🏈 🏈 🏈 2024 EVERYTHING COLLEGE FOOTBALL Utopian Discussion Thread 🏈 🏈 🏈

[TheFrenzy]

A good post on the difference between this year and recent years.

[Fenway55]

Normally the PC rankings are fun to discuss while we all know none of them mean anything until the final ranking. This year, however, tonight is going to be a HUGE night for those bubble teams who don't have any more games left to play.

Specifically, who gets the final at-large spot? The biggest argument I am seeing is between the Alabama and South Carolina people. (For some reason, everyone agrees Ole Miss is out). You occasionally see someone meekly suggest it should go to Miami. Regardless, whatever order we see tonight among those teams vying for the final at large spot we can safely assume will be the same order we see next week (right?). Tonight's results will likely tell us exactly who is in the playoffs, with the exception that Boise State/Arizona State/SMU might lose to UNLV/Iowa State/Clemson.

The ONLY possible question I can think of going into next weekend is how far does SMU or Boise State fall if they lose? Some people think teams shouldn't be punished much for losing the "extra game". Could either team possibly lose next week but still maintain an at-large? IMHO it is not out of the question, though SMU seems to be better situated than Boise State.

[TheFrenzy]

Miami losing a shootout to the nation's #1 QB (Kyle McCord) looks better in my eyes than scoring 3 points and getting blown out by an awful Oklahoma.

[cdub6238]

Originally Posted by Fenway55

Normally the PC rankings are fun to discuss while we all know none of them mean anything until the final ranking. This year, however, tonight is going to be a HUGE night for those bubble teams who don't have any more games left to play.

Specifically, who gets the final at-large spot? The biggest argument I am seeing is between the Alabama and South Carolina people. (For some reason, everyone agrees Ole Miss is out). You occasionally see someone meekly suggest it should go to Miami. Regardless, whatever order we see tonight among those teams vying for the final at large spot we can safely assume will be the same order we see next week (right?). Tonight's results will likely tell us exactly who is in the playoffs, with the exception that Boise State/Arizona State/SMU might lose to UNLV/Iowa State/Clemson.

The ONLY possible question I can think of going into next weekend is how far does SMU or Boise State fall if they lose? Some people think teams shouldn't be punished much for losing the "extra game". Could either team possibly lose next week but still maintain an at-large? IMHO it is not out of the question, though SMU seems to be better situated than Boise State.

If Boise St loses...they are out period. They are hovering around the bottom 3 as is, and even though they played Oregon tough (as I made my argument earlier) I just don't think their SOS holds up with 2 losses..a la how Miami will probably be..

I guess at least Boise makes it to the CFG though...so they MIGHT hold on

Bigger question would be SMU..if they lose to Clemson, even though it's the ACC title game...that means both "tough games" they played will be losses (BYU)

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

Miami losing a shootout to the nation's #1 QB (Kyle McCord) looks better in my eyes than scoring 3 points and getting blown out by an awful Oklahoma.

It really depends imo...Miami played with fire all season and had to come from behind to win against lesser teams and barely survive...and it ended up burning them twice, AND they don't have a "signature win"

Bama at least has an argument beating Georgia, South Carolina..and to a lesser extent Missouri...

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

Miami losing a shootout to the nation's #1 QB (Kyle McCord) looks better in my eyes than scoring 3 points and getting blown out by an awful Oklahoma.

I enjoy your posts

[TheFrenzy]

Alabama played one good half against Georgia.

(Which also happened to be the worst half Georgia played all season.)

[TheFrenzy]

Literally just walked past this in Tempe.

Someone saw the future:

[mc1]

Originally Posted by cdub6238

It really depends imo...Miami played with fire all season and had to come from behind to win against lesser teams and barely survive...and it ended up burning them twice, AND they don't have a "signature win"

Bama at least has an argument beating Georgia, South Carolina..and to a lesser extent Missouri...

Miamis best wins: Louisville, Florida and Duke. Allowed just over 30 pts a game in conference games.

It looks like it will come down to:

Miami/Alabama (if SMU wins)
SMU/Alabama (if Clemson wins)

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by asujbl

I enjoy your posts

Good to have you back.

[Fenway55]

I think it is weird how Miami came in right in the middle of the SEC-3. What is the justification for putting them behind Alabama but ahead of Mississippi and South Carolina? It is like last year how it made no sense to drop FSU below Alabama while keeping them ahead of Georgia.

It is almost like the committee goes out of their way to make sure Alabama gets in....

[AwesomeBrian]

Originally Posted by Fenway55

I think it is weird how Miami came in right in the middle of the SEC-3. What is the justification for putting them behind Alabama but ahead of Mississippi and South Carolina? It is like last year how it made no sense to drop FSU below Alabama while keeping them ahead of Georgia.

It is almost like the committee goes out of their way to make sure Alabama gets in....

Seems like a close Clemson win over SMU will cure the Alabama problem

[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by AwesomeBrian

Seems like a close Clemson win over SMU will cure the Alabama problem

I think you’re right. I agree with the comment above that Boise State cannot afford to lose but SMU losing would be very, verrrrrrrry close between them and Alabama.

[TheFrenzy]

I think the funniest outcome of all the superconference bloating is that one year in we've already got claims that teams like Texas and Indiana—who played through a full SEC/B1G schedule with only one loss—still "haven't beaten anyone who matters."

