What is the fundamental difference...

[RumpleForeskin]

...between Kansas and Ohio State? Yeah, I know OSU is the conference champion, but its not like they won it with a conference championship game? KU and OSU both had a terrible NC schedule, so that is relatively the same. KU lost to then the #4 ranked team in the nation Mizzouri at a neutral site by 8points. OSU lost to a then unranked Illini team at home by 7 points. OSU's opponents have a combined W/L record of 73-71 as KU's opponents has a combined W/L record of 63-82. Okay, so OSU has played a tougher in-conference schedule, but their one loss is more degrading than that of KU's loss because it was at home and the loss was to a lesser foe. So why not Kansas? How is OSU arguably better and/or more diserving than Kansas?

[RumpleForeskin]

OSU is the conference champion

That is the problem with the Big Ten. Why don't they do what the Pac 10 does and play everyone? Drop Northwestern and play 9 conference games. Its week that they don't have a conference championship AND they don't have to face everyone in their conference. W-E-A-K.

[L45B]

...they don't have a conference championship...

They do, you might've missed it. It's played every year on the third Saturday in November. :D

[Mook]

OSU is the conference champion

I think the conference champion thing is a bit overrated. Hypothetically speaking lets say both Missouri and Texas had advanced to the Big 12 Championship game this year as undefeated teams........the only two undefeated teams in the country. Say the game goes into OT and is finally won by Missouri.......clearly this year those two teams would have been the best two teams, who cares that one isn't a "conference" champion.........find the two best teams and let 'em play for the title, regardless of conference championships.

Now, to the original post I happen to agree. If Kansas' name was Texas or Nebraska and they had played their exact same schedule with the exact same results they would be playing for the championship this year and I have no doubt about this. Ohio State and Kansas are very similar this year and the name Ohio State is why they are in the title game as opposed to Kansas.

Now, I'm not proposing that Kansas should be playing for the championship, in my mind they should not be and so far they have not proven, in my opinion, to be one of the two best teams in the country. However I think it's pretty damn difficult to differentiate between Ohio St. and Kansas this year except for the names on the jerseys.

[RumpleForeskin]

They do, you might've missed it. It's played every year on the third Saturday in November. :D

Oh how I long for the year that both Michigan and tOSU are not factors in the Big Ten title. How long has it been since that game was insignificant? 13 years now?

[RumpleForeskin]

Btw, I blame Joe Pa and Penn St. for all of this.

[War Wagon]

Kansas should just be happy they got picked for a BCS bowl, and leave it at that. They no more deserve a title shot than does Hawaii.

[Shoalzie]

Kansas' best win, the team with the best record they defeated this year, was Central Michigan at 8-5. Every Big XII win for the Jayhawks were against teams with no more than 7 wins.

Ohio State beat three Big Ten teams with at least 8 wins. You want to talk about weak schedules...at least Ohio State played the best teams in their conference. Kansas didn't play Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech and they lost to Missouri.

Your witness...

[Mook]

Kansas' best win, the team with the best record they defeated this year, was Central Michigan at 8-5. Every Big XII win for the Jayhawks were against teams with no more than 7 wins.

Ohio State beat three Big Ten teams with at least 8 wins. You want to talk about weak schedules...at least Ohio State played the best teams in their conference. Kansas didn't play Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech and they lost to Missouri.

Your witness...

This argument isn't about Kansas.......it's about the comparable teams with comparable situations. Kansas is the example in THIS debate.

You're right Kansas didn't play Texas.....but they played two teams that defeated Texas and played both games on the road and won.

Kansas didn't play Oklahoma.......but they played a team that defeated Oklahoma on the road.

Kansas didn't play Texas Tech.........Texas Tech sucks, not even sure why they are in this discussion.

Of the three you mentioned Kansas would have defeated Texas and Texas Tech this year. Oklahoma was probably better than Kansas (the "probably" is just to piss off OU and Mizzou fans!)

My original point is actually proven by your quote that Kansas "missed" Texas this year. Kansas is better than Texas this year. Anybody who watched these two teams play knows that. Like I said if Kansas' name was Texas they would be playing for the national title this year. Does anyone disagree with this premise? That is what I am saying. I am NOT saying that Kansas should be playing in the title game.

[Mook]

Kansas should just be happy they got picked for a BCS bowl, and leave it at that. They no more deserve a title shot than does Hawaii.

I completely agree...............and Hawaii deserves a national title shot before Kansas.

[L45B]

Oh how I long for the year that both Michigan and tOSU are not factors in the Big Ten title. How long has it been since that game was insignificant? 13 years now?

I was obviously joking.

But I will say this. The money-hungry conferences that take the risk of holding a CCG to make the extra buck have no excuses when one of its teams gets the 'ole dutch door action.

I will admit that I think the Big Ten's first priority needs to be adding at least one more conference game. But hoping for a CCG or for the conference to drop a team is like pissing in the wind. But speaking for most Big Ten fans, we would rather see the latter than the former.

[Shoalzie]

I pointed out the fact Kansas didn't play Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech because they were among the top 5 in the Big XII record-wise. They only "quality" conference opponent they played was Missouri and they lost to them.

Like I said, the best team Kansas beat this year was 8-win Central Michigan. Hell, Hawaii has a better win than that with beating Boise State. I'd put Hawaii ahead of Kansas in the pecking order behind Ohio State and LSU.

[RumpleForeskin]

Ohio State beat three Big Ten teams with at least 8 wins. You want to talk about weak schedules...at least Ohio State played the best teams in their conference. Kansas didn't play Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech and they lost to Missouri.

Your witness...

Okay, look at Kansas's three best wins and look at OSU's three best wins and match those teams (scratch Central Michigan) up against each other...

Colorado vs Penn St.
Oklahoma St vs Michigan
Texas aTm vs Wisconsin

Sure, all three Big Ten teams would be favored, but none of them by double digits IMO. Keep in mind too that Kansas beat all of their top opponents on the road and last I checked, Kyle Field is no cupcake of a place to travel. Colorado also beat OU and aTM beat Texas this year. Its closer than you think.

[Mook]

I pointed out the fact Kansas didn't play Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech because they were among the top 5 in the Big XII record-wise. They only "quality" conference opponent they played was Missouri and they lost to them.

Like I said, the best team Kansas beat this year was 8-win Central Michigan. Hell, Hawaii has a better win than that with beating Boise State. I'd put Hawaii ahead of Kansas in the pecking order behind Ohio State and LSU.

THe question I'm asking is if Kansas' name was Texas, would they be in the title game this year? Yes or no.

[M Club]

OSU is the conference champion

That is the problem with the Big Ten. Why don't they do what the Pac 10 does and play everyone? Drop Northwestern and play 9 conference games. Its week that they don't have a conference championship AND they don't have to face everyone in their conference. W-E-A-K.

i really enjoyed that oklahoma/kansas game this year. florida/alabama was exciting, too.