Defining "lesser opponent"

It's USC-UCLA week here in Lalaland, but let's take a quick detour through not-so-Happy-Valley.

A number of Penn State fans were outraged that I dubbed them a "lesser opponent" than a number of Big 12 schools. Some who read just that one post felt there was no justification. Not wanting to get too far ahead of ourselves, here's the quickie logic ...

1. Those insufferable BCS rankings say so. I'm no fan of the BCS, either, but Penn State has a number next to its name that is larger than the one next to Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech and even Utah.
2. Penn State lacks media attention. I've already done a lot of research about PSU, and I find more ink about JoePa's hip than Daryll Clark's arm. Meanwhile, big headlines are reserved for the Big 12's logjam (through their own fault, or brilliance), and that makes those teams more desirable as opponents. Let's face it, this is a popularity contest, not a playoff.
3. Vegas, baby, Vegas. As of late, USC is a neutral-field favorite against every team in America. So why would the Trojans be excited about playing No. 8 when they're favored against No. 1?

We'll have plenty of time to dig into this starting next week, when it becomes official. In the meantime, I understand a lot of people from Penn State are making noise about the "common opponent" argument vis-a-vis OSU. Don't worry, I won't hold it against the Nittany Lions that they could hardly score 13 points on the Buckeyes. Your concerns about getting more than a field goal against USC are natural, though.

All kidding aside, I agree that Penn State is generally "undervalued" and part of that has to do with previous Big Ten meltdowns. PSU this year is superior to the Michigan and Illinois teams of the last couple of Rose Bowls and probably better than the Ohio State teams of the last couple of years. But the one thing PSU lacks, which football fans were drooling over, was a Big 12 "video game offense" or Florida's athleticism that would have faced the nation's best defense. That would have been a cool game to watch.

I certainly don't think Penn State is a bad team. To the contrary, I think they're pretty good. Some people may have taken things out of context. I would enjoy seeing them face any number of teams, including USC, in an eight-team playoff.

Heck, I'll definitely enjoy the Rose Bowl with USC and Penn State, assuming that's what happens. It'll be great football. It just won't be the best pairings that fans could have hoped for.

If you want some reading that Big Ten fans and Pac-10 fans can unite behind, check out this intriguing column from NBC's John Walters.

-- Adam Rose

Comments

[smokeybandit]

Penn State annually attracts some of the highest TV viewership of any other team come bowl season. They also travel as well as anyone. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see PSU with more fans there than USC.

Any for every "well PSU only scored 13 against OSU" (in which it's conveniently dismissed that it was a road game and OSU had a healthy RB as well as a settled in QB, all three of which weren't the case for USC's game) someone uses, there's always the "you lost to Oregon State?"

I'm glad there's a blase attitude among USC media, fans, players. Just makes PSU winning even easier.

[Gary]

"Taken out of context" huh, your comments in "Defining Lesser Opponent" says it all in context, and speaks to the arrogance that you, Carroll and USC fans hold in common. Forget about BCS stupidity, color of uniforms at UCLA game and just win this Saturday so you can play a team that is 3-0 against top 25 teams. It will give USC a chance to be 3-1 against top 25. What other statistics impress you, since you seem so enamoured by the Big 12? Maybe academic all-americans, PSU has five, or how about graduation rates? Or maybe JoePa's bowl reord. Do a story on that kind of stuff when we get to Pasadena. Go Nittany Lions. Gary

[Kid Dy-no-mite]

Every USC fan seems to forget about the other OSU. Yeah, remember, they were the team you guys lost to. Well, Penn State BEAT THEM TO DEATH by 31 points. This fact is being overlooked by virtually every single media source that I've seen. Trojans, you have a talented football team, no one is denying that. But stop talking down to Penn State like they are a "lesser opponent." Also, while I'm not denying that the Big 10 isn't as strong this year, lets not forget that USC plays in an even WEAKER conference in the Pac 10. USC...get over yourselves. I think this PSU-USC matchup could be one of the most competitive bowl games of the past few years.

[Scott Nick]

I definitely enjoyed reading this article.

[Jerry McCullough]

Why does Penn State have to play a lesser opponent, one who could not even beat Oregon State? The Beavers were an absolutely terrible team, not nearly as strong as several of the Big Ten opponents. I mean, even a poor Michigan squad was able to score 17 points off Penn State.

[Scott Nick]

You're welcome.

[Paul West]

Arrogance is bliss.

You mention "common opponent" in Ohio State --- why not mention the other common opponent in Oregon State? I won't hold it against Trojans fans that they gave up 27 points to the Beavers and only scored 21. If you read any college football news outside of the greater Los Angeles area, you'd notice that Penn State scored 45 against Oregon State and allowed only 14 points.

Instead of worring about how USC will fare against the #1 team in the country, maybe USC should worry about playing Penn State. Oh, and that's only if they can get by a "lesser opponent" in UCLA first ...

[gerrrg]

If Florida and Oklahoma happen to lose this weekend, that would leave USC and Penn State at #3 and 4, respectively. Not a bad Rose Bowl matchup.

