We get lots of interesting conference championship games and random made up games all over college football.
Start off by having 4-2 2nd place PAC12 North Oregon win the conference and lock up the Fiesta Bowl berth.
Buffalo which went into the MAC championship undefeated lost to Ball State.
Conference USA sees UAB knock off Marshal.
Saturday we get
Clemson vs. ND around II for the ACC
NW vs OSU for BIG Ten
OK vs Iowa state for Big 12 (not sure how Iowa State with 2 losses is so highly ranked)
Alabama vs UF for SEC
finish off the day with Tulsa vs Cincinnati for AAC championship.
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Comments
Listening to Pardon My Take yesterday and BC made a pretty good point. Essentially, if there's ever been a conference championship Saturday that ya don't want chaos, this is it. I don't think there's really any doubt, whatsoever, who the four best teams in the nation are, and they're the too four right now. Any scenario that puts A&M, ISU, Oklahoma, etc. just to get blasted by one of the four isn't something I care to watch in a couple weeks. Florida, had it not been for the shoe throw of the decade, may could've given a touch a chaos to it, but I still think Bama would make it in even with a SECCG loss.
Tldr; I love college football.
Don't want chaos? That's just giving up on life and all that you hold dear.
I think the committee has done an outstanding job of selecting the top 4 teams each season. I also think a 4 team postseason invitational is still a really stupid way to crown a champion in a 130-team league.
I don't have any rooting interest in the playoff committee having an easy job or being able to "mail it in".
Chaotic finales tend to expose the flaws in the bigger picture. We wouldn't have gotten the BCS without having co-champions that never met in a bowl. We wouldn't have gotten the "playoff" without some messy finishes, either.
Chaos this season would likely provide clearer proof that no G5 can ever make this version of the invitational. Either split the P5/G5, or introduce relegation. How about a playoff with a respectable number of teams while we're at it.
Give me all the damn upsets.
Testing
Florida>Bama in demolishing fashion
ND>Clemson
NW>Ohio State
A&M>UT
Oklahoma >ISU
Cincy>Tulsa
I think that's what you're looking for?
You called my bluff with that Tulsa draw.
Touché
IMO there's a top 3, but I don't think Ohio State is deserving with their 6 wins. I think Cincy should be in there, but unfortunately no one cares about my opinion.
I care, but only this time, cause I agree with you!
Agreed. If you are ever going to give a G5 team a chance do it this year. Eliminate Ohio state, not enough games. When you have to change the rules to get your sixth game, you shouldn't be eligible.
Both Cincy and Coastal Carolina have played their schedules and won. CC beat the media darling BYU.
Big sports day all around and I'm excited. Going to need to get another TV or 2. Go Wildcats #TeamChaos
Well Oregon beat USCw. That settles that
It's kind of funny out the Pac-12 played out. Washington vs. Oregon was supposed to be a division championship game. Washington cancels, but gets declared the division champ. But then they can't play the title game, so Oregon goes instead.
Obligatory from me: Cyclones!
Going to be a real tough game. Beating Oklahoma once is hard enough but beating them twice in one season would be amazing. Win just one more game, today or the bowl game, and this might be the best year in team history.
I'm definitely pulling for Northwestern today! The Big Ten changed their rules to let anOSU in the title game. It'd be poetic justice for them to then lose today.
I am right there with you and screw the Big 10 anyway. The only conference to schedule Christmas day basketball this year.
Kids should be home for Christmas. Period!
I'm looking at the perspective that the Big Ten changed their rules at the beginning of the season to potentially keep OSU out of the title game.
They had a rule where a team had to be within 2 games of the conference average, but that only kicked in if the average went below 6. That unnecessary stipulation just overcomplicated the entire process.
While OSU had three games cancelled, only one was their fault, and that game was against the other division. Their two divisional games were cancelled by their opponent.
So I feel like the Big Ten created that mess on their own by chickening out over the summer and then not giving themselves any flexibility during the season. OSU shouldn't have been punished for something they had no control over.
I think ND has the trenches to beat Clemson again. I hope they pull it off. Not having to worry about a Clemson national title before Xmas would be the best Xmas present I could ask for.
