[Farm93]

Miami would not need the tourism, but the Orange Bowl has had an attendance problem in the last three or four years.

UConn has only been FBS for a dozen years, so they are likely as bad as Stanford in travel.  And in that case the TV ratings story would triumph.  But let\'s not celebrate Stanford\'s possible emergence over recent Big East additions in the popularity contest.  Stanford is only winning the popularity contest when the chioce is between a sub-par newbie in the super-bad Big East vs. #4 Stanford.  After all Stanford is still secondary to a really bad WV team.  It could be worse...If Wisconsin slides into #4, the Orange Bowl would have a real choice.  That choice would be between #5 Stanford and Oklahoma.  I would bet big money that Oklahoma would win that contest.

How would Oklahoma be a choice?  If Nebraska beats Oklahoma then Nebraska becomes the Big12 champion.  However, Oklahoma is one of the teams wedged in between Wisconsin and Stanford in the computer rankings.  So that Oklahoma loss could elevate Wisconsin into the #4 slot.  Then free to select any qualified team, the Orange Bowl could take that tough luck Big 12 loser.  The Fiesta then would be stuck with Nebraska and the Big East champ, but that wouldn\'t be all bad because Nebraska travels in bigger numbers than Oklahoma.

It is all unlikely, but Stanford is only looking good as long as it stays at #4.  And even at #4 everyone (well outside of Stanford boards acknowledges that Stanford is a pretty undesirable BCS selection.

[Farm93]

Miami would not need the tourism, but the Orange Bowl has had an attendance problem in the last three or four years.

UConn has only been FBS for a dozen years, so they are likely as bad as Stanford in travel.  And in that case the TV ratings story would triumph.  But let\'s not celebrate Stanford\'s possible emergence over recent Big East additions in the popularity contest.  Stanford is only winning the popularity contest when the chioce is between a sub-par newbie in the super-bad Big East vs. #4 Stanford.  After all Stanford is still secondary to a really bad WV team.  It could be worse...If Wisconsin slides into #4, the Orange Bowl would have a real choice.  That choice would be between #5 Stanford and Oklahoma.  I would bet big money that Oklahoma would win that contest.

How would Oklahoma be a choice?  If Nebraska beats Oklahoma then Nebraska becomes the Big12 champion.  However, Oklahoma is one of the teams wedged in between Wisconsin and Stanford in the computer rankings.  So that Oklahoma loss could elevate Wisconsin into the #4 slot.  Then free to select any qualified team, the Orange Bowl could take that tough luck Big 12 loser.  The Fiesta then would be stuck with Nebraska and the Big East champ, but that wouldn\'t be all bad because Nebraska travels in bigger numbers than Oklahoma.

It is all unlikely, but Stanford is only looking good as long as it stays at #4.  And even at #4 everyone (well outside of Stanford boards acknowledges that Stanford is a pretty undesirable BCS selection.