Scoreboard watching is a labyrinthine process, invariably posing many complex math questions.
For example, if Tennessee had managed to count successfully to eleven on that infamous last play versus LSU, the entire SEC would have taken a BCS hit, particularly LSU, Auburn, Florida and Alabama, while Oregon's computer rankings would up notched up based on Tennessee's improved record. One busted center snap and yellow hankie changed the fate of about six teams. At 3-3 the Vols are energized instead of demoralized, the entire state is abuzz with talk of progress, improvement and going to a bowl, and Les Miles' wife is calling a realtor.
Around college football today there are plays and games that will multiply and divide and square root their way through the computer rankings long after the blocking and tackling is done. Here are a few examples:
Arkansas up handily on Mississippi 31-17. This helps Auburn, because the Razorbacks go to 5-2 and improve on their #23 ranking. A bit of a surprise with Ryan Mallett shaking off a head injury last week to start and throw a first-quarter touchdown. Oddly, it's a bit of a hit for the Ducks. Let me explain. In college football, with voting deciding everything, perception is reality. It feeds the Robert Smiths of the world. And Masoli being mediocre in the SEC feeds the perception that Oregon is soft and couldn't compete, even though he's surrounded by a mediocre team and the inference is neither logical or fair. Masoli's numbers are decent, 15-26 today for 187 yards and two tds, 93 yards rushing, but the Rebels will fall to 3-4 and a certain portion of the country's writers and voters will extrapolate this to support their presupposition that the SEC is tougher than the PAC-10, and Oregon football is gimmicky and couldn't keep up with the fast, physical brand of defense they play at Auburn, LSU or Alabama.
Auburn up early on LSU 7-3. The winner of this game is going to get a push forward in the polls, and Auburn gets a bigger push forward because of LSU's various escapes in the first seven games.
#16 5-1 Nebraska and #14 6-0 Oklahoma State locked up in a close one, 14-13. Nebraska has a lopsided victory over Washington, and Washington's failures at BYU and at home versus the Huskers weigh down the Ducks. If T. Boone Pickens' OSU goes to 7-0, they start climbing in national perception, and that gives further weight to the Oklahoma State-Oklahoma showdown in November. The winner of that game, especially if they win today, gets a huge extra exponent in the BCS computer formulas. It's not just who you beat, it's who they beat after and before you beat them. You see why Chip Kelly ducks the math questions.
Wisconsin over Iowa, 10-6 in the second quarter. This game affects the resumes not only of these two 5-1 teams, but the resumes of Ohio State, Michigan State, Arizona, and inevitably the Ducks. Oregon needs a couple of other PAC-10 teams to emerge with some gold stars on their report card. It would help if Stanford, USC and Arizona went 10-1 or 9-2 or 8-3, with a couple of signature wins of their own. Iowa winning out helps Arizona. Wisconsin winning out makes Ohio State look better. It goes on and on like that, and could give a fan an ice cream headache after a while.
!Masoli throws his second 4th-quarter touchdown, and the Rebels close to 31-24 on the road with nine minutes to play.
Michigan State 35, Northwestern 27. This too affects a variety of teams, and at 8-0 and #7 in the country Sparty has inched their way to the first page of the leaderboard. The Spartans have a heart-warming story, heart attack wins and a hot quarterback, and they don't play Ohio State this year. Their two toughest remaining games are next Saturday at #15 Iowa, and November 27 at Penn State. The Nittany Lions are down this year but will still be tough at home in what may be Joe Paterno's farewell game.
Other ripple-effect games: Va Tech crushed Duke 44-7. This helps Boise State, by validating their signature win. Iowa State corralled Texas 28-21 at Royal Stadium. This weakens UCLA's resume, which weakens Oregon's. Oklahoma beat Iowa State last week 52-0.
Wouldn't it all be easier if college football had a playoff? Maybe so, but ESPN's Rece Davis is right when he says college football has the most meaningful regular season in sports.
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