Did these coaches and commissioners not realize that building 30-team conferences was going to screw up the final standings by cannibalizing some teams while letting others skate by with easy schedules?

[AwesomeBrian]

Originally Posted by Fenway55

I think you’re right. I agree with the comment above that Boise State cannot afford to lose but SMU losing would be very, verrrrrrrry close between them and Alabama.

Lots of scenarios to play out.
Would Penn State drop below Indiana with a loss?
Where does Georgia go with a loss?
Can SMU hang on with a loss, lots of money down there...
Notre Dame likely locked into that sweet spot 5th seed... unless Oregon loses then they should get it.

There is a lot of intrigue

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by Fenway55

I think you’re right. I agree with the comment above that Boise State cannot afford to lose but SMU losing would be very, verrrrrrrry close between them and Alabama.

Which is a shame because:

1. The committee has said, "we won't punish teams for having to play in conference championships." If they actually mean what they say, then Boise State and SMU should already be locked in ahead of the 9-3 teams.

2. SMU will have played one more game than the 9-3 teams and still have fewer losses. Whether you value wins or losses more, SMU is ahead in both cases.

[Hess687]

Originally Posted by AwesomeBrian

Lots of scenarios to play out.
Would Penn State drop below Indiana with a loss?
Where does Georgia go with a loss?
Can SMU hang on with a loss, lots of money down there...
Notre Dame likely locked into that sweet spot 5th seed... unless Oregon loses then they should get it.

There is a lot of intrigue

I'm going to the Notre Dame playoff game.....I don't want Bama. My hope is an SMU loss and they kick Bama out and take their place in the rankings and/or a Penn State loss and we take their number five seed.

[obenheimer78]

I know there's still a week to go, but here's the full scenario going on with Alabama amongst all the voters. They know Alabama is a huge money draw, so no matter what, they will rank Alabama wherever they need to, to play the two easiest-to-beat teams, making them sure shots at the semi-finals. This will happen, no matter what. I hate this, but there's no way Alabama will miss the playoffs and will have the easiest schedule in the first two rounds.

[TheFrenzy]

If anyone wonders what the BCS rankings would look like right now:

[cdub6238]

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

Which is a shame because:

1. The committee has said, "we won't punish teams for having to play in conference championships." If they actually mean what they say, then Boise State and SMU should already be locked in ahead of the 9-3 teams.

2. SMU will have played one more game than the 9-3 teams and still have fewer losses. Whether you value wins or losses more, SMU is ahead in both cases.

1- I actually haven't watched live recently, but I don't remember them saying they "wouldn't punish"...but that they "value making it to the CCG and would take it into consideration with a loss"

2- again, I think it boils down to "resume"; while I would agree 10/2 > 9/3...the fact that both of SMUs losses would have been to #17 and #18 Clemson and BYU and no wins...whereas Bama has 3 losses, but wins over #5 Georgia and #12 South Carolina..

And I'm not arguing "for" Bama...I can just see the reasoning..I'd love to see them left out as much as anybody

[TheFrenzy]

Super excited for a 12-team playoff, but there's no justifiable reason for the committee to use the selection process as a means of rewarding teams who didn't even make their conference championship game at the expense of those who did make it and lost.

[codered]

I hate that the committee is forcing bama in. I don’t get the argument that 10-2 Miami can’t be ahead of 9-3 bama because they are a SEC team with better wins, strength of schedule blah blah blah. Funny they won’t use that same argument over 9-3 ole miss and SC, probably because it creates more distance between bama and those two teams when you could easily argue both of them are just as or more deserving than bama. Now not only do you have to argue why those teams are better and more than bama, you have to argue they are more deserving than Miami too.

I would have loved an 80 homage canes vs. Irish with the winner potentially facing SMU

[cdub6238]

Originally Posted by obenheimer78

I know there's still a week to go, but here's the full scenario going on with Alabama amongst all the voters. They know Alabama is a huge money draw, so no matter what, they will rank Alabama wherever they need to, to play the two easiest-to-beat teams, making them sure shots at the semi-finals. This will happen, no matter what. I hate this, but there's no way Alabama will miss the playoffs and will have the easiest schedule in the first two rounds.

I can agree with the sentiment somewhat that they most definitely want them in..

But..pretty sure the highest they could get is #9 ranking- with both a Boise St loss and SMU loss...

Which means they'd be #10 seed (since AZ St/Iowa St would take #4 seed)

Putting them in an away game against #7 seed..then #2 seed..

[trixstar]

boat raced by a dogsh*t Oklahoma team? No problem! Lose to a sh*t Vandy team? No problem! You’re Alabama

[TheFrenzy]

The butterfly effect from Vandy straight up ghosting SMU two weeks before the season started could be potentially wild.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by codered

I hate that the committee is forcing bama in. I don’t get the argument that 10-2 Miami can’t be ahead of 9-3 bama because they are a SEC team with better wins, strength of schedule blah blah blah. Funny they won’t use that same argument over 9-3 ole miss and SC, probably because it creates more distance between bama and those two teams when you could easily argue both of them are just as or more deserving than bama. Now not only do you have to argue why those teams are better and more than bama, you have to argue they are more deserving than Miami too.

Ole Miss lost to Kentucky, at home. Thats still a worse loss than Oklahoma on the road.
South Carolina lost to Alabama.

Miami had the benefit of avoiding Clemson and SMU during the regular season.

BCS SEC bias and computers agree with the CFP rankings.