Why Fiesta Bowl Win by UCF Will Benefit AAC
By Michael Schneid
In their first year in the American Athletic Conference, UCF finished the 2013 regular season 11-1 (8-0 AAC) and were ranked 15th in the country. Some people continuously ranked Louisville, a team UCF beat on the road, ahead of them. Usually a 1-loss team gets more respect than the Knights have. But such is life in the new American.
Last week, in the Fiesta Bowl last week, UCF upset Baylor 52-35. Both teams came into the game 11-1 and it was the first BCS appearance for both. UCF had a lot of drama coming in as many fans and school administrators were disappointing that the Orlando school couldn't play in the Orange Bowl or Sugar Bowl, which would have made traveling much easier and much more affordable. Instead, fans had to fly cross country and spent up to four figures in money for the whole trip.
UCF has wins over Baylor, @ Louisville, and @ Penn State and their lone loss came at home by three points to South Carolina, a team who will finish ranked in the top 10. What this win does for UCF is provides credibility. For them and for the conference. Those three wins were impressive. UCF played a soft schedule and also avoided Cincinnati, the third place team in the conference but the PSU, USCe, and Louisville games were all impressive.
Despite so many jokes about this conference, three different teams (two of which are gone) have won three straight BCS bowl games. In 2012, West Virginia beat Clemson in the Orange Bowl, 2013 Louisville upset Florida in the Sugar Bowl, and last week UCF upset Baylor.
Starting next year there is no more BCS. There is a playoff and "Access" bowls. These bowls are similar to the BCS. The difference now is the AAC no longer has an automatic claim. The "Power 5" conferences all do and the bottom 5 conferences (AAC, MAC, MWC, Sun Belt, CUSA) will have one combined representative in these games.
This year the debate would have been fun. Northern Illinois and Fresno State were in the BCS race until the final two weeks when both were upset. That would have opened the door for UCF to be the Access Bowl representative, although some may have wanted Louisville or even NIU or Fresno State. It's so hard to decide which team is the best when they all have the same record (although UCF beat UL).
Next year, it helps that Northern Illinois and Fresno State both lost their bowl games. And the MAC and Mountain West in general have had pretty poor performances this bowl season. With Louisville beating Miami and UCF's BCS win, the AAC has a few credible bowl wins. Next year the conference adds Tulsa plus Tulane and East Carolina, the latter two played in bowls this year.
What UCF's win means, coupled with other big team losses is the American may be in the driver's seat for the Access Bowl bid. If UCF goes 11-1 again and say Bowling Green and Boise State go 11-1, UCF may get the nod based on recent history and this year's success.
A team like Cincinnati may go 10-2 and a MAC team may go 11-1, but perhaps Cincy gets the nod if they run the table in conference and loses OOC games to Miami and Ohio State.
The whole thing could become controversial and will certainly spark debates. How you do choose between 10-11 win AAC, MAC, MWC teams. Or if someone like Western Kentucky or Marshall were to break out in their respective conferences. Voters may choose the team they feel could win or at least be most competitive. Or perhaps some voters with a sense of humor, may want a team they feel is going to lose.
Either way, the battle of the "bottom five" will be a fun one to track for years to come.
In their first year in the American Athletic Conference, UCF finished the 2013 regular season 11-1 (8-0 AAC) and were ranked 15th in the country. Some people continuously ranked Louisville, a team UCF beat on the road, ahead of them. Usually a 1-loss team gets more respect than the Knights have. But such is life in the new American.
Last week, in the Fiesta Bowl last week, UCF upset Baylor 52-35. Both teams came into the game 11-1 and it was the first BCS appearance for both. UCF had a lot of drama coming in as many fans and school administrators were disappointing that the Orlando school couldn't play in the Orange Bowl or Sugar Bowl, which would have made traveling much easier and much more affordable. Instead, fans had to fly cross country and spent up to four figures in money for the whole trip.
UCF has wins over Baylor, @ Louisville, and @ Penn State and their lone loss came at home by three points to South Carolina, a team who will finish ranked in the top 10. What this win does for UCF is provides credibility. For them and for the conference. Those three wins were impressive. UCF played a soft schedule and also avoided Cincinnati, the third place team in the conference but the PSU, USCe, and Louisville games were all impressive.
Despite so many jokes about this conference, three different teams (two of which are gone) have won three straight BCS bowl games. In 2012, West Virginia beat Clemson in the Orange Bowl, 2013 Louisville upset Florida in the Sugar Bowl, and last week UCF upset Baylor.
Starting next year there is no more BCS. There is a playoff and "Access" bowls. These bowls are similar to the BCS. The difference now is the AAC no longer has an automatic claim. The "Power 5" conferences all do and the bottom 5 conferences (AAC, MAC, MWC, Sun Belt, CUSA) will have one combined representative in these games.
This year the debate would have been fun. Northern Illinois and Fresno State were in the BCS race until the final two weeks when both were upset. That would have opened the door for UCF to be the Access Bowl representative, although some may have wanted Louisville or even NIU or Fresno State. It's so hard to decide which team is the best when they all have the same record (although UCF beat UL).
Next year, it helps that Northern Illinois and Fresno State both lost their bowl games. And the MAC and Mountain West in general have had pretty poor performances this bowl season. With Louisville beating Miami and UCF's BCS win, the AAC has a few credible bowl wins. Next year the conference adds Tulsa plus Tulane and East Carolina, the latter two played in bowls this year.
What UCF's win means, coupled with other big team losses is the American may be in the driver's seat for the Access Bowl bid. If UCF goes 11-1 again and say Bowling Green and Boise State go 11-1, UCF may get the nod based on recent history and this year's success.
A team like Cincinnati may go 10-2 and a MAC team may go 11-1, but perhaps Cincy gets the nod if they run the table in conference and loses OOC games to Miami and Ohio State.
The whole thing could become controversial and will certainly spark debates. How you do choose between 10-11 win AAC, MAC, MWC teams. Or if someone like Western Kentucky or Marshall were to break out in their respective conferences. Voters may choose the team they feel could win or at least be most competitive. Or perhaps some voters with a sense of humor, may want a team they feel is going to lose.
Either way, the battle of the "bottom five" will be a fun one to track for years to come.
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