BCS Rankings: The Biggest Surprises and Mistakes of the Top 25

The BCS Poll is out and, as usual, there were some surprises—Oklahoma at No. 1...seriously? And some oversights—how on earth is Wisconsin ranked BELOW Ohio State?

In either case, the release of the poll has set into motion the conversation of what team is championship caliber. Who will rise above all and play for the coveted BCS Championship in January?

Plenty will be said about the latter between now and Christmas, but tonight we can marinate on some of the surprises and mistakes that the BCS made in choosing the 25 best teams in the nation.

The Surprises

1. If Oklahoma is the No. 1 team in the nation, then someone is drinking.

The Sooners struggled against Utah State and Air Force this season, and looked only mildly impressive against a youthful Texas Longhorn team two weeks ago. No way they should be ranked anywhere near the top spot.

2. Boise State can't get no satisfaction from the pollsters.

No doubt some figured the tumble of both Nebraska and Ohio State would grant the Broncos a shot at No. 1, but no dice. The Broncos fall to third—behind Oregon.

3. Why on earth is Wisconsin ranked behind Ohio State?

Talk about swigging some sizzurp. This is the reward the Badgers get for beating "THE" Ohio State University. Tim Brewster must know some people.

4. Virginia Tech...for real?

Adding truth to the adage: better to lose early than late, the Hokies slotted in at No. 25 in the BCS Poll.

How on earth they were more deserving of this honor than, say, Georgia Tech or Nevada is a touch perplexing. The obvious reason would have to be strength of schedule, but, if that were the case, there would no Boise in the top 5 so...again...what makes the Hokies so worthy?

5. Mississippi State—good for them.

After beating Florida—in Gainesville—there seems to be little doubt that Dan Mullen's team will go bowling this season. The Bulldogs have certainly been impressive this year.

The Mistakes

1. Ohio State should not be in the top 10.

Sure, playing cupcakes is easy but, in their first true road test of the year, they folded like  cheap suit. Ohio State is a paper champion, Pryor is not Heisman worthy, and people are still giving too much respect to the Buckeyes based on absolutely nothing.

They are not a top 10 team...don't believe the hype.

2. Iowa is too low.

They lost a close game to Arizona early on, but have played well since that time—including a 38-28 win in Ann Arbor.

The Hawkeyes deserve better than 15.

3. West Virginia at 20?

The Mountaineers might be 5-1, but, they are a "we haven't played and won against anybody" 5-1. Their one chance to prove their legitimacy—versus LSU—ended in a loss. Not sure if they are any better than the 6-1 Nevada Wolfpack team that didn't even find it's way into the poll.

What say you? Did the polls disappoint, shock, or leave your mind boggled?

Barry Alvarez on Bret Bielema's Two Point Conversion:"You know what...I wouldn't have gone for two"

Last Saturday, the Big Ten was all aflutter after Wisconsin head coach, Bret Bielema, decided to go for the two-point conversion on Minnesota—with his team up by 25 points on the Gophers.


The conversion attempt failed, but it was clear that Minnesota head coach, Tim Brewster was none too happy about the decision by Bielema. Brewster felt it was "wrong" and sent a poor message about sportsmanship. Bielema defended his decision, saying that, in that situation, the "card" calls for the two-point conversion so he went for it, and he'd likely do it again if faced with a similar situation.


The furor has died down a bit, except for some rumblings by Minnesota Gopher players about not forgetting the move when these two teams meet again next year, that is until Barry Alvarez—former Wisconsin coaching great and current athletic director for the Badgers—said that he "wouldn't have gone for two".

According to a story published by Madison.com, Alvarez spoke to Bielema about the move immediately following the game and Bielema explained the same reasons to him that he's given to the press—that's what the card says to do:

"Bret gave his reason for going for two and I understand it," said Alvarez, who queried Bielema on the matter immediately after the game about the pass that fell incomplete. "If you're standing on that sideline, the game wasn't over as far as he was concerned.

"Us, we're up (in the stands) eating a hot dog, drinking a Coke, it's over for us. But he saw it last year against (the Gophers). We've given up big plays. In that game we gave up big plays and crazy things happen.'' (madison.com, 10/13/10)

Alvarez continued on by saying, if anything, he was unhappy with the way Minnesota coach Tim Brewster reacted following the game:

"If I'm offended by anybody, it's the way Brewster acted. He stopped (the conversion) anyway. He saved himself a point. I just think that was way overreacting." (madison.com, 10/13/10)

Clearly, there will be plenty of bulletin board material to go around for next season when—Brewster or no Brewster—these teams lock horns again in Minnesota. 

College Football: Was Bret Bielema "Wrong" for 2-Point Try Against Minnesota?

The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Minnesota Gophers by a final score of 41-23. However, the final score won't be what anyone focuses on come Sunday morning. No, much of the chatter will center around the ethical nature of Bret Bielema's play calling with his team up by more than three scores.

Leading 41-16 in the fourth quarter, with less than seven minutes to play in the contest, Bielema called for a two-point conversion after a Wisconsin touchdown. The conversion ended up being no good, but it was clear that Minnesota coach, Tim Brewster, took some exception to Bielema's decision to go for two with the game so well in hand.

Bielema defended the call, saying that it was the proper one, given the circumstance and the score, but Brewster obviously felt it showed a serious lack of class on Bielema's part—calling the move "wrong".
It's easy to understand why Bielema's actions could be classified as bush league but, then again, we've also seen teams go on big run inside of ten minutes—diminishing a big lead within a matter of minutes.

Hard to say for sure who is wrong here, but, what say you? Was Bielema bush league or just playing it safe?