Best teams or most deserving? Will the committee really block out the SEC?
Let us know which four teams YOU'D pick for the CFP, and which four team you think it will be.
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I'm just enjoying all the forced controversy out of ESPN because there's a very real chance their golden child (SEC) gets left out, something every other conference has had to deal with so far.
don't care who, so long as the SEC is left out and the Wolvercheats don't win it all.
But I suppose I'd go FSU, Michigan, Texas, Washington.
They may shoehorn Bama in there on reputation alone, though.
This has to be the answer. Putting Bama in over the Noles is the committee flatly admitting they don't give a damn about the rest of college football outside the SEC and B1G. Bama got smoked at home by Texas, there's no question about Texas over Bama. To me, not losing a game and beating a Top 15 opponent when you're down to your 3rd string true freshman QB (who won't be playing in the playoffs) is a statement by FSU.
If Bama gets picked over FSU, we should adjust our expectations accordingly. We will never have another shot at national prominence with the systemic imbalance in place.
If Bama gets in, it's college football telling everyone that gaining entry into the playoff is more about who you are rather than what you've accomplished. They do that and it's a speed run from here on out on how fast they can turn the general public away from the sport.
Exhibit A is 2020 Ohio state at 6-0 being in the playoffs. They have already proved it's not about what you did but how much revenue you can bring to the playoffs.
1.Michigan
2. Washington
3. Texas
4. Bama
Sorry FSU. I think you're number 5 even without a QB. I thinkt they would replace Texas tho if they still had Travis. No way SEC is getting left out but also no way they get 2 teams in. And it'd be blasphemous to put Georgia in over Bama. UNLESS the committee admits publically they don't really care about conference championships. Which they might do by leaving out Texas and putting in Ohio State.
Just wanted to ask how anybody thought it would be anything different than this.
You can't (or shouldn't) look at the rosters. You have to look at the body of work. These 4 teams are conference champions. Georgia & Ohio St. are not. Texas beat 'bama in their own house and earn the tie-breaker to get in.
1 - Michigan
2 - Washington
3 - FSU
4 - Texas
If it's anything but this why even play the games anymore. On field results have to matter
This is exactly what I would to - both the teams and the order.
But, like many on here, I suspect either FSU or Texas will get screwed over to ensure at least one of Georgia or Alabama get in.
Michigan
Washington
Texas
Ohio State
Nope.
Michigan and Ohio State JUST PLAYED.
Yeah, we know the outcome to this game. The only intriguing rematch would be bama-texas, but I would still prefer no SEC this year.
This is 2000 all over again, Bama has the better loss than Texas. Head to head be named right?
I wouldn't be surprised if Ohio State is in the playoffs this year.
I would be. They JUST LOST to Michigan. Like Georgia, they're out.
Easy:
1) Washington. Lots of good wins over good teams, x2 against Oregon, conference champ, zero losses.
2) FSU. Two wins over non-bottom-feeding SEC programs, conference champ, zero losses. Maybe best defense in the country right now.
3) Alabama. Sure they lost to Texas in the early season when their OL and QB were terrible but they're clearly past that. Their OL beat the heck out of undefeated UGA's DL all yesterday afternoon. Conference champ, one loss + best win of the year for any team + getting hot at the right time.
4) Texas. Great win against an early season Alabama, conference champ, one loss to 10-2 Oklahoma not terrible.
Left out:
UGA - Sorry, only one SEC team this year, one loss, only decent wins are Mizzou and Ole Miss
Ohio State - Sorry, no great wins (PSU, ND not top-tier) and no division or conference champ, one loss
Michigan
Are you telling me that your coach was suspended twice for two separate cheating scandals, at least one of which likely directly lead to you beating the rest of the teams in your conference, and you expect to be rewarded? You're out. Cakewalk out of conference schedule, best wins are PSU and OSU and you cheated to get both of them. Zero loss conference champion go home Ann Arbor is your vacation destination.
I would love for them to do this to Michigan. The NCAA might not have the teeth to punish them accordingly but the Playoff Committee stepping in with the finishing move would be *chef's kiss*.
This is the only scenario I would be ok with an SEC team getting into the playoff. It sends an extremely clear message that cheating won't be rewarded.
I think ESPN will pick Mich, UW, FSU, Texas. No idea the order of seeding.
I think I'm rooting for Michigan just because it would be absolutely hilarious. Part of me wants to see UW win, but then I remember that they went to the B10 and helped take down the PAC. I'm indifferent towards fsu. Texas can get fucked, I hope they lose in a heartbreaker.
