ESPN

Ivan Maisel

  (2:09 PM)

Hi, everyone. Sorry I'm late. Forgot I was in the central time zone. Here we go.

Scott (Charlotte)

What kind of motivational factor will it be for Nick Saban that no one is really giving Bama much of a chance against Florida?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:10 PM)

You have to assume that it will be mentioned, don't you? But let's see 'Bama and Florida win this week before we get too wrapped up in next week.

kyle,tulsa

Ivan, maybe you can answer this question for me since no one else will. Why is it Colt McCoy gets so much hype for doing nothing other then making short little dump off passes? Whether it be RB screens or quick slants. All I see him do is make these short passes that even I could throw. It's just puzzling how everyone says he is so good when he can't throw the ball down field, or if he can, he sure doesn't do it. To me thats an indicator that his offensive coordinator knows he can't so they don't call those plays. What's the deal with it Ivan?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:12 PM)

Well, if it were as easy to do as you make it out to be, it seems like he wouldn't be among the most productive quarterbacks in the game this season. Keep in mind that part of the reason Texas makes all those short passes is that they are a substitute for a running game. The strength of McCoy's arm has nothing to do with that.

Dave (Hollywood, CA)

Ivan, we need a playoff. The AP was removed from the system after rewarding USC the AP trophy. Get angry, and fight for the playoff system.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:14 PM)

That's incorrect, Dave. The AP removed itself from the BCS formula because it didn't believe that awarding eight-figure checks should be a direct result of a vote of journalists. The BCS commissioners wanted the AP to remain in the formula.

Sunnyvale, CA

Who are you favoring for Heisman at this point in the year? I think Bradford has won my vote (if I had one).

Ivan Maisel

  (2:14 PM)

Me, too.

Tom (Los Angeles)

Is there a chance, or is it allowed to happen, where there's an all-Big 12 national championship? I mean, if Bama loses to Auburn but upsets Florida in the SEC Championship, and the top-rated BCS Big 12 team takes care of business in the Big 12 Championship, it would look like an OU-Texas rematch.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:17 PM)

I would think that the voters might intervene and throw in USC or Penn State. But I could be wrong.

Mike (LA)

An AP voter that works for ESPN has 5 teams from the Big 12 in his top 10. That means he has Ok St and Missouri ahead of Ohio St and Georgia. He happened to go to college in the Big 12. He doesn't have Ball St ranked in his top 25. Trust me, it's a good thing that the AP has no significance anymore.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:20 PM)

Mike, that's why you have a lot of voters, so that a consensus is reached. That's why there are so many voters in every poll, and six computer rankings in the BCS. I would bet there are plenty of voters in the AP -- and among the coaches -- with whom you agree.

Dale, Tulsa

Who would you go after if you were UT, Lane Kiffin or Brian Kelly?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:21 PM)

Brian Kelly has proven he can win as a head coach at several different levels. Lane Kiffin is more of a roll of the dice. He has proven he is an excellent offensive coordinator.

Chris (Florida)

Who has the best O-line in the country? Penn State's got to be up there, huh?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:22 PM)

Penn State or Alabama. I'd probably take Alabama, but I'd happily "settle" for the Nittany Lions.

Jimmy (Champaign, IL)

Why do the BCS conferences and NCAA Football in general kowtow to Notre Dame? Why don't they collude and force Notre Dame to join a conference? Is Notre Dame above NCAA Football? If Notre Dame can get away with it, why don't other prestigious programs follow ND's paradigm? Why don't we just have a bunch of rogue powerhouses?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:27 PM)

I don't know who kowtows to ND, which lost clout in the last BCS negotiation (now have to be in the top eight to get an automatic bid; used to be top 12). Notre Dame has weight in the marketplace because of its history and its following. Bowls want schools that will put butts in seats and viewers in front of the TV. ND still delivers. No one can force an independent school to join anything, and to what end, I don't know. Other schools benefit financially from being in conferences. They also provide natural opponents in all sports and whip up fan interest. You're awful mad about a mediocre program....

Scott (Tuscaloosa)

What makes college football so great is that a game like the Iron Bowl means so much, while this year it has no bearing on the SEC championship. A playoff beyond 4 teams would threaten this greatness. I would hate to think that we would rest players like they do in the NFL if they have a berth in the playoffs wrapped up. What do you think?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:28 PM)

Amen. Also, late-season games like Oklahoma and Texas Tech last week wouldn't be nearly as exciting because teams would be playing for seeding, rather than playing to survive.