I don't think Trevor coming back will be the biggest deal, but the Clemson defensive starters that will be back for this one and Venables' getting another shot at game prep has me thinking ND is going to have to be extremely sharp on offense to pull this off.
This is truly a meteorite game. I want to see Dabo's meltdown if they lose, but I sure don't want ND to stroll in and win the championship in their only season in conference.
What I think will happen is Clemson wins, both of them make it into the CFP, and the championship game ends up being part III. That might actually help the ACC.
I think either team could beat Alabama, because both are talented enough and crazier things have happened in college football, but I don't envision a part III because I wouldn't pick either team over Alabama.
Watching Gameday and it sure did look like Santa Claus just flipped off Joel McHale. LOL.
Targeting call early in the Big 12 championship game is a perfect example of why there should be no ejection. The defender did nothing malicious and was a victim of circumstances, but will now miss the biggest game of his career and potentially his lifetime because of a terribly unfair rule
Yes. Logged in specifically to say that g-d fucking rule has got to be changed. Stupid BS call. Not as bad as the one against Auburn a few weeks ago, but really bad. How can you even play defense the way that rule - which is a good idea in theory - is being enforced? Do we need to switch to 2 hand touch?
Yeah that was awful. I think only the worst cases should be cause for ejection (like when a guy is obviously just head-hunting).
You really feel for the dude
With a name"8'e targeting, you'd think ejection would just be for blatant cases, the stuff like this makes the defense so hard to play.
There was no time for adjustment and the entire action by the db is an expected defensive motion.
Rooting my heart out for Northwestern today
But that would get two SEC teams in the playoffs ugh.
All I want is for ND to be obliterated by Clemson because I don't want them to be able to claim an ACC title when they won't even join the fucking conference.
Edit: Get creamed and still get in the CFP the next day. Nice deal if you can get it. And if your name is ND you'll most certainly get it. Fuck ND and their kid-killing coach too!!! They will wind up getting boat-raced out of the playoff, just like they always do.
I understand why some people feel this way, sort of, but I could not care less about this kind of thing. In fact, I think it would be outright hilarious for ND to have a banner somewhere in their stadium for a 2020 conference championship for which they are not an actual member.
Nah, fuck 'em. If you want to be the league champion, join the damned league.
I'm purely mercenary. Clemson win over ND puts both teams in the CFP, and then another ACC team to the Orange Bowl. Makes a bigger bowl pot to split among the teams.
Sucks though that the Orange Bowl team will be UNC. More ammo against us on the trail.
Notre Dame can make history today and be the first team to be the conference champions of a conference they're not even a part of...
Oh well. Big XII Championship game officially over with that interception. Great year for the Cyclones though. Hopefully the get into a bowl game that gets played and they pull out a W. Would probably put them in the top 10. Think it would be their highest end of year ranking ever.
Go Northwestern as well. Let's see someone with a good upset.
That interception was amazing
That kid from Northwestern was doing his best impression of Kedall Fuller
What. A. Pick. Ohio state shouldn't make it for that first half showing alone.
This Northwestern team is downright inspiring.
Interesting to me the previous recruiting classes for them have been in the 50's. They do not look extremely overmatched
Their style of play has razor thin margins. Extreme defensive discipline and ball control. They don't have much ability to make comebacks, and as such a more talented team can blow a game wide open with a couple big plays. It's mostly worked for them so far this year, but it's the kind of strategy you see from a team with a known talent deficit.
Based on the performance today, Ohio State does not deserve to be in the playoff. They need to be winning convincingly to have an argument that 6-0 is proof they deserve it.
Extremely weak strength of schedule in my opinion should be held against them.
Northwestern have done brilliant things then try trick plays that have no chance and kill the drive time and time again
Double reverse just blew up scoring opportunity for NW.
Where have I seen this before?
It happened earlier in the same game lol
Welp, it was fun while it lasted NW. Cannot wait to see this anOSU team get destroyed in the playoff.
What makes you think OSU will get destroyed in the playoffs?
At least some of the talking heads are at least being honest anOSU hasn't done enough to get in.
Big difference between not getting in, and getting in but being destroyed. I don't know if OSU gets in, but I don't see them being destroyed.
If OSU gets in and plays Alabama or Clemson in the semi, I see them getting destroyed. I'm guessing Alabama Clemson are 1 ans 2 so if OSU gets in I think they get booted by halftime of the semi. In fact I think whoever lands in the 3/4 seats are going to be shown the door pretty quickly.
