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

[General Malaise]

Think I mentioned before but that junior walk-on that played center for Oregon against Idaho and Boise St - Charlie P. - was a soccer and basketball player of mine in 2009-2010. Huge kid, super athletic but boy was he bad as their starting Center.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Carson Beck already sucked so it's a lateral move most likely.

Geogia is not good this year. If they weren't playing another potentially very overrated team I would house the bet against them as large as I went against Tennessee (almost my largest bet ever).

Thanks. That's helpful to understand where you're coming from.

I would not say Carson Beck sucks as a college QB. And losing their experienced starting QB and going to the backup is devastating for Georgia's chances.

 

[belljr]

Boo the SEC

 

[3C's]

Another question - what ranking source do people like?

I think ESPN's Power Rankings are good. https://www.espn.com/college-football/fpi

But I'm assuming many do not like that ranking.

What do you like?

6-6 USC at 18 with several really good teams below them seems pretty bad.

 

[3C's]

I wonder how much ESPN having a contract with the SEC comes into play for Herbstreit?

Wow. I hadn't heard that one.

It seems interesting to question Herbstreit's honesty. I don't know him, maybe he actually is a dishonest guy. I'd never heard that accusation of him though.

I'd think Herbie has the cache to say whatever the hell he wants and is not beholden to some ESPN edict (if there was one).

 

[kupcho1]

I wonder how much ESPN having a contract with the SEC comes into play for Herbstreit?

Wow. I hadn't heard that one.

It seems interesting to question Herbstreit's honesty. I don't know him, maybe he actually is a dishonest guy. I'd never heard that accusation of him though.

He doesn't necessarily need to be dishonest. The @Ramblin Wreck contention was "did it come into play." Giving him the benefit of the doubt, it could just be a subconcioius bias given his employer's relationship with the conference.

From athlonsports:

After watching first-hand the SEC's own Tennessee Volunteers get dog-walked by Ohio State to the tune of 42-17 on Saturday night, it was the Indiana Hoosiers that Herbstreit zeroed in on as the most undeserving team in the field.

Herbstreit has a fair point in pointing out the flaws of Indiana's resume, but going out of his way to single out the lone Big Ten team who got blown out is where a lot of the backlash is coming from.

The truth of the matter is that Indiana had the smallest margin of defeat of any team in the first round, but since they're the only loser without direct ties to ESPN — Tennessee (SEC), Clemson (ACC) and SMU (ACC) all have connections to the network — it was the Hoosiers who got singled out.

Emphasis mine.

 

[3C's]

Herbstreit played at OSU so you'd think if he had any bias it would be toward B1G not SEC.

 

[3C's]

Carson Beck already sucked so it's a lateral move most likely.

Geogia is not good this year. If they weren't playing another potentially very overrated team I would house the bet against them as large as I went against Tennessee (almost my largest bet ever).

Thanks. That's helpful to understand where you're coming from.

I would not say Carson Beck sucks as a college QB. And losing their experienced starting QB and going to the backup is devastating for Georgia's chances.

For sure. Beck was talked about as a 1st rounder until his issues this year so he very much does not suck at the college level.

 

[General Malaise]

Carson Beck already sucked so it's a lateral move most likely.

Geogia is not good this year. If they weren't playing another potentially very overrated team I would house the bet against them as large as I went against Tennessee (almost my largest bet ever).

Thanks. That's helpful to understand where you're coming from.

I would not say Carson Beck sucks as a college QB. And losing their experienced starting QB and going to the backup is devastating for Georgia's chances.

For sure. Beck was talked about as a 1st rounder until his issues this year so he very much does not suck at the college level.

I don't think he sucks, but didn't he lead all FBS QBs in INTs? I know that's not the end all to be all stat but it is a problem.

 

[3C's]

Carson Beck already sucked so it's a lateral move most likely.

Geogia is not good this year. If they weren't playing another potentially very overrated team I would house the bet against them as large as I went against Tennessee (almost my largest bet ever).

Thanks. That's helpful to understand where you're coming from.

I would not say Carson Beck sucks as a college QB. And losing their experienced starting QB and going to the backup is devastating for Georgia's chances.

