Four unbeaten teams - who will fall next?
The regular season and conference championship games have come and gone. Four (4) teams have navigated it with an unblemished record. As we all know, Georgia fell in the SEC CCG on Saturday.
Which team(s), if any, will fall from the ranks of the unbeaten? Here’s the list – and the opponent. The unbeatens are bolded with their AP ranking in parentheses. The action begins in just over three weeks.
Florida State (4) vs Georgia (6) – Orange Bowl – December 30th, 4:00 pm
Liberty (18) vs Oregon (8) – Fiesta Bowl – January 1st, 1:00 pm
Michigan (1) vs Alabama (5) – Rose Bowl – January 1st, 5:00 pm
Washington (2) vs Texas (3) – Sugar Bowl – January 1st, 8:45 pm
My view is – Florida State and Liberty don’t survive this round of games.
What do you think?
December 8th, 2023 at 2:44 PM ^
FSU cares, Georgia does not. FSU wins.
Liberty loses.
Michigan-Washington title game!
December 8th, 2023 at 2:50 PM ^
How many players sitting out for Georgia FSU?
December 9th, 2023 at 3:41 AM ^
All of Georgia's starters. They will still have the second most talented roster playing.
December 8th, 2023 at 3:40 PM ^
Future B10 2-0 vs Future SEC
December 8th, 2023 at 5:16 PM ^
Think Toni Pettiti has the guts to go to the Rose Bowl to support the B1G? Or will he get a case of the sniffles and stay home?
December 8th, 2023 at 5:35 PM ^
Fuck this pettiti POS!! 🖕🖕🖕
Go Blue 🏈🏈🏈
Beat bama lama ding dong💪
December 8th, 2023 at 2:45 PM ^
Florida State is boycotting, right?
December 8th, 2023 at 3:02 PM ^
I'd like to see them come out and QB kneel every play.
December 8th, 2023 at 3:04 PM ^
I want them to have last second opt outs of all non walkons and then put on their best bishop sycamore impression.
December 8th, 2023 at 3:16 PM ^
What would FSU have to gain by boycotting or protesting in any other way? The playoff is going to be expanded next year, so the injustice visited upon them will never be replicated in the future.
It's completely in their interests to play their hearts out, beat Georgia and claim a share of the national title.
December 8th, 2023 at 4:14 PM ^
It'll totally be replicated, just among spots 10-12.
December 8th, 2023 at 4:20 PM ^
That's not the same. Those teams will have 2-3 losses. They could argue that they got a raw deal, but will have themselves to blame for being on the bubble.
FSU this year had a perfect season. They couldn't have done anything more. That, we're never going to see again - an undefeated team from a power conference get shut out of the playoff.
December 9th, 2023 at 4:22 PM ^
‘04 Auburn and ‘23 FSU are the only two teams I feel bad about getting screwed. There will always be someone on the bubble that gets left out, but unless you had a perfect season, that’s kinda just how life goes.
December 8th, 2023 at 6:12 PM ^
It would be amazing if they took three knees every possession. Make the game unwatchable and low rating just to fuck with ESPN. Game means jack shit and they can’t even pull a UCF and claim a championship cause they’d still be a game back. Payback is a bitch.
December 8th, 2023 at 8:06 PM ^
Lolol! Listen, my heart goes out to FSU because I’d be pissed too if I were them. But they aren’t claiming a share of anything that anyone will care about. They won’t beat Georgia anyway.
December 8th, 2023 at 2:47 PM ^
"....but remember, while today it is me, we all shall fall." - Dwight Schrute
Liberty
December 8th, 2023 at 2:47 PM ^
Florida State has a shot at a claimed national championship if they beat Georgia and have a national selector pick them as their national champion. It is in their best interest to win. I think FSU wins.
Liberty is a loss.
Washington beats Texas
We beat Alabama by 3
December 8th, 2023 at 2:55 PM ^
Interesting scenario...
