The arbitrary nature of it is what makes it fun. If it was just systematic it would be like the NFL where some BS 8-5 team just happened to win their division and can get in. Don't take the fun out of it!
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The 2017-2018 NCAA Football Season
- Thread starter maflynn
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The arbitrary nature of it is what makes it fun. If it was just systematic it would be like the NFL where some BS 8-5 team just happened to win their division and can get in. Don't take the fun out of it!
They would if all Power 5 Conferences had parity. Between the ACC, Big 12, Big 10, Pac-12 and SEC, only the SEC, Big 10 and ACC have had consistent success where the top teams were really the top teams since the inception of the CFP. Then you start considering the variables like SOS and you start to break away from the Power 5 and start considering other teams. Also, the Big 12 doesn't have a conference title game so they use that against them.
The problem College football has is there are far too many eligible teams that never have a shot at a championship. Basketball has a tournament of 68. Football has a ranking every week that just picks four teams. At least make it 8 teams and have 3 weeks of playoffs. Why have a whole month off in the season.
We could always add teams but with football, I don't think it really matters - we just get more football. I know we like to say any given Sunday, but with college football, there really is a huge gap in talent between teams. I don't remember the last time where college basketball had a blowout in final four/finals. In college football we've seen games like Alabama/Notre Dame where one team gets completely destroyed because the talent gap is huge. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but what do you think the outcome would be if a team like Arizona or Utah had to play the Alabama's and Ohio States of college football?
I would propose to seed the 5 power conference winners and then 3 wild card teams. Then you can seed them 1-8 by best team.
Unfortunately for Alabama fans (of which I'm one), the Tide has several things going against it:
- SOS: The win against FSU would have counted more had Francois not been injured, taking their season with him. The fact that the injury happened in the 4th quarter should have made a difference, but it didn't. Besides, the committee's memory for early season play is short. The inconsistent play of other SEC teams that Alabama played didn't help, either.
- Alabama had their chance to get a signature win against Auburn yesterday and they blew it. Would the outcome have been different without all the injuries? Possibly, but it's something all teams have to deal with and work through.
- If Auburn wins on Saturday, they deserve to be in the CFP. Ditto if Georgia wins. Had Bama won the Iron Bowl and lost to Georgia in a close SECC game, there might have been an argument to include two SEC teams, but the committee would do almost anything to avoid that.
- Many people who follow college football are tired of seeing Alabama in the playoffs so often. That also motivates the committee.
Agree with all those points and why I don't think Alabama will be included this year. In previous years, Alabama was a sure lock because one, they were that good and two, the rest of the SEC was better than he has these past years so those wins Alabama locked up over ranked SEC teams helped them with their SOS. This year other than Auburn, which Alabama failed to win, there is no significant signature win for Alabama. Even if Francois never went down, that's only one team vs. the rest of their schedule - wouldn't have made a significant difference IMO.
Agreed. My alma mater Central Florida is one of two unbeaten teams, but since they aren't in a power conference they are shunned. If they win their conference championship they will be 12-0 and won't make the playoff. That is total BS. In reality, the playoff system is only for the SEC, ACC, Big 10, Pac-12 and Big 12, the rest of the teams can just eat **** and die as far as the playoff selection committee is concerned.
Upsets do happen, just look at 4-7 Pitt beating 10-0 Miami.
I could support this. As it stands now, if UCF goes 12-0 and doesn't make the playoffs, I won't be watching any bowl or playoff games.
You seriously think UCF would go 12-0 or even .500 in a power-5 conference? They had a great year, but I just don't see it.
The playoff system as is, is nearly perfect. Look at the weekend we're about to have:
1 vs 7
2 vs 10
3 vs 8
4 vs 6
This is a de-facto college playoff semi-final and it's awesome. The weeks leading hope we get all these mini-playoff games but you want to ruin it and make the regular season not matter? If you expand the playoff that is exactly what will happen. You'll be able to have some 10-3 Pac-12 team or something get a chance at the playoff? No thanks.
4 teams. Lots of controversy, and UCF needs to schedule teams like Oklahoma, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Penn State, Ohio State, Clemson, Michigan, USC, LSU, etc. if they want to be taken seriously.
Who knows? I certainly don't.
Yes, the system is perfect when it completely shuts out ANY opportunity for the vast majority of the teams to be able to participate in it. [/sarcasm]
Still wouldn’t matter. How long has this system been in place? Has any team from outside the SEC, Big10, PAC-12, ACC, Big12 ever made it to the playoff? If an undefeated team still isn’t good enough then under what circumstances does a non-power 5 conference team make the playoffs?
Face the facts, the college football playoff is only for a few select teams, the rest of the teams can just **** off and die according to the selection committee and fans like you @smallcoffee
Upsets do happen but like you said, NCAAF is really a small handful of teams so when you allow 3-loss teams into the playoff, an upset could happen, but chances are they're in no shape to take on the powerhouse schools. Notre Dame is a good example. Whether or not you or anyone views them as a powerhouse or good program, when they had to play someone like Alabama, they got smoked. Now imagine another school without a big football program who got in because they expanded the playoff, it would just be another game. I could see an upset in the first round but eventually you can't carry that luck throughout the playoffs - the idea of a Cinderella team in football isn't as exciting as one in NCAAB because it's not feasible given the type of sport and the disparity of talent between the elite teams and everyone else.
It’s the way the system has been rigged over the past 20 years. The power football conferences don’t want competition.
That is another discussion but solely for the fact that the power conferences have all the talent, the way the CFP is set up is fine. You'll always have someone excluded but for the power schools, I always say run your schedule and you won't have to worry about someone's opinion.
The dumpster fire that is known as Tenn Volunteers just keeps getting worse (or better depending on your perspective).
Not surprising on a couple of levels but David Cutcliffe turned down Tenn.
Duke's David Cutcliffe told Vols he plans to stay put, sources say
I'm not knocking on Cutcliffe, but if they targeted the Duke coach a replacement, it just shows how most top tier coaches are avoiding Tenn and for good reason.
Not surprising on a couple of levels but David Cutcliffe turned down Tenn.
Duke's David Cutcliffe told Vols he plans to stay put, sources say
I'm not knocking on Cutcliffe, but if they targeted the Duke coach a replacement, it just shows how most top tier coaches are avoiding Tenn and for good reason.
From the baffling side of news, it seems Herm Edwards will interview for Arizona State head-coaching job I hope the best for him in all honesty because he seems to be a nice guy (at least on espn)
From last night
Jimbo Fisher-to-Texas A&M rumors: FSU coach could leave shortly
From what I've been reading, the relationship between Fisher and the administration has been strained this season. Not only because of the failure of the team to perform at the level they expected but Fisher has been pushing the administration to upgrade the facilities. This is like an arms race, one college drops 60 million if not a hundred million on a new facility, and so of course recruits will be enticed, so then other colleges start doing that. I guess FSU has resisted going down that path much to Fishers chagrin and annoyance.
Looks like Tenn. Fired the AD after he so completely bungled the search/hiring of a new coach.
Tumultuous coaching search leads to AD John Currie's dismissal
I cant say that I'm surprised, it seemed that it reached a level of panic mode, when even coaches from universities that were much lower in acclaim and status were declining Tenn. Someone had to pay for the debacle, and it was time to hit the reset button, take a deep breath and hire a search firm. Oddly enough Currie didn't hire a search firm after firing Jones, a mistake he I'm sure rues.
Tumultuous coaching search leads to AD John Currie's dismissal
I cant say that I'm surprised, it seemed that it reached a level of panic mode, when even coaches from universities that were much lower in acclaim and status were declining Tenn. Someone had to pay for the debacle, and it was time to hit the reset button, take a deep breath and hire a search firm. Oddly enough Currie didn't hire a search firm after firing Jones, a mistake he I'm sure rues.