It is interesting. Would like to know exactly what happened on why he bolted Lubbock. One story I read suggested it was because he isn't getting the start for the bowl.

For the life of me I can see any reason why we would need yet another QB here next year. Unless he is wanting to come in as a WR or something. Granted he might be better than the guys we have now, but there is a lot of weirdness to this story. Dumping a scholarship to be a walk on. Expecting to appeal (and win) the 1 year waiting period to play.

I'm not settled on if this is good or bad, just that the smell test is hard to pass right now.

The Franchise guys have talked a lot about this the past week. All I know is what I've heard on there but from what I've gotten from them Mayfield was a walk on at Tech and part of his problem with Tech was not being offered a scholarship, will most likely have to sit out a year since he just up and walked away and he has to be released by Tech before he can go anywhere.

Given your penchant for unbridled pessimism, and the fact that things typically turn out better than you predict, you've given me added enthusiasm about this game. Thank you.

My pessimism is based simply upon OU's past performance. OU has performed poorly against top ranked opponents (TxAM last year) and ALA, well we all know or should know how "lucky" Auburn was in that game. Anything can happen, but the reality is that OU's talent is not up to that of ALA and the I'll call it soft way OU plays does not lend me to be confident in even a possible victory against the 3 in 4 years National Champions

My pessimism is based simply upon OU's past performance. OU has performed poorly against top ranked opponents (TxAM last year) and ALA, well we all know or should know how "lucky" Auburn was in that game. Anything can happen, but the reality is that OU's talent is not up to that of ALA and the I'll call it soft way OU plays does not lend me to be confident in even a possible victory against the 3 in 4 years National Champions

I understand. But this is a pretty scrappy, overachieving team. Their one huge collapse was against Texas, and I think 1) Texas took TCU's defensive gameplan and excelled with it with better players; 2) We were totally outcoached in that game; 3) There were some weird intangibles: everyone thought we would win, Texas had shown no toughness up to that point, etc.

For some reason, Stoops and Co. just seem to coach better when we're the underdog. Not saying we will win, but I expect OU to play tough and to have a good gameplan going into this game. If we get beat by superior talent, no problem. But this will be good for OU in the long run, particularly if we man up and give Bama a game. It bodes well for next season.

The Franchise guys have talked a lot about this the past week. All I know is what I've heard on there but from what I've gotten from them Mayfield was a walk on at Tech and part of his problem with Tech was not being offered a scholarship, will most likely have to sit out a year since he just up and walked away and he has to be released by Tech before he can go anywhere.

I think it is normal that he would have to sit out the year (which he is appealing) regardless of being under scholarship or not - unless I'm wrong on that. I know if he would go to an FCS school there would be no issue, but he's staying at the FBS level.

I'm not really sure how soon he plans on being able to play - if at all. Next we'll have what...4 QBs not counting anyone new already coming in.

I understand. But this is a pretty scrappy, overachieving team. Their one huge collapse was against Texas, and I think 1) Texas took TCU's defensive gameplan and excelled with it with better players; 2) We were totally outcoached in that game; 3) There were some weird intangibles: everyone thought we would win, Texas had shown no toughness up to that point, etc.

For some reason, Stoops and Co. just seem to coach better when we're the underdog. Not saying we will win, but I expect OU to play tough and to have a good gameplan going into this game. If we get beat by superior talent, no problem. But this will be good for OU in the long run, particularly if we man up and give Bama a game. It bodes well for next season.

Unlike some of the other Stoops bowl games reports have it that we should expect OU players to give their best effort in this game...... Is that going to be enough, who knows?

But we have seen several things on the Alabama side that could act as distractions. Is that going to be enough, who knows?
But anyway this is looked at, OU has zero to loose... No matter what happens, this game will help make OU a better football program over the next few years.

I wouldn't say has zero to lose. If they go out there and get whalloped there is nothing good that comes of that. lose a close game (and for me close would be covering the spread) or win, now that would be a good stepping stone to roll over into next season.

