2024 College Football Thread: Ohio State advances to play unbeaten hypothetical SEC team (2 Viewers)

[Ramblin Wreck]

I’m fine with SMU in but why are they not the 12? They literally just lost to Clemson like 10 hours ago

Because they were 8 last week and Clemson was 17 and they didn't penalize SMU much for losing a conference championship and didn't move Clemson ahead of SC, Ole Miss and Alabama.

They don't take the 12 teams and then seed them. They just rank them. Same way PSU is ahead of Ohio St when Ohio St beat them.

I mean I hear you but who cares about last week, that’s so silly that they would care about a week to week narrative like that. It’s a point in time. Any cogent ranking system should have Clemson ahead of SMU. I understand you are going to have to have some teams ahead of teams they lost to etc etc but this one was just yesterday and their resumes are not much different at all.

If they drop SMU behind Clemson then SMU isn't in the playoff. Do you think Clemson should have moved ahead of SMU, Alabama, SC, Ole Miss, and Miami? Committee clearly views Clemson as the undeserving Cinderella type as they aren't ranked anywhere near Arizona St or Boise either.

I mean I guess you answered it with your first sentence. They wanted SMU in and the rankings were probably worked around that. If they felt like Clemson shouldn’t have been ranked ahead of the 3 SEC teams that didn’t make it I am not sure how you justify SMU ahead of those teams either.

They didn't penalize SMU for losing the ACCCG where the SEC teams sat home because they weren't good enough to play in one.

I think you’re missing my point but it’s all good. You seem to be really hung up on the SEC stuff whereas for me this has nothing to do with those teams. I’m just saying I think Clemson should have been ahead of SMU. I’m perfectly fine if both of them are ahead of those 3 SEC teams. I thought SMU matching up with Texas in Austin would have been really cool.

I get your point. But there are many examples of H2H results where the loser is ranked ahead of the winner. I'm just trying to explain to you why. You're focused on one data point last night and not considering how the CFB Playoff committee rankings/seedings work.

 

[MAC_32]

@need2know is right. Just schedule the worst group of cupcakes you can find, get rewarded.

You're both wrong. Don't get butt ****ed on national tv by a mediocre Oklahoma team to get loss #3, get rewarded.

What are you talking about? South Carolina beat Oklahoma by 4 touchdowns.

Oh, you were talking about S Carolina? Need2know was talking about Bama (IIRC he's a homer). I think the case for S Carolina is more compelling than Bama, but ultimately they have the same problem- 3 regular season losses vs 1. As outlined above, SEC teams were given more leeway due to SOS, but that leeway ended at 2 regular season losses. They beat any of LSU, Ole Miss, or Bama and they're in. They didn't so they're out.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

@need2know is right. Just schedule the worst group of cupcakes you can find, get rewarded.

You're both wrong. Don't get butt ****ed on national tv by a mediocre Oklahoma team to get loss #3, get rewarded.

What are you talking about? South Carolina beat Oklahoma by 4 touchdowns.

Oh, you were talking about S Carolina? Need2know was talking about Bama (IIRC he's a homer). I think the case for S Carolina is more compelling than Bama, but ultimately they have the same problem- 3 regular season losses vs 1. As outlined above, SEC teams were given more leeway due to SOS, but that leeway ended at 2 regular season losses. They beat any of LSU, Ole Miss, or Bama and they're in. They didn't so they're out.

Yes, South Carolina. This is the post of mine that you quoted, if you want to see my case for them. SMU over South Carolina makes exactly zero sense.

Who cares about Bama? South Carolina was the obvious choice. No bad losses. Multiple good wins. Beat the team (on the road) that SMU got credit for losing close to.

SMU played in a weak conference, somehow drew a schedule where they avoided almost all of the decent teams in that conference, and went 0-2 against ranked teams. Their signature win was a close loss to the same team that South Carolina had just beaten.

Again, SMU's "signature game" was a close loss to the same team South Carolina had just beaten on the road. It's absurd. And so is the notion that CCG's can help you, but can't hurt you. It's never been that way (plenty of teams got left out of the 4 team playoff and even BCS after losing CCG that would have made it if the game didn't exist). I don't know why people are suddenly harping on it this year.