My question is why is FSU having a close game to Louisville such a drag but Bama losing to Texas with close wins versus unranked USF, Auburn and Arkansas not a drag on them?
This. This right here.
Because they are Alabama. Same would hold if it was Notre Dame.
something something just means more
Though I do not share the sentiment, there is sentiment out there suggesting that injuries to key players are part of the discussion. No Jordan Travis could be a factor. They did win with Tate against
FSUFlorida and they won by playing wildcat against Louisville but maybe the injury factor plays in.Again, I don't agree with that but it exists.
Here's the deal... the backup QB is likely to be 100% by CFP time and he looked pretty good with the reps he got.
Right. Like I said, I wouldn't agree with the sentiment that Travis being out means they shouldn't go but I can't deny that it might play in.
Ohio State won it all with a backup QB in 2014.
Anyone but the SEC. Would rather see JMU make the playoffs
No one with any objectivity can reasonably put an SEC team in the playoff this year (that's my hot take of the day).
1. Washington - Maybe the overall best resume in the country (beating Oregon twice BTW).
2. Michigan - Undefeated BIG team that has worked through a ton of
cheatingadversity. Despite anyone's opinion of that situation, it isn't easy to win every week with that kind of thing hovering over your program all season.3. FSU - Curb stomped LSU. Whipped UF on the road with a backup QB. Beat a top 15 L'vill team with a 3rd string, TF QB (also holding one of the nations best offenses to 6 points!). They have beaten 8 bowl eligible teams. They did all of this while playing in the conference that has a winning record against both the BIG and the SEC.
4. Texas - What needs to be said here? They beat Bama on the road. Then finished the season absolutely whipping a decent Ok. St. team. They might be the most complete team in the country right now.
When we are talking about the "four best teams" as opposed to the "four most deserving" it gets a little muddy with respect to the top 6, or so, teams. The differences are so minute, and the discussion so nuanced that it can't really be had without bias IMO.
Michigan, Washington, and FSU in for sure IMO. The committee has set a precedent by not previously leaving out an undefeated P5 champ, so you have to have those three in the playoff. UGA should be out - sorry you had your chance yesterday and blew it. The fourth spot to me comes down to Texas or Bama and I can see an argument either way. Texas obviously beat Bama head to head, but Bama just beat the number one team in the nation which is an impressive win. I personally still think the head to head win there should matter and give the edge to Texas. That to me is where the biggest debate is going to be.
Going to be interesting though to see how all the other bowls shake out too. If UGA and Bama are both out, Bama will go to the Sugar Bowl, and I would think then Georgia likely goes to the Orange Bowl. That means unfortunately that the ACC won't unlock the ReliaQuest Bowl so could possibly impact VT's bowl destination with ND of course taking up a spot.
UGA was only #1 because no one had the guts to drop them like they should have been dropped. He'll both Bama and UGA struggled with Auburn, that make NM St a better pick.
That is very true. No doubt UGA didn't really have a very impressive resume at all and were only 1 because they started ranked there. I definitely do think Texas should get the nod over Bama, but think there's where there will be a lot of debate on the committee.
After a night to think about it
I think the right call is
Washington, Michigan, Florida State, Texas
Would love to see this if for no other reason than no SEC. Of course would still have SEC-to-be Texas.
Can't wait for the Paul Finebaul logic to be spewing out all over ESECPN next week if the SEC is left out.
OMG... THIS!!! His head may literally explode if this happens
3 undefeated power 5 champions should be in, end of discussion. Texas and Bama both 12-1 conference champs and Texas beat Bama, at Bama. There's the 4th team. Sorry $EC, it's your turn to be on the sidelines. And everyone else in college football will rejoice.
The time to move FSU out of the top 4 was last week, not this week. Sans Travis, they were dropped to 4th going into the game. They won; case should be closed.
I think UGA is out; and it's between Bama and the Tea-sips for 4th. The committee had Texas ahead of Bama going in and I think it stays that way.
I guess we'll see how much sway ESPN has but personally, I think the SEC is out.
FWIW, these are supposed to be the metrics...
Strength of schedule
Head-to-head game results
Results vs. teams in Top 25 rankings
Results vs. common opponents
Conference championships
Cannot wait for the SEC Shorts if Bama and Georgia are both left out.
1. Washington
2. Michigan
3.Florida State
4. Texas
'Suck it $EC'
-Wayne Greyzky
Most seasons we have 1-3 obvious teams and then the committee has to decide who gets the charity selections.
