December 2nd, 2018 at 8:15 AM ^
I believe you are on the best track here.
What we have at this moment is the exact chaos I was hoping for-3 teams that are objectively equal with only one slot available. I vote for the best team...I do not care about any of the other criteria...that team is Georgia.
I was an 8 team playoff advocate but am wandering toward 16. Reduce the regular season to 11 games-ten in conference. (Get rid of the damn divisions!!!) The in-conference games are the best playing the worst from the previous year and progressing through the sequence. At the end of the year each P5 conference submits their 2 entries...so that gets you ten teams. (May have conferences only being allowed one pick-to reduce shenanigans.) A committee picks 6 at large teams and seeds the tournament...and off you go. Here, any complaints of being left out would be relatively frivolous...and you would avoid many re-matches. Begin play two weeks after the regular season ends and have a week between rounds. Re-seed after each round...the first two rounds get played at the site of the higher seed. Indianapolis, Atlanta and Phoenix/Dallas would be the neutral sites. Life is so simple :)
December 2nd, 2018 at 12:32 AM ^
Can’t even stand to watch SEC netwo...er.. ESPN anymore.
December 2nd, 2018 at 12:34 AM ^
Austin Peay...Middle Tennessee St...and UMass. STFU Kirby.
December 2nd, 2018 at 12:35 AM ^
Lol, better luck next year ole Kirb
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:24 AM ^
I'm pretty Georgia is one of the top 4 teams in the country RIGHT NOW. I think you can make a case they are #2 actually. But if the committee is still valuing non-conference schedules that right there is what will keep them out.
December 2nd, 2018 at 12:34 AM ^
Georgia is only out because they played today. ND could have been bounced today if they played. They shouldn't be given a bye round & not be susceptible to being left out. Imo...
December 2nd, 2018 at 12:37 AM ^
Yes, but their exposure is actually more embarrassing on the big stage (we have seen this movie before with ND)
December 2nd, 2018 at 7:24 AM ^
They were susceptible to being left out. The thing is, however, nobody stepped up to push them out of the top 4. Like it or not, ND took care of business with a schedule that should have been harder than it turned out to be. But I don't fault ND for the weakness of Stanford, USC, and FSU this year. They also played Michigan and Syracuse (neutral site).
Honestly, after watching Alabama last night look beatable, I really think ND could take them. A final group of Alabama, Clemson, ND, and Oklahoma would make for an interesting CFP. I'm certainly not interested in seeing Georgia in there after choking. Nor am I interested in seeing OSU get in over any of those teams.
December 2nd, 2018 at 10:04 AM ^
Come on!
For twenty years, we cursed the conference championshp games (especially the SEC) for what they are--a TV cash grab, and a way to sneak an extra team into a choice bowl game.
December 2nd, 2018 at 12:45 AM ^
I'm fine with it if it contributes to playoff expansion. That's essentially two sec and acc teams in and everyone else out.
December 2nd, 2018 at 12:49 AM ^
Honestly, ND should be out. Top 4 teams are Bama, clemson, OU, and OSU. Georgia has 2 losses so they're out. Fuck ND, join a conference or gtfo
December 2nd, 2018 at 12:57 AM ^
Agreed. ND has one good win and got to stay home today. Committee should send them a message.
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:00 AM ^
I get that ND gets an easier road in general BC they do not have to play a conference championship game.
But for this year in particular, OSU got to play Northwestern (no. 78 in S&P+ and the 8th best team in the Big Ten), so...OSU beating NW does not really add to their resume).
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:10 AM ^
I actually agree regarding Notre Dame - I think the lack of being in a conference should be seen as a negative to the committee. As for OSU, I don' know that beating Northwestern, which they should be able to do in their sleep anyway, necessarily gives them a resume-building win.
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:25 AM ^
I know this has already been said many times, but they need to do away with divisions - at least for deciding conference champs. Either do away with championship games or select top two teams in the conference to play in them.
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:56 AM ^
To be fair, OSU did beat NW much more soundly than ND did...
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:35 AM ^
I agree that it is bullshit that ND got a bye week and people want to diminish the actual quality of their schedule. However, Clemson playing Pitt was nothing but a glorified scrimmage. Clemson’s schedule this year was a complete joke (much more so than ND’s). I happen to think Clemson is one of the 4 best teams but why is everybody knocking ND (aside from to hell with ND) when Clemson’s situation isn’t much better?
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:58 AM ^
Because Clemson at least beat most of their opponents by a large margin. ND played within 1 score to 4 poor quality teams that averaged a 5.5 - 6.5 record
December 2nd, 2018 at 12:51 AM ^
I hope the committee does it just to piss everyone off. What the hell, not like there's any point in watching this fucking sport anymore, anyway.
