Well, we are into the home stretch.

I am going to make this simple and only comment on Texas/OU...

I am not sure what some of the voters (read... coaches because the AP doesn't count in the formula) were thinking in putting OU over Texas. If Head to Head doesn't matter then why play the games? The argument can be made that OU has a better OOC schedule but until the system addresses teams playing teams from the FCS the only barometer in regards to in-conference play is head to head match-ups. That of course brings up another issue...as long as conferences don't play a round robin like the pack 10 we will never have the complete story so again Head to Head match-ups is all I can go by. I realize that this is mostly a Big 12 issue in regards to their tie-breaking system, but not putting an emphasis on Head to Head match-ups gives us exactly what we have in regards to Texas getting left out...

Coaches who voted OU over Texas better not piss and moan when it happens to them...because as long as this system stays in place it will happen. Dennis Dodd wrote a great piece last week explaining why the coaches should be out of it all together...

After a crushing defeat, the last thing Texas Tech's coach wanted was to discuss poll issues. But that was the obvious question for the only man in the building with a coaches poll vote.

Which team, he was asked, deserves to be ranked higher, Texas or Oklahoma? Either not knowing or not caring about the implications, Leach quickly said, "I would put Oklahoma ahead. They beat us and they deserve it."

Texas remained ahead of Oklahoma in the BCS standings released Sunday on the strength of having beaten the Sooners six weeks ago. That was despite the human polls which have it flipped -- Oklahoma over Texas.

You can see how this might be a problem to some folks. Two rivals, chasing a Big 12 and national championship. One separated from the other by .0084 of a point in the BCS (Texas .9209-Oklahoma .9125). One having beaten the other but both involved in a three-way tie in the Big 12 South. It is becoming obvious that tie could be broken less by play on the field and more by whoever shouts the loudest. Or worse. It could be decided by petty jealousies or long-held grudges.

We don't know for sure because the coaches poll is and has been largely a secret ballot. Maybe that's why Bob Stoops gave up his vote last season. Maybe not. He'll have to risk leaving the vote up to the six other Big 12 coaches in the coaches poll.

Two words come to mind here...Mack. Brown.

Anyone remember when Brown was politicking Texas over Cal to get into the Rose Bowl? Someone does and they found this gem...

I am not a big one to quote posters on Internet forums, but this one is too ripe to ignore. From a user on SI.com:

Just a few years ago Mack Brown pulled a classless act by lobbying poll voters to vote down Cal so that Texas could go to the Rose Bowl with 2 losses (Cal was 11-1 and lost to #1 USC by 6 points in L.A.). It worked and a number of voters did not even have Cal in their top 5 after Cal was #4 in the BCS the previous week. WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND! EAT IT MACK BROWN. You reap what you sow and Mack Brown more than anybody deserves this fate. I am not a Cal fan, but I remember thinking how classless Mack Brown was back then and eventually it caught up with him. I can guarantee you that somewhere Jeff Tedford is smiling.

Yes, I’ve had some issues with Texas coach Mack Brown and his minions in the past.

I actually think Texas got hosed this year. But… live by the terrible system, die by the terrible system.

Hard not to disagree. We all know that the coaches can't watch the games so they are left to look at the box scores and rely on the likes of Sports Center or ESPN News for their info and even that's pushing it...

Texas stays at #2 in my poll because they beat OU Head to Head pure and simple! Feel free to pick the rest apart as you see fit

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Alabama	--
2	Texas	--
3	Oklahoma	--
4	Florida	--
5	Southern Cal	--
6	Utah	--
7	Boise State	--
8	Penn State	--
9	Texas Tech	--
10	Ohio State	1
11	Ball State	1
12	Cincinnati	5
13	TCU	2
14	Boston College	4
15	Brigham Young	4
16	Oklahoma State	2
17	Oregon	4
18	Northwestern	2
19	Georgia Tech	5
20	Michigan State	3
21	Missouri	11
22	Georgia	9
23	Oregon State	7
24	Pittsburgh	2
25	Virginia Tech	1

 

Dropped Out: Florida State (#22), West Virginia (#25).

Have at it!