This season there are 7 teams with solid resumes that would easily be a shoo-in most seasons.
This should be pretty simple- FSU, UW and Michigan are undefeated P5 champions. They won every possible game in front of them- they're in. Results matter and these are the undefeated champs.
Pretty sure once the field is set, FSU should be the 4th seed.
The important thing is they should be in. Nobody will ever win a Natty with a backup QB/s but they should at least be allowed to play for what they already earned.
All the decision making comes down to best resume between UGA, Bama, OSU & Texas. Head to head wins are irrelevant until you're deciding between two teams, so this could be an interesting decision.
Cardale we don't come to play school Jones would like a word.
I think thats what the /s was for
Thought he was saying plural.
I actually moved back to Ohio this year.
Winning a natty as a 4 seed with your third string quarterback is definitely a strong piece of evidence for the argument that cfb is the least predictable major American sport. Especially at the NY6/playoff level.
FSU can't possibly win this year? Foolish
The logical answer here is Mich, Wash, FSU, and Texas.
By virtue of having a loss, I would seed TX #4 but that will probably be FSU.
There is still part of me that has doubt that ESPN won't interfere and get an SEC school in. Look, they didn't pay hundreds of millions of dollars for the Broadcast rights not to have their showcase Conference involved.
I guess the side benefit could be that the SEC getting left out would give all of ESPNs talking heads 4 weeks of fodder to argue about on their various "Me vs. You" shows...which at this point appears much more important to ESPN than covering actual sports.
Okay hear me out, but I think the final 6 will be:
1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. FSU
4. Bama
5. Texas
6. Georgia
1 thru 3 are undefeated P5 champions. Next you look at 1 loss P5 champions: Bama and Texas. I realize Texas won head to head, but that game was nearly 3 months ago and the committee has demonstrated they value recent results more than past results. Additional reasons: first - SEC champion is way more impressive than B12 champion. Second - Bama's 1 loss was to team ranked 11 at the time and their conference championship win was against no. 1. Third - Texas' 1 loss was to team ranked 12 at the time and their conference championship win was against no. 18.
TLDR: even though Texas beat Bama this season, Bama has the better resume outside of that game at the start of the season and will get the nod for spot 4 in the playoff
Rankings should never matter when you talk about head to head results. What you're saying is "Sorry Texas, because you beat Bama you're a good loss for them but that is not a good enough win for yourself. Bama wasn't good enough so we will put them in instead of you."
That $EC logic is absolutely ridiculous, but I am pretty sure I heard it last night either on ESPN or Fox.
If head to head doesn't matter, why even have a playoff? Let just let the coaches personal assistant and the beat writers vote on it like we used to.
It's all about money, and ESECPN has spent tons of money and time on hyping the SEC up for years now. The games don't matter as long as you're Big Ten or SEC.
Meant as reply to above -
I think I'm with you on that order. I think Texas probably should get the nod over Bama based on the head-to-head, but in addition to never leaving out an undefeated P5 champ previously, the playoff has also never left out the SEC champ. Just think the SEC bias is going to be so strong that there's no way they leave Bama out, and Texas will get the shaft. The good news here for VT though is that will basically lock up the Duke's Mayo Bowl in Charlotte for us, which would be great and far better than the Military Bowl.
What I think SHOULD happen
1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. FSU
4. Texas
What I unfortunately think WILL happen
1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. Alabama
4. Texas
All up to this point the committee has spouted that wins are the #1 thing. Head to head is second. It's what they have pointed to week in and week out. It fit the narrative until it didnt....and I think FSU is the one that pays the E$PN price on that.
E$PN WINS
And there it is....
Leaving a team out due to an injury would look really ugly. And to predict outcomes based on a single injury and thus discredit their chances before the ball is snapped makes nothing else matters. If the roster matters, then the committee should select playoffs based on recruiting rankings.
Actual play on the field does not favor Alabama over FSU or Texas. Alabama needed a miracle against Auburn that was boatraced by NMSU the week before. Alabama struggled against mediocre teams all year (USF, Arkansas) and somehow that doesn't matter anymore, because they beat UGA, who had the better season in totality. Head-to-head outcomes matter and thus Texas over Bama over UGA.
1. UW
2. UMich
3. FSU
4. Texas
As we all know, a backup QB can never lead a team to greatness
Hell Ohio St won a natty with a third string QB...in the first year of the playoff no less
Yes but FSU isn't Ohio St so it isn't the same comparison. /s
I think the three undefeated P5 conf champs are in, then it comes down to Texas and Ohio State. Bama lost to Texas at home and Ohio St only loss is to the #1 team, on the road, by a FG (given the 3 pt home field advantage). So Texas and Bama won their conf, but Ohio St didn't get a neutral site chance to win it's thanks to B1G divisional setup.
