Is it still the rule that all 7-5 "at large" teams must be placed before 6-6 "at large" teams or did that knucklehead from the Big 12 get that changed where the auto bid conferences can send their 6-6 teams to places?

71 teams for 70 slots right now. Middle just knocked out Western Michigan.

Washington is the only team left that can get to 6-6 and they have a Pac-10 tie-in waiting on them. If Washington loses, does it knock out one of the 7-5 or better MAC teams or does it knock out 6-6 Big East Louisville?

the rule is ridiculous to begin with. it's a rollover from when teams played 11 games a season, 6 wins giving you a winning record. when they increased the schedule to 12 games they didn't bother to increase the mandatory wins rule. so now all you have to do is go .500...completely stupid.

(12-04-2010 09:53 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  the rule is ridiculous to begin with. it's a rollover from when teams played 11 games a season, 6 wins giving you a winning record. when they increased the schedule to 12 games they didn't bother to increase the mandatory wins rule. so now all you have to do is go .500...completely stupid.

It is a stupid rule, but I think the reason they went to 12 games was to make it easier for the AQ's to get to the six wins.

(12-04-2010 09:50 PM)littlebittyschool Wrote:  Is it still the rule that all 7-5 "at large" teams must be placed before 6-6 "at large" teams or did that knucklehead from the Big 12 get that changed where the auto bid conferences can send their 6-6 teams to places?

71 teams for 70 slots right now. Middle just knocked out Western Michigan.

Washington is the only team left that can get to 6-6 and they have a Pac-10 tie-in waiting on them. If Washington loses, does it knock out one of the 7-5 or better MAC teams or does it knock out 6-6 Big East Louisville?

It is still a rule but the secondary tie ins mean there are fewer at large spots. just look at this year MT is a 6-6 team getting a bowl spot that the SBC is not a primary for.

(12-04-2010 09:50 PM)littlebittyschool Wrote:  Is it still the rule that all 7-5 "at large" teams must be placed before 6-6 "at large" teams or did that knucklehead from the Big 12 get that changed where the auto bid conferences can send their 6-6 teams to places?

71 teams for 70 slots right now. Middle just knocked out Western Michigan.

Washington is the only team left that can get to 6-6 and they have a Pac-10 tie-in waiting on them. If Washington loses, does it knock out one of the 7-5 or better MAC teams or does it knock out 6-6 Big East Louisville?

That is an excellent observation! Yes, this rule is still in effect. The Big East could manipulate around it by ensuring all 6-6 teams go to Big East affiliated bowls allowing an at-large team from their conference with at least 7 wins or more to pick up an at-large spot, but the risk of that is still high. It seems to me that unless some closed door discussions are going on between Big East reps and bowl committees of the Sun, Las Vegas, and Kraft Fight Hunger to ensure ahead of time that they would select a 7+ win Big East team over a 7+ win team from the MAC, then these bowls with primary ties to the Big East would take the teams with the best records first before any 6-6 team.

(12-04-2010 11:03 PM)TennesseeBoyintheRockies Wrote:  

(12-04-2010 09:50 PM)littlebittyschool Wrote:  Is it still the rule that all 7-5 "at large" teams must be placed before 6-6 "at large" teams or did that knucklehead from the Big 12 get that changed where the auto bid conferences can send their 6-6 teams to places?

71 teams for 70 slots right now. Middle just knocked out Western Michigan.

Washington is the only team left that can get to 6-6 and they have a Pac-10 tie-in waiting on them. If Washington loses, does it knock out one of the 7-5 or better MAC teams or does it knock out 6-6 Big East Louisville?

That is an excellent observation! Yes, this rule is still in effect. The Big East could manipulate around it by ensuring all 6-6 teams go to Big East affiliated bowls allowing an at-large team from their conference with at least 7 wins or more to pick up an at-large spot, but the risk of that is still high. It seems to me that unless some closed door discussions are going on between Big East reps and bowl committees of the Sun, Las Vegas, and Kraft Fight Hunger to ensure ahead of time that they would select a 7+ win Big East team over a 7+ win team from the MAC, then these bowls with primary ties to the Big East would take the teams with the best records first before any 6-6 team.

I don't think they can do that actually. The big 12 would have done that to get Kansas in the MCB if they could.

(12-04-2010 11:05 PM)TeKERaider Wrote:  

(12-04-2010 11:03 PM)TennesseeBoyintheRockies Wrote:  

(12-04-2010 09:50 PM)littlebittyschool Wrote:  Is it still the rule that all 7-5 "at large" teams must be placed before 6-6 "at large" teams or did that knucklehead from the Big 12 get that changed where the auto bid conferences can send their 6-6 teams to places?

71 teams for 70 slots right now. Middle just knocked out Western Michigan.

Washington is the only team left that can get to 6-6 and they have a Pac-10 tie-in waiting on them. If Washington loses, does it knock out one of the 7-5 or better MAC teams or does it knock out 6-6 Big East Louisville?

That is an excellent observation! Yes, this rule is still in effect. The Big East could manipulate around it by ensuring all 6-6 teams go to Big East affiliated bowls allowing an at-large team from their conference with at least 7 wins or more to pick up an at-large spot, but the risk of that is still high. It seems to me that unless some closed door discussions are going on between Big East reps and bowl committees of the Sun, Las Vegas, and Kraft Fight Hunger to ensure ahead of time that they would select a 7+ win Big East team over a 7+ win team from the MAC, then these bowls with primary ties to the Big East would take the teams with the best records first before any 6-6 team.

I don't think they can do that actually. The big 12 would have done that to get Kansas in the MCB if they could.

Oh, yes they can! Remember, bowls don't have to select teams by order of finish. That's why MTSU is favored for the New Orleans Bowl. The Big East could undermine the system and steal a bowl at-large bid from the MAC.

6-6 are now treated same as 7-5.

Arkstfan is correct, which is why MAC fans have been sweating bullets-a 6-6 Louisiana Tech, Oregon State, or a successful appeal by Arizona State would have likely taken a slot away from a 7+ win MAC team (not to mention 6-6 Western Michigan).