For sure. Beck was talked about as a 1st rounder until his issues this year so he very much does not suck at the college level.

I don't think he sucks, but didn't he lead all FBS QBs in INTs? I know that's not the end all to be all stat but it is a problem.

I would guess "his issues this year" are the INTs.

But the answer to your question is no.

 

[General Malaise]

Carson Beck already sucked so it's a lateral move most likely.

Geogia is not good this year. If they weren't playing another potentially very overrated team I would house the bet against them as large as I went against Tennessee (almost my largest bet ever).

Thanks. That's helpful to understand where you're coming from.

I would not say Carson Beck sucks as a college QB. And losing their experienced starting QB and going to the backup is devastating for Georgia's chances.

For sure. Beck was talked about as a 1st rounder until his issues this year so he very much does not suck at the college level.

I don't think he sucks, but didn't he lead all FBS QBs in INTs? I know that's not the end all to be all stat but it is a problem.

I would guess "his issues this year" are the INTs.

But the answer to your question is no.

You're right. He's third behind the guy at App State and the QB from Hawaii. One of these things is not like the other one.

 

[kupcho1]

Herbstreit played at OSU so you'd think if he had any bias it would be toward B1G not SEC.

Yeah, but he played before they allowed players to make bank. Someone at Disney is signing his checks

 

[3C's]

Carson Beck already sucked so it's a lateral move most likely.

Geogia is not good this year. If they weren't playing another potentially very overrated team I would house the bet against them as large as I went against Tennessee (almost my largest bet ever).

Thanks. That's helpful to understand where you're coming from.

I would not say Carson Beck sucks as a college QB. And losing their experienced starting QB and going to the backup is devastating for Georgia's chances.

For sure. Beck was talked about as a 1st rounder until his issues this year so he very much does not suck at the college level.

I don't think he sucks, but didn't he lead all FBS QBs in INTs? I know that's not the end all to be all stat but it is a problem.

I would guess "his issues this year" are the INTs.

But the answer to your question is no.

You're right. He's third behind the guy at App State and the QB from Hawaii. One of these things is not like the other one.

There's like a dozen guys at 12 ints. Get real. Also, he had 9 in 4 games which is what made it look so bad. He had a bad run but corrected it. His QBR/rating is higher than almost every NCAA qb (11/33).

 

[3C's]

Herbstreit played at OSU so you'd think if he had any bias it would be toward B1G not SEC.

Yeah, but he played before they allowed players to make bank. Someone at Disney is signing his checks

And if Disney had an issue with him he'd have a job tomorrow with any other network. He has no concerns with any Disney/ESPN edicts.

 

[3C's]

But back to the games, in one that probably few watched, 5 OT thriller in the SDSU-SF game yesterday.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Herbstreit played at OSU so you'd think if he had any bias it would be toward B1G not SEC.

Yeah, but he played before they allowed players to make bank. Someone at Disney is signing his checks

And if Disney had an issue with him he'd have a job tomorrow with any other network. He has no concerns with any Disney/ESPN edicts.

Agreed. The idea Herbstreit might be a puppet mouthpiece seems like a reach. Guy would be unemployed about 10 seconds and he knows it.

 

[Desert_Power]

Herbstreit played at OSU so you'd think if he had any bias it would be toward B1G not SEC.

He has a son on their roster now and had two of his others on Clemson at one point.

 

[kupcho1]

The idea Herbstreit might be a puppet mouthpiece seems like a reach.

That's quite the straw man argument there. I did a quick search of the thread and couldn't find where anyone referred to Herbstreit as a "puppet mouthpiece". I know I didn't.

I won't relink the athlonsports piece (refer above if you missed it), but facts are facts (i.e., Herbie blasted Indiana, and laid off of Tennessee (SEC), SMU (ACC) and Clemson (ACC), all of which lost by larger margins. ESPN has contractual relations with those conferences). What you choose to infer from the facts is up to you.
I think Herbstreit might have been unconciously biased (as I stated above). You don't.

Reasonable people disagree all of the time.

 

[3C's]

Indiana didn't deserve to be in the playoffs. Herbstreit offered an opinion toward that. The fact that he left off <insert team here> in that moment doesn't make that opinion wrong.

