Iowa to Drop from #4 in BCS All the Way to #4

by Oops Pow Surprise on Nov 1, 2009 1:41 AM CDT in Football Comment 53 comments

From El Hlog (it's German):

Our friend, the BCS Guru, says Iowa will remain fourth in Sunday’s BCS rankings despite a less-than-awesome 42-24 win over Indiana Saturday.

The Guru, who has nailed it the first two weeks of this year’s BCS standings, sees it like this:

1. Florida, 2. Alabama, 3. Texas, 4. Iowa, 5. TCU, 6. Boise State, 7. Cincinnati, 8. Oregon, 9. LSU, 10. Penn State, 11. Georgia Tech, 12. USC, 13. Ohio State, 14. Pittsburgh, 15. Utah.

Well, you don't say. Iowa's overall resume isn't significantly hampered by yesterday? But but but... yeah, that all seems right.

With USC out of the way, it looks as if there's no serious usurper for Iowa's BCS ranking if they beat Ohio State two weeks from now. As good as TCU and Boise have played this season, Iowa's road record is just brutal, and if any of the mid-majors want to compare resumes with Iowa, the Hawkeyes should be comfortable.

Of course, there are two things that must be acknowledged.

1) If Texas and the SEC champion go undefeated, it really does not matter what Iowa does. Such is the nature of the BCS, and the undefeated champion of the sixth-toughest conference cannot really complain about that.

2) Every bit of this BCS talk is irrelevant without an Iowa win in Columbus. That doesn't seem to be a likely development in this story, but anything is possible as long as Iowa's undefeated. Further, at the very least, Penn State may make it moot in the Big Ten title picture.

So yeah, all terribly unlikely. And Northwestern can render it all moot no matter what PSU and OSU do in Happy Valley next weekend. But it's pretty awesome to be part of the discussion, isn't it?

0 recs | Comment 53 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

by HawkeyeRecon on Nov 1, 2009 1:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I love DST

How else can you have a comment posted 37 minutes before the thread was?

by SpartanDan on Nov 1, 2009 1:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

(time zone) NERD ALERT!

I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.

-- Judge Smails

by WaterlooChazz on Nov 1, 2009 1:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I knew Lynch was upset...

but, good grief, what is he doing to that official with his right hand?

Short ones, indeed.

I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.

-- Judge Smails

by WaterlooChazz on Nov 1, 2009 1:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed...

… now the question is, two or three fingers?? My guess is three.

by hawkfaninboston on Nov 1, 2009 1:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, what down is it?

I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.

-- Judge Smails

by WaterlooChazz on Nov 1, 2009 1:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

…according to the sign in the background, things are geting “Heavy”. Sooooo, one would guess, 4th down?

by hawkfaninboston on Nov 1, 2009 1:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Oopsy, Poopsy,

this is in reply to Mr. Waterlooski. My drunk.

by hawkfaninboston on Nov 1, 2009 1:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Son of a bitch

I missed the reply button twice!!!!!! To much Halloween candy? No. Not enough sleep? No. Too much to drink? Maybe. Still pumped from the ridiculouslyunrealspoogealiciouswhatthefuckvictoryby thehawks? Yes, and may I have another.

by hawkfaninboston on Nov 1, 2009 2:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Missing the reply button...

is a forgivable offense. Missing the toilet as you are vomiting your candy and liquor diet from yesterday, that may not be forgivable. You’ll have to ask your significant other.

I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.

-- Judge Smails

by WaterlooChazz on Nov 1, 2009 8:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

oregon will jump ahead of us. waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa gregg doyal cant handle a team called iowa to cover up his homer florida love(he says hes going to drop us..waaaaaaaaaa)……do I think he actually “graduated” from the u of F? hell no but …

to celebrate another week of hate by the media I think we need to put a hating tv announcer in our collection of sad faces WHO CANT HANDLE iowa winning

it really is getting pathetic the hate. if thats texas or alabama or florida they are getting glorified to the end on every fantastic ending. oh but wait..its iowa! week 9 of hate!

