College Football Playoff

[kab21]

I am just loving the way that the College Football Playoff is working out.  There are still a lot of possibilities for the top 4.  The Pac 12 is basically eliminated at this point but ND could force out a 2nd major conference. 

 

Obviously one of the Big 10 teams has to lose but how do you rank the teams (if they win out) for the last two playoff spots? 

 

Could Iowa be left out if they go undefeated? 

 

What happens if either UNC or Fla upset Clem or Ala in their conference championship?  Do they replace that team as a lock in the playoff? 

 

Is it just me or is it much harder to go undefeated or even lose a single game?  Is this only due to the added conf championship or has the competition become more intense in the top 25?

 

How long can the Big 12 hold out until they add 2 more teams and a conference championship game?  Let's say that ND and a Big 10 team get the final 2 bids.

 

How long until they expand this field to 8 teams (scheduling problems)?  I am not sure if that is better or not.  If that happens then 2 loss teams are getting in.

 

Locks if they win out

Clemson (SC and UNC)

Alabama (Auburn and Fla)

 

Strongly in the mix if the win out

ND (Stanford)

OU (OSU)

MSU (PSU and Iowa)

Baylor (TCU)

Iowa (Neb and MSU)

 

Need help and/or a big upset

Ohio St (Mich)

OSU (OK)

Fla (FSU and Ala)

UNC (NCST and Clem)

[Mike Sixel]

Iowa is a lock if they win out. I think MSU is also.

 

Assuming Clemson and Alabama win out, and one of IA/MSU does....who is 4? IF ND wins out, the committee will put them in, not sure they'll deserve it or not, but they will be in.

[Badsmerf]

Iowa is a lock if they win out too. No way do they not make it. I also think msu is a lock if they win out.

 

After that, I think it gets a lot more murky. This is why so many people advocated for this. That last spot is going to be a toss up. Someone is going to be pissed no matter what.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't really care at all. Frankly, if colleges got rid of sports, I'd be good with that.

 

Supposedly they play to teach things.....so the championship should mean nothing, right? Right?

[Vanimal46]

The Big 10 Championship game is going to be a lot of fun to watch this year. Whoever wins between MSU and Iowa is a lock to get into the College Football Playoff. 

ND is a tough one... They don't play in a conference, and arguably hasn't played the strongest schedule. They might be the ones losing out when it's all said and done. 

As far as expanding the field to 8 teams, I'm not sure if that will happen, mainly for scheduling reasons. Not sure if they want to have the National Championship Game at the end of January, or in February when you're going up against the NFL Playoffs. No matter how many teams they have - 4, 8, 16, 68 - There's always going to be a pissed off team that didn't make it in. 4 seems like a good number to keep going forward.  

[drjim]

 

I don't really care at all. Frankly, if colleges got rid of sports, I'd be good with that.

 

Supposedly they play to teach things.....so the championship should mean nothing, right? Right?

 

You comment to say you don't care? Interesting.

[drjim]

I really like the system too, and I figure 8 is coming within a couple of years.

 

Seems Alabama and Clemson are locks. The politicking will be interesting if Notre Dame, Oklahoma and a Big Ten team are left. I do think the problem will take care of itself though, all of those teams have tough games left, highly unlikely all get through without a loss.

 

I put it 50/50 Ohio State still sneaks in (assuming they beat Michigan).

[bluechipper]

 

The Big 10 Championship game is going to be a lot of fun to watch this year. Whoever wins between MSU and Iowa is a lock to get into the College Football Playoff. 

ND is a tough one... They don't play in a conference, and arguably hasn't played the strongest schedule. They might be the ones losing out when it's all said and done. 

As far as expanding the field to 8 teams, I'm not sure if that will happen, mainly for scheduling reasons. Not sure if they want to have the National Championship Game at the end of January, or in February when you're going up against the NFL Playoffs. No matter how many teams they have - 4, 8, 16, 68 - There's always going to be a pissed off team that didn't make it in. 4 seems like a good number to keep going forward.  

I'd take a one loss ND over a one loss Oklahoma. Much tougher schedule for ND and Oklahoma lost to a garbage Texas team.

[Mike Sixel]

 

You comment to say you don't care? Interesting.

 

You don't have opinions on things you don't REALLY care about.....Interesting.

[Vanimal46]

 

I'd take a one loss ND over a one loss Oklahoma. Much tougher schedule for ND and Oklahoma lost to a garbage Texas team.

 

Agreed on that. Now that Baylor and OK State are pretty much toast, I don't see anyone from the Big 12 making the playoffs. 

[Badsmerf]

The big 12 is a garbage conference right now. All offense and no defense. They don't even try. If the gophers had any semblance of a competent offense they would have beat the best team in the conference (they are the best when healthy).

 

I hope it doesn't go to 8. Mostly, I really don't want single conference championships. The sec bias is already stupid. I could see some years that conference getting 3 teams in if it expands to 8. I like it this way.