Sorry for the late reply, but watching the B1G Championship, anOSU didn't win that game due to in-game coaching or schematic advantages. They look unimpressive for three quarters playing a team with far inferior talent. They just ended up wearing down NW with talent and depth leading to fourth quarter dominance.
It has been known for a while that their defensive scheme isn't all that complex and can be exploited if you have the horses. They win their conference by simply out-talenting everyone. That is a recipe for disaster against Bama or Clemson that have equivalent or better talent but also have elite coordinators to expose anOSU's schematic shortcomings.
Also, Fields is limited in the passing game, yet they insist on making him throw the ball way more often than they should. Bama or Clemson are going to shut down their running game and force Fields to throw. His inaccuracy will be killer against those defenses. Heck, NW made him look bad, what do you think Venables is going to do to him? (Venables may single-handedly drop Field's draft position a round or two.)
Lastly, while I like Sermon, he is nowhere near the game-breaking RB that anOSU has had in the past like Elliot or Dobbins. He can dominate inferior talent like NW, but he isn't running away from anyone on those defenses.
TLDR: That's just my opinion based on watching anOSU a few times this season. They may have a shot due to the lack of wear and tear of playing as many games, but their on field talent, execution, and schemes just haven't looked as impressive as years past or when compared to Bama or Clemson this season. ND vs anOSU would probably be a good game, but the first round looks like two bloodbaths to me.
They were down 22 players due to COVID, including their best receiver.
I hope you're right, because I want to see OSU knocked off their perch, but I don't see it happening.
Big10 made sure they could have a huge fluffy payday to comfort the fall.
So if Clemson wins and the game is anywhere remotely close, you get Clemson and Notre Dame in the playoffs. Could you imagine them meeting for a third time in the same season? That would be the most 2020 thing to happen.
I say if Clemson wins, both teams go CFP, and the Rose Bowl still has problems with hosting....just play Clemson/ND round three at Clemson as a semifinal. That way, the series can be evenly split between both homes and a neutral.
Army - Air Force is a great game so far. Decides the Commander-in-Chief trophy goes to the winner
I want Clemson to win solely based on the fact that I think it's bullshit Notre Dame is playing in a conference championship for a conference they are not a part of nor have any interest in being a part of for football
I wonder if they're going to have an in-game interview with Burmeister...
Took me a second...have your damn leg. I will Book you later.
For most of the 3rd quarter.
Hearing the commentators talk about tony Elliot being a great head coaching candidate for auburn triggered me
Me too bud, me too
ND definitely not gonna win their inaugural ACC championship
So how much of a lock is ND actually? If clemson keep the pedal to the metal can they actually beat ND out of the playoff?
They don't deserve it if they keep this up. They are playing like a team who heard a month of people saying they will be in no matter what. This has been a heartless and pathetic performance so far from ND.
Brian Kelly approves of ND not being in the CFP.
Sure is going to be funny when Notre Dame loses 52-3, and then tomorrow morning the playoff committee comes out and is like, 'yep, they're definitely still one of the Top 4 teams, let's have them play Bama now.'
There shouldn't even be a playoff this year. It should just be Clemson vs. Bama.
The fifth and sixth best teams are way closer in caliber to ND & OSU then ND & OSU are to full strength Bama and Clemson.
Serious question though did justin fields hurt his draft stock by playing this year?
The ass whooping they are about to get is why they will never join a conference
The fact they are going to make the playoff with one loss is why they are going to eventually.
HOOAH ARMY WITH THE CIC TROPHY
So when are they gonna interview Ian book?
I guess we should be happy that we put on a slightly better show against Clemson than Notre Dame has today.
Cincy better make the playoff. Any team that just lost to a playoff team by 30 should not be in
Highly unlikely. Not saying they should not, but I'll be beyond flabbergasted if they vote in Cincy.
Yeah but by any fair metric it should be them. ND played themselves out in what is basically the pre playoff. Why would they be in when they just lost? A&M got beat by a playoff team by 28. Why should they get another shot?