ETA: South Carolina also finished on a 6 game win streak with wins over Texas A&M, Missouri, and Clemson. And their LSU loss ended with controversal officiating.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Why doesn't the SEC just have their own 16 team tournament?

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Heck BYU has a better case than SMU. And they even beat SMU straight up, and finished with the same record, both in P5 conferences.

 

[MAC_32]

@need2know is right. Just schedule the worst group of cupcakes you can find, get rewarded.

You're both wrong. Don't get butt ****ed on national tv by a mediocre Oklahoma team to get loss #3, get rewarded.

What are you talking about? South Carolina beat Oklahoma by 4 touchdowns.

Oh, you were talking about S Carolina? Need2know was talking about Bama (IIRC he's a homer). I think the case for S Carolina is more compelling than Bama, but ultimately they have the same problem- 3 regular season losses vs 1. As outlined above, SEC teams were given more leeway due to SOS, but that leeway ended at 2 regular season losses. They beat any of LSU, Ole Miss, or Bama and they're in. They didn't so they're out.

Yes, South Carolina. This is the post of mine that you quoted, if you want to see my case for them. SMU over South Carolina makes exactly zero sense.

Who cares about Bama? South Carolina was the obvious choice. No bad losses. Multiple good wins. Beat the team (on the road) that SMU got credit for losing close to.

SMU played in a weak conference, somehow drew a schedule where they avoided almost all of the decent teams in that conference, and went 0-2 against ranked teams. Their signature win was a close loss to the same team that South Carolina had just beaten.

Again, SMU's "signature game" was a close loss to the same team South Carolina had just beaten on the road. It's absurd. And so is the notion that CCG's can help you, but can't hurt you. It's never been that way (plenty of teams got left out of the 4 team playoff and even BCS after losing CCG that would have made it if the game didn't exist). I don't know why people are suddenly harping on it this year.

ETA: South Carolina also finished on a 6 game win streak with wins over Texas A&M, Missouri, and Clemson. And their LSU loss ended with controversal officiating.

Based on your argument, the final 2 spots should've been between South Carolina, Alabama, and Ole Miss with SMU and Indiana out.

Why doesn't the SEC just have their own 16 team tournament?

Whether those arguing for it realize it or not, that is their objective.

 

[MAC_32]

Although, to be fair to SEC honks, this is serving as a convenient distraction to the 2 clearest paths being paved were for the 2 seed Georgia and 5 seed Texas. So, mission accomplished.

 

[Beef Ravioli Part 2]

Rose Bowl gotta be ecstatic at the idea of Ohio St vs Oregon.
-QG

I’m sure the RB is thrilled with this possibility, but the Ducks we saw last night will smoke the Buckeyes we saw two Saturdays ago. Hoping my Buckeyes show some life against The Vols!

 

[MAC_32]

Rose Bowl gotta be ecstatic at the idea of Ohio St vs Oregon.
-QG

I’m sure the RB is thrilled with this possibility, but the Ducks we saw last night will smoke the Buckeyes we saw two Saturdays ago. Hoping my Buckeyes show some life against The Vols!

Michigan's got Ryan Day's head in a vice. His inexplicably bad game management decisions will inevitably derail their path to a ship somewhere along the way, but they're not going to embarrass themselves in so doing like they did 8 days ago. He remembers how to game plan when he plays anyone but Michigan.

 

[need2know]

@need2know is right. Just schedule the worst group of cupcakes you can find, get rewarded.

You're both wrong. Don't get butt ****ed on national tv by a mediocre Oklahoma team to get loss #3, get rewarded.

What are you talking about? South Carolina beat Oklahoma by 4 touchdowns.

Oh, you were talking about S Carolina? Need2know was talking about Bama (IIRC he's a homer). I think the case for S Carolina is more compelling than Bama, but ultimately they have the same problem- 3 regular season losses vs 1. As outlined above, SEC teams were given more leeway due to SOS, but that leeway ended at 2 regular season losses. They beat any of LSU, Ole Miss, or Bama and they're in. They didn't so they're out.

Yes, South Carolina. This is the post of mine that you quoted, if you want to see my case for them. SMU over South Carolina makes exactly zero sense.