Scott-Dallas

TTU lost last and got killed so they are pretty much out of it. Just the way it goes losing that late. So with TX and OU going for the big 12 south title, I think that come the final vote, voters will swing back the votes to TX since it's really between two teams now and TX got the head to head. I know people keep saying that TTU beat TX so it can't be determined with head to head between TX and OU, but TTU is done if a 3-way tie. Your thoughts?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:29 PM)

As I wrote last week, don't forget Florida State in 1993. They lost to Notre Dame, and when the Irish lost a week or two later, Florida State returned to No. 1.

Matt (Boston)

Ivan, how would BCs defense hold up in the SEC or even BIG 12 where there are explosive offenses?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:31 PM)

Pretty well, I think. Frank Spaziani is one of the best defensive coordinators in the country. How BC is on the brink of winning the Atlantic Division this season is amazing.

Dustin (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Ivan- Why no Heisman love for Shonn Greene? 100+ yards all 12 games. Javon Ringer was a Heisman candidate getting lots of hype, but again Iowa, Wisconsin and Penn St failed to eclipse 100. Greene surpasses that and no love. Any ideas?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:32 PM)

Iowa lost four games by midseason. Rarely do Heisman winners play for teams that have four losses. Tebow's win last season, when Florida had three losses at voting time, was fairly unusual.

Will J (Portland, OR)

In no way does a playoff 8 team or otherwise threaten the greatness of college football. The argument for the BCS is that the regular season matters, when in all actuality it may have two 1-loss teams, and leave out 3 undefeated teams. How's that for greatness?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:33 PM)

I say this as someone who doesn't want a playoff: Fresno State's run to the College World Series championship this year doesn't do the BCS any favors. Fresno State was great to watch.

Brandon (SLC)

In a previous question, you were asked about an all Big 12 title game. In that situation wouldn't Utah have stronge argument about USC going to the title game over them, given the MWC record over the Pac 10 and the win over Oregon State?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:35 PM)

Good point. Whether the voters or the computers would recognize that, I don't know. But it's valid.

Matt (DC)

Does the nation really want a Penn State vs. Oregon State re-match in the Rose Bowl? Doesn't Penn State vs. USC have a better ring to it?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:35 PM)

Yes. But Oregon State will have earned it. No argument there.

John (NYC)

How about this... an 81-year-old head coach goes 11-1 with a team that waxes Oregon State, Michigan State, Wisconsin; becomes the first Big Ten team ever to beat Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan in the same year; puts FOUR players on your magazine's academic all-american list (more than the entire SEC); spends all season in pain yet waits until the day after the season ends to have major surgery; and just so happens to be the same coach whose 1982 team more than a quarter-century before was the first team to win a national title throwing for more yards than they ran. C'mon, how 'bout a little love. I say, you put those kids up against any of those other top teams and they'll walk away with a W. What say you?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:37 PM)

Give me a minute. I'm this close to figuring it out.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:37 PM)

Florida State? St. John's (Minn.)?

Nate (Seattle)

Which U of O at OSU game will be more competitive? Who do you like in each?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:38 PM)

I like O and OS.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:39 PM)

Oklahoma and Oregon State.

Ashtyn (Jefferson City, MO)

How about some props for Turner Gill? He's just about completed one of the best program turnarounds in college football. That being said, do you think there's any chance he's in Buffalo next year? If not, where do you think he might end up?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:40 PM)

I gave Gill a shout in my I-Formation column that posted today. I find it hard to believe that he won't attract interest. But from what I understand, he's in no hurry to leave.

Greg (Indy)

I am a huge Notre Dame fan I am not happy with what is going on but they can't fire Weis there has been improvement but this hire fire coaching process is not good for the program or the school!

Ivan Maisel

  (2:42 PM)

What he said. But where does the blame for this lie? With the ND administration.

Travis (Austin,tx)

Do you think the Moutain conference is stronger than the Big East? I mean look at Utah,BYU,TCU or even better than the ACC...

Ivan Maisel

  (2:43 PM)

I would put the Mountain West ahead of the Big East, and I would listen to an argument about whether it should be ahead of the ACC. It's been a great year for that league.

jackson murdock (utah)

where do u think utah will go?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:44 PM)

Sugar, assuming that a Big 12 team and an SEC team are in the championship game.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:45 PM)

Thanks, everyone. I've got a story to finish, and y'all have turkeys to roast. Try to get off the couch once or twice in the next three days. Circulation will improve. It will help you eat more. See you --