Penn State was down. OSU didnt play Wisky, and the rest of the conference was very average at best, with Iowa leading the overrated charge. It was a very down year for the B10. If Florida or USC win out, Michigan should play in the Rose Bowl. If USC loses a game and Florida loses to Arkansas, Arkansas should get in over Michigan. I think UM should get another shot at OSU only as a last resort scenario; I agree that I would take them over Notre Dame due to head to head but you just cannot fail to win your conference and lose the last game and still get a chance to win a title. I think that's wrong.
I agree with Pat Forde when he says, "Rematch? Ain't gonna be no rematch. Not unless Top Ten teams keep falling like bowling pins over the next two weeks (Rutgers did its part, recusing itself from title contention) or it comes down to Michigan-Notre Dame."
Otherwise, the OSU/Michigan game, 2006 edition, is settled.
It will be interesting to see what the pollsters do, particularly the west coast and southern voters.
Sully wrote:Why punish Michigan because they weren't "fortunate" enough to lose earlier in the season?
If USC runs the table why shouldn't they get a shot? You can't just look at the loss side. You have to look at the quality wins as well. If USC wins out they would have wins against #5, #6, #17, #24 from this week's poll while Michigan has only 2 wins against this week's Top 25.
They had a thing on last night. USC has played 5 teams from the Top 25 BCS rankings, and has won all five by an average of 23 points. Or something like that. But, still they have a loss to Oregon St.
In other words, I have no idea who OSU should play.
The ball is now clearly in USC's court. They are #2 in the coach poll but still #3 in the BCS. With a win over ND, who is another top 10 BCS team, they will leap over Michigan if they win out based on SoS. The computers have loved Michigan all year, in fact they were rated #1 before Saturday so it's not a shock they didn't fall to #3.
If USC wins out -- they're in.
If they lose and Florida wins out by beating Arkansas, Florida is most likely in.
If both lose...will Michigan get in over Arkansas?
It's too early to predict a rematch. A LOT of poll shifting is going to go down over the next week or so. Every 1-loss team with a shot plays another top 5 team which is going to do wonders for their BCS rank. I don't think Michigan has a shot unless all sorts of bizarre stuff goes down.
Bill_Abner wrote:
Also, the Mike Hart post game interview really surprised me. Take your loss like a man, Mike. I lost some respect for that kid after that. .
On the flip side of that, what a class kid Troy Smith seems to be. Despite the fact that he beat Michigan 3 years in a row, no bragging, no "look at me" Heisman poses, just nothing but respect for Michigan and the rivalry in general in his post game comments. I know it's alot easier to show poise and maturity when you win a game like that, but he really seems like he has a good head on his shoulders.
The kid took a beating, that's for sure.
And it's nice to see a local kid bring the Heisman back home. (John Heisman was born here.)
Most highlights feature him scrambling, showing his athleticism and that big arm as he escapes pressure on his own and throws strikes downfield, almost Elway-esque.
But he didn't try to force it to Ginn and he seemed pretty patient after Michigan scored so quickly and easily on their first possession.
It'll be interesting to see how he fares in the NFL. OSU isn't running some fancy NFL offense so there may be the temptation to turn him into a WR or something.
wco81 wrote:
It'll be interesting to see how he fares in the NFL. OSU isn't running some fancy NFL offense so there may be the temptation to turn him into a WR or something.
He'll go in to the league as a QB. No doubt about it. His height, may hurt his draft position. But he's the same size as Drew Brees, and has a much stronger arm and is much more athletic. I'd draft him in a second.
wco81 wrote:
It'll be interesting to see how he fares in the NFL. OSU isn't running some fancy NFL offense so there may be the temptation to turn him into a WR or something.
He'll go in to the league as a QB. No doubt about it. His height, may hurt his draft position. But he's the same size as Drew Brees, and has a much stronger arm and is much more athletic. I'd draft him in a second.
Seconded. No way is this kid not a QB in the NFL at some point. The Buckeyes' offense was stuck in the mud after Krenzel left and they looked like a different team from day one after putting him in the lineup. Then you add his consistency over the past few seasons, including the Fiesta Bowl scorching of ND and you really see an amazing QB developing out there.
wco81 wrote:
It'll be interesting to see how he fares in the NFL. OSU isn't running some fancy NFL offense so there may be the temptation to turn him into a WR or something.
He'll go in to the league as a QB. No doubt about it. His height, may hurt his draft position. But he's the same size as Drew Brees, and has a much stronger arm and is much more athletic. I'd draft him in a second.
