Since the new Big East was formed, here are some interesting standings using BCS rankings:
All are based in 5 year period since new BE was formed

Avg. ranking of Top Team
#1 SEC 2.8
#2 Big12 3.8
#3 BigTen 4.2
#4 PacTen 5.0
#5 BIG EAST 8.2
#6 ACC 9.8
#7 MWC 12.2

Number of top 25 teams/ divided by teams in league
#1SEC 22/12= 1.83
#2 BIG EAST 14/8= 1.75
#3 BigTen 19/11= 1.73
#4 PacTen 16/10= 1.60
#5 Big12 19/12= 1.58
#6 ACC 18/12= 1.50
#7 MWC 9/9= 1.00

Number of Top Ten teams/divided by teams in league
#1 SEC 11/12= .92
#2 BigTen 10/11= .91
#3 Big12 9/12= .75
#4 PacTen 6/10= .60
#5 BIG EAST 3/8= .38
#6 ACC 4/12= .33
#7 MWC 2/9= .22

The new Big East has done pretty good since its inception

The SEC is number one but every other league has had its ups and downs. The MWC is still number 7 but is closer in some respects to being a BCS league because the top teams are pretty good each year.

The whole system still stinks but the Big East stacks up as well as any league does in this system outside of the SEC. Actually the top level of the SEC is elite, the middle of the pack is pretty much like every other BCS league. Altough there are usually multiple elite teams and less awful teams in that league each year.

I wonder if the MWC was and BCS bid and the system was extended to 6 bowls and 12 teams that the BCS would be unbreakable. Expand the two team per conference limit to three and I wonder if the the big boys jump at the chance to have another team in a BCS game.

The MWC would be on the verge of losing their autobid- if they had one.

(01-04-2010 05:14 AM)frogman Wrote:  The MWC would be on the verge of losing their autobid- if they had one.

Well, keep in mind that the MWC didn't meet any of the criteria during the first evaluation period - 2004-2007.

However, they are under a new 4 year period to determine if they will get an auto-bid starting in 2012 based upon the review period of 2008-2011. Halfway through this is where I have them standing:

Highest Rated Team -

1t. SEC - 1.5
1t. B12 - 1.5
3. MW - 5
4. P10 - 6
5. BE - 7.5
6. B10 - 8
7. ACC - 11.5

Adjusted Top 25 Teams (conference must be within 50% of highest rated conference)

1t. SEC - 100%
1t. B12 - 100%
3. MW - 94.34%
4. B10 - 85.69%
5. BE - 68.87%
6. P10 - 66.03%
7. ACC - 44.03%

Top to Bottom Strength

1. SEC - 40.37
2. ACC - 43.29
3. BE - 44.43
4. B12 - 46
5. B10 - 49.22
6. P10 - 50.45
7. MW - 59.11

So, as others have pointed out numerous times on this board, the Mountain West clearly looks like a BCS league in terms of highest rated team and in terms of Top 25 teams. The problem is their top to bottom strength. Assuming this trend continues over the next two years, I think they could have a great case for an appeal to receive an auto bid starting with 2012.

And, if they were to add Boise State to the conference to begin play with the 2012 season, the top to bottom figure right now would be 53.95 and they would actually take the lead in terms of Adjusted Top 25 category.

This may be another reason why there is talk of expansion for both the Big Ten and the Pac-10. The latter would definitely involve either Big 12 teams (which would then look to take teams from MW) or MW teams or one from each, effectively killing a 7th auto-bid conference.

Cheers,
Neil