I find it very funny the media cant handling iowa winning. WHO KNEW a team from a major conference that winning would be so painful for the media? really who knew??? we have surplanted utah and every other team who was unjustly treated as the team NOBODY can handle winning. put that hater on our collection.

by kinnickcolt on Nov 1, 2009 6:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Actually, it seems fairly predictable.

When’s the last time the MSM embraced a BCS team having a magical year that wasn’t a traditional power? Think back to Kansas and Missouri and West Virginia a few years ago or Louisville and Rutgers before that. They were nice, fun stories, but play for the national title game?! Good Heavens! The relief when Kansas, Missouri, and West Virginia all gagged in the last few weeks in 2007 was almost palpable. (It certainly was from FOX, who wanted to televise a West Virginia-Missouri National Championship Game as much as they wan to televise a snuff film.)

by RossWB on Nov 1, 2009 9:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's Fox

if they could get away with a snuff film in primetime, they would.

It never gets to be easy

by chitownhawkeye on Nov 1, 2009 9:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, true.

So it would have to be something that wouldn’t get ratings — a second season of FIREFLY, I guess?

by RossWB on Nov 1, 2009 9:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Too soon, man, too soon

by NorseHawk on Nov 1, 2009 9:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ouch

True, but ouch

It never gets to be easy

by chitownhawkeye on Nov 1, 2009 9:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually...

I think they have run a snuff film in primetime. I think it was at the end of celebrity boxing when they executed Screech on-screen.

I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.

-- Judge Smails

by WaterlooChazz on Nov 1, 2009 9:31 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You Can't Handle the Truth!

After seeing yesterday’s game I had a revelation. It seems I have no grasp on reality anymore.

In the past two weeks I have spent significant moments of games channeling Rain Main, repeating non sequiturs and generally trying to convince myself that it is okay to lose (which of course it is not, but really it is if you think about it). Standing there trying to rationalize that which is unfolding in front of me. Then the magic happens and I have to make sense of it all. Try to come up with some perfectly logical, utterly reasonable explanation for things.

The worst of it when I try to then imagine the future. It is like staring into the sun with binoculars.

I am slowly accepting that this Hawkeye team can do anything, and nothing. Can they beat Florida, sure! And they can and do it in a way that might end with half of Florida in a straight jacket; Texas, without a shred of doubt. But of course, they can lose to Northwestern, get humbled by Minnesota, and I prefer not to think about Ohio State right now.

I have decided there is no need for me to go to other websites looking for validation, it will not come. Minds have been made up, votes cast, and at this point really—you are either with us or against us. The field of play is no longer relevant to these people (that is, unless we lose).

I don’t have any idea what will be the outcome next week. But I do know this. Stanzi will not quit. Ferentz will not lose his cool. The defense will make things difficult. The national press will say, “see I told you so,” and I will be happy. Then I will go watch The People’s Court and recite Who’s on First until I calm down.

"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz

by StoopsMyAss on Nov 1, 2009 6:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

YES YES, DO THIS

Do not intentionally watch shitty programing, or read shitty articles that you know will make you mad. It is a horrible idea! I have been saying this for weeks!

by NorseHawk on Nov 1, 2009 7:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

In other words, "WE'RE FUCKED".

by Zulu on Nov 1, 2009 7:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Best.Animated.Drive.Chart.Ever (for yesterday's game- just wow)

FULL SCREEN VERSION

Perhaps my best years are gone. When there was a chance of happiness. But I wouldn't want them back. Not with the fire in me now. No, I wouldn't want them back.

by jebushchrist on Nov 1, 2009 7:16 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

That is...

pretty cool. However, the first 3 quarters of that animation may be almost as painful as actually watching the game. And the Iowa success in the forth quarter is much more awesome in live-action form than “yellow line” form.

I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.