Seconded. No way is this kid not a QB in the NFL at some point. The Buckeyes' offense was stuck in the mud after Krenzel left and they looked like a different team from day one after putting him in the lineup. Then you add his consistency over the past few seasons, including the Fiesta Bowl scorching of ND and you really see an amazing QB developing out there.
And he's gotten significantly better every year. I am not sure he's come close to reaching his maximum potential. I wasn't sold on him early in his career, but he's made a believer out of me.
hellbent wrote:The Buckeyes' offense was stuck in the mud after Krenzel left
Heh, well, many people, OSU fans included, felt the offense was stuck WITH Krenzel as the QB. Back in 2002/2003 OSU's offense was regularly ranked in the 70's or even higher in total points. It's what made a lot of people feel OSU was vastly overrated and outmatched going into the 2002 title game. It's not like OSU's offense was a well-oiled machine with Krenzel at the helm.
hellbent wrote:The Buckeyes' offense was stuck in the mud after Krenzel left
Heh, well, many people, OSU fans included, felt the offense was stuck WITH Krenzel as the QB. Back in 2002/2003 OSU's offense was regularly ranked in the 70's or even higher in total points. It's what made a lot of people feel OSU was vastly overrated and outmatched going into the 2002 title game. It's not like OSU's offense was a well-oiled machine with Krenzel at the helm.
Good point, Bill. My memories of the OSU offense under Krenzel admittedly are a TAD exaggerated, given the context of him leading the beating of the 'Canes for the NC - as well as their struggles with Zwick under center until Smith grabbed a hold of the job. Wow, that's the most I've mentioned Krenzel in awhile. I guess the curses I put on him during the NC game are keeping him from success in the pros
cosign Lexbur's post. Troy Smith is a class act and a great representative of what Big Ten football should be all about. In fact, you may be able to say that about most of the Ohio State team. I'm thoroughly impressed with them and hope Penn State can return to their level some day.
The U finally tosses Coker. About time. The debacle against LSU last year kind of set the stage for this train wreck of a season. Since the Tarheels already signed Butch, it looks like Schiano's the top candidate at this time. Hope they consider Gary Barnett or TCU's Gary Patterson, who has quitetly built a perennial winner in the shadow of those great Big 12 programs.
XXXIV wrote:Im saying that USC will be in the title game against the winner of the MU OSU game and that though I root for Michigan I think OSU will probably win.
pigpen81 wrote:Notre Dame proving once again how overated they are.
Between them and the SEC, they could all fit into the top 10 overated teams.
Touche.
Is it too early to start the USC/Ohio St. talk? I was thoroughly impressed with USC tonight. Should be a great game, assuming the Trojans can get by UCLA next week.
Isn't the SEC champ tied into the Sugar Bowl? Perhaps LSU vs Michigan in the Rose Bowl, assuming Florida tops Arkansas in the SEC Championship.
It's a damn shame that Notre Dame is going to make it to a BCS bowl again. For the second year in a row, they have beaten nobody on their schedule worth mentioning.
Where's the love for Boise St? They destroyed a Oregon St. team that upset USC!
Sully wrote:Isn't the SEC champ tied into the Sugar Bowl? Perhaps LSU vs Michigan in the Rose Bowl, assuming Florida tops Arkansas in the SEC Championship.
It's a damn shame that Notre Dame is going to make it to a BCS bowl again. For the second year in a row, they have beaten nobody on their schedule worth mentioning.
Where's the love for Boise St? They destroyed a Oregon St. team that upset USC!
I agree 100%.....the last time a "mid-major" got a chance they romped in the Fiesta Bowl(Utah).
Georgia(not tech) needs to retire Reggie Ball's number. I thought Georgia would finish the year around 8-4 when the season started. However, I did not think we would end the season the way we did. Two nice wins by the Dawgs. Stafford continues to get better. I wonder if Calvin wishes he would have came to Georgia... I still think he is the best receiver in the nation yet he has never had a good QB throwing to him..
Go Dawgs.
edit:
In Georgia's last two games their D has held the opposing QBs to 10/32 passing for 77 yards with 0 tds and 6 ints. Too bad we got smoked by UT and lose to Vandy and Kentucky.
- as well as their struggles with Zwick under center until Smith grabbed a hold of the job. Wow, that's the most I've mentioned Krenzel in awhile. I guess the curses I put on him during the NC game are keeping him from success in the pros 
