Nebraska Pounded By Penn State (Huskers Move Up To #2 in BCS Rankings)

09-15-02 | Tall_Texan

[Tall_Texan]

Seventh-ranked Nebraska was thoroughly outclassed by #25 Penn State on Saturday night, 40-7. And if last year was any guide, this should push them up in the BCS. An embarrassing loss at Colorado last year meant zilch to some of the BCS computer wizards who still ranked the Cornhuskers second after getting murdered in Boulder last November.

The Cornhuskers proved last year how hideously flawed the formula was for determining who plays for the national championship and, by eliminating margin of victory from this year's formula, Nebraska's loss will look like nothing more than a one-point fluke on the road. If getting beat 63-42 last year didn't matter to the BCS geniuses, an early-season 33-point blowout in Exceedingly Happy Valley shouldn't either.

So chin up, Husker fans! You obviously will have the ((shrug, eye-roll)) objective computer wizards in your corner no matter how badly you do. Only you better hope Notre Dame slips up somewhere or your media darling reputations will be supplanted by the University of NBC Irish.

[Tall_Texan]

Yes, I know the BCS Standings haven't actually come out yet. A mere formality. And at least the Huskers won't have to worry about losing to Colorado this year - the Buffs (or is that Bluffs?) look even sorrier than Nebraska does!

[Russell Scott]

I think the Trojans finally have the O.J. curse off them. They dismantled Colorado. My early prediction, Miami and USC for all the marbles.

[hole_n_one]

yoo hoo.........over here

[ChasingFletch]

Here's a Pitt grad from the 60's who says congrats to JoePa and the team.....one a$$ kicking. Nebraska #1! Penn State drops in rankings!

[hole_n_one]

I forgot........

LOL at your post!

[gridlock]

My early prediction, Miami and USC for all the marbles

If Cal doesn't lose for the rest of the season, do they get a shot? Or do you have to be part of some club to be considered?

BTW, did you catch the Golden Bears dismantling (15!) Michigan State 45-22 on ESPN2. And the game was not as close as the lobsided score would indicate.

[randita]

Great game! Or course, living in PA as I do, it's imperative that one be a PSU fan, even if one didn't attend PSU.

The Penn State offense operated like a well-oiled machine and except for the one easy TD drive that Nebraska had in the first half, the PSU defense limited Neb. to mostly 3 and out.

But as in '95 (or was it '96), Nebraska could probably drop 1 or 2 more games and still best PSU in the standings, even if PSU goes undefeated.

[randita]

Another point. Could the Lions have even scored more last night?

JoePa is a good sport in every fiber of his being. Whereas other coaches (certain ones in FL come to mind) will run the score up as high as it will go if pursuit of rankings, JoePa will not. If he thinks the game is well in hand, he will employ a more conservative offense and let 2nd stringers play. This approach no doubt has hurt him ranking-wise on occasion, but it's the honorable approach. He is a PA treasure.

[Tall_Texan]

I searched by "Penn" and then "Nebraska". You left those two words out of the headline so it didn't turn up. Sorry. I was hoping someone had started a thread so I wouldn't have to start one but I didn't think I'd whiff on two searches and still have it show up. Thanks for the heads up.

[Tall_Texan]

Did you notice Oklahoma had their starting QB throw for a TD in the final minute while leading UTEP, 62-0? Was *this* the type of "running up the score" you referred to? I thought by eliminating margin or victory from the computer calculations, running up the score was suppposed to be a thing of the past. Looks like the news didn't reach Norman.

[randita]

Did you notice Oklahoma had their starting QB throw for a TD in the final minute while leading UTEP, 62-0?

No, I didn't. Very poor form. That's the type of thing that gives the team and the coach a bad name. Also induces other teams to treat them likewise.

Even though score isn't supposed to carry the kind of weight it used to, I still think it figures in, esp. in the bowl bids.