I think it is normal that he would have to sit out the year (which he is appealing) regardless of being under scholarship or not - unless I'm wrong on that. I know if he would go to an FCS school there would be no issue, but he's staying at the FBS level.

I'm not really sure how soon he plans on being able to play - if at all. Next we'll have what...4 QBs not counting anyone new already coming in.The walk on issue was something else The Franchise looked into. Even as a walk on at Tech they "own" him and have to release him for him to go anywhere. Then he has to sit out a year even as a walk on at the new school. It was either Sam Mays of Kelly Gregg that threw a fit about the sitting out a year. Their take was that since walk ons don't get the perks that scholarship players get then the transfer rules should be lighter for them.

I wouldn't say has zero to lose. If they go out there and get whalloped there is nothing good that comes of that. lose a close game (and for me close would be covering the spread) or win, now that would be a good stepping stone to roll over into next season.
I'm going to keep saying that OU has zero to lose, even if OU gets ''walloped''.

This game regardless of the outcome will help show Stoops what changes he needs to make that will help benefit OU in future years..... A BCS game against a historically similar great program gives the OU program an opportunity to market its program in ways that the lesser bowls just can't do.

Alabama has a tendency to play decent teams close. If OU can find away to hang around until the mid part of the 4th quarter much like they did against OSU the Sooners will have a chance.

Yesterday was junior college national signing day so here's an article about OSU's signees for our five other loyal Pokes fans on our community forum:

Gundy Announces Junior College Signees - Oklahoma State Official Athletic Site (http://www.okstate.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121813aac.html)

@DuaneRankin 7m
#Alabama coach Nick Saban announced today that starting LB Xzavier Dickson and RB Alvin Kamara are suspended and won't play in Sugar Bowl.

The final polls will be out shortly and don't really mean that much but I'm guessing that OU will be somewhere around 7 -8 and OSU and Baylor will be in the 15 - 20 range. Texas, Tech, and KState will gets votes but I doubt they will be in the top 25.

17. What a disaster of a season ending, couldn't have gone much worse for the Pokes.

#6 for OU. Not bad for a "rebuilding year."

#6 for OU. Not bad for a "rebuilding year."

Considering a lot of people were calling for Josh Heupel's head after the embarrassing losses to Texas and, later, Baylor, and how the quarterback situation evolved over the season, combined with all the injuries, finishing the year with wins over KSU, OSU, and then Alabama (that STILL doesn't even sound right!) to land in the top 6 is nothing short of phenomenal.

Always thought Stoops' '06 coaching job was his very best, taking Thompson back from QB to WR back to QB when Bomar was kicked off the team like two weeks before the season started, and ended up taking that team to a Big 12 title. But this year is awfully danged close, even without the conference title. I mean, would anyone, ANYONE have bet so much as a penny that the Trevor Knight who played against West Virginia and tossed all the picks would have showed up and played the way he did last Thursday??? Against Alabama, for pete's sake??

Just a great finish. Incredible momentum going into next year.

NCAA Final Rankings for 2013-14


AP College Football Poll 2014: Post-BCS Championship Rankings Released


1. Florida State 14-0
2. Auburn 12-2
3. Michigan State 13-1
4. South Carolina 11-2
5. Missouri 12-2
6. Oklahoma 11-2
7. Clemson 11-2
8. Alabama 11-2
9. Oregon 11-2
10. Central Florida 12-1


College Football Final 2014 Rankings: B/R's Official Top 25 | Bleacher Report (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1913419-college-football-final-2014-rankings-brs-official-top-25)


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ... as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

Not only do things look very positive for OU going into next season but they also have a very favorable schedule, with La Tech, Tennessee (both home) and Tulsa in the non-conference, and key conference games against Baylor, OSU and K-State at home.


The new national championship playoff system will be a huge change, putting things completely in the hands of 13 people to decide.

