[decado]

I just found this blog entry and I have to say, this is a must-read for college football fans.


"The Untouchables
The lowest of the low. Not only do you have no chance whatsoever of getting to the title game, there is no chance that you will get to ANY BCS game. You’re just not in the right conference and you lack the name recognition and tradition to get that high in the polls.

You are these 39 teams: East Carolina, Memphis, Tulane, Tulsa, Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (OH), Northern Illinois, Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan, Air Force, Colorado State, Nevada Las Vegas, New Mexico, San Diego State, Wyoming, Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Louisiana Lafayette, Louisiana Monroe, Middle Tennessee State, North Texas, South Alabama, Troy, Western Kentucky, Fresno State, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, Nevada, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Utah State.


The Great Unwashed
You look down on the untouchables, but you have no chance of getting into the title game. You may be in a BCS conference or have a reputation as a good non-BCS school, so you can go to a BCS game at 12-0. It’s just that the championship game is going to be always just beyond your grasp. They don’t want you in there, and you aren’t going to get there.

You are these 31 teams: Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Virginia, Wake Forest, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, Rutgers, South Florida, Syracuse, Indiana, Northwestern, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Alabama Birmingham, Central Florida, Houston, Marshall, Rice, Southern Methodist, Southern Mississippi, Texas El Paso, Army, Navy, Brigham Young, Texas Christian, Utah , Boise State, Hawaii.


Commoners
You’re in a BCS conference, but you’re not exactly what people want to see in the title game. Yes, it’s possible that you can go, but you need help. You need to go 12-0. One loss and you can forget about it. Going 12-0 isn’t enough. You need to have no more than one undefeated team among the castes above you. In fact, it’s quite possible that a 12-1 or 11-1 team from the royalty would go in place of you. So in addition to having a perfect season, you have to hope that you’ve moved up into the top 2 spots in the polls. If not, you’ll get your BCS game, but no shot at the title.

You are these 32 teams: Boston College, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue, Wisconsin, Baylor, Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Washington, Washington State, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Vanderbilt.


Nobility
You’re in good shape. If you go 12-0, you’re in. Even one loss will not automatically disqualify you. You’re going to get the benefit of the doubt from the pollsters, a loss will only drop you down a few spots which you will make up in just a few games. You can’t lose too late in the season, though. Get your loss in early and you’ll be fine. You’ll need a little help with one loss, an undefeated commoner could take your spot. So with one loss you need to have no undefeated commoners and no other nobles with one loss or less and no royals with one loss or less. If you don’t make it, don’t fret too much. Since you’re among the elite, you’ll get your chances soon enough.

You are these 9 teams: Florida State, Miami (FL), Michigan, Ohio State, Pennsylvania State, Nebraska, UCLA, Auburn, Georgia.


Royalty
You’re used to having your ass kissed. You don’t have to worry about one loss, it will have no effect on your shot at the title. Two losses and you probably won’t make it. An undefeated commoner would go in place of a two loss royal, a noble with one loss would go in place of a two loss royal. But if anyone can go with two losses, it’s you. You’re going to be in the top 25 to start the year. Wins will move you up the ladder, one loss and you lose just a little ground. People really, really want you in that title game, it’s almost like it’s your birthright.

You are these 8 teams: Oklahoma, Texas, Notre Dame, Southern California, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana State, Tennessee. "

from this source.

[OmgUrMom]

ohio state is in a bcs game every year it seems like and they don't make it to royalty?

i may be talking out of my azz tho as i dont know college FB well

[The Madcap]

How is Tennessee any more royalty than Ohio State? Or for that matter, Auburn or Georgia? That lone Tee Martin title?

Give me a break. Any team in a BCS conference, no matter what team it is (unless they are some former C-USA scrub now in the Big East) has just a good a shot as anybody else to make it to the title game. It doesn't matter if you're Oregon State, NC State, Iowa State, or even Duke, if you go 12-0, and you do it convincingly, you'll get your shot.

The title game is all about pitting the two teams with the best records, with the best players, that are playing the best football. If you play good football, and you beat quality teams, you're going to start creating some buzz, and that will get you in the title game. The prime example is LSU. In the 15 seasons before winning the national title in 2003, LSU finished the season ranked in the top 25 only five times. Including a ten year stretch, from '89 to '99, where they finished the season un-ranked 8 times. From 1974-2003, the Tigers finished the season in the top ten only twice, whereas they finished un-ranked 19 times. (Including the year before they won the national title.) They were a mediocre program. So how did they rise from the mediocrity to the title?

Because they beat good teams in Arizona, Georgia (twice), Auburn, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Arkansas, and usually in convincing fashion.

If paltry scrubdick-for-four-generations Duke had gone undefeated this season, beating Alabama, Miami, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Maryland, and UNC on the way, and by an average of 2-3 touchdowns, they would have been in the title game over Oregon. It's all about who you beat, and how well you do it. That's why TCU wasn't in the game. Not enough signature wins. Anyone can come from the middle of the pack the year before to play for the title, LSU proved that in '03.

[utmoody10]

You could flip flop a lot of teams in that nobility and royalty category and have an argument over who is better based on recent or historical success. Fact of the article is these teams are in the best shape to compete for national titles during an undefeated or one loss year. Thats pretty much on point and honestly while these Boise State and TCU stories are nice, if you can get two programs from either the nobility or royalty category to square off in the championship game (undefeated or 1 loss), I personally would be more inclined to watch.