That would yield the greatest proof that we need at least a +1 game, if not an 8-team playoff.

But of course the more intriguing possibility is that USC defeats UCLA so badly (say 65 - 0) that after Oklahoma and Florida drop, USC jumps Texas to #2. That's the one I'm hoping for right now....Go Tigers and Crimson Tide!

[Jim]

Thank you Mr. Rose. It was I (among probably tens of others) that requested you provide some justification to your claim of "lesser opponent" from the previous article. While I think two of your arguments are COMPLETELY bogus (for #1, does the rank matter beside #1 and #2? Nope. We have the same number of losses, and none of us have played each other outside of the 3 BigXII schools beating up on each other. for #2, A POPULARITY CONTEST??!) I do appreciate your providing reasons behind your opinion this time around.

One last thing, though. USC faithful continually forget about the OTHER common opponent, Oregon State. Penn State annihilated them, and USC was not nearly so lucky. Among common opponents, call it a wash. Call statistics a general wash, too. All in all, should be a fantastic game and not one to complain about for either side.

[KTMPSU]

Penn State smoked the team that beat your beloved Trojans. USC plays in a terrible conference, which you share with BOTH of the abominable teams from Washington. Then you make a point to play ND every year, and try to talk it up as some sort of emotional, season-defining moment. News flash, your arch rival ND hasn't won a bowl game this century.

Go on and underestimate PSU. Get ready for a wake-up call, you arrogant LA trash.

[Dave]

Just a suggestion. If you want to find out about Daryll Clark's arm, throw some popcorn in the microwave, grab a Coke from the fridge, and maybe pop in some game tape. Also, you're not fan of the "insufferable" BCS but you're using it as evidence that Penn State isn't that good? You might want to do that math again.

The problem here isn't that west coast fans and media underestimate Penn State, it's that many are simply uninformed. Penn State is a pretty darn good football team. We also beat Ohio State. At their stadium. At night. When a guy named Beanie Wells (you know, the best RB in the country) actually suited up for them. Oh, and that Terrelle Pryor guy had developed into the starter by then. These are things you might know if you did more than read news clippings and glance at the rankings.

P.S. Those Big XII teams unfortunately have video game defenses to go with those video game offenses. Maybe that's why you want to play them so bad...

[PSU Fan]

USC wouldn't be stuck playing the lesser opponent had they not lost to Oregon State...a team Penn State demolished 45-14! Just a thought.

[Philly Lion]

9/6/08 - Penn State 45, Oregon State 13

9/25/08 - Oregon State 27, USC 21

NUFF SAID!

[Jon Shaver]

The Penn State fans may be loyal and they may be excited but their team will be utterly crushed by the Trojans in the Rose Bowl--and by the way, I'm a UCLA alum who has no particular love for USC. However, I do have a brain and any objective analysis reveals that USC is going to do what it typically does best at the end of the season which is roll over their opponents and run up the score. Penn State has simply not played a strong schedule. That said, one can argue that the PAC 10 is not particularly demanding either. Bottom line though is that USC is simply a dominant, healthy, and ready to rumble team.

[JIMPSU]

I expect this type blather from the talking heads at ESPN, but expected better from the LA times. God forgive me but I'm beginning to believe that Rush Limbaugh is right.

[Phils Are NL Champs]

Well, at least USC will finally face a real defense.

[Chris]

hi adam i enjoyed the article . i respect you clarifying some of the lesser opponent stuff. however . i think the common opponnent more people mean is oregon state . who penn state hammered by 31 and usc lost to. good luck to all in what should be a great traditional rose bowl

[Bmezz]

I cannot wait for USC to fall to Penn State-
I have to wonder just who did USC beat this year that makes them think they are so good?
So cocky- I cannot wait for the rose bowl- but lets see if they get in first-

[Jonathan K]

Oh my God! Penn State fans, do you not recognize humor when you read it?

From the article: "In the meantime, I understand a lot of people from Penn State are making noise about the "common opponent" argument vis-a-vis OSU."

OSU could mean Oregon State, which is how he's setting it up because EVERY Penn State fan mentioned that in the comments on that last post. But then he flips it to talk about Ohio State because they both played that team too. It's a joke.

In all seriousness, the common opponent argument is close to moot. Both teams played poorly on the road against a team that the other killed at home.

But I'll give Penn State the upperhand in the common opponent argument because they won their game against Ohio State, and the Buckeyes are a better team.

Thankfully, this argument will be completely moot when USC and Penn State actually play. Let's see what happens on the field boys.

[Jim S]

Adam - thank goodness that USC is so used to playing "lesser opponents", since they are members of the woeful Pac 10. Good thing that the Pac 10 got to play against themselves to pad their records ..... if the Pac 10 and the Mountain West/WAC had merged this year, y'all might have been in trouble. Also, quite impressive showings, putting up 17 pts on Arizona and Cal ... even Washington State put 28 pts on the board against Arizona. Penn State is 13-0 in bowl games west of the Mississippi and we'll looking forward to once again provide the proof in how the Natl media consistently overrates USC.