Frightful: The 10 BCS teams that load up on cupcakes
As long as there has been college football, there has been an unofficial gap between the haves and the have-nots. Disparities have always existed in money, facilities, talent, depth, etc.
1. Minnesota 5.9%
No. of nonconf. gms. Rec. vs. BCS Rec. vs. I-A non-BCS Rec. vs. I-AA Pct. of gms. vs. BCS
34 1-1 (.500) 21-4 (.840) 6-1 (.857) .059
Congratulations, Golden Gophers. You’re officially the biggest bully in college football. Minnesota played only two nonconference games against other BCS programs from 1998 to 2007 — a loss to Cal and a win over Baylor. Former coach Glen Mason did lead the Gophers to three bowl victories during his tenure in the Twin Cities, but he also compiled arguably the softest nonconference slate in the nation. It remains to be seen whether current coach Tim Brewster will follow suit. Although, after his team finished 11th in the Big Ten and lost to Florida Atlantic and I-AA North Dakota State in 2007, now probably isn’t the time to toughen up the schedule.
2. Arkansas 11.8%
No. of nonconf. gms. Rec. vs. BCS Rec. vs. I-A non-BCS Rec. vs. I-AA Pct. of gms. vs. BCS
34 1-3 (.250) 25-0 (1.000) 5-0 (1.000) .118
Unlike Minnesota and Kansas, the Razorbacks have enjoyed consistent success over the past 10 seasons. Arkansas has played in eight bowl games in that span and would seem to have little business picking on the directional schools of the world. The Hogs’ most recent tough nonconference matchup ended badly, as USC swept a home-and-home set by a combined score of 120-31. This past weekend, the Razorbacks opened the Bobby Petrino era by narrowly avoiding a home loss to I-AA Western Illinois.
espn.com
9/5/08