If the OH St situation was Bama/UGa, Ohio State is in. So the committee has to have Bama at 6 and Uga at 7 if it jumps through any of the same hoops they used to justify putting 2 SEC teams in previously. Hypocrisy is not a problem for the committee though, so probably Bama over Texas.
Texas in that's means Bama last in.
Not so fast my friend...
What the fuck
Wow. FSU got screwed. Unbelievable. So basically the CFP just said we don't give a crap about results or wins, we're just going to put who the hell we want in the playoff.
That is some bullshit for FSU
Why even play? I'm with Booger on this one - if you want a beauty pageant then hold a beauty pageant.
Booger has been replaced on set by RG3
Can't have anyone on ESPN openly questioning the corporate narrative
RG3 has been nearly as vocal on social media as Booger about how bad this was. More likely Booger couldn't take it anymore.
Welp...its happening...
The message here is gonna be clear...if you're not in the SEC or B1G, you will not be considered on equal footing.
This will drive another race for realignment...
Now we will have two 28 team conferences where more than half the teams don't play each other.
Fuck ESPN they 100% had hands in this
So this definitely kills the ACC, right?
Have to think this really starts to shake things up. You can run the table in a P5 conference and get left out. And just think they'll start doing this with the expanded playoff too saying 2-3 loss B1G and SEC teams are "better" than the ACC champ and get a higher seed. Really terrible for the sport.
Atlantic Coast Conference.
May 8, 1953 - Dec. 3, 2023.
Killed by short-sighted corporate greed.
FSU is 100% gone...Clemson and Miami to follow. Eventually the cost of paying lawyers to fight off legal challenges combined with increasing irrelevance will break the ACC and they will negotiate a settlement to the GoR.
Hopefully VT will find a way into the G2 or they will be relegated to the CFB "minor leagues" to just serve as Transfer Portal fodder for Alabama and the like.
I don't think this is going to move the needle much in that discussion. Reality is that there will only be 4 power conferences next year so this situation can't happen again. (Even if we weren't going to 12 teams next year)
When the playoff expands, there will be motivation to include 4-5 SEC teams, 4-5 B1G teams, leaving 2-4 spots for about ND, ACC, Big12, and G5. Within a few years, a very deserving ACC or Big 12 team will be 12-1, 11-1 or similar and will miss the playoffs for a 9-3 SEC or B1G team, especially if that team is one of the following: Mich, OSU, PSU, USC, Bama, LSU, UGA, A&M, Texas, OU, Oregon, or UW.
Just wait til 2026... in 2026 the rights will be back on the market. SEC and B10 will push to get rid of auto-bids all together. You'll get the top 12 in the CFB rank every year.
oh you're right, there will be 6 conference champs the next two years. So yea, ESPN will be very upset that two G5 teams will be in the playoffs. I guess the 6 was decided before the death of the PAC-12...
As it turns out, SEC is already trying to kill the 6-conference champ format: Realignment prompts fresh look at the number of automatic bids in 12-team College Football Playoff
We knew someone was going to get screwed. This is at least better than having 2 SEC teams, but this is some BS that an undefeated power 5 regular season and championship game conference champion is on the outside looking in.
Really think this also screws up our bowl. FSU bumped to the Orange, Georgia will also go to the Orange. No ReliaQuest bowl for ACC so we might get bumped down to the Military. This is an outrage for FSU. If you're not B1G or SEC (or soon to be) you don't matter.
I can't even.
Ok so the mask is off. Games don't matter, results don't matter - its conference membership, reputation, and dollars.
And before the "always has been" meme, now that it's out in the open we will reach another level previously unseen in terms of media and conferences in bed and stumping for business interests. Fox and the Big 10 and ESPN and the SEC. If you aren't in either, you won't matter.
Washington has the best resume by far. Great SoS (better than ever other undefeated team by a mile). They beat 6 teams (7 times) with winning records. They did not play and FCS school. They should be in and there is a lot of reasons to make them number 1, assuming you ignore SP+
Michigan has all the advanced stats like game control. They have 6 wins again teams with winning records. They did not play and FCS school. They do have a cheating scandal and like others said above if they get left out for than then I am all in for that.