ETA: and before it comes, it also doesn't mean he was "influenced" to give that opinion.

 

[Instinctive]

The idea Herbstreit might be a puppet mouthpiece seems like a reach.

That's quite the straw man argument there. I did a quick search of the thread and couldn't find where anyone referred to Herbstreit as a "puppet mouthpiece". I know I didn't.

I won't relink the athlonsports piece (refer above if you missed it), but facts are facts (i.e., Herbie blasted Indiana, and laid off of Tennessee (SEC), SMU (ACC) and Clemson (ACC), all of which lost by larger margins. ESPN has contractual relations with those conferences). What you choose to infer from the facts is up to you.
I think Herbstreit might have been unconciously biased (as I stated above). You don't.

Reasonable people disagree all of the time.

I mean he might also just have thought Indiana was bad and didn't play anyone except OSU who they got destroyed by.

You can think the other three teams were better than Indiana and they could lose by more. All three played better teams than Indiana did in the playoffs too FWIW.

And we have eyes. One big score doesn't necessarily equal another.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

The idea Herbstreit might be a puppet mouthpiece seems like a reach.

That's quite the straw man argument there. I did a quick search of the thread and couldn't find where anyone referred to Herbstreit as a "puppet mouthpiece". I know I didn't.

I won't relink the athlonsports piece (refer above if you missed it), but facts are facts (i.e., Herbie blasted Indiana, and laid off of Tennessee (SEC), SMU (ACC) and Clemson (ACC), all of which lost by larger margins. ESPN has contractual relations with those conferences). What you choose to infer from the facts is up to you.
I think Herbstreit might have been unconciously biased (as I stated above). You don't.

Reasonable people disagree all of the time.

I mean he might also just have thought Indiana was bad and didn't play anyone except OSU who they got destroyed by.

You can think the other three teams were better than Indiana and they could lose by more. All three played better teams than Indiana did in the playoffs too FWIW.

And we have eyes. One big score doesn't necessarily equal another.

I think it's speculation to claim Penn State, Texas and Ohio State are all better than Notre Dame. Both ND and Texas beat A&M by 10 points. Texas next best win is either Michigan, Oklahoma, Florida or Vanderbilt. Texas sounds a lot like Indiana to be honest. Penn St's best win is Illinois and their schedule doesn't look a whole lot different from Indiana either. I would think an expert like Herbstreit would do a little more homework than he appeared to have done if he's being completely unbiased.

My eyes told me Tennessee never had a chance against Ohio State. Like it was over before it even started. Indiana hung with Ohio State for half a game.

 

[Instinctive]

The idea Herbstreit might be a puppet mouthpiece seems like a reach.

That's quite the straw man argument there. I did a quick search of the thread and couldn't find where anyone referred to Herbstreit as a "puppet mouthpiece". I know I didn't.

I won't relink the athlonsports piece (refer above if you missed it), but facts are facts (i.e., Herbie blasted Indiana, and laid off of Tennessee (SEC), SMU (ACC) and Clemson (ACC), all of which lost by larger margins. ESPN has contractual relations with those conferences). What you choose to infer from the facts is up to you.
I think Herbstreit might have been unconciously biased (as I stated above). You don't.

Reasonable people disagree all of the time.

I mean he might also just have thought Indiana was bad and didn't play anyone except OSU who they got destroyed by.

You can think the other three teams were better than Indiana and they could lose by more. All three played better teams than Indiana did in the playoffs too FWIW.

And we have eyes. One big score doesn't necessarily equal another.

I think it's speculation to claim Penn State, Texas and Ohio State are all better than Notre Dame. Both ND and Texas beat A&M by 10 points. Texas next best win is either Michigan, Oklahoma, Florida or Vanderbilt. Texas sounds a lot like Indiana to be honest. Penn St's best win is Illinois and their schedule doesn't look a whole lot different from Indiana either. I would think an expert like Herbstreit would do a little more homework than he appeared to have done if he's being completely unbiased.

My eyes told me Tennessee never had a chance against Ohio State. Like it was over before it even started. Indiana hung with Ohio State for half a game.

It's all speculation except that a game was played on a single day in those conditions at that location.

