SIAP: CFP Chairman calls last week's loss 'impressive,' explains why we have a shot

Submitted by Mr. Elbel on
http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/cfp-chairmans-remarks-sh… CFP Chair Kirby Hocutt explains why we're ranked #5, how close we were to being ranked #4, and why we still have a shot at the playoff. Very interesting article. I didn't think we had a legitimate shot at the playoff until I read this given the TCU precedent set 2 years ago, now I'm not so sure. Great read. (I'm posting on a browser on my phone so I'm sure my formatting is crap. Sorry bout that.) Here's your money quotes: "So how close are Wisconsin and Penn State to Washington and Michigan? Hocutt's answer boiled down to this: "But I think the separation from four to seven is not a wide margin of separation, but specifically between Washington and Michigan, it's razor thin."" ...""We talked about Michigan's additional loss to an unranked team [Iowa] sitting there on their resume," Hocutt said. "So again, can't look forward and anticipate what may or may not happen this weekend, but Michigan does have an impressive resume in the eyes of the selection committee.""
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I dumped the Dope

November 30th, 2016 at 2:26 PM ^

it is weird to want to win your conference, to then knock your conference out of the playoff, otherwise said to want to win your conference to know you have no shot to advance.

Maybe the cfp should be quiet and say nothing until all the champs are done with to avoid the inevitable shell game if this, then that.

That said, I will be disappointed if Sefo Liufau isn't playing in the NFL in a few years.  That guy is one of the best QBs I've seen in awhile.

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J.

November 30th, 2016 at 12:10 PM ^

And as a Steelers / Michigan fan (my dad grew up in Pittsburgh), it was torturous.  Since Stewart never really did anything that impressive in a Pittsburgh uniform, especially as a quarterback, whenever the TV network wanted to show his potential, they had one go-to clip.  And somehow, all of the times I saw that stupid play, Westbrook never dropped the damned ball...

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WeimyWoodson

November 30th, 2016 at 9:04 AM ^

Can this team possibly win a national championship? Yes, but it will be very difficult to beat Bama. I would have a much bigger smile on my face if we got a win over osu this year because I know down the road Harbaugh will have us ready for a legit NC run. Beating osu is something that needs to happen, and I sure as hell don't want to wait another year for a shot at it. I hope Clemson loses too. Give me OSU for the first round, and let's see what happens with Bama in the NC game.

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ScruffyTheJanitor

November 30th, 2016 at 9:33 AM ^

My father and step-mom are HUGE Ohio State fans. Every year for the past decade (except 2011) I have had to listed to their cackles right after the Ohio State game-- good natured, but salt in the wound. After that game, after the BS calls throughout the game, all I got were a few texts saying that the refs made some calls because "they wouldn't have been able to leave Columbus" otherwise. There was no gloating, not phone call, no annoying facebook posts. Even my step-mom's Dad, who may be in a OSU-themed cult, hasn't said a word about it. 

When the most biased people I know-- who would be motivated to poke me in the ribs about this if anyone was-- don't want to talk about this game because the officiating was such crap, then yeah: I want revenge. Most of the time, I'd probably trade an OSU loss for a National Championship (probably), but not this year. Not. This. Year. 

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LKLIII

November 30th, 2016 at 10:57 AM ^

I agree.  If we make it in w/ the skin of our teeth, it'll be as the #4 seed, not the #3 seed.  It'll be like the CFP committee saying, "OK, you think you're hot shit?  Prove it.  Take down Alabama.  Then if OSU takes care of business you can rematch them for the NC."

Gladly.  And as unlikely as that scenario is, I can't help but wonder if in THAT narrow circumstance, having a potential OSU rematch standing behind Alabama wouldn't be the ultimate motivator to beat Alabama.  I know "looking beyond the immediate game" is something a team should never do.  But in this case, it's extra motivation.

"If you scale over or bust through the brick wall in front of you, the prize at the end is the sweetest you've ever had."

 

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ColeIsCorky

November 30th, 2016 at 1:00 PM ^

If both Clemson and Washington lose and we move up to 3 (Big if), and we play and beat OSU in Rd 1 but lose to Alabama in Rd 2.... Not gonna lie, I would be thrilled with this season. Plus, how pissed would OSU fans be if we won the game that mattered most? Oh my, the butthurt. I by far don't expect this to happen, but under that scenario I'm a happy camper and would forever get over the loss last weekend. Justice would be served. Would I be happier beating Alabama after and winning the championship? Most definitely, but my chest would no longer have an open wound and I'd end the season with a smile on my face.

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His Dudeness

November 30th, 2016 at 9:07 AM ^

I actually partially agree.

I want to win B1G championships and go to the Rose Bowl most years.

That's really all I care about.

All this bullshit, fake, phony deciding of teams by some garbage committee who look at BULLSHIT pre-season rankings based on nothing.

Fuck all that.

Play the games. Beat who you play. Beat OSU. Go to Pasadena.

That's my Michigan.

 

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uncle leo

November 30th, 2016 at 8:53 AM ^

Clemson or Washington losing, and probably Penn State winning. 

Still think Washington's the whole gatekeeper here. A loss by them just might be enough. I do fear that Wisconsin would jump Michigan with a BTC.

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mgowild

November 30th, 2016 at 8:57 AM ^

Yup... need Colorado to win the Pac 12 and then probably need Penn State to beat Wisconsin. I could see Wisconsin possibly jumping us with a B1G championship because they'll have added a win over the #7 team. But how sweet would it be to sneak into the playoffs and have Harbaugh exact his revenge.

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trueblue262

November 30th, 2016 at 9:12 AM ^

I don't think the B1G Championship will have much to do with our chances either way it goes.

Colorado or Clemson loss, and we're in.

If both lose, we rematch. And we win this time......BIG!

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The Fan in Fargo

November 30th, 2016 at 10:49 AM ^

I keep thinking of Florida vs. Florida State in 97 Sugar Bowl. Two good teams and Florida State squeezes one out in the final regular season game at home. They rematch in the title game and the Gators absolutely embarrass them. I'll never forget that. The Seminoles were my second favorite team as a little lad.

Edit: It was said that Florida State played a dirty ass game and the refs let it go over and over in Tallahassee. I don't remember because I was too young, dumb and was rooting for them.

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J.

November 30th, 2016 at 12:22 PM ^

For all of the crap that the committee has taken, it's clear to me that they're treating this responsibility more seriously than the poll voters ever did.

When Michigan got passed by Florida in the final 2006 regular season AP, Harris, and Coaches polls, it was unusual -- although not unprecedented.  Typically, people would just take their previous ballot and drop down teams who lost.  Barring an absolute beatdown against a top opponent -- e.g., 34-8 over PSU in 1997 -- you generally couldn't jump up much with a win; you just slid past some number of the teams ahead of you who lost.

The committee does not seem to be taking that approach.  While I think OSU's spot is secure, and Alabama is in provided they don't lose by 90 with season-ending injuries to 12 starters, I think they will re-evaluate things this week, and there is a real shot that the Big Ten champion could pass Michigan with an impressive victory.

I'll be (holding my nose and) cheering for PSU, because 49-10.  As I posted in another thread, Michigan hasn't lost by 39+ points since 1935.  It's very much not an "it happens" kind of event.  It's not reasonable to compare those two teams and conclude that PSU is better, even if they do end up with an extra win.  I think a decisive Wisconsin victory is likely enough to elevate them past Michigan.

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Maynard

November 30th, 2016 at 9:34 AM ^

Wisconsin would have a conference championship but we would have the head to head win. Those things are used if the teams are close. They would be obviously, but we would still have as good a resume or better than Wisconsin. So even if that is all viewed as a wash, then it would come down to who the committee thinks is the better team. Wisconsin is not jumping us unless they beat Penn State by more than we did. It is Washington or us, period. Unless Clemson loses and we're in anyway.

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Tbone67

November 30th, 2016 at 9:00 AM ^

Darn right it was impressive. In spite of the hostile crowd our own bone head mishaps and happy slappy refs we still almost won that game. I am officially a big colorado fan, well at least until they beat washington. Go Buffs!

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carolina blue

November 30th, 2016 at 9:03 AM ^

All of us are seeing the "razor thin" comment regarding us and Washington. But you're ignoring the "the separation from four to seven is not a wide margin". The big ten champ will jump us.



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WeimyWoodson

November 30th, 2016 at 9:07 AM ^

This is about money and ratings as well. There was a reason osu got the nod in 2014 over TCU and Baylor and it wasn't the B10 championship. It was the fact it's Urban Meyer & OSU. That was a huge ratings boost. All season long taking about the playoff selection show they shown five coaches, ours being one of them. They're drooling over a possible Harbaugh/Saban matchup and possible rematch with Urban. Killer tv ratings. They don't want PSU v Bama

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