FSU wins and both Michigan and Washington lose.
Alabama beats Texas in the championship game.
Does FSU get ranked #2?
How weird would that look? The #2 team is 14-0.
(I am of course not hoping for this scenario.)
December 8th, 2023 at 3:04 PM ^
I could see a lot of voters ranking them 1 in that scenario.
Of course, I prefer the scenario where Michigan wins out, Washington beats Texas, and FSU beats Georgia. We can debate whether FSU or Washington deserve #2.
December 8th, 2023 at 3:15 PM ^
If either Alabama or Texas win the CFP and FSU handles Georgia ... I expect a coordinated effort to vote FSU #1 and give them the national title. Which in that circumstance they would have fully earned and proven the CFP committee to be fraudulent.
December 8th, 2023 at 3:31 PM ^
NCAA needs to let their refs know Alabama and Texas shouldn't be allowed to advance to the championship game.
December 8th, 2023 at 5:17 PM ^
It would almost be worth it to undermine the long-term credibility of the Dr. Pepper Bowls.
But I'd rather see M secure total victory in our current system, even if it has always been a farce.
December 8th, 2023 at 3:08 PM ^
Yeah, but I expect that several key players of George’s team will opt out of the game like what happens to many schools who don’t have a championship to play for. So did they really beat “Georgia”?
December 8th, 2023 at 3:16 PM ^
I can hear the excuses from the SEC hacks already.
December 8th, 2023 at 5:06 PM ^
By the same token, if Georgia beats FSU without FSU's starting QB, did they really beat "FSU?"
Imponderable.
December 8th, 2023 at 2:56 PM ^
FSU
Liberty
Washington
December 8th, 2023 at 2:56 PM ^
Liberty, Liberty, Liberty.....Liberty. Where is Lemu Emu and Doug?
December 8th, 2023 at 3:56 PM ^
Liberty Biberty.
December 8th, 2023 at 6:54 PM ^
They're not even that articulate... it's "Liburdy Liburdy Liburdy"...adding one more level of annoying. Like sprinkling a few extra rabbit turds on top of a shit sandwich, just as a nice little garnish.
December 9th, 2023 at 9:08 AM ^
I fucking hate those motherfucking fucking Liberty fucking commercials.
Do I make myself clear?
December 8th, 2023 at 2:57 PM ^
Bowl games often go to the team that cares, not the team that is meh to be there. Normally I'd take FSU under this guideline, they have something to prove to the nation. But I'm not sure how they can beat GA even given this without Travis (or even with him). Again violating the guideline, Oregon likely doesn't care and Liberty does, but Oregon has such a talent advantage that I can't see them losing.
In the playoffs all four teams are highly motivated, I don't trust Washington's defense so I'll take Texas. And I retain enough BPONE scars that (ducks) I can't see us beating Bama. I know what the numbers say, but until I see us beat a top SEC team I can't believe in it.
December 8th, 2023 at 2:57 PM ^
FSU already did.
December 8th, 2023 at 3:00 PM ^
Since there are no relevant games happening until the end of the month, are you going to post this every week?
December 8th, 2023 at 3:12 PM ^
No, I will not post this every week - though, I may repost it a few days before these bowl games kick off - since we'll probably know more about opt-outs, transfers, etc..
There's little to talk about - besides the Contract, Transfer Portal, and usual things. Hopefully, this thread doesn't distract the discussion from other topics of interest.
I do expect to post "bowl matchups" for discussions - by date, by conference, or a combination of the two as the actual bowls are closer to being played.
Go Blue!
December 8th, 2023 at 3:03 PM ^
Liberty vs Oregon giving off Hawaii vs Georgia 2007 vibes.
December 8th, 2023 at 3:11 PM ^
I actually thought closer to Utah - Alabama, or Houston - FSU.
December 8th, 2023 at 3:40 PM ^
Not a bad anaology.
2007 Hawaii had three different down-to-the-wire wins against WAC teams that finished the regular season with a losing record, plus a down-to-the-wire win against a 4-9 Pac-12 team (Washington).
2023 Liberty only had one of those type games - against a 3-9 just promoted to FBS Sam Houston State team. But, man, the details on that one aren't good at all. In a 21-16 game Sam Houston had a 1st-and-goal at the Liberty 3 with 1:22 to go. They threw 4 straight incomplete passes.
I think 2023 Liberty's offense will outperform what 2007 Hawaii did --- but on defense, Liberty is very suspect. High potential for Oregon to score a ton of points.
December 8th, 2023 at 3:03 PM ^
If FSU boycotts, the Fightin' Falwell Flames will be the first to lose.
December 8th, 2023 at 3:05 PM ^
Go, Blue!
Beat Bama
December 8th, 2023 at 3:09 PM ^
I can frankly see Liberty beating Oregon. Their offense is tough as hell to defend. Oregon might have some opt outs but I bet Liberty is at full strength.
I can also see FSU beating Georgia. In fact I can see FSU dominating Georgia. Just tell all of FSU's players that if they beat Georgia worse than Alabama did and Alabama wins the playoff, then FSU can claim a national title. And they damn well should because they got screwed.
December 8th, 2023 at 9:34 PM ^
Liberty's star got crushed by a grand piano.
December 8th, 2023 at 3:26 PM ^
I just hope Michigan wins out and Liberty gets blasted by Oregon.
December 8th, 2023 at 3:34 PM ^
The Orange Bowl. Also known as the "Who Really Wants or Cares to be Here" Bowl.
Guess it depends on who's sitting out for both teams and, perhaps more importantly, who really wants to be there. If FSU plays like it doesn't want to be there, they could get steamrolled. Especially if Georgia shows up ready to play, but if FSU comes out trying to prove people wrong and showing the committee made a mistake by leaving them out, then I'll say they have a chance. Georgia will have plenty of guys sitting out, and I'd be shocked if Bowers doesn't opt out. I don't think they'll have the kind of motivation to win that FSU does.
Still, I'll take Georgia.
---
Only way Oregon loses is if they truly show up playing like it doesn't care to be there. Liberty will show up for sure, but Oregon should be able to outclass them in every phase of the game. Again, as long as they play like they even partially give a s**t.
If they don't, then who knows?
---
No idea what's going to happen in the Rose Bowl, so let's just go with the thing that makes me happy and say Michigan remains unbeaten.
---
Sugar Bowl is another game where I truly have no idea how its going to play out, but if you made me guess, I think there's something to say for Washington's "clutch factor" this year. They've been in plenty of tight spots and know how to navigate their way to a win. I thought Oregon would roll them last week, and I couldn't have been more wrong. I think Washington will have a very hard time running the ball, but that's not really what they want to do as an offense anyway. I think they'll have a lot of success through the air, and while Texas will as well, Washington just has that clutch factor. I'd take them in a 41-38 shootout, but Texas winning wouldn't shock me.
December 8th, 2023 at 3:42 PM ^
In order: FSU, Liberty, Washington.
December 8th, 2023 at 3:44 PM ^
Idk I just looked at bamas depth chart and holy cow. 3 of their olineman weigh almost 360lbs. Their team overall is huge and fast. My gosh
December 8th, 2023 at 3:55 PM ^
Way below my desire for a Mich win, I do hope FSU beats GA.
My guess is Washington loses a close one to Texas; Penix finally falls short in a late game drive. Oregon pounds Liberty.
December 8th, 2023 at 4:16 PM ^
'...when the old season is over, you and I know, it's gonna be Michigan again, Michigan.'
December 8th, 2023 at 4:26 PM ^
It makes me angry that football is used to try to legitimize sham universities.
December 8th, 2023 at 5:12 PM ^
FSU will lose by 30
Liberty will lose by 60
Michigan will beat Texas to go 15-0
so to answer it will be - FSU, Liberty, UDub