Herbstreit isn't remotely unbiased, never has been, nor has claimed to be. He's a gigantic Ohio State homer. As he should be! He went there. He played there. His kid goes there. He lived a block from the Shoe for like ten years.

 

[Joe Bryant]

That's quite the straw man argument there.

Sorry, but no straw man. I wasn't talking to you there. A poster said, "I wonder how much ESPN having a contract with the SEC comes into play for Herbstreit?

I think that's a reach to ask if he's influenced to say something he doesn't believe.

I think he's a big boy and says what he thinks. People may not like what he says. But I doubt it's because ESPN has anything "in play" with it. Especially as he knows every other network would love to have him.

 

[Joe Bryant]

The idea Herbstreit might be a puppet mouthpiece seems like a reach.

That's quite the straw man argument there. I did a quick search of the thread and couldn't find where anyone referred to Herbstreit as a "puppet mouthpiece". I know I didn't.

I won't relink the athlonsports piece (refer above if you missed it), but facts are facts (i.e., Herbie blasted Indiana, and laid off of Tennessee (SEC), SMU (ACC) and Clemson (ACC), all of which lost by larger margins. ESPN has contractual relations with those conferences). What you choose to infer from the facts is up to you.
I think Herbstreit might have been unconciously biased (as I stated above). You don't.

Reasonable people disagree all of the time.

I mean he might also just have thought Indiana was bad and didn't play anyone except OSU who they got destroyed by.

You can think the other three teams were better than Indiana and they could lose by more. All three played better teams than Indiana did in the playoffs too FWIW.

And we have eyes. One big score doesn't necessarily equal another.

I think it's speculation to claim Penn State, Texas and Ohio State are all better than Notre Dame. Both ND and Texas beat A&M by 10 points. Texas next best win is either Michigan, Oklahoma, Florida or Vanderbilt. Texas sounds a lot like Indiana to be honest. Penn St's best win is Illinois and their schedule doesn't look a whole lot different from Indiana either. I would think an expert like Herbstreit would do a little more homework than he appeared to have done if he's being completely unbiased.

My eyes told me Tennessee never had a chance against Ohio State. Like it was over before it even started. Indiana hung with Ohio State for half a game.

It's all speculation except that a game was played on a single day in those conditions at that location.

Herbstreit isn't remotely unbiased, never has been, nor has claimed to be. He's a gigantic Ohio State homer. As he should be! He went there. He played there. His kid goes there. He lived a block from the Shoe for like ten years.

Agreed. It's all speculation.

And this is starting to make more sense now. Herbstreit might not get everything right. but to suggest he doesn't do his homework or isn't prepared says a lot. Guy is a pro's pro and has been for a while.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

The idea Herbstreit might be a puppet mouthpiece seems like a reach.

That's quite the straw man argument there. I did a quick search of the thread and couldn't find where anyone referred to Herbstreit as a "puppet mouthpiece". I know I didn't.

I won't relink the athlonsports piece (refer above if you missed it), but facts are facts (i.e., Herbie blasted Indiana, and laid off of Tennessee (SEC), SMU (ACC) and Clemson (ACC), all of which lost by larger margins. ESPN has contractual relations with those conferences). What you choose to infer from the facts is up to you.
I think Herbstreit might have been unconciously biased (as I stated above). You don't.

Reasonable people disagree all of the time.

I mean he might also just have thought Indiana was bad and didn't play anyone except OSU who they got destroyed by.

You can think the other three teams were better than Indiana and they could lose by more. All three played better teams than Indiana did in the playoffs too FWIW.

And we have eyes. One big score doesn't necessarily equal another.

I think it's speculation to claim Penn State, Texas and Ohio State are all better than Notre Dame. Both ND and Texas beat A&M by 10 points. Texas next best win is either Michigan, Oklahoma, Florida or Vanderbilt. Texas sounds a lot like Indiana to be honest. Penn St's best win is Illinois and their schedule doesn't look a whole lot different from Indiana either. I would think an expert like Herbstreit would do a little more homework than he appeared to have done if he's being completely unbiased.

My eyes told me Tennessee never had a chance against Ohio State. Like it was over before it even started. Indiana hung with Ohio State for halfa game.

It's all speculation except that a game was played on a single day in those conditions at that location.