(Talking more to the playoff committee than you)
"(Talking more to the playoff committee than you)"
Oh yeah, I know. I'm doing the same thing too. But the short answer to why Notre Dame will get in is because there name is because:
"They're "Notre Dame."
Not really sure who I would put in. Alabama, even if they lose, and Clemson are obvious. Others all have flaws and could be argued for or against. But the name Notre Dame alone makes me highly confident they will be voted in. If you put a gun to my head and said pick the other two, probably go with OSU and TAM. Could argue Notre Dame, Cincy (if they win), or Oklahoma as they are real hot now even though they had a bad stretch early. If Florida somehow wins, they would be in the mix too.
Texas A&M has more wins over teams that have fired their coach than teams with a .500 record, I know they are in the SEC but their resume is arguably the worst of the top 10.
If the debate is between Notre Dame and Texas A&M for a spot, I might have to lean Notre Dame. Both teams lost by a lot to teams already in. But at least Notre Dame had already beaten that team once.
Screw em both, it should be between Cincy and Coastal.
But yeah between those two I definitely take ND.
Very fair point. I'm maybe being biased that my most disliked teams are:
(1) Penn State
(2) UVa - sorry, I'd root for the Hoos over Penn State
(3) nothing clear cut for me, but Notre Dame is in the mix with several other teams while, in contrast, 2 of my brothers went to A&M.
Same!
Watching the same 4/5 football teams compete for a championship is getting old already
That's one of the reasons why Chris Fowler has come around to the idea of 8 teams. Basically, college football has gotten too top heavy.
The best thing for parity would be to reduce scholarships to 75, but I wouldn't want to take away FBS scholarships from 1300 guys a year.
I would love to see it. You can keep the scholarships, just make them academic ones. Yes, I know the earmarks and it is not really possible to do that, just wishing. I mean the purpose of the university system should be quality education. Would rather more be devoted to academic-based of need-based than athletic-based.
SJSU looked legit against Boise. Very impressed. I hope they get a bowl game.
Anybody know what Dabo was doing before halftime? I mean ND had all 3 time outs...........
Heavy heavy sigh
I'm old enough to remember when we crucified Fuente on here for being aggressive and going for it against UNC on 4th down close to half time and then turning around and giving up a touchdown. There is clearly a middle ground but I have a feeling that left a sour taste in his mouth.
There's a difference between aggressive and stupid. Going for it on 4th down gave a potent offense enough time to score with a short field.
Going for it on downs 1 through 3 gave VT a chance to score and you punt on 4th. Luckily for us, Fuente became scared after that and proceeded to crawl in a hole offensively the last few minutes of the half the rest of the season instead of trying to score.
ND will get in for the regular season but if everyone else didn't suck this year I'd say the have no chance but with iowa state laying an egg, florida losing to LSU, and texas a and m just not quite there they'll get in by default.
Does that make it the Rose Bowl Game in the Cotton Bowl? (That joke would land so much better if they still played the game at the place.)
That was a wild game. Florida turned the middle 8 into the middle 19 and made it a game.
I have to admit. I haven't been as high on Kyle Trask but he made a lot of incredible throws tonight. Florida's basically all passing four and five wide offense creates a lot of problems defensively. The spacing issues playing against that all game with an accurate QB with those kind of weapons are insane. I do not envy DC's going against that kind of offense.
In hindsight, I shouldn't have been surprised that ND got rolled in their first postseason game after going undefeated up to that point. I mean, it's pretty much Brian Kelly's thing.
2020 - 10-0, lost to Clemson in ACCCG, 34-10
2018 - 12-0, lost to Clemson in CFP semi, 30-3
2012 - 12-0, lost to Alabama in the natty, 42-14
Common thing is playing Alabama/Clemson who pretty much destroy everyone. ND likely would have done better against an OSU or OU type opponent.
However, FUCK ND and FUCK BRIAN KELLY
Guess it'll be another Alabama/Clemson championship game. Shocker. Kinda makes you wonder why the rest of us even bother.
Because of the 2014 season's playoffs, probably. Ohio State knocking off Alabama and then winning it all with their 3rd-string QB made everyone think there's a chance for someone to shock the world.
Don't forget LSU last year, any of the 8-10 bluebloods hopes to catch lightning in a bottle every year. Alabama is the benchmark that they are all trying to beat with varying degrees of success.