College Football 2024

[MichVandal]

That is because of their conference schedule (where they were barely above .500). Not their non-conference schedule. The point being made by Alabama fans was that the committee's decision to take SMU over Alabama would lead teams to reduce the strength of their non-conference scheduling. Alabama's non-conference schedule was weak.

And they use that every single season. Drives me crazy. No matter the outcome of the Vandy game- lose because the conference it tough, win because they are tough.

Whats kind of funny is how bad espn treats the acc, even though they televise them too.

[psych]

Indiana vs Notre Dame is absolute madness. This is the first time I've thought the CFP was a good thing.

As a Hoosier fan, someone who has witnessed literally the worst power 5 program by a large margin (sorry, Vanderbilt) in 125 years, it’s absolute madness. I drove 26 hours roundtrip to Tempe, AZ, with my sister when Indiana made its first bowl game in something like 14 years in 2007. If I didn’t have two young kids, I’d be in South Bend on 12/20.

[bronconick]

Glad to see SMU get in.

I'm getting a bit of a kick out of certain Alabama fans (including Nick Saban) throwing a fit about strength of schedule, and how this decision will change how teams schedule non-conference opponents.

Well, Alabama's non-conference schedule this season was:

Western Kentucky
South Florida
Wisconsin (5-7 this year)
Mercer (FCS)

Not exactly some murderer's row.

Alabama wasn't worn down by the game before Oklahoma. That was Mercer. You then got punched in the face and lost by 21 to a 6 loss team.

[Kepler]

Indiana vs Notre Dame is absolute madness. This is the first time I've thought the CFP was a good thing.

Greatest sporting event in the history of Indiana.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Alabama's SOS was objectively very strong this year. But otherwise I agree.

before this weekend, their KRACH-based SOS was top 9 or 10.

That is because of their conference schedule (where they were barely above .500). Not their non-conference schedule. The point being made by Alabama fans was that the committee's decision to take SMU over Alabama would lead teams to reduce the strength of their non-conference scheduling. Alabama's non-conference schedule was weak.

[dxmnkd316]

Glad to see SMU get in.

I'm getting a bit of a kick out of certain Alabama fans (including Nick Saban) throwing a fit about strength of schedule, and how this decision will change how teams schedule non-conference opponents.

Well, Alabama's non-conference schedule this season was:

Western Kentucky
South Florida
Wisconsin (5-7 this year)
Mercer (FCS)

Not exactly some murderer's row.

Alabama's SOS was objectively very strong this year. But otherwise I agree.

before this weekend, their KRACH-based SOS was top 9 or 10.

[dxmnkd316]

Indiana vs Notre Dame is absolute madness. This is the first time I've thought the CFP was a good thing.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Glad to see SMU get in.

I'm getting a bit of a kick out of certain Alabama fans (including Nick Saban) throwing a fit about strength of schedule, and how this decision will change how teams schedule non-conference opponents.

Well, Alabama's non-conference schedule this season was:

Western Kentucky
South Florida
Wisconsin (5-7 this year)
Mercer (FCS)

Not exactly some murderer's row.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Can't complain much with the Committee's rankings so far. They didn't punish Texas or Penn State (#5 and #6 seeds respectively) for losing their conference championships at the expense of Notre Dame (who did not play).

Bodes well for SMU...

[dxmnkd316]

I think PSU should get bumped. They've yet to beat a top 25 team. Key wins are Minnesota and USC. Like, sorry, that's just not very good.

SMU at least has a win against Louisville. Alabama has a couple headline wins.

So you've got Oregon, UGA, Boise, ASU, and Clemson.
Notre Dame, Texas, OSU.

that's where I think the line gets murky. PSU, Indiana, SMU, TN, and Alabama all have marks against them.

I think in the end I go with SMU, Alabama, TN, and Indiana

ETA: obviously PSU gets in, they beat everyone except Oregon. But like, I think we should reward teams that go out and schedule big name non-conference if there needs to be a tiebreaker. I know several of the teams didn't do that, but they also had wins again top 25 teams, usually multiple. Wins should be prioritized above all else.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

As SMU's coach said, if they got Covid and couldn't play the conference championship, they would be in.

That is the key. You shouldn't punish a team that loses its conference championship and reward a team that doesn't play in its conference championship. If that is the precedent set, the reward (getting a potential bye in the first round) is not worth the risk (missing the Playoff altogether). I think you would see teams find reasons they are "unable" to play in the conference championship game.

[Spartanforlife4]

If SMU is snubbed over bama, it would be two seasons in a row bama gets in over an acc team who had a good season. Which would suck pretty bad.

As SMU's coach said, if they got Covid and couldn't play the conference championship, they would be in.

SMU has two losses to 10-2 BYU and 10-3 Clemson, both by 3 points.

Bama has three losses to 6-6 Vandy, 10-2 Tennessee, and 6-6 Oklahoma. Those were by 5, 7, and 21 points.

Bama has a better win over Georgia and better SOS, but also far worse losses and more losses even including the conference championship game.

[MichVandal]

If SMU is snubbed over bama, it would be two seasons in a row bama gets in over an acc team who had a good season. Which would suck pretty bad.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Whew...

It will be interesting to see who they give the last bye (Arizona State or Clemson). I would guess ASU. Had Clemson put SMU away in convincing fashion (like ASU did to Iowa State), I think the Tigers would have had a chance, but they had to get a miracle to escape Charlotte with a win.

SMU vs Alabama is another very interesting battle for the last at-large. If SMU is left out, then it sends an awful message (and terrible precedent going forward). Why would any team in SMU's position in the future go and play in the conference title game? The committee has done very stupid things before, but I think they can justify narrowly putting SMU ahead of Alabama because the Tide have 3 losses. I would guess SMU gets the nod.

If so, then I think we have:

12. Clemson at 5. Notre Dame (Winner to play #4 Arizona State)
11. SMU at 6. Texas (Winner to play #3 Boise State)
10. Indiana at 7. Penn State (Winner to play #2 Georgia)
9. Tennessee at 8. Ohio State (Winner to play #1 Oregon)

[bronconick]

In today's action:


1 - OREGON (leads Penn State, 38-24)

2 - TEXAS (lost to Georgia, 19-22)

3 - PENN STATE (trails Oregon, 24-38)

4 - NOTRE DAME (reopened after 5 years' reconstruction)

5 - GEORGIA (defeated Texas, 22-19)

6 - OHIO STATE (idle)