-- Judge Smails

by WaterlooChazz on Nov 1, 2009 8:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

very cool

by HawkeyeRecon on Nov 1, 2009 9:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Small quibble with point #2

You do remember that Ohio State has to go to Penn State this weekend, right? Chances are, they’re not walking out of Happy Valley with a win, as PSU looks to have found their mojo. Assuming that Iowa beats jNU this weekend, that means that at worst, the only thing standing between Iowa and the conference championship will be Minnesota.

by TarHeelHawk on Nov 1, 2009 8:56 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

The Spin has Begun

Yep, the Trojan biased West Coast media has begun the Trojan alibi spin. It’s not the fact that the Trojan’s Defense sucks (last week Oregon State went through SC faster than the Nazi’s went through France—482 yards of O) its the fact that the Oregon Ducks are THE BEST TEAM IN THE UNIVERSE!

“Who’d ever want to face Oregon!?!” asks LA TIMES Chris Dufresne (Sunday, 11/01/09, LA Times Sports). After checking off on the usual suspects (Texas, Florida, ’Bama) Dufresne asks,

“Iowa? Give me a break like the several Iowa got Saturday from the officials against Indiana. The Hawkeyes, lovable as they are, have smoke-and-mirrored (a phrase I fed him in an e-mail BTW) their way to 9-0 and would not want any part of Oregon in a now very possible Rose Bowl matchup.”

Yes, the Ducks played inspired, PHYSICAL (as in “Big Ten”?) football. But, USC, with its naked defense, has been cruising on reputation alone for several games now. Smoke and mirrors, befuddled refs, a weak conference aside, its been DEFENSE that’s kept the Hawks in each and every game.

This is turning out to be a season beyond my wildest expectations. Fuck you. We’re Iowa.

by Zulu on Nov 1, 2009 9:43 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Am I missing something?

Or was the knee/foot controversy TD (the one when we were down 21-14) the only controversial call that didn’t still wind up with Indiana getting points?

After the review over the ballspot, Indiana got a first down on the very next play anyway thanks to our idiotic offsides penalty.

After the other reviewed TD catch/non-catch, Indiana got a TD on the very next play anyway.

Were there others that I’ve just blocked out already?

I guess it was the officials’ fault that Indiana couldn’t score more points off SIX turnovers or prevent Iowa from rolling up 28 points and 260-odd yards in the fourth quarter, too.

by RossWB on Nov 1, 2009 9:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I've gone through this debate at BSD simply because I find the idea that Indiana was "jobbed" to be mind-bendingly stupid

Indiana was still leading by two scores. Iowa wasn’t playing well on offense. There were no more bad calls.

And I’m supposed to believe that Indiana’s win was “stolen” from them?

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Nov 1, 2009 11:26 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Scanning the Dawson-Rambler debate was fantastic

I understand that Iowa’s “luck” has to be getting on people’s nerves, but I also find it ridiculous how much hatred the Hawkeyes are receiving for finding a way to win and refusing to fold at any point during a game. SCM at Maize ’n Brew nearly lost his mind, and a few of the PSU faithful seemed truly outraged that Iowa continues to win.

Not many will deny that IU was burned on the overturned TD, but that play did not come at the end of the game. IU had plenty of time remaining to score more points, or keep Iowa from scoring. Being deflated does not mean that you were “jobbed” it means that your team has no heart and cannot maintain its composure. I still cannot believe the call was overturned, there was nowhere near enough evidence to take the TD away, but it was not a game winner, is not the reason IU lost yesterday.

by The Mexican't on Nov 1, 2009 2:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Even if I wasn't riding the Iowa bandwagon, it would piss me off

It’s just so stupid. People acting like this is the worst officiated game ever when there was only one (one!) call that truly effected the game and Indiana still led the game.