The playoff vs BCS has been discussed ad nauseum and its true that college football has the most exciting regular season of any sport with the least exciting ending to the year. It wasnt that long ago where these bowls were matched up and rarely did #1 vs #2 square off in a bowl game to determine a national champion. The BCS was an attempt to have the two best teams play for the title and they have had some sucess in doing so. However with much more pressure to move away from the BCS, I believe they will move on to some sort of playoff system in the future.

[BigdaddyQH]

To think that UCLA is "Royalty" is a total joke. Here is how this works. If you are an undefeated team in the SEC, Pac 12, Big 10+2 or Big 12-2 you are in, if there is zero or one other undefeated team. Those four conferences are the "royalty" conferences, if you will. If you go undefeated in the ACC you are going to have to hope that two other teams in the "royalty" conferences do not go undefeated, because they will get the nod over you. If you are in the Big East, you may net even get to the title game by going undefeated. You are the bottom wrung, and worse than the MWC. If you are an AQ school, you will need a miracle.

[jbrent95]

I just found this blog entry and I have to say, this is a must-read for college football fans.


"The Untouchables
The lowest of the low. Not only do you have no chance whatsoever of getting to the title game, there is no chance that you will get to ANY BCS game. You’re just not in the right conference and you lack the name recognition and tradition to get that high in the polls.

You are these 39 teams: East Carolina, Memphis, Tulane, Tulsa, Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (OH), Northern Illinois, Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan, Air Force, Colorado State, Nevada Las Vegas, New Mexico, San Diego State, Wyoming, Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Louisiana Lafayette, Louisiana Monroe, Middle Tennessee State, North Texas, South Alabama, Troy, Western Kentucky, Fresno State, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, Nevada, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Utah State.


The Great Unwashed
You look down on the untouchables, but you have no chance of getting into the title game. You may be in a BCS conference or have a reputation as a good non-BCS school, so you can go to a BCS game at 12-0. It’s just that the championship game is going to be always just beyond your grasp. They don’t want you in there, and you aren’t going to get there.

You are these 31 teams: Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Virginia, Wake Forest, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, Rutgers, South Florida, Syracuse, Indiana, Northwestern, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Alabama Birmingham, Central Florida, Houston, Marshall, Rice, Southern Methodist, Southern Mississippi, Texas El Paso, Army, Navy, Brigham Young, Texas Christian, Utah , Boise State, Hawaii.


Commoners
You’re in a BCS conference, but you’re not exactly what people want to see in the title game. Yes, it’s possible that you can go, but you need help. You need to go 12-0. One loss and you can forget about it. Going 12-0 isn’t enough. You need to have no more than one undefeated team among the castes above you. In fact, it’s quite possible that a 12-1 or 11-1 team from the royalty would go in place of you. So in addition to having a perfect season, you have to hope that you’ve moved up into the top 2 spots in the polls. If not, you’ll get your BCS game, but no shot at the title.

You are these 32 teams: Boston College, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue, Wisconsin, Baylor, Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Washington, Washington State, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Vanderbilt.


Nobility
You’re in good shape. If you go 12-0, you’re in. Even one loss will not automatically disqualify you. You’re going to get the benefit of the doubt from the pollsters, a loss will only drop you down a few spots which you will make up in just a few games. You can’t lose too late in the season, though. Get your loss in early and you’ll be fine. You’ll need a little help with one loss, an undefeated commoner could take your spot. So with one loss you need to have no undefeated commoners and no other nobles with one loss or less and no royals with one loss or less. If you don’t make it, don’t fret too much. Since you’re among the elite, you’ll get your chances soon enough.

You are these 9 teams: Florida State, Miami (FL), Michigan, Ohio State, Pennsylvania State, Nebraska, UCLA, Auburn, Georgia.


Royalty
You’re used to having your ass kissed. You don’t have to worry about one loss, it will have no effect on your shot at the title. Two losses and you probably won’t make it. An undefeated commoner would go in place of a two loss royal, a noble with one loss would go in place of a two loss royal. But if anyone can go with two losses, it’s you. You’re going to be in the top 25 to start the year. Wins will move you up the ladder, one loss and you lose just a little ground. People really, really want you in that title game, it’s almost like it’s your birthright.

You are these 8 teams: Oklahoma, Texas, Notre Dame, Southern California, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana State, Tennessee. "

from this source.

Add Texas State and UT-San Antonio to the Untouchables list. However these teams can slowly move up by winning and changing conferences over the next 50 years. It only took Boise St 20 years after painting their field blue to start getting national recognition.

[seaborneq]

Big 12 Champ and SEC get the benefit of the doubt. Everbody else is a mixture of the other 4 Catagories.

[fishmonger]

I disagree with Fresno state in the untouchable category. But the rest seem fitting.

[agharah1]

By "Big 12 champ" you mean "Oklahoma and Texas."

Its all about recruiting. As D-IA college football is a subjectively determined champion the "look at all that talent" factor is going to play a major role, where as even the most talented teams in college basketball have to earn there way to the championship. If college basketball was like the BCS, they would have stopped the tournament at the Elite 8 and voted Duke and Kentucky into the title game, and no amount of West Virginias and Cornells and Butlers and Northern Iowas would have had a say otherwise.