I always liked the more computer-driven process of the BCS, although that was watered down over time. The whole point was to try and make things less subjective and now we've swung even farther in that direction.

I actually think the new system will lead to more controversy than the much-maligned BCS.

Agree with Pete. I personally would have put the selection to the BCS computers only and taken the human element completely out of it. The 4-team playoff is also too small to avoid any major push back from those left out. I think we'll also see problems arise when dealing with conferences with and without championship games.

In the now old BCS system, OU would have a very favorable setup this coming season. In the new "playoff-light" system, it is a wild guess on how it would play out. Win them all have a someone certain position or lose one and hope for the best that the SEC doesn't fill up all the slots.

Here is one early prediction for next year. I found it interesting that OU was the highest ranked Big 12 team but they called Baylor the conference favorite.


Florida State leads the 2014 way too early top 25 rankings - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/10246704/florida-state-leads-2014-way-too-early-top-25-rankings)

17. What a disaster of a season ending, couldn't have gone much worse for the Pokes.

And yet one of the best seasons all time for your little program

Here is one early prediction for next year. I found it interesting that OU was the highest ranked Big 12 team but they called Baylor the conference favorite.


Florida State leads the 2014 way too early top 25 rankings - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/10246704/florida-state-leads-2014-way-too-early-top-25-rankings)

Nice early rankings for the Florida State Seminoles; they deserve this ranking. Good that the #8 Oklahoma Sooners won't start the season with this moniker on their backs. College football teams have young adults on an average ranging from 17-24 years of age and that kind of publicity and attention only leads to the BIG HEAD.


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ... as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

Yes, next year will be interesting. I agree that the whole +1 playoff system is a step forward in one way (playoff) and a step backward in another (as Pete said, even more subjective). I can already hear the howls of that fifth team that's going to be left out and one that got in everyone shaking their heads about. I also think they committed to this new +1 playoff (CFP) for too long as 12 years is a long time to lock in a playoff scheme that looks like a recipe for controversy and anger.

A reminder


Scout.com: The Greatest Program Of All-Time Is ... (http://cfn.scout.com/2/1097657.html)
:D

Yes, next year will be interesting. I agree that the whole +1 playoff system is a step forward in one way (playoff) and a step backward in another (as Pete said, even more subjective). I can already hear the howls of that fifth team that's going to be left out and one that got in everyone shaking their heads about. I also think they committed to this new +1 playoff (CFP) for too long as 12 years is a long time to lock in a playoff scheme that looks like a recipe for controversy and anger.

What people like to forget is that we have had a playoff system for the last 15 years; it's just a two-team system versus four or more.

I don't mind going to four teams -- although only once in the BSC era did a deserving undefeated team not make the championship game -- but I would rather they had stuck with the BSC ranking system, particularly the original one.

Wish they'd expand it to an 8 team playoff. Have each conference have a championship game. 5 seeds for the Pac-12, Big 12, Big 10, SEC, and ACC champions. Have a seed alotted for the best team from the AAC, MWC, MAC and C-USA. Then that leaves you with two at large seeds for whoever.

Say you have all unbeaten teams :

Ohio ST
Stanford
Alabama
LSU
Florida ST
Oklahoma
Notre Dame

how are they going to decide who is worthy of the playoffs?

Say you have all unbeaten teams :

Ohio ST
Stanford
Alabama
LSU
Florida ST
Oklahoma
Notre Dame

how are they going to decide who is worthy of the playoffs?

Strength of schedule will probably be big tie breaking factor.

If a team / program has a long history of scheduling weak football teams in their out of conference schedule its going to likely hurt their appeal to the committee.

But in a few years my money is on play off expansion to 6 or 8 teams.