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Nov 1, 2009 3:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

ESPN's Bruce Feldman kind of anticipated this argument in his recap blog for this week

and tried to argue that it wasn’t just the lost points, but that it was a big swing in momentum. I think his argument would be far more persuasive if, on the two Iowa possessions following the controversial call, Stanzi hadn’t ended both drives by throwing two more beautiful STANZIBALLS and setting Indiana up with good field position. That seems like a swing in momentum for them — is the ref conspiracy to blame for the fact that they could only muster three points out of those drives?

by RossWB on Nov 1, 2009 6:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Anybody...

in the media that is whining about Iowa getting calls…

and that did not write a 3000 word article or make a 10 minute TV appearance to absolutely shred Florida and the SEC refs for that Arkansas game…

should be thrown in the deepest part of the ocean.

If someone will donate the boat and gas, I will captain the ship on that mission.

I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.

-- Judge Smails

by WaterlooChazz on Nov 1, 2009 9:56 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

How's this for stab yourself in the eye stupidity

this morning. From the team ranking geniuses at CFN (Yes, I should know better than to even go there)

8. USC 6-2
Last Week: L, at Oregon 47-20
Next Week: at Arizona State
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: It shouldn’t be. The Trojans are up this high mostly by brand name and potential, but the blasting at Oregon was ugly coming on the heels of a rough win over Oregon State and a near-miss against Notre Dame.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: You and ten friends could crank out yards on a Trojan D that suddenly decided that tackling isn’t important.

They fucking admit that they shouldn’t have USC in the top 10, then do it anyway.

It never gets to be easy

by chitownhawkeye on Nov 1, 2009 9:57 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I was joking when I said someone would do that

New rule: never assume that some possible vote for USC is beyond the capability of human stupidity.

by SpartanDan on Nov 1, 2009 11:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone really surprised?

So…. a bunch of sportswriters who bitched about their opinions and polls not mattering enough in the BCS (enough to get the BCS algorithm changed so their opinions are weighted heavier) are upset when people figure out they don’t really have to be “fair” when calculating a champion?

I’m just curious, with Iowa being loved by the (now less-relevant) computers, how would they have stacked up under the old BCS system?

"I am so proud to be your coach." -Paul Rhoads

by CyHawk on Nov 1, 2009 10:20 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

The computers that loved margin of victory

wouldn’t have cared for us much.

It never gets to be easy

by chitownhawkeye on Nov 1, 2009 10:31 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't remember the exact details of the old system

But I thought there was a limit to the margin that mattered. Winning by a hundred or 25 was the same. So in that case, an ugly 18pt win to the computers was the same as a a shitstomping with IU pulling within 18 on a garbage time TD. There was also a bonus for beating other BCS ranked teams so that would have helped (a little). I think you would be suprised how Iowa would fair. I bet they would be in the 3-5 range still.

Fuck tOSU

by ajs1122 on Nov 1, 2009 10:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

right, but the 4 wins by 3 pts or less would've barely registered.

People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett

by tyger1147 on Nov 1, 2009 10:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i think we'll be proper

fucked by thr human pollsters love for bEvo & the soon to be Rams firts round pick Colt Mccoy lovers

this place smells like feet. i’ll bring a can of lysol next week.

by pfac51 on Nov 1, 2009 11:05 AM CST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

GOT AN E-MAIL FROM MY BUDDY CHRIS DUFRESNE

he said, “You really don’t want to face Oregon do you?” I wrote back, “If that’s the way it shakes out then BRING IT ON. Right now all I’m worried about is Northwestern.”

by Zulu on Nov 1, 2009 11:08 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

You actually have access to that idiot?

We should gather up the funds to pay for his ticket to IC this weekend so he can experience Hawkeye-mania.

PS… Tell him that he’ll need to bring a heavy coat and mittens… And that Co-Co is served in the concession stands.

KOK, you might be a genius...

by hawkeye_heartattack on Nov 2, 2009 7:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The real problem here

is the media’s fixation with who’s playing the best at this very moment. Now that Oregon curb-stomped USC, they must be the best team in the world because of how good they are right now, never mind the lost to Boise State or the near loss to Purdue. Is it really too much to ask the national media to have an attention span of more than .0000001 seconds?

