I know it's pretty early to talk about since 2013 hasn't even taken place, but besides Boise State or a school from our conference, what other G5 school would you expect could take the lone G5 access bowl spot or the playoff in 2014?

Good question Brian. Honestly, I could see another MWC team "stealing" a spot from us once in awhile, but I really think that if our champion could finish with just 1-2 losses a year then I don't see another non-undefeated team jumping over us. As long as our teams can avoid playing four "no names" OOC every year, then we'll be in the driver seat most years.

The key is really to go undefeated, right? That would get the job done. So in many respects I see the MAC as just as big a threat to take that spot. Toledo plays a strong OOC usually, but I could see them or another team beating up on their league schedule the way that you really won't be able to do in The American.

(08-11-2013 11:54 PM)OUGwave Wrote:  The key is really to go undefeated, right? That would get the job done. So in many respects I see the MAC as just as big a threat to take that spot. Toledo plays a strong OOC usually, but I could see them or another team beating up on their league schedule the way that you really won't be able to do in The American.

Eh. If there was an undefeated MAC team and an undefeated American team, unless the OOC was highly superior for the MAC team, I'd expect the American team to be higher-ranked every time.

If Ohio beats Louisville in week one they will generate a lot of votes and enter the top 25 early enough the climb the polls. Their schedule is very favorable after playing Louisville in week 1. The first to 30 likely wins in week one. There will be a lot of points in that game. Which defense gets a stop in the fourth quarter likely wins. This could be a basketball score with these two QB's going head to head with the offensive weapons both QB's have around them. This could be one of those MACtion games where its 52-49 in the fourth and both teams are over 500 yards in total offense. Bridgewater vs Tettleton should be a must see game as they go back and fourth.

Other than Cinncinatti and Houston who here has even scratched the top 10 in the last decade?

Boise State plays a pretty good OOC shedule:
2013: Washington, UT Martin, Southern Miss
2014: Ole Miss, UConn, BYU, Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns
2015: BYU, Washington, Virginia

But, as long as the champion of the American at least matches the difficulty I believe they'll be higher rated, especially if we consistently win our Bowl games.

Just about everybody in the Mountain West could be considered a threat. More specifically Boise State, Fresno State, SDSU, and Colorado State play the schedules needed to make an access bowl or take a playoff spot. Toledo also plays the type of schedule outside of the MAC that if they have a season with 1 loss or less could make some noise. Marshall and Southern Miss would be schools to watch too.

(08-12-2013 07:40 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  Just about everybody in the Mountain West could be considered a threat. More specifically Boise State, Fresno State, SDSU, and Colorado State play the schedules needed to make an access bowl or take a playoff spot. Toledo also plays the type of schedule outside of the MAC that if they have a season with 1 loss or less could make some noise. Marshall and Southern Miss would be schools to watch too.

This is why I think we take the best of the MWC and best of the AAC and make a conference with east/west divisions.

The MWC is always going to have an advantage because they play the PAC 12. Other than Oregon and maybe Stanford there isnt a team in the PAC 12 that scares me. History has shown that it only takes one Win over the PAC 12 to get ranked really highly.

AAC schools have a much much tougher path playing Big 12, ACC, Big 10 and SEC schools.

If we are talking about a 2014 playoff spot?! I'd say no one.

First, we need to know who would be on this selection committee. Conference Director and maybe a Media guy or 2... who knows. My gut says, They are trying to make it more exclusive. I'd say its got to be a MWC or American undefeated champion with a high profile victory under its belt.

I don't see any G5 school in the play off, ever. Access bowl yes.

Just go undefeated. You can hit the top 5-10 for sure if you beat 1-2 decent OOC's. You might get a top 4 spot if you're blowing teams out. It'll be hard to do that for us though. I can't see Tulsa, Cincy, Houston, ECU, or UCF not putting up decent fights against eachother in conference. As far as other teams go, I think Boise and Nevada will be the big dogs in the Pac-12 b league.