[kab21]

There are ways around that.  They could restrict the field to only 2 teams from a conference and put them in the same half of the bracket. 

 

I like the do or die aspect right now.  If there were 8 teams then a team like Ohio State would likely be in the final 8 field w/o playing in a conference championship game.  But I think things could get ugly and political after a couple of years of tossups for the 4th spot.  yes, somebody is going to get left out of the 8th spot but at least every power conference would be represented (if deserving) and an independent or Group of 5 conference could get in.

 

Another thing that I really liked that everyone thinks is a longshot to happen would a SEC/BIG10 challenge like they do in basketball.  That would be an amazing weekend of football.

[biggentleben]

 

There are ways around that.  They could restrict the field to only 2 teams from a conference and put them in the same half of the bracket. 

 

I like the do or die aspect right now.  If there were 8 teams then a team like Ohio State would likely be in the final 8 field w/o playing in a conference championship game.  But I think things could get ugly and political after a couple of years of tossups for the 4th spot.  yes, somebody is going to get left out of the 8th spot but at least every power conference would be represented (if deserving) and an independent or Group of 5 conference could get in.

 

Another thing that I really liked that everyone thinks is a longshot to happen would a SEC/BIG10 challenge like they do in basketball.  That would be an amazing weekend of football.

 

The Big 10 and Big 12 discussed that when I was in school, but it never materialized.

[jimmer]

ND has one loss. That was a 2 point loss to the current #1 team in the nation. They've played the 14th hardest schedule in football and still have to play Stanford.  It'd be a shame if they win out and are left on the outside.  Could very well happen though.

[bluechipper]

 

I really like the system too, and I figure 8 is coming within a couple of years.

 

Seems Alabama and Clemson are locks. The politicking will be interesting if Notre Dame, Oklahoma and a Big Ten team are left. I do think the problem will take care of itself though, all of those teams have tough games left, highly unlikely all get through without a loss.

 

I put it 50/50 Ohio State still sneaks in (assuming they beat Michigan).

Ohio State has about a 1% chance of getting in now. They'd need MSU to lose to Penn State (doubtful), ND to lose, Clemson to lose twice, Alabama to lose, Oklahoma to lose (Oklahoma State might jump over them then anyway), and Baylor to lose. Plus, they're going to have their hands full with Michigan, and then they'd have to beat a very good Iowa team.

[bluechipper]

 

ND has one loss. That was a 2 point loss to the current #1 team in the nation. They've played the 14th hardest schedule in football and still have to play Stanford.  It'd be a shame if they win out and are left on the outside.  Could very well happen though.

It's possible, but I think Oklahoma will be held accountable for their one ugly loss. ND should be safe if they win.

[DaveW]

 

I'd take a one loss ND over a one loss Oklahoma. Much tougher schedule for ND and Oklahoma lost to a garbage Texas team.

Much tougher schedule LOL! Might want to check again, Oklahoma has the 2nd best strength of schedule in the entire NCAA!

 

Notre Dame has played NOBODY with the exception  of Clemson, Notre Dame should be out of the top 4, if they are undefeated? Fine, let them in. If not? No dice, join a conference like every other school, you aren't that special any more Notre Dame.

Oklahoma has the 2nd hardest schedule in college football and has come off back to back big time wins, if they beat OSU at OSU they are a shoe in for the top 4.

 

Yeah the Texas loss was a bad one, **** happens. OU is clearly one of the best two or three teams in college football.

[drjim]

Ohio State has about a 1% chance of getting in now. They'd need MSU to lose to Penn State (doubtful), ND to lose, Clemson to lose twice, Alabama to lose, Oklahoma to lose (Oklahoma State might jump over them then anyway), and Baylor to lose. Plus, they're going to have their hands full with Michigan, and then they'd have to beat a very good Iowa team.

I'm thinking they get in as a second Big Ten team, especially if Michigan St beats Iowa.

 

If Mich St wins out, any two of the other four (ND, Bama, OK, Clemson) losing would seem to open the door. Not sure anyone else leapfrogs a one loss defending champion.

[DaveW]

 

 

The big 12 is a garbage conference right now.
 

LOL, you say this, but talk up the crappy Gophers out of the terrible Big ten.

[DaveW]

 

 

Agreed on that. Now that Baylor and OK State are pretty much toast, I don't see anyone from the Big 12 making the playoffs. 

Again, if OU wins this weekend that means they would have beat Baylor, TCU and OSU in the last three weeks of the season (all top 4 teams within the last 5-6 weeks, and all legit top 10 teams overall)

 

Find me another one loss team that has beaten 3 top teams.

OSU-Who have they beat?

Notre Dame- Who have they beat?
Michigan State- People complain about OU losing to Texas, but MSU losing to Nebraska is wayyyyyyy worse.

 

[bluechipper]

 

Much tougher schedule LOL!