December 2nd, 2018 at 12:54 AM ^
I'd put
Clemson at 1
Bama at 2
OK at 3
Georgia at 4
Clemson v Georgia
Bama v OK
Leave NDs ass out for sitting at home today.
December 2nd, 2018 at 12:56 AM ^
Osu got blown out by 6-6 Purdue - no way they should be in.
December 2nd, 2018 at 2:12 AM ^
Well, they beat the ever living shit out of the #4 team so, you know, maybe they're good at football
December 2nd, 2018 at 4:47 AM ^
Hard to say that considering they gave up 39 points.
December 2nd, 2018 at 6:57 AM ^
Don’t be butt-hurt. OSU deserves to be in it because they rolled us. ND is the team that doesn’t deserve it.
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:02 AM ^
If you lose by 30 to 6-6 Purdue and give up 53 to Maryland, then as 12-0 ND gets in above you.
December 2nd, 2018 at 9:01 AM ^
Now I'd be fine if OSU dropped off the face of the earth, but to be fair ND had lots of struggles.
Purdue is also a team I wouldn't want to play in a bowl game if I were any 8-5 or worse ranked team. Purdue lost 5 of their 6 games by an average of 4 points, and they lost to 6 teams with an average record of 7-5 while beating other 7-5 teams including one time ACC "ranked" BC. I don't think Purdue is an outstanding team, but they are good enough to be competitive with almost everyone they played this year.
December 2nd, 2018 at 1:24 AM ^
It has already been said here, but if UGA really belonged they would have won today. This was de facto play in game and they lost and should be precluded from a rematch in 4 weeks.
ND should move to 4 below Oklahoma. While they are undefeated, they don't have the conference championship the other 3 have and their quality wins are Michigan in week 1 and Syracuse (best win was NC State).
That would set up Bama vs. ND and Clemson v. Oklahoma. Those would be compelling games, but for much different reasons.
December 2nd, 2018 at 1:55 AM ^
I think this will happen, just to show nd they get penalized for sitting home
December 2nd, 2018 at 1:50 AM ^
lo wtf did you expect??? Do you think Harbaugh would do any differently?
December 2nd, 2018 at 2:10 AM ^
It's win and you're in; ND did not win, thus stay home and whine about it.
New motto: Play a Championship Game Today!
December 2nd, 2018 at 3:48 AM ^
Smart and SEC Nation are arguing that because at one point in one game Georgia had a lead against a certain team that they lost because they gave up 21 unanswered points over the final 27 minutes of the game that this two-loss non-conference champion should be in the playoff over a one-loss conference champion with the best offense in the country so that we can see a re-match of a game we just saw. And Herbstreit is hysterically arguing that Georgia should actually jump an undefeated Notre Dame because of that game.
December 2nd, 2018 at 3:48 AM ^
ESPN's attempt to generate controversy so that their ratings tomorrow don't suck has been really pathetic to watch.
December 2nd, 2018 at 10:41 AM ^
Agree. They have to spew a lot of hot takes to garner interest, but in the end, I won't be surprised if there's zero drama and it's as most predict: the top 3 remaining the same and OU moving into 4. But ESPN still wants you to watch.
December 2nd, 2018 at 6:56 AM ^
There is no way this happens (it would leave out three Power 5 conferences), but I am actually rooting for it. That will get us to the 8 team playoff ASAP!
December 2nd, 2018 at 7:56 AM ^
If OSU does not get into the playoffs, may be their fans can start bitching a lot and the committee will expand the playoffs to 8 teams next season. It will be the 2nd straight year the B1G champion has been left out.
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:01 AM ^
if we’re being honest Georgia is one of the best 4 teams in college football and probably should be in even with two losses.
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:32 AM ^
Had their shot and blew it. Why give them another one?
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:48 AM ^
Why are they one of the 4 best? Because they had a lead half way through a game with Bama? That doesn't work as a valid argument. They had their shot, and blew it. There are 5 teams that didn't blow it this weekend (Bama, Clemson, OU, OSU, and yes - ND). Of the teams behind ND, not a single one of them did anything to get pushed above them. There's a case for OU to move a spot up in front, but OSU didn't do anything special to move ahead of with OU or ND.
Besides, fuck OSU.
