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'84 Huskies wouldn't have made this year's College Football Playoff
Hardcore_Husky
Administrator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 302
'84 Huskies wouldn't have made this year's College Football Playoff
Style points mean more than ever these days, in the inaugural College Football Playoff, writes Derek Johnson.
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Style points have always been a problem, but I agree with Derek, they're more a problem now than ever. That's why some programs notoriously run up scores. Meyer no doubt had that on his mind when he had his fighting acorns ass blasting Wisky in the B1GFS Title game.
Ironically, Ohio State got into and won a fairly recent national title by successfully defending poor style points on their part. No one gave them a chance to hang with Miami in the 2002 MNC game. It could be argued that the officials ultimately gifted them the game, but by hanging through 2 overtimes, they proved that they belonged in that game despite squeaking out a few close, low scoring wins against questionable competition.
Style points suck, especially when a team features great defense and opts to use leads in games as a means to get their younger players playing time rather than run up the score, but they're a reality.
But you have to think that a 10-1 Husky team whose only loss was close to USC would have had a pretty clear shot at the playoff. I think BC would have been left out at two losses.
Ohio State in 2002 was no David and Goliath with Miami (as talented as Miami was in those days). They were more than capable.
I think their defensive front played very well that game (as they had all season). Just one of those games.
It may turn out that history repeats itself this year. FSU and Ohio State are probably better than their "style points" indicate. They could challenge the teams they're huge underdogs to. Both have "SEC levels" of talent, it will come down to how prepared they are.
After the regular season concluded, the AP poll looked like this:
1. Oklahoma (12-0)
2. Miami (10-1)
3. FSU (11-1)
4. Washington (10-1)
5. Oregon State (10-1)
6. Virginia Tech (10-1)
Interesting that Miami got the benefit of head to head vs FSU. However, UW doesn't get the benefit of head to head vs Miami. I think the Huskies get into the playoff here, but why not as a 2 seed? STYLE POINTS, BABY. Not Scoreboard.
#1 Washington vs. #4 Florida State
#2 Miami vs. #3 Penn State
#1 Miami vs #4 Florida State
#2 Washington vs #3 Penn State
That would have been an outstanding playoff either way.
I do not think FSU is being penalized because of "style points". I think it is because people simply do not feel they are as good as Alabama or Oregon. RJ Bell at pregame.com said FSU would be an underdog to Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State, Baylor, TCU, Mississippi State, and Michigan State. Sagarin has them ranked 15th.
Had Marshall gone undefeated and not made the playoff, I do not think people would have blamed "style points"; I think the consensus would have been that Marshall simply was not that good.
In 1984 1 loss UW would not have been passed over by 2 loss Nebraska AND Oklahoma State AND Boston College. We had been ranked #1, and our only loss was on the road to the Pac 10 champ (technically co-champ). We had a solid non conference win over SWC Champ/Cotton Bowl bound Houston as well.
If anyone remembers the short-lived sports newspaper The National, they ran a mock playoff after the 1990 season. I remember picking one up in LA after the Rose Bowl. They had fake box scores and fake interviews. Had a "quote" from James after our semi-final "win" saying "It was crazy they used to send the Big 10 out here every year." I think they had us losing to FSU in their title game.
FWIW, I remember when Oregon played Ohio State in the Rose Bowl a few years back. Ohio State got little respect despite having superior athletes at most positions. Oregon's style points bought them a lot of respect, while Ohio State's lack of style points hurt their image. Prior to the game, people thought Oregon was better than Ohio State, but Ohio State beat Oregon in that game and did it by being the better, more talented team.
The same thing happened when Florida played Ohio State in a MNC game some years back. Michigan and Ohio State built reputations on style points that year. Some tried to make the case that they should be playing a second game for the MNC. Ohio State was favored in their game, I can't recall if Michigan was or not, but both got annihilated by much better Florida and USC teams. Florida vs USC that year would have been a fantastic match up. Too bad it didn't happen.
Bottom line, style points suck. Who you play and whether or not you win is what ultimately matters.
Oklahoma (Big 8 champs), Florida (SEC champs), BC (top independent, Doug Flutie over Miami, would be ACC champs now), BYU (only undefeated team).
Ohio State probably would have been next in line. UW's lack of a conference championship would hurt.
Florida would have never been punished today like they were back then.