 

Notre Dame has played NOBODY with the exception  of Clemson, Notre Dame should be out of the top 4, if they are undefeated? Fine, let them in. If not? No dice, join a conference like every other school, you aren't that special any more Notre Dame.

Oklahoma has the 2nd hardest schedule in college football and has come off back to back big time wins, if they beat OSU at OSU they are a shoe in for the top 4.

 

Yeah the Texas loss was a bad one, **** happens. OU is clearly one of the best two or three teams in college football.

Oklahoma beat Baylor with a backup freshman quarterback and TCU with a backup quarterback, and they lost to the same team that ND beat 38 to 3... That schedule ranking is misleading.

[bluechipper]

 

Again, if OU wins this weekend that means they would have beat Baylor, TCU and OSU in the last three weeks of the season (all top 4 teams within the last 5-6 weeks, and all legit top 10 teams overall)

 

Find me another one loss team that has beaten 3 top teams.

OSU-Who have they beat?

Notre Dame- Who have they beat?
Michigan State- People complain about OU losing to Texas, but MSU losing to Nebraska is wayyyyyyy worse.

Nebraska is a way "better loss" than Texas. For reference, Texas lost to Iowa State 24 to 0.

 

Baylor and TCU were playing with backup quarterbacks.

[DaveW]

 

Nebraska is a way "better loss" than Texas. For reference, Texas lost to Iowa State 24 to 0.

 

Baylor and TCU were playing with backup quarterbacks.

Nebraska is terrible this year, trust me, I have watched every game.

 

2nd hardest schedule in NCAA, you can talk all you want about Baylor having a backup QB, but that backup QB just beat Oklahoma State last week. Also, OU had to play their backup QB for half of the game against TCU.

 

You can try to talk it down all you want for being "misleading" but tell me one good team that Notre Dame beat this year, I am waiting for that.

[DaveW]

Notre Dame victories:

Texas: Bad team.

Virgina: 4-7, bad team

Georgia Tech: 3-8, terrible team.

Mass: 2-9, in the MAC! Literally one of the worst teams in football.

Navy: Worst conference in NCAA

Temple: See: Navy, but even worse.

USC: Disaster of a season, only 7 wins.

Wake Forest: 3-8, terrible team.

Pitt: Mediocre Team, might finish in the top 40

Boston College: 0-7 in conference, should have beaten Notre Dame anyways.

 

I don't see one "quality" win, I see two "decent" wins over top 50 programs like USC and Pitt.

[bluechipper]

 

Nebraska is terrible this year, trust me, I have watched every game.

 

2nd hardest schedule in NCAA, you can talk all you want about Baylor having a backup QB, but that backup QB just beat Oklahoma State last week. Also, OU had to play their backup QB for half of the game against TCU.

 

You can try to talk it down all you want for being "misleading" but tell me one good team that Notre Dame beat this year, I am waiting for that.

 

Notre Dame victories:

Texas: Bad team.

Virgina: 4-7, bad team

Georgia Tech: 3-8, terrible team.

Mass: 2-9, in the MAC! Literally one of the worst teams in football.

Navy: Worst conference in NCAA

Temple: See: Navy, but even worse.

USC: Disaster of a season, only 7 wins.

Wake Forest: 3-8, terrible team.

Pitt: Mediocre Team, might finish in the top 40

Boston College: 0-7 in conference, should have beaten Notre Dame anyways.

 

I don't see one "quality" win, I see two "decent" wins over top 50 programs like USC and Pitt.

Pitt, Navy, and Temple are all good teams. You can make the same argument against Oklahoma too.

[DaveW]

 

Pitt, Navy, and Temple are all good teams. You can make the same argument against Oklahoma too.

No they aren't, and no you can't.

 

Unless you are trying to say that Pitt Navy and Temple are somehow better than Baylor, TCU and Tennessee

[bluechipper]

 

No they aren't, and no you can't.

 

Unless you are trying to say that Pitt Navy and Temple are somehow better than Baylor, TCU and Tennessee

Tennessee isn't anything special, and I doubt Notre Dame would have any trouble playing backup quarterbacks from TCU and Baylor either.

[DaveW]

Tennessee isn't anything special, and I doubt Notre Dame would have any trouble playing backup quarterbacks from TCU and Baylor either.

if you say so.

 

You say Tennessee isn't anything special but tried to tell me that Navy, Temple and Pitt where.

 

The numbers don't lie:2nd hardest schedule

[bluechipper]

 

if you say so.

You say Tennessee isn't anything special but tried to tell me that Navy, Temple and Pitt where.

The numbers don't lie:2nd hardest schedule

Pitt has lost three games. To three top 15 teams. They're a good team.

 

That Texas loss is hard to get over for me, and the eye test favors Notre Dame too in my opinion.

[DaveW]

Tell me again how Oklahoma isn't a top  4 team this year? Hell, tell me again how Oklahoma isn't the BEST team in the nation right now :jump: