate)- how about the others
SI Power Ranking - OSU #2, Okalhoma #6
BCS computer polls average - OSU .93, Oklahoma .67

I am not saying the Sooners don't have a great underclass - ust saying nobody is putting anything of much more substance behind their argument other than "These couple of guys are good" "the bench looks good" and "Go Sooners"

I mean when I started this throwdown, I wasn't sold - but there was no way I was going to look up every team. I must say, I am more convinced of my argument now then when I started by lack of substance in the counter argument.

OU has beat #9 Missouri and their explosive offense and 14th ranked Texas.

OSU only win against overrated #25 no longer ranked Penn State. Frankly OU played Miami which is a better team than anyone (other than PSU) that OSU has played. If you play no one your stats should be great. I didn't just say go OU. The #2 rated QB and only a Freshmen (better than your QB will ever be), Murray is being touted as an All American and is only hampered bc have 3 backs that split load. And yes Chris Brown will also be back 2 more years. Their oline I already told you is almost all underclassmen. They are losing basically 3 key players that is it.

That is just 1 team. Frankly your argument has one argument (18-19). Of course you have higher bcs avg OU has a loss that has NOTHING to do with next 2 years. Then I'll raise you 119 other Division I schools

rampage... I don't have to pick one team. His TD was OSU will for next 2 years (ie after this one) contend for title. The fact that numerous powers have large underclasses and talent is directly relevant because they will get in the way of OSU being there next 2 years

Here is another thing next year OSU plays at USC and then home vs them next year. Add conference play and unlikely you will be getting a BCS title shot in each of 2 years as your TD claim

OSU was suppose to be rebuilding this year and look at them....just saying...

Here is another thing next year OSU plays at USC and then home vs them next year. Add conference play and unlikely you will be getting a BCS title shot in each of 2 years as your TD claim

Sooner in WA | 11/01/07


haha look at USC this year...what make you even think in the next year or two they will be even better...im not taking that bet....

at the end of the day...you can argue all you want about OSU schedule....but they are ranked #1....and your team isnt! bottom line...weather they played 1 ranked team of 5....they are number 1. noting will change that

sooner you came at me with the whole contend?? thing, I know everyone technically has a chance, I was saying that all the powerhouses are favored and contending for the NC every year...its a tradition at those schools to have their goals set high, unlike som elower level school who just want to win 7 or 8 games....I dont know why you wanted to argue, basically the same point I made from a different direction. OU will have the same troubles as OSU next year..they all will...

Yes but you claimed
a) OSU has best young class; Id say OU is better with a true freshman QB compared to your jr and freshman and soph rbs that are tearing things up.
b) You claimed OSU will vie for the title each two years. I say no you will not. That at least 1 of 2 years you will have 3 losses and not even be in discussions