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:50 AM ^
The FBS needs to go to an 8 10-Team Conferences model where each team plays a 9-game round robin conference schedule and 3 non-conference games. There will be no need for cash-grab conference championship games. The winner of each conference is in the playoffs. There will be no more need for the “experts” at ESPN to declare which teams pass their eye test. This would be a 100% objective process. Teams would no longer have to hide against 3 cupcakes during the non-conference games since those games don’t determine the playoff participants. The knock on doing it this way is the argument that the non-conference games have no meaning like they do now (though now most teams don’t play anybody with a pulse in the non-conference). Or, some, like ESPN, would say they like the arguments and debates over which teams should be in.
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:56 AM ^
If Georgia makes the playoffs, that will end the four team format. No way the Big Ten and Big 12 stand for that BS. Not if they have any guts.
December 2nd, 2018 at 9:40 AM ^
And Big 12. No way three P5 conferences get left out and the current format continues.
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:58 AM ^
As long as Alabama is in what's the point.
Georgia couldn't do it yesterday and they're probably not gonna do it anytime soon.
December 2nd, 2018 at 9:26 AM ^
That was their playoff. They would be playing the same team. Best 2 out of 3?
December 2nd, 2018 at 9:35 AM ^
The only sporting league that crowns a true champion is the English Premier League (and other pro soccer leagues). No playoff, no teams that don’t play each other, just a home-and-home with every team and every goal counts. Maybe it’s not the most dramatic at times — although championships have come down to goal differential in dramatic finishes. But, it’s 100% objective.
Obviously, CFB would need a massive change to implement a system like that, and I’m not really advocating that. But, CFB is careening off in an odd direction when one considers that all this BCS and CFP crap began in reaction to the subjectivity of the old voting system. They place people in charge of deciding who is in, but they give no concrete criteria, and they seem to contradict themselves from year to year as to what they’re using to make their choices.
I think the only objective solution is to break up the 16 team conferences and bring them down to a manageable number that enables teams to, first and foremost, play every team in their conference. Too often we see CCG’s with two teams who have already play, or just as bad, two teams that SHOULD have already played. To add to the idiocy, they also allow teams like ND to play by a different set of rules.
It’s all so frustrating and, like most things these days, it’s all because a few select conference commissioners and power brokers have taken control of the game for their own enrichment. It’s an unwieldy, biased, and idiotic system that we’re told to get hyped about. To be honest, I’d rather have no playoff and go back to the old old system.
December 2nd, 2018 at 9:42 AM ^
ESPN is a conflict of interest since they also have the SEC network. Talk about bias.
December 2nd, 2018 at 9:44 AM ^
what I hate about CFB:
1) Money is the driving factor
2) players get none of it and have no rights to thier likeness
3) the flat immorallity and/or amorality of a significant amount of key players: coaches, ADs, staff that survive in this field in spite or b/c of #1, 2
4) dehumanizing of ppl like when you go to MSU or OSU
5) whenever they change the playoff/bowls/NC system, they do it fucking half way. so we go from nothing/bowl games to the Bowl Coalition BS in the mid 90s to the BCS voting BS for a decade+ to a horshit 4 team playoff whose teams are voted in via a panel. Just fucking do it right. 5 major conferences. Those champs make it in. 1 at large for ND/anyone else who looks good. top 2 get byes. I could see an 8 team playoff if the conf champs are involved but you have to make a system that encourages good OOC matchups and uses the actual big 4 bowl games instead of the Rose Bowl being a 2nd tier game now.
December 2nd, 2018 at 10:03 AM ^
I agree across the board except for one point. The conferences, as they exist now, need to be restructured to allow a complete conference schedule — otherwise, what’s the point ... oh yeah, your point #1.
MSU and Iowa both made their B10 recent championship runs without having to play two of the best teams in the B10. It’s the same with Alabama and UGA not playing every year — both are ludicrous.
I know I’d rather player Purdue and Iowa than Maryland and Rutgers.
December 2nd, 2018 at 10:47 AM ^
I’ve got no problems with the guy lobbying for his team. He wouldn’t be doing his job right if he wasn’t out there trying to sell the committee on giving Georgia a chance.
But he had his chance. And he blew it big time. He let Alabama score 21 unanswered points, 7 of which came from the backup. Even when Georgia went into the half up by two scores, you almost knew that Alabama was going to storm back and win. It’s just what they do. It’s almost getting to the point where an Alabama loss is akin to a “you remember where you were/what you were doing when it happened” kind of moment.
December 2nd, 2018 at 12:02 PM ^
Not sure why you have to mention their backup QB when he could easily start for just about any P5 team.
December 2nd, 2018 at 11:04 AM ^
Didn't y'all hear? Georgia is amazing this year! They're so good they lost to TWO SEC teams!!!