I did a quick check and here is a list of the top G5 school in the final BCS standings for each of the last 15 years (assuming the 2014 conference lineups were in place):

2012 - MAC (Northern Illinois)
2011 - MWC (Boise St)
2010 - MWC (Boise St)
2009 - American (Cincinnati)
2008 - MWC (Boise St)
2007 - MWC (Hawaii)
2006 - MWC (Boise St)
2005 - MWC (Boise St)(NOTE: NONE ranked in final BCS top 25, but Boise St was highest in both AP (28) and Coaches (27))
2004 - MWC (Boise St)
2003 - MAC (Miami University)
2002 - MWC (Boise St)(NOTE: NONE ranked in final BCS top 15, but Boise St was highest in both AP (19) and Coaches (15))
2001 - MWC (Fresno St)(NOTE: NONE ranked in final BCS top 15, but Fresno St was highest in AP (20))
2000 - MWC (Colorado St)(NOTE: NONE ranked in final BCS top 15, but Colorado St was highest in AP (23))
1999 - C-USA (Marshall)
1998 - American (Tulane)

Number of Access Bowl slots over last 15 years if the 2014 conference and bowl structures were in place:
MWC - 10 (Boise St x 7, Hawaii, Fresno St, Colorado St)
American - 2 (Cincinnati, Tulane)
MAC - 2 (Northern Illinois, Miami University)
C-USA - 1 (Marshall)

(08-12-2013 07:12 AM)panicstricken Wrote:  Other than Cinncinatti and Houston who here has even scratched the top 10 in the last decade?

Well USF did get to #2 VERY briefly... but we cratered after so almost no one remembers it.

(08-12-2013 07:50 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(08-12-2013 07:40 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  Just about everybody in the Mountain West could be considered a threat. More specifically Boise State, Fresno State, SDSU, and Colorado State play the schedules needed to make an access bowl or take a playoff spot. Toledo also plays the type of schedule outside of the MAC that if they have a season with 1 loss or less could make some noise. Marshall and Southern Miss would be schools to watch too.

This is why I think we take the best of the MWC and best of the AAC and make a conference with east/west divisions.

I agree for the most part. I just don't think that their will be a merger; it will be us (believe it) raiding them for 5-6 of their teams.

BYU might have an interesting choice to make if they want inclusion in any possible playoff scenario.

(08-12-2013 07:50 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(08-12-2013 07:40 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  Just about everybody in the Mountain West could be considered a threat. More specifically Boise State, Fresno State, SDSU, and Colorado State play the schedules needed to make an access bowl or take a playoff spot. Toledo also plays the type of schedule outside of the MAC that if they have a season with 1 loss or less could make some noise. Marshall and Southern Miss would be schools to watch too.

This is why I think we take the best of the MWC and best of the AAC and make a conference with east/west divisions.

This is my thought. We should have went for the throat and grabbed Boise, SDSU, UNLV, and AF. Setup a pod system with east, central, and west pods. Probably gaurantee us in the access bowl every year.

(08-12-2013 02:36 PM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  

(08-12-2013 07:50 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(08-12-2013 07:40 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  Just about everybody in the Mountain West could be considered a threat. More specifically Boise State, Fresno State, SDSU, and Colorado State play the schedules needed to make an access bowl or take a playoff spot. Toledo also plays the type of schedule outside of the MAC that if they have a season with 1 loss or less could make some noise. Marshall and Southern Miss would be schools to watch too.

This is why I think we take the best of the MWC and best of the AAC and make a conference with east/west divisions.

This is my thought. We should have went for the throat and grabbed Boise, SDSU, UNLV, and AF. Setup a pod system with east, central, and west pods. Probably gaurantee us in the access bowl every year.

If we're thinking about this you can almost guarantee the a few ADs, Presidents and Commissioners are as well.

I really think that if this were done right, such a merger/agreement could give us a shot at a playoff spot each year.

Now that I think of it: the Holland "Alliance" idea might be a good one... just with the MWC and the AAC instead of CUSA.

We'll know something after this season is over; I would think by spring at the latest.

(08-12-2013 07:12 AM)panicstricken Wrote:  Other than Cinncinatti and Houston who here has even scratched the top 10 in the last decade?

We were 14th a few years ago, later dropped out

(08-12-2013 08:01 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  I don't see any G5 school in the play off, ever. Access bowl yes.

Same here. The system has officially been rigged at this point. Access Bowl is the goal for G5.