Who cares about Bama? South Carolina was the obvious choice. No bad losses. Multiple good wins. Beat the team (on the road) that SMU got credit for losing close to.

SMU played in a weak conference, somehow drew a schedule where they avoided almost all of the decent teams in that conference, and went 0-2 against ranked teams. Their signature win was a close loss to the same team that South Carolina had just beaten.

Again, SMU's "signature game" was a close loss to the same team South Carolina had just beaten on the road. It's absurd. And so is the notion that CCG's can help you, but can't hurt you. It's never been that way (plenty of teams got left out of the 4 team playoff and even BCS after losing CCG that would have made it if the game didn't exist). I don't know why people are suddenly harping on it this year.

ETA: South Carolina also finished on a 6 game win streak with wins over Texas A&M, Missouri, and Clemson. And their LSU loss ended with controversal officiating.

Based on your argument, the final 2 spots should've been between South Carolina, Alabama, and Ole Miss with SMU and Indiana out.

Why doesn't the SEC just have their own 16 team tournament?

Whether those arguing for it realize it or not, that is their objective.

Correct.

 

[MAC_32]

BREAKING NEWS!!! SEC HONK UPSET ABOUT SEC TEAMS BEING LEFT OUT OF THE TOURNAMENT

More at 6

 

[Beef Ravioli Part 2]

Rose Bowl gotta be ecstatic at the idea of Ohio St vs Oregon.
-QG

I’m sure the RB is thrilled with this possibility, but the Ducks we saw last night will smoke the Buckeyes we saw two Saturdays ago. Hoping my Buckeyes show some life against The Vols!

Michigan's got Ryan Day's head in a vice. His inexplicably bad game management decisions will inevitably derail their path to a ship somewhere along the way, but they're not going to embarrass themselves in so doing like they did 8 days ago. He remembers how to game plan when he plays anyone but Michigan.

I hope you’re right. Not so much worried about Day and game planning as I am about the team has checked out on him.

 

[massraider]

This is the best version of the postseason we’ve ever had

This.

It's gonna be awesome.

 

[culdeus]

So with how the matchups played out, SMU and Tennessee are the only “southern” teams headed to interesting northern weather scenarios for that time of year.

I’ll say I was curious as an ND fan had we gotten matched with a Miami or Bama how they’d have done in that weather. Indiana and ND will be a bus ride battle lol.

This is over hyped even at the pro level. Teams practice by and large indoors and the football teams don't live in igloos.

The northern teams are just as unfamiliar playing in cold as anyone.

 

[culdeus]

The SMU PSU game features the team whom never should have gotten the death penalty vs the one that actually should have.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Still upset my Illini blew the game against Minnesota cuz then I could have had pontificated about our only 2 loss being at Oregon and at Penn State.

I mean they weren't gonna put us in ESPECIALLY with Indiana already in there but it would have been nice to have a high horse to climb like these other schools do on an annual basis.

And I am glad to get to see us take on Alabama regardless of the result. Though it does continue the tradition that every time the Illini reach these heights we get the rewarded with some snubbed team with a chip on its shoulder lol.

-QG

 

[culdeus]

Still upset my Illini blew the game against Minnesota cuz then I could have had pontificated about our only 2 loss being at Oregon and at Penn State.

I mean they weren't gonna put us in ESPECIALLY with Indiana already in there but it would have been nice to have a high horse to climb like these other schools do on an annual basis.

And I am glad to get to see us take on Alabama regardless of the result. Though it does continue the tradition that every time the Illini reach these heights we get the rewarded with some snubbed team with a chip on its shoulder lol.

-QG

If you beat Bama it's because like half their starters didnt play. Hth

 

[MAC_32]

So with how the matchups played out, SMU and Tennessee are the only “southern” teams headed to interesting northern weather scenarios for that time of year.

I’ll say I was curious as an ND fan had we gotten matched with a Miami or Bama how they’d have done in that weather. Indiana and ND will be a bus ride battle lol.

This is over hyped even at the pro level. Teams practice by and large indoors and the football teams don't live in igloos.

The northern teams are just as unfamiliar playing in cold as anyone.

Given the mild fall we had, I think this was a plausible narrative to latch onto around the first blasts of winter. Acclimation season is in full swing now though. Mid-40's today and comfortably walked to the market in a t-shirt. I'm not familiar with Penn St's facilities, but most major programs up here have both indoor and outdoor options, usually side-by-side. We'll see what mother nature has to say come game day, but Happy Valley has some unusual geography that results in it frequently being colder in winter than the surrounding areas. If this Texas team doesn't prepare for the elements, then they reap what they sow.

I expect weather to be less impactful for Tennessee / Ohio St though. If anything it may impact Indiana more than Tennessee. Winter is much more tempermental SE of great lakes than it is in the southern half of the state. And if the sea is angry that day my friends, given the makeup of Ohio St's roster, they won't benefit anyway. Buckeyes, Vols, and Hoosiers would prefer track meets whereas the Irish would be content with a rock fight.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Citrus takes South Carolina over Alabama

 

[Capella]

Schedules dont matter. Wins over top 25 teams dont matter. Just stack wins over cupcakes. Some of the resumes of these top 12 teams are complete garbage.

Bama lost to two garbage teams. Weren’t even competitive against OU. They didn’t deserve it.

They have better wins than almost everyone in the top 12. Should have been in over smu easily.

And they have 3 losses including 24 to 3 to a terrible OU team.

 

[QuizGuy66]

And after all that the report is the Citrus Bowl took South Carolina over Alabama which is funny but unsatisfying (and surely a box office thing as they probably think Bama fans won't travel in this circumstance).

-QG

 

[QuizGuy66]

Still upset my Illini blew the game against Minnesota cuz then I could have had pontificated about our only 2 loss being at Oregon and at Penn State.

I mean they weren't gonna put us in ESPECIALLY with Indiana already in there but it would have been nice to have a high horse to climb like these other schools do on an annual basis.

And I am glad to get to see us take on Alabama regardless of the result. Though it does continue the tradition that every time the Illini reach these heights we get the rewarded with some snubbed team with a chip on its shoulder lol.

-QG

If you beat Bama it's because like half their starters didnt play. Hth

And same will be with us bc already our best receiver has already opted out. Hth.

-QG

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Citrus takes South Carolina over Alabama

Well deserved for SC.

Easy money this year will be betting against Bama in whatever bowl they end up in. They'll almost certainly have an overrated betting line in whatever bowl it ends up being.

 

[JAA]

I think CCGs are "pretty big deals" to football programs. But I could be wrong

To your point, CCGs would need to be renamed. CC would be regular season conference champs. RE NCAAB, I would love to know if a #1 seed in their power 4 conference tournament lost the first round and was not selected for the NCAA tourney (this would be a play out game). I doubt that has even happened. Meaning, the NCAAB tourney, the greatest tourney on the planet, have never had a play-out CCG for #1 seeds.

Let's talk though ... you are SMU, would you go back in time right now and opt-out with my proposal? I think the answer is clear. And we see this in the NFL by the way. How many #1 seeds "rest their players" when there is nothing to gain? The teams are defacto saying they dont care about those wins as they do not help them and their mission, the only mission, to win the Lombardi.

Also, lets look at PSU and their record. Tell me again who thinks PSU would destroy BSU? Heck, I was impressed with SMU vs Clemson. Do you think SMU plays PSU or even ND the same as Clemson?

I would much rather see Oregon opt out and see PSU play the field. I personally do not think PSU's resume is worth their seeding. This is the problem. Show me a real win PSU!!

Then why should only 4 those conferences get "play in games"

That's how it is now. Thats how it should always be for football as their is much less parity in NFAAF than compared to NCAAB and even the NFL. It ensures a quality product and not having lower tier teams get destroyed while at the same time allowing for non p4 teams a chance at the field.

No it's not. 5 conference champions get in.

And a potential technically for 6 if they are top 12 .... unlikely but still

Eta: not trying to argue but the plan has to include 5

There are 4 power conferences. They are in no particular order:

• B12
• SEC
• B10
• ACC

 

[JAA]

Schedules dont matter. Wins over top 25 teams dont matter. Just stack wins over cupcakes. Some of the resumes of these top 12 teams are complete garbage.