FSU is undefeated P5 champ with the best OOC win of the teams i've mentioned so far (LSU by 21) by a long shot. They beat 5 teams with winning records. They did play an FCS school so that hurts their record vs the top two. They have 3 one score games, 2 against teams with winning records (one a rival) and one against a 6-6 team that always gives them a challenge (uniforms look to similar i guess).
Texas has the best SoS of any team in contention. They have the best win of the group over Alabama. They beat 6 teams with winning records. There only loss is to current #12 OU, which is a rivalry game and it was by 4. They won their conference, they only have 3 one score games they won, one against ranked Kstate and the other two against instate teams that hate Texas (both were away games). They did not play an FCS team.
Alabama lost at home to Texas by 10. They beat LSU at home by 14 (7 points less than FSU on a neutral site so really like 10 points more). They beat 6 teams with winning records. But struggled against teams like South Florida, A&M, Arkansas, and Auburn with the last two being 3 point wins. They have one of the worst point differentials of the contending teams and that is including 56-7 over MSTU, and 66-10 over Chattanooga (FCS). They do have the best loss as Texas is a better loss than OU.
UGA beat 4 teams with winning records however 2 of those teams records came against a lot of nobodies. Tennessee has a 6 point win over KY for their only win over a P5 team with a winning record (7-5) they also beat UTSA which is 8-4. Mizzou is better with wins over K State, Memphis, KY, and Tennessee but they struggled with Memphis. And then Ole Miss hanging their hats on beating an LSU team that modeled their defense on Alex Grinch's philosophies. They also beat Tulane which is a good win, and A&M who is paying $76 mil to a guy to not coach. They struggled with Auburn and GT (rival), both which do not have winning records. They gave up 20+ points 7 teams (VT did this 8 times).
OSU has a better argument that UGA, they beat 5 teams with winning records, they didnt lose a conference championship game, they have a stronger SoS than everyone not named Texas. Their 1 score games are against #10 PSU, #17 ND, and playoff bound (we think) Michigan. They have good advanced stats, but ultimately this should be a bridge to far.
I think it should be Washington #1, Michigan #2, Texas #3 and FSU #4, but that is just me.
P.S. My computer algorithm to determine the most deserving team based off record has Mich, Wash, Texas, Bama as the top 4 and then it is a major drop off until the next team (UGA) at #5.
That's a way better reason for ditching FSU than 'no qb'
'Bama needed a miracle play to beat a crappy Auburn team. It was so miraculous it got ridiculed by SEC shorts. Congrats on beating Georgia and knocking them off their throne, but Alabama is not more deserving than FSU.
The first actual cfb playoff can't get here soon enough.
I don't think that fixes anything. Wait until 2-3 loss Big Ten and SEC teams are getting in the expanded playoff over ACC or Big 12 champs.
Its going to get even worse unless something is fixed. There are going to be less wins to go around in the big conferences. Look at the SEC, they have 5 programs with winning records in conference. The big 10 has 6, ACC has 5. There are more losers in these conferences than winners. What happens when these massive conferences go to 10 games cause no one plays each other? They have less OOC gimme wins which have the top teams have worse SoS because the conferences are watered down.
You add in the xfer portal and NIL and the middle teams get hurt the most. The bad teams are bad, but the middle teams lose their players and then have more of a shot to lose to bad teams (UNC vs UVA, UofL vs Pitt). So this weakens the conferences more. Now the end is just a few top teams that beat no one good (PSU) that are top 10 ranked because they didn't have any challenges.
So now is PSU that beat an Iowa team that cant score, and WVU, are they better than FSU? They have close losses to top 6 teams. They have 3 shut outs, which is more than the CFP playoff teams combined (Michigan has 2). So how do you judge teams that are even more isolated in schedule if they play more conference games?
No point to playing the game any more. It's all a beauty contest and prestige/reputation matters more.
I get that FSU was not at full strength last night but Rodemaker will be back for a bowl game. And think of it this way, FSU at depleted offensive strength, resorting to running the wildcat for long stretches, was still capable of beating the #14 team in the country. That shows depth and the total strength of the team. Absolutely absurd.
Yep, where I'm at too. There's just less and less reason to follow the sport. We're heading toward two super conferences and this has become just trying to make super matchups between the biggest brands to try and grab the most cash. The sport as we knew it is pretty much dead.
But now we're giving 17 year olds free cars just for showing up and we have found a way to fit in 2 extra Coors Light commercials.
I don't understand how you don't think College Football is better.
/s (if needed)
All I can say is, what a f-ing crock of shit.
Not at all surprised though.
Edit, there is 1 other thing I can say. Go Huskies!