I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.

by HoyaGoon on Nov 1, 2009 11:27 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I actually don't mind that

except that it’s somehow still tied in with preconceived notions of who should be best. It’s not that Oregon is playing well right now so let’s rank them in the top 10. It’s that they’re playing well and beat a team that we also think should be good. Therefore, Oregon is a top 5 team.

It never gets to be easy

by chitownhawkeye on Nov 1, 2009 11:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep Chitown...

The media confuses the two issues. The team that won big this week, and has a good record, definitely deserves to be in the top 15 or so. But, to be a top 5 (or sometimes top 10) team, you have to win week-in and week-out, and you need to beat some decent-to-good teams at least 2 or 3 times in a year.

Does anybody that is serious really think there is much of a difference right now between Iowa, Texas, Alabama, Oregon, and maybe one other good team (maybe Penn St or LSU)?

Note: I am not ready to put Florida in this category until they can win two games in a row without refs cheating for them.

For that matter, does anybody really think there is that much of a difference between the next 20 or 30 teams after that top 5? Obviously, Purdue can beat OSU and play with Oregon, and the Boilers have already lost 6 damn games.

These reasons are the truth about why the BCS system sucks. You have college kids, playing in all sorts of places throughout the country. And you expect 2 and only 2 teams to separate themselves from everyone else? Gimme a break.

We are in dire need of at least a 4-team playoff, and probably an 8-team one.

I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.

-- Judge Smails

by WaterlooChazz on Nov 1, 2009 12:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The MSM attention span

“Is it really too much to ask the national media to have an attention span of more than .0000001 seconds?”

The problem isn’t that they have a short attention span. The problem is that their attention span is selectively short. How many times have you heard about Iowa’s near misses against UNI and Arkansas State over the last four weeks?

Personally, I’m turning into an Arizona fan. Right now they’re hanging around the top of the Pac-10, just a game behind Oregon. Admittedly, they’ve played the soft part of their conference schedule with their last four being at Cal, Oregon at home then at Arizona State and at USC. But I tell you what, if they win out that would help us immensely.

It would also give me joy to watch the MSM jump on the Arizona bandwagon and have to admit that this really great football team lost by ten in Iowa City.

by Abbas_Cincinnatus on Nov 1, 2009 8:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely.

Arizona’s continued success certainly helps us. Likewise, root like hell for Penn State and Wisconsin to win out — they don’t play each other this season, so they won’t wind up hurting each other (and, by extension, us).

by RossWB on Nov 1, 2009 11:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Iowa jumps to #6 in USA poll!

We went from #8 to #6 this week against the media’s (ESPN) best attempt to push us as far from the top as possible. The AP kept us at #8, but the good news is the AP means absolutely nothing! USA poll is part of the BCS therefore we contine to knock on the door of #3 in the BCS overall standings. Not sure what the Harris poll will do but I would assume worst is #7, possibly they will have us ahead of Cinnci as well. Has anyone done the math if Iowa is ranked 4th in Harris and USA and #1 in BCS computer? I am pretty sure that would make us #2…and boy I would love to listen to ESPN bitch about that one!

Food for thought…TCU is a great football team but did anyone see how many fans they had at the game? A home game I might add…11 ( I counted them for you). In fact your 2 year old could’ve counted them. C’mon! You’re a top 10 team and you have no fans coming to your games?!?!? For that alone they should be dropped from the top 10. Sadly ESPN said…“well they are only playing UNLV” Unbelievable!

by jrr18Ha on Nov 1, 2009 2:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I live in Dallas and I don’t know anyone who goes to TCU games. There’s plenty of talk about how good they are, how they’d beat Iowa to a pulp, etc. But no one goes, and few have actually seen them play since their games are on Vs (and blacked out to every DTV subscriber) or the impossible to find Mtn. So, I find it hard to care about them. Iowa has to worry about beating jNW, then find a way to win at Columbus. Finding motivation should not be a factor given the doubt (mine too, yesterday).

by txhawkeye on Nov 1, 2009 3:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs