That’s the simplest answer to a complicated question with four Saturdays left.
There’s a good chance it’s even the right answer.
There’s still too much ball left, and thanks to this week’s Harris poll, this thing is becoming more convoluted each week.
In last week’s Harris poll, Oklahoma was 44 points ahead of Texas.
In this week’s Harris poll, Texas was 44 points ahead of Oklahoma.
Exactly how this happened is unknown (Harris ballots are private), but let’s say 44 voters simply swapped their votes from last week to this week.
That would mean those 44 people swapped their votes because: A) They considered UT’s 24-point victory at home over Baylor to be more impressive than OU’s 38-point victory on the road at Texas A&M; or B) They suddenly realized the Longhorns beat the Sooners 45-35 last month in Dallas.
Either way, those 44 people aren’t qualified to vote.
Neither A nor B is an acceptable explanation for anyone who has any say in who should play for the national crown.
Ignorance is no defense, nor should it take two weeks to figure out how to vote.
It gets easier to vote on the Top 25 with each passing week because more data has been compiled.
The easiest poll to figure out is the last one.
At this point in the season, Texas should be ranked ahead of OU.
If the Sooners close with victories over Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, OU probably should be ranked ahead of the Longhorns, although that’s debatable.
What is not up for debate is swapping the Longhorns and Sooners from last week to this week.
The top five teams in this week’s BCS standings are from the Big 12 and SEC.
Four of those five teams meet head-to-head, which is always the best way to break a tie.
The Big 12 champ vs. the SEC champ for the national championship is the likely answer to his season’s puzzle, but it’s not the only answer.
Here’s a look at some crazy national title game scenarios, and what has to happen to get there:
→OU vs. Texas
Both teams win out; OU or Texas wins the Big 12 title game; Florida loses again in regular season; Florida beats Alabama in SEC title game, or Alabama loses in regular season.
→OU vs. Texas Tech
OU beats Tech on Nov. 22; Tech beats Baylor; Texas loses; OU wins Big 12 title; Florida loses again in regular season; Florida beats Alabama in SEC title game, or Alabama loses in regular season.
→OU vs. USC
Both teams win out; OU wins Big 12 title or Texas loses Big 12 title game; Florida loses again in regular season; Florida beats Alabama in SEC title game, or Alabama loses in regular season.
→Texas vs. USC
Both teams win out; North beats Texas Tech or OU in Big 12 title game; Florida loses again in regular season; Florida beats Alabama in SEC title game, or Alabama loses in regular season.
→Texas Tech vs. USC
Texas Tech wins Big 12 title; USC wins out; Florida loses again in regular season; Florida beats Alabama in SEC title game, or Alabama loses in regular season.
→Florida vs. USC
Both teams win out; OU loses; Texas loses; North beats Texas Tech in Big 12 title game.
→Utah vs. USC
Both teams win out; Alabama loses twice; Texas Tech loses twice; Florida loses; UT loses; OU loses.
→Utah vs. Penn State
Both teams win out; Alabama loses twice, Texas Tech loses twice; Florida loses; UT loses; OU loses; USC loses; Boise State loses; hell freezes over, then maybe.
→Utah vs. Boise State
Both teams win out; Alabama loses twice; Texas Tech loses twice; Florida loses; UT loses; OU loses; USC loses; Penn State loses; pigs fly, then maybe.
John Rohde: 475-3099. John Rohde can be heard Monday-Friday from 9-11 a.m. on New JOX 930 (AM).
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Thanks for calling out the voters Rhode!
About OU and Texas's losses, so far UT lost to the #7 while UT was ranked #1 and OU lost to #4 when OU was #1. So OU has the better loss and earlier loss, and can blame it on losing Ryan Renolds and some terrible officiating.
I always enjoy your articles Rohde, and it's fun to speculate, but it doesn't matter if any of the top teams lose the rest of their remaining games, voters won't put Utah or Boise in the national title. They'd sooner move up Ohio State and Georgia and Mizzou.
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About OU and Texas's losses, so far UT lost to the #7 while UT was ranked #1 and OU lost to #4 when OU was #1. So OU has the better loss and earlier loss, and can blame it on losing Ryan Renolds and some terrible officiating.