Polls are Out

[UtahDan]

I hate to jump past games, but week 3 is huge for the MWC. BYU-FSU, Utah-Oregon, TCU-Clemson. If we get wins in these 3 games, then I don't see any of the 3 dropping out of the top 20(unless disaster strikes).

They will all win the rest of their games outside of the round robin with the worst case scenario being three 11-1 teams, with the likely being one 12-0, one 11-1, and one 10-2. This would place all 3 very likely in the top 15 BCS standings. This will give credibility to the staying power of the conference.

I hope you are right, but I don't think any of the three teams are going to roll all of the other conference opponents. If I had to say now, I would guess that none will go undefeated in conference and at least one will drop a game to someone other than one another. I am looking hardest at Utah, frankly. This years Utes have the most to prove in my mind right now.

[Indy Coug]

Aha! Do you hear footsteps?

All I can hear is the steady marching of God's Army.

[SloanHater]

This is the 10th different season BYU has been in the top 10. Utah has been in the top 10 in three different seasons.

Of those 10 seasons, how many of them did BYU finish in the Top 10? (I'm curious the years as well, I can only think of 6 of them.)

[U-Ute]

If BYU and Utah remained undefeated until they played each other, would both play in a BCS boll? I realize this is pie in the sky for both teams after one games, just tossing out a hypothetical.

Seems unlikely.

From BCS selection process

No more than one such team from Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Sun Belt Conference, and the Western Athletic Conference shall earn an automatic berth in any year. (Note: a second team may be eligible for at-large eligibility as noted below.) If two or more teams from those conferences satisfy the provisions for an automatic berth, then the team with the highest finish in the final BCS Standings will receive the automatic berth, and the remaining team or teams will be considered for at-large selection if it meets the criteria.

I guess it depends on how the "at large" bids break down, but given the popularity of the big schools in the AQ conferences, a bowl would take a second place USC, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Florida, Alabama, LSU, etc, over a second MWC.


U-Ute

[DU Ute]

Of those 10 seasons, how many of them did BYU finish in the Top 10? (I'm curious the years as well, I can only think of 6 of them.)

Only 3, same # as Utah. '83, '84 and '96

[Jarid in Cedar]

I hope you are right, but I don't think any of the three teams are going to roll all of the other conference opponents. If I had to say now, I would guess that none will go undefeated in conference and at least one will drop a game to someone other than one another. I am looking hardest at Utah, frankly. This years Utes have the most to prove in my mind right now.

I see what you are saying. What I see is if(big if) Utah posts a 4-0 nonconf. record, they will likely stay in the top 20, higher if they run the table on UNLV, Wyo, CSU, AFA, SDSU, and UNM.

[SloanHater]

Only 3, same # as Utah. '83, '84 and '96

Interesting. I thought there were some higher finishes in the '77-'83 span. I would be curious to know similar stats about TCU.

[DU Ute]

TCU Top 25 Finishes

Year AP Rank Coaches Rank
1936 #16
1937 #16
1938 #1
1951 #11 #10
1955 #6 #6
1956 #14 #14
1958 #10 #9
1959 #7 #8
2000 #21 #18
2002 #23 #22
2003 #25 #24
2005 #11 #9
2006 #22 #21
2008 #7 #7


Lots of top 25 finishes, but only in 3 decades, none consecutive. Interesting

[falafel]

TCU Top 25 Finishes

Year AP Rank Coaches Rank
1936 #16
1937 #16
1938 #1
1951 #11 #10
1955 #6 #6
1956 #14 #14
1958 #10 #9
1959 #7 #8
2000 #21 #18
2002 #23 #22
2003 #25 #24
2005 #11 #9
2006 #22 #21
2008 #7 #7


Lots of top 25 finishes, but only in 3 decades, none consecutive. Interesting

What happened to TCU during the last 40 years of the 1900s?