[Husker] Determining Division Champ?

[Steve Schmadeke]

The division champion is determined by conference record.

The tiebreak order after that is basically head-to-head, followed by  
division record.

The Huskers do control their own destiny in the North.  If they lose  
to Oklahoma, however, they will not necessarily control their own  
destiny since they lose the tie-break with Iowa State if they finish  
in a two-way tie with the Cyclones.

I do think that the Huskers would still win the North if they win out  
after a loss to Oklahoma.  I don't see them winning the North if they  
lose another game to a divisional opponent.

Here are the official tie-break rules.  Oklahoma beat out Texas and  
Texas Tech last year based on Rule #5.  My personal view is that Rules  
#5, #6 and #7 should be replaced by a rule taking the team that has  
least recently appeared in the Big 12 Championship game.  Since only  
two teams in each division has never appeared in the game, that rule  
would at worst reduce the number of tied teams to two and the winner  
of the head-to-head game between the two winners would advance.  The  
advantage of this rule is that the determination of the representative  
is controlled entirely by results on the field of play between  
conference teams.  I understand that the conference in interested in  
maximizing the potential for multiple BCS entries and getting a team  
into the national championship game, but that should be secondary to  
determining the champion on the field.  Last year's mess put  
conference members in the position of denigrating other conference  
members strengths.  The positive side is that the rule will come into  
play very rarely.  It has only happened once in the history of the  
conference.

Divisional Champion: The (eligible) team with the best winning- 
percentage of all divisional members in its eight conference games is  
declared the divisional champion and representative to the Dr Pepper  
Big 12 Conference Football Championship Game. A team ineligible under  
NCAA or Big 12 rules for postseason (bowl) competition shall not  
compete in the Championship Game.

Divisional Tiebreakers: The following procedure will determine the  
representative from each division in the event of a tie:

	a. If two teams are tied, the winner of the game between the two tied  
teams shall be the representative
	b. If three or more teams are tied, steps 1 through 7 will be  
followed until a determination is made. If only two teams remain tied  
after any step, the winner of the game between the two tied teams  
shall be the representative.

		1. The records of the three teams will be compared against each other
		2. The records of the three teams will be compared within their  
division
		3. The records of the three teams will be compared against the next  
highest placed teams in their division in order of finish (4, 5 and 6)
		4. The records of the three teams will be compared against all  
common conference opponents;
		5. The highest ranked team in the first Bowl Championship Series  
Poll following the completion of Big 12 regular season conference play  
shall be the representative
		6. The team with the best overall winning percentage [excluding  
exempted games] shall be the representative
		7. The representative will be chosen by draw.

On Nov 1, 2009, at 8:31 AM, Smith, William wrote:

> This the Division champ determined by division or conference records?
>
> If it's division record, then even with a loss to OU we control our  
> own destiny assuming we can run the table?  (humor me to answer the  
> question!)
>
> thanks
>
> Bill Smith
> Towson, MD
>
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