I agreee. PSUs wins are horrible

 

[JAA]

ESPN guy wants teams leagues to schedule to their whims. The thing is they don't know who is gonna be good at the beginning of the year. Heck the Illini schedule looked tougher heading into the hear than it proved to be as Michigan Nebraska and Kansas all weren't as good as early season rankings had them.

-QG

Schedules are done, at least OOC, like a decade in advance.

 

[JAA]

Schedules dont matter. Wins over top 25 teams dont matter. Just stack wins over cupcakes. Some of the resumes of these top 12 teams are complete garbage.

Bama lost to two garbage teams. Weren’t even competitive against OU. They didn’t deserve it.

They have better wins than almost everyone in the top 12. Should have been in over smu easily.

How many losses does it take for those "better wins" to even out? Is it 4 losses, 5 losses? How many before Bama is just an average team with some good wins?

 

[MAC_32]

Schedules dont matter. Wins over top 25 teams dont matter. Just stack wins over cupcakes. Some of the resumes of these top 12 teams are complete garbage.

Bama lost to two garbage teams. Weren’t even competitive against OU. They didn’t deserve it.

They have better wins than almost everyone in the top 12. Should have been in over smu easily.

How many losses does it take for those "better wins" to even out? Is it 4 losses, 5 losses? How many before Bama is just an average team with some good wins?

Whatever it takes for more SEC teams to make the playoffs.

 

[JAA]

Schedules dont matter. Wins over top 25 teams dont matter. Just stack wins over cupcakes. Some of the resumes of these top 12 teams are complete garbage.

Bama lost to two garbage teams. Weren’t even competitive against OU. They didn’t deserve it.

Who cares about Bama? South Carolina was the obvious choice. No bad losses. Multiple good wins. Beat the team (on the road) that SMU got credit for losing close to.

SMU played in a weak conference, somehow drew a schedule where they avoided almost all of the decent teams in that conference, and went 0-2 against ranked teams. Their signature win was a close loss to the same team that South Carolina had just beaten.

@need2know is right. Just schedule the worst group of cupcakes you can find, get rewarded. SMU's resume is barely top 25 worthy, much less top 12.

Have you looked at any other teams schedules? Tell me about PSUs big win? Find me Indiana's big win?

 

[JAA]

1 seed path is the 6 and 7 ranked teams
2 seed path is 5 and 8 ranked teams
3 seed path is 12 and 16 ranked teams
4 seed path is 9 and 10 ranked teams

Seems fair

As someone pointed out earlier we can thank the conferences for that.

Ultimately I think this is a great first attempt and I’m super pumped for these games. This is the best version of the postseason we’ve ever had and they will make some tweaks from here. Another step in the right direction.

Im grateful also. Kicking SMU out for losing a CCG would have been a poor decision for a 3 loss team who has bad losses.

 

[JAA]

Ultimately I think this is a great first attempt and I’m super pumped for these games. This is the best version of the postseason we’ve ever had and they will make some tweaks from here. Another step in the right direction.

I tend to agree with this despite it being unfortunate that my alma matter doesn't make it despite being better than a couple of the teams in.

We see this in the NFL all the time. Its what makes the NFL regular season, all the games, so exciting.

 

[JAA]

I’m just saying I think Clemson should have been ahead of SMU.

From what I've gathered, Clemson couldn't jump South Carolina, and in order to keep SMU in they couldn't drop below Clemson, since Alabama (and Miami / Ole Miss) were ahead of South Carolina, SMU needed to stay ahead of everyone.

I actually would have preferred SMU won, Clemson out. Bring in another SEC team.

 

[belljr]

I think CCGs are "pretty big deals" to football programs. But I could be wrong

To your point, CCGs would need to be renamed. CC would be regular season conference champs. RE NCAAB, I would love to know if a #1 seed in their power 4 conference tournament lost the first round and was not selected for the NCAA tourney (this would be a play out game). I doubt that has even happened. Meaning, the NCAAB tourney, the greatest tourney on the planet, have never had a play-out CCG for #1 seeds.

Let's talk though ... you are SMU, would you go back in time right now and opt-out with my proposal? I think the answer is clear. And we see this in the NFL by the way. How many #1 seeds "rest their players" when there is nothing to gain? The teams are defacto saying they dont care about those wins as they do not help them and their mission, the only mission, to win the Lombardi.

Also, lets look at PSU and their record. Tell me again who thinks PSU would destroy BSU? Heck, I was impressed with SMU vs Clemson. Do you think SMU plays PSU or even ND the same as Clemson?

I would much rather see Oregon opt out and see PSU play the field. I personally do not think PSU's resume is worth their seeding. This is the problem. Show me a real win PSU!!

Then why should only 4 those conferences get "play in games"

That's how it is now. Thats how it should always be for football as their is much less parity in NFAAF than compared to NCAAB and even the NFL. It ensures a quality product and not having lower tier teams get destroyed while at the same time allowing for non p4 teams a chance at the field.

No it's not. 5 conference champions get in.

And a potential technically for 6 if they are top 12 .... unlikely but still

Eta: not trying to argue but the plan has to include 5

There are 4 power conferences. They are in no particular order:

• B12
• SEC
• B10
• ACC

I know we are "changing things" but right now 5 conferences get in

The 12 teams that make up the College Football Playoff are the five highest-ranked conference champions and seven at-large bids. The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded 1-4 and receive a first-round bye

 

[FreeBaGeL]

I’m just saying I think Clemson should have been ahead of SMU.

From what I've gathered, Clemson couldn't jump South Carolina, and in order to keep SMU in they couldn't drop below Clemson, since Alabama (and Miami / Ole Miss) were ahead of South Carolina, SMU needed to stay ahead of everyone.

I actually would have preferred SMU won, Clemson out. Bring in another SEC team.

The problem with that is the dolts would have put in Bama, when it should have been either South Carolina or BYU (one of whom should've been in over SMU with the way it played out anyway).

 

[JAA]

I’m just saying I think Clemson should have been ahead of SMU.

From what I've gathered, Clemson couldn't jump South Carolina, and in order to keep SMU in they couldn't drop below Clemson, since Alabama (and Miami / Ole Miss) were ahead of South Carolina, SMU needed to stay ahead of everyone.

I actually would have preferred SMU won, Clemson out. Bring in another SEC team.

The problem with that is the dolts would have put in Bama, when it should have been either South Carolina or BYU (one of whom should've been in over SMU with the way it played out anyway).

Maybe. Would have been a much better conversation than the one we are having.

How great would it have been to watch Bama and SC play in a play-in game instead of we just saw?

 

[Capella]

I feel like there is switch in cfb where the games don’t even matter anymore. Bama lost to two teams with 12 combined losses? Well I’m sorry but have you seen all their 5 stars? Ole Miss lost 3 times but excuse me do you know how MUCH they spent on NIL? It’s just all so dumb. Let the sec go have their 16 team playoff and let everybody else compete. How do people like this sport right now?

 

[belljr]

I say go back to 4 team playoff.... Less arguing

 

[JAA]

I feel like there is switch in cfb where the games don’t even matter anymore. Bama lost to two teams with 12 combined losses? Well I’m sorry but have you seen all their 5 stars? Ole Miss lost 3 times but excuse me do you know how MUCH they spent on NIL? It’s just all so dumb. Let the sec go have their 16 team playoff and let everybody else compete. How do people like this sport right now?

I think we are getting better, though there are still many pain points. However, look how far we have come. SMU and BSU both have a chance to win the NC. When has that ever been the case before?

 

[BlackCrowes]

A win is a win

 

[culdeus]

I’m just saying I think Clemson should have been ahead of SMU.

From what I've gathered, Clemson couldn't jump South Carolina, and in order to keep SMU in they couldn't drop below Clemson, since Alabama (and Miami / Ole Miss) were ahead of South Carolina, SMU needed to stay ahead of everyone.

I actually would have preferred SMU won, Clemson out. Bring in another SEC team.

SMU wins, gets SC in probably and Texas SC is a pretty interesting game

 

[FreeBaGeL]

I say go back to 4 team playoff.... Less arguing

Of the teams playing in the first round, Ohio State is the only one with more than 1 win against a ranked team.

The other 7 teams playing in the 1st round are a combined 3-10 against ranked teams.

 

[MAC_32]

How great would it have been to watch Bama and SC play in a play-in game instead of we just saw?