Herbstreit isn't remotely unbiased, never has been, nor has claimed to be. He's a gigantic Ohio State homer. As he should be! He went there. He played there. His kid goes there. He lived a block from the Shoe for like ten years.

Agreed. It's all speculation.

And this is starting to make more sense now. Herbstreit might not get everything right. but to suggest he doesn't do his homework or isn't prepared says a lot. Guy is a pro's pro and has been for a while.

Clearly a pro's pro to harp on and on about the team that had the smallest margin of defeat last weekend. I'm comfortable with my opinion of ESPN and Herbstreit. I'm fine with anyone that disagrees. Not sure what makes sense all of a sudden to you though.

 

[Joe Bryant]

The idea Herbstreit might be a puppet mouthpiece seems like a reach.

That's quite the straw man argument there. I did a quick search of the thread and couldn't find where anyone referred to Herbstreit as a "puppet mouthpiece". I know I didn't.

I won't relink the athlonsports piece (refer above if you missed it), but facts are facts (i.e., Herbie blasted Indiana, and laid off of Tennessee (SEC), SMU (ACC) and Clemson (ACC), all of which lost by larger margins. ESPN has contractual relations with those conferences). What you choose to infer from the facts is up to you.
I think Herbstreit might have been unconciously biased (as I stated above). You don't.

Reasonable people disagree all of the time.

I mean he might also just have thought Indiana was bad and didn't play anyone except OSU who they got destroyed by.

You can think the other three teams were better than Indiana and they could lose by more. All three played better teams than Indiana did in the playoffs too FWIW.

And we have eyes. One big score doesn't necessarily equal another.

I think it's speculation to claim Penn State, Texas and Ohio State are all better than Notre Dame. Both ND and Texas beat A&M by 10 points. Texas next best win is either Michigan, Oklahoma, Florida or Vanderbilt. Texas sounds a lot like Indiana to be honest. Penn St's best win is Illinois and their schedule doesn't look a whole lot different from Indiana either. I would think an expert like Herbstreit would do a little more homework than he appeared to have done if he's being completely unbiased.

My eyes told me Tennessee never had a chance against Ohio State. Like it was over before it even started. Indiana hung with Ohio State for halfa game.

It's all speculation except that a game was played on a single day in those conditions at that location.

Herbstreit isn't remotely unbiased, never has been, nor has claimed to be. He's a gigantic Ohio State homer. As he should be! He went there. He played there. His kid goes there. He lived a block from the Shoe for like ten years.

Agreed. It's all speculation.

And this is starting to make more sense now. Herbstreit might not get everything right. but to suggest he doesn't do his homework or isn't prepared says a lot. Guy is a pro's pro and has been for a while.

Clearly a pro's pro to harp on and on about the team that had the smallest margin of defeat last weekend. I'm comfortable with my opinion of ESPN and Herbstreit. I'm fine with anyone that disagrees. Not sure what makes sense all of a sudden to you though.

Thanks.

On sorting the teams we talked about yesterday, you said you don't like any of the national rankings, and you said you don't make your own rankings. How do you sort the teams?

 

[Tin Cup]

Even with four playoff teams, today’s NFL games are arguably even less competitive than last weekend’s CFP games. Luck of the draw sometimes, I guess.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Even with four playoff teams, today’s NFL games are arguably even less competitive than last weekend’s CFP games. Luck of the draw sometimes, I guess.

I think Goodell should put the Bears in the playoffs because they play in a tough division. Clearly better than the NFC South champion.

 

[Schmeabs]

The idea Herbstreit might be a puppet mouthpiece seems like a reach.

That's quite the straw man argument there. I did a quick search of the thread and couldn't find where anyone referred to Herbstreit as a "puppet mouthpiece". I know I didn't.

I won't relink the athlonsports piece (refer above if you missed it), but facts are facts (i.e., Herbie blasted Indiana, and laid off of Tennessee (SEC), SMU (ACC) and Clemson (ACC), all of which lost by larger margins. ESPN has contractual relations with those conferences). What you choose to infer from the facts is up to you.
I think Herbstreit might have been unconciously biased (as I stated above). You don't.

Reasonable people disagree all of the time.

I mean he might also just have thought Indiana was bad and didn't play anyone except OSU who they got destroyed by.

You can think the other three teams were better than Indiana and they could lose by more. All three played better teams than Indiana did in the playoffs too FWIW.

And we have eyes. One big score doesn't necessarily equal another.

I think it's speculation to claim Penn State, Texas and Ohio State are all better than Notre Dame. Both ND and Texas beat A&M by 10 points. Texas next best win is either Michigan, Oklahoma, Florida or Vanderbilt. Texas sounds a lot like Indiana to be honest. Penn St's best win is Illinois and their schedule doesn't look a whole lot different from Indiana either. I would think an expert like Herbstreit would do a little more homework than he appeared to have done if he's being completely unbiased.

My eyes told me Tennessee never had a chance against Ohio State. Like it was over before it even started. Indiana hung with Ohio State for half a game.

If Texas gets by Arizona State they will get crushed by either Oregon or Ohio State.

 

[General Malaise]

Got any riveting Bowl games today? Need to recoup my San Jose St loss to *checks notes* South Florida the other day.

 

[Jayded]

i'll spark a different side of a coin to the debate and intentionally avoid team/university names - Temporarily forget the wording of the committee : To you, should the teams selected be the "best teams", "most deserving teams", or a combination of the two?

If you say "best", how are they to determine best when SOS and records can vary greatly between teams?

 

[ConstruxBoy]

i'll spark a different side of a coin to the debate and intentionally avoid team/university names - Temporarily forget the wording of the committee : To you, should the teams selected be the "best teams", "most deserving teams", or a combination of the two?

If you say "best", how are they to determine best when SOS and records can vary greatly between teams?

My answer: a combination of the two, with more emphasis placed on deserving. I don't understand the viewpoint of "only Best" or "almost all Best" because that is based almost entirely on recruiting/talent rankings, recent history and "fame". That's no way to pick a playoff team.

To use team names, Alabama is certainly higher on the "Best" scale for me than Indiana this season. I think Alabama would likely beat Indiana this season. But Indiana is much more deserving, having one loss to a Top 10 team while Alabama has three losses, two of them to average/poor teams.

I don't understand a system that would put in Alabama over Indiana this season. That's like putting a 7-10 NFL team in the playoffs because they were the 4th highest preseason SB favorite and have a lot of talent. It's just nonsensical to me.

If the deserving metric is close for two teams, I'm fine using the best metric to decide.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

I wonder how much ESPN having a contract with the SEC comes into play for Herbstreit?

Wow. I hadn't heard that one.

It seems interesting to question Herbstreit's honesty. I don't know him, maybe he actually is a dishonest guy. I'd never heard that accusation of him though.

I'd think Herbie has the cache to say whatever the hell he wants and is not beholden to some ESPN edict (if there was one).

I watched the Herbstreit clip a couple times. Its been going around. He says nothing at all - just repeats a few tired cliches we've heard every single year as long as I can remember. Don't get caught up with wins, you have to look at SoS. But obviously you also have to look at wins. But also don't forget SoS because that's really important too. Also, its not about "deserving" but about "best" - how do you determine "best" - its up to you!

 

[Instinctive]

i'll spark a different side of a coin to the debate and intentionally avoid team/university names - Temporarily forget the wording of the committee : To you, should the teams selected be the "best teams", "most deserving teams", or a combination of the two?

If you say "best", how are they to determine best when SOS and records can vary greatly between teams?

My answer: a combination of the two, with more emphasis placed on deserving. I don't understand the viewpoint of "only Best" or "almost all Best" because that is based almost entirely on recruiting/talent rankings, recent history and "fame". That's no way to pick a playoff team.

To use team names, Alabama is certainly higher on the "Best" scale for me than Indiana this season. I think Alabama would likely beat Indiana this season. But Indiana is much more deserving, having one loss to a Top 10 team while Alabama has three losses, two of them to average/poor teams.

I don't understand a system that would put in Alabama over Indiana this season. That's like putting a 7-10 NFL team in the playoffs because they were the 4th highest preseason SB favorite and have a lot of talent. It's just nonsensical to me.

If the deserving metric is close for two teams, I'm fine using the best metric to decide.