Alabama and LSU are in the same division, I believe, so always play each other. Now we're down to 6 and 4 will get to go. I don't think we've ever had 6 unbeatens. Bigger problem will be if we have four one loss teams. Then, you're trying to weigh who they lost to, strength of schedule, etc. Years when, for example, OSU beats Texas who beats OU who beats OSU, it's an even bigger problem since we don't have a Big 12 Championship. Do we lose out to the ACC, PAC 10, Big 10 or even, 2 SEC teams?

And yet one of the best seasons all time for your little program

I would've hoped a good season finally would make OU fans a little less insecure and bitter

I would've hoped a good season finally would make OU fans a little less insecure and bitter

Spartan, we're always glad to see the pokes have a good season and end up 17th. ;)

The big question comes when what happens when you have an undefeated ACC, Big 12 and SEC team and another mid major undefeated team that gets jumped by a one loss SEC team due to their schedule. When you expand it to eight teams, what about the #9 team and so on... The other issue comes with doing an eight team playoff. Do you remove a non-conference game? If the seasons are over December 6th, 2014 (for arguments sake), then you still have four games to play to get it down to four teams, then you play two more to get it down to one. Do they just have a week off then play December 20th and then December 27th to get to the National Championship? Don't the pros have two weeks between the last playoff game and the Super Bowl? If you had four teams, the Championship could be on January 5th, 2015 with the Semi-Finals on December 20th and a week in between each to plan.

The SEC faired well as a conference, 7-3 in the bowl picture; however, the two biggest plums (Alabama & Auburn) went down in defeat.

Alabama was being hailed as the best team in the nation despite its nightmare loss to Auburn. Who would have wagered that the Crimson Tide would lose two in a row?

Stoops case about the SEC was epitomized by Alabama's loss to OU and Auburn's loss to Florida State.

"...And, Oklahoma defeated third-ranked, double-digit favorite Alabama, 45-31 in the Sugar Bowl, which emboldened Stoops to suggest again that fawning reports that the SEC was hands down the best league as nothing more than “propaganda.”--BCS National Championship: Auburn can't uphold SEC dominance - NY Daily News (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/weiss-auburn-playing-title-sec-reputation-article-1.1567781)


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ... as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

I would've hoped a good season finally would make OU fans a little less insecure and bitter

Hardly. And I think boulder was giving a back handed compliment. If we collapsed and still had a good season then Id say things are looking pretty good.

Strength of schedule will probably be big tie breaking factor.

If a team / program has a long history of scheduling weak football teams in their out of conference schedule its going to likely hurt their appeal to the committee.

But in a few years my money is on play off expansion to 6 or 8 teams.

You mean the history of that particular season? Why would a history of someones scheduling matter to the selection committee next year? Pretty sure they will judge based on just one season.

There was a playoff system "expert" on the radio a couple of days ago. He said there is a list of criteria for the committee to go by. If he's correct not only strength of schedule will considered but intended strength of schedule. For instance, if OU schedules Florida St. this year for a home-and-home to be played five years from now OU would get credit for scheduling a current National Champion even if Florida State falls on their face in five years.

There was a playoff system "expert" on the radio a couple of days ago. He said there is a list of criteria for the committee to go by. If he's correct not only strength of schedule will considered but intended strength of schedule. For instance, if OU schedules Florida St. this year for a home-and-home to be played five years from now OU would get credit for scheduling a current National Champion even if Florida State falls on their face in five years.
The strength of schedule should be weight over time, perhaps over a 5 to 10 year time period....with more weight given to the programs choice of non-conference opponents.

When you schedule teams like Alabama, ND and Ohio State like OU has done 5 and 10 years in advance you shouldn't be punished if they have fallen on hard times by the time you play them. When you schedule tough teams with regularity it shows intentions to not hide.

A program that continually schedules weak weak non-conference teams in most years like Baylor does (Baylor played Wofford, Buffalo, Louisiana-Monroe this year) should not be rewarded as much as programs who play a tougher non-conference schedule year after year.
Better games are good for the game / fans and it reduces the odds of coaches hiding behind weak scheduling philosophy's.