No dice, Malone. Ole Miss and Mizzou were also 3 loss SEC teams. Texas A&M and LSU as well, but they each have a 4th loss because they didn't schedule Directional Kentucky, Directional Florida, Wisconsin, and Mercer out of conference. They have a say in the play-in too!

Or, you know...don't lose 3 games.

 

[SFBayDuck]

Why doesn't the SEC just have their own 16 team tournament?

They won't even play 9 conference games. They all play patsies in November, nobody else does that. They have the most powerful network in the sport shilling for them non-stop, hell you've got two Bama grads and Saban on that selection show this morning. To their credit, they've worked the system better than anyone else to give themselves every advantage. So they're not used to not getting their way, and I'm actually kinda shocked they didn't.

Let's just flash forward a few years to the seemingly inevitable 60-70 team carve out with schools back to traditional regional "divisions" and a 32 team actual playoff like every other major sport already has.

 

[MAC_32]

I feel like there is switch in cfb where the games don’t even matter anymore. Bama lost to two teams with 12 combined losses? Well I’m sorry but have you seen all their 5 stars? Ole Miss lost 3 times but excuse me do you know how MUCH they spent on NIL? It’s just all so dumb. Let the sec go have their 16 team playoff and let everybody else compete. How do people like this sport right now?

I am more engaged in it than I have been in a while and expected I would a year ago. Hell, even a couple months ago. There weren't many meaningless late season games and most of those that were still entertained.

 

[SFBayDuck]

but most major programs up here have both indoor and outdoor options, usually side-by-side.

Hell we have that in Eugene, with another indoor facility in the works (so the other sports can use the existing one). Interestingly one of the primary reasons isn't actually weather but wildfire smoke.

 

[SFBayDuck]

Tell me about PSUs big win? Find me Indiana's big win?

Now do Texas.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

There weren't many meaningless late season games and most of those that were still entertained.

5 of the 8 teams playing the first round of the CFP lost a game within the last 8 days and got in anyway

Ohio State vs Michigan
Clemson vs South Carolina
Georgia vs Texas
Oregon vs Penn St

None of those games mattered at all, really. The same teams got in regardless of what happened in those games. The only game that really mattered was the ACC CG getting Clemson in for the last spot over BYU/Bama/SC.

Rivalry week and conference chammpionship week, normally the two craziest weeks of the year, were basically completely irrelevant other than seeding.

 

[MAC_32]

There weren't many meaningless late season games and most of those that were still entertained.

5 of the 8 teams playing the first round of the CFP lost a game within the last 8 days and got in anyway

Ohio State vs Michigan
Clemson vs South Carolina
Georgia vs Texas
Oregon vs Penn St

None of those games mattered at all, really. The same teams got in regardless of what happened in those games. The only game that really mattered was the ACC CG getting Clemson in for the last spot over BYU/Bama/SC.

Rivalry week and conference chammpionship week, normally the two craziest weeks of the year, were basically completely irrelevant other than seeding.

Did you not find Georgia / Texas and Oregon / Penn St entertaining? I sure did. And I realize I am the minority, but I was HIGHLY entertained with Michigan / Ohio St. Most enjoyable bad football game I've ever watched.

 

[belljr]

I say go back to 4 team playoff.... Less arguing

Of the teams playing in the first round, Ohio State is the only one with more than 1 win against a ranked team.

The other 7 teams playing in the 1st round are a combined 3-10 against ranked teams.

I always find that tough to gauge.

For example ND has 3 wins this seasons against top 25 teams at the time they played.

Now it's technically 1.

I always have trouble how to reconcile that come this time

 

[FreeBaGeL]

I say go back to 4 team playoff.... Less arguing

Of the teams playing in the first round, Ohio State is the only one with more than 1 win against a ranked team.

The other 7 teams playing in the 1st round are a combined 3-10 against ranked teams.

I always find that tough to gauge.

For example ND has 3 wins this seasons against top 25 teams at the time they played.

Now it's technically 1.

I always have trouble how to reconcile that come this time

I think this one is pretty easy, imo. What they were ranked at the time is irrelevant.

The whole point of looking at it is seeing how many good teams they beat. If we know now that a team like FSU isn't any good, it doesn't make sense to give a team credit for beating FSU early in the year just because we mistakenly thought they were good back then.