If it were up to me (and some of the people high up I know agree with me FWIW), I'd have the Big Ten and the SEC both get even bigger and have divisions and play a more set NFL-like schedule and playoffs entirely on record. Could it get to where they are the AFC and NFC but with 32 teams each? I think that's unwieldy.

I could imagine a 14-team playoff if we have little to no more conference movement. The Big Ten winner and SEC winner get byes while the other division winners are in. That leaves ten teams. You take the next two best from each of those still. So now there's six teams. Take conference champs from ACC, Big 12, MWC. Now there's three spots. Take the next one each from Big Ten and SEC, and take one more conference champion. Or say one more conference champion and the remaining two highest ranked regardless of conference.

It makes conference championships matter a ton. It makes non conference games pretty much irrelevant.

So the schedule for Big Ten and SEC (16 teams each) becomes you play all 7 teams in your division and 4 from the other division, plus two games against nobodies (like in state FCS schools) that are effectively preseason games.

 

[SFBayDuck]

i'll spark a different side of a coin to the debate and intentionally avoid team/university names - Temporarily forget the wording of the committee : To you, should the teams selected be the "best teams", "most deserving teams", or a combination of the two?

If you say "best", how are they to determine best when SOS and records can vary greatly between teams?

My answer: a combination of the two, with more emphasis placed on deserving. I don't understand the viewpoint of "only Best" or "almost all Best" because that is based almost entirely on recruiting/talent rankings, recent history and "fame". That's no way to pick a playoff team.

To use team names, Alabama is certainly higher on the "Best" scale for me than Indiana this season. I think Alabama would likely beat Indiana this season. But Indiana is much more deserving, having one loss to a Top 10 team while Alabama has three losses, two of them to average/poor teams.

I don't understand a system that would put in Alabama over Indiana this season. That's like putting a 7-10 NFL team in the playoffs because they were the 4th highest preseason SB favorite and have a lot of talent. It's just nonsensical to me.

If the deserving metric is close for two teams, I'm fine using the best metric to decide.

Pretty much agree with this. Both should be factored in but deserving has to be the most important factor, otherwise why are we even playing the games? Then when you have teams that are seemingly equally deserving, you can start to look at metrics designed to determine who the "best" teams are to help differentiate.

But you can't flip that around. Look at a team like Ole Miss - 7th in ESPN's FPI, Pate and Sagarin each have them 8th. Everyone seems to agree they're a top 10 team in terms of talent. But nobody outside of Kiffin actually believes they deserve to be in the playoff, primarily because they lost three games to unranked teams who had a combined record of 20-17. Power rankings are meant to help handicap, but how you actually perform on the field has to matter.

 

[whoknew]

Can't believe Toledo just punted. Come on, Toledo. Go for it.

 

[whoknew]

This Cherry Bowl overtime is fun. And dumb.

 

[whoknew]

It’s all 2 pointers now. That FG was completely idiotic.

 

[Yo Mama]

It’s all 2 pointers now. That FG was completely idiotic.

Both coaches playing to tie

 

[Yo Mama]

It’s all 2 pointers now. That FG was completely idiotic.

Both coaches playing to tie

Both defenses deciding not to cover receivers too

 

[whoknew]

Holy moly. This game is an all timer

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

It’s all 2 pointers now. That FG was completely idiotic.

Agreed. In the first overtime, why wouldn't Toledo just go for 2 and end the game? If they tie it, they lose the advantage in the second overtime because Pitt would get the ball second and know what they need to tie/win. Plus, as the underdog I would take my chances on one play.

 

[SFBayDuck]

You go all out in the Sports Bowl. It’s the kind of program defining win that can really make a difference.

 

[Desert_Power]

It’s all 2 pointers now.

They getting rid of the 3 point line in college too?

 

[whoknew]

You go all out in the Sports Bowl. It’s the kind of program defining win that can really make a difference.

It will always be the Cherry Bowl to me.

 

[Desert_Power]

He got it

 

[Yo Mama]

Toledo now 0-2 in field storming so far this game.

 

[fasteddie_21]

Clearly scored there.

 

[Desert_Power]

Paint is really wearing off the front of that endzone.

 

[heckmanm]

This game is drunk