Someone explain this to me...

Isn't it also next season that whomever from the Big XII & SEC conferences that don't end up in the playoffs will play in some kind of extra bowl game that will be new next year between the two conferences (like a which conference is mightier than the other based on this one game type game)? After that the usual pecking order proceeds with bowl alignments.

All of this talk about strength of schedule and scheduling in advance isn't going to amount to a hill of beans.




http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ... as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

Someone explain this to me...

Isn't it also next season that whomever from the Big XII & SEC conferences that don't end up in the playoffs will play in some kind of extra bowl game that will be new next year between the two conferences (like a which conference is mightier than the other based on this one game type game)? After that the usual pecking order proceeds with bowl alignments.

That was going to be the Champions Bowl. I believe that idea died and we are now just using the Sugar Bowl (instead of the Fiesta Bowl).

I didn't pay attention this bowl season, but was there ever any announcement that said something like:

" these are the 4 teams (this year) that would be in the playoff (next season) according to the system we will be using next year" ?

And the other teams in the "big" bowl games?

Generally I'm a fan of the playoff, especially with the outcomes of the BCS bowl games this season, with the underdogs prevailing often.

But it sounds like the Utahs and the Boise State types of teams will have little shot at making it into the playoffs going forward.

That was going to be the Champions Bowl. I believe that idea died and we are now just using the Sugar Bowl (instead of the Fiesta Bowl).

You're correct.

Sugar Bowl in New Orleans to be site of marquee Big 12-SEC game - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8601209/sugar-bowl-new-orleans-site-marquee-big-12-sec-game)


The game will take the name of the Allstate Sugar Bowl as the "Champions Bowl" name was just a temporary placeholder.

You're correct.

Sugar Bowl in New Orleans to be site of marquee Big 12-SEC game - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8601209/sugar-bowl-new-orleans-site-marquee-big-12-sec-game)

So................................. even though the BCS is now done and over with, won't they still use the four sites and names Rose, Fiesta, Sugar and Orange Bowls for the playoff games and with that will the Sugar Bowl now be host to two post season games? That being one playoff game to determine a future national champion and then one other game--that being the site of the marquee Big 12-SEC game? Lucky New Orleans for all that post season football.

So................................. even though the BCS is now done and over with, won't they still use the four sites and names Rose, Fiesta, Sugar and Orange Bowls for the playoff games and with that will the Sugar Bowl now be host to two post season games? That being one playoff game to determine a future national champion and then one other game--that being the site of the marquee Big 12-SEC game? Lucky New Orleans for all that post season football.

There are now 6 big bowls now in the new system. Orange sugar rose and fiesta. Plus the cotton and peach(old chick fil a) were bumped up.

2 of the 6 will be semi finals each year. (Sugar and rose next season)

In the years that the sugar is not a semi final. In. Will feature sec vs big 12 period. So 2 out of three years. But not next year

The rose is big vs PAC in 2/3 years. And the orange is acc vs nd/big/sec in 2/3 years. The other 3 bowls are filled by the playoff committee. From the teams not in the final 4. Including the highest ranking team from the group of 5 non power confs

^^that makes a little more sense but still seems somewhat confusing in your explanation--which is not your fault. I'm visual. It'll take the experience of it happening for me to get used to the format ;-) Thanks for the info!

I will also note that the national championship game is separate from the 6 big bowls and is now bid year to year like the super bowl. Dallas years 1. Tampa year 2 Phoenix(Glendale) year 3

I will also note that the national championship game is separate from the 6 big bowls and is now bid year to year like the super bowl. Dallas years 1. Tampa year 2 Phoenix(Glendale) year 3

Right. I figured it would rotate, kinda like how the the March Madness basketball Final Four location is.

In 5 years, probably sooner, we'll realize that more than 4 teams are needed for a real playoff and they'll go back to the drawing board.

Hardly. And I think boulder was giving a back handed compliment. If we collapsed and still had a good season then Id say things are looking pretty good.

Before Justin Gilbert's dropped interception the OSU program was ahead of OU. We were hot. Just the momentum of the program. Things aren't bad but they aren't as good as they were, before that one play. I'm a realist and the reality is that after how this year ended, which was a year that we had everything lined up for us, we are now solidly back to playing second fiddle in our state. It's a sobering reality after how fun it was to out-perform a program like OU for a good while.

I have an uncanny ability to sense when OU is overrated and about ready to flop, whether it's a particular academic program, or athletic program. Truth be told, I sense that they're going to make a run for the football playoff next year. It will take us 2-3 years to get back up on OU, and that stinks after how well things were going. Damn you Yurcich. If he sticks around, it might take us longer.

Before Justin Gilbert's dropped interception the OSU program was ahead of OU. We were hot. Just the momentum of the program. Things aren't bad but they aren't as good as they were, before that one play. I'm a realist and the reality is that after how this year ended, which was a year that we had everything lined up for us, we are now solidly back to playing second fiddle in our state. It's a sobering reality after how fun it was to out-perform a program like OU for a good while.

Lol. OSU is 1-10 against OU in the last 11 years with 1 Big 12 championship. OU is 10-1 against OSU in the last 11 years with 6 Big 12 titles. We're all waiting for your methodology...

I don't have a beef with OSU and their program has made amazing progress in the last 10-15 years, but you can't just throw absurd comments out there without backing it up.

In 5 years, probably sooner, we'll realize that more than 4 teams are needed for a real playoff and they'll go back to the drawing board.

The playoff will eventually be 8 teams I bet. You could easily have a team ranked 5th by the committee that has a legitimate case to be 1 or 2, but you're never really going to have a team rank 9th that had a legitimate beef. 6 would work also with byes for teams 1 and 2. I also think teams should have home field in the first round. That'll reward a team for going 12-0 in the regular season over the 11-1 or 10-2 teams.

These are interesting comments by the Alabama quarterback. I remember hearing similar comments about OU players in the past.

AJ McCarron blames Alabama?s failures on Alabama?s past success | CollegeFootballTalk (http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/01/30/aj-mccarron-blames-alabamas-failures-on-alabamas-past-success/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs)


“We had a lot of young guys,” McCarron told The Jim Rome Show on Thursday at the Super Bowl’s radio row. “In the end, success was our killer. Too much success and a lot of young guys coming in who didn’t know what it took to get back to that point to win. They thought we’d just show up and we’d win.”



I think that has something to do with why no team ever dominates forever. They end up becoming complacent and lose the edge they had.

He had some additional very pertinent and astute comments.


Is McCarron throwing his team under the bus? McCarron accepted the blame for Alabama’s Sugar Bowl loss in the postgame press conference at the time, but his more recent comments may shed some more truth than anything McCarron has said before. McCarron also took swipes at various recruiting services, who McCarron labeled as guys who never played football.

“You have guys who have never played the game of football rating these guys that they are a 5-star, because they’re sitting behind a computer screen watching their highlight film. Well, their highlight film is supposed to be good, the last time I checked. That’s the kind of thing that ticks me off about recruiting and when these kids come in, and they’re 5-stars and they expect to play right off the bat. It’s a little entitlement and when they don’t play off the bat, they get a little ticked off and they don’t want to work.”

Yep, it sounds familiar and not just from OU or Bama. Every team that is at the top for awhile seems to face complacency when they recruit top players who have never been challenged in jr. high or high school. They don't seem to know how to work, that is why someone with exceptional talent AND work ethic is a special player. You have to have a blend of exceptional talent and grinder who will give those guys a swift kick in the rear if they go off the rails.

I came across this by accident and thought it was hilarious.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNphd7IHC90

Did anyone go to the OU spring game yesterday? How did they look? I had to give my tickets away due to volunteer obligations so missed it.