Welp. I didn't think they'd do it but they did. Such horseshit.
Nothing about this selection was the "start" or "beginning" of anything.
This is the very LAST fake-ass, made-up playoff.
Always has been. The whole fucking thing has always been about how to hand everything to the SEC and fuck everyone else. Every year it's the same shit and now that they looked to be dealt the same hand that EVERYONE has dealt with before they manipulate the whole thing to make sure it doesn't happen. Such a crock of shit. ESPN has too much control
Yeah, this was definitely more of a culmination/ mask-off moment.
Next year, the top 6 conference champs get auto bids. Nobody has the power to question a 13-0 ACC champ FSU, and there's absolutely no way to yank them from the tournament.
It's not a perfect system. Half the damn tournament remains wild-cards, that's unprecedented and will certainly be manipulated in the dumbwards direction.
But something this fucking stupid, leaving out an undefeated P5 conference champ because money, won't be a thing.
It'll be all the auto bids and then 3 at large from both the Big Ten and SEC.
Yup.
For everyone who's losing their shit about Alabama being included, they really need to look at the algorithm the committee used to determine the 4 playoff teams. If you work the math out, I think you'll realize it makes sense:
This was just released by the committee:
(Strength of Schedule + Winning Percentage + Record vs Top 15) * (Are you in the SEC?) =
College football, where the results are made up and the games don't matter
Undefeated power conference team with a national brand? Fuck you, you don't matter because you're not in the chosen conference. Its so fucking obvious that ESPN is manipulating everything about this sport. I'm done with it. Completely done. At least the NFL awards their titles on merit, and not this horseshit
Welp. RIP college football
Yep. It's dead. At least we have memories.
What a complete load of horseshit. There are 3 undefeated P5 conf Champs and 1 doesn't get into a playoff with 4 spots? Fuck that shit.
The 'committee' and E$ECSPN just told that ACC to go fuck itself. If I'm FSU I'm screaming 'bullshit' at the top of my lungs to every media outlet available.
The conference commissioner should be right there with them, that is if he wants to continue to have a conference to run.
Absofuckinlutely.
Jim Phillips is a fucking clown. If anything he's pleased about this because it pushes the ACC closer to the point where they abandon trying to compete athletically and become an academic conference, like he dreamed about in his statements last year.
Second time an undefeated conference champion from Florida gets left out.
Wow
If FSU can take this energy and beat the pants off of UGA, then that'll show 'em, right guys. /s
Ugg, it's a tough sport to follow when the results don't matter.
Busted out laughing as soon as Texas was 3 and Herbie talked about FSU not having Travis. I knew Alabama was getting the fourth spot.
Go Huskies!
TWO one loss teams over an undefeated conference champ. Unbelievable. It's looking bleak. I had already stopped watching games that did not involve VT, and I won't be watching the playoff either.
Soo...... Jordan Travis is the Heisman front runner right now if he is THAT important to FSU?
So if Georgia won I bet FSU would've been in there. They wanted Bama so bad, but could not justify keeping Texas out if they could put in Bama.
Don't want to toot my horn too much, but I called this before the game even started--said FSU needed to win by 100.
OSU got in in 2014 because they blew-out an average Wisconsin team who somehow got thru the B1G regular season without playing OSU, Mich, or PSU...they were a 4 or 5 loss team masquerading as a 2-loss one.
People (like Herbstreit) justifying FSU not making it then because of not having enough "style points" are fucking narrow-minded dolts. Louisville was a much tougher opponent.
Would rather be back at pre-BCS chest thumping "we're the best" than this crap playoff committee. At least conference champs can't get screwed starting next year. Though it'll be ACC, B12, G5, and the rest will be $EC,B1G, and ND
"We want the 4 best teams"
Sounds great until you realize that hidden in that statement is that the committee is not beholden to anything except their own opinions.
And by that, we mean it matters more about which programs make ESPN and FOX the most money than actual results.
Of course, that is criteria #1.
Remember when they would never publish the actual BCS formulas? I bet $ was a factor in the calculation and they didn't want anyone to see that.
Yep. And the bowls have always been about that, but at least pre-playoff and BCS/Coalition/Alliance, you just won your conference and let the chips fall where they may. The polls would decide the mythical champion, but everyone's goal was to win their conference as it was all they could control. Now we have a playoff but there's no clear criteria or path to being included. It still is a smoke-filled back room decision by executives based on money. Garbage system. It's no more a true championship than it ever was, it's still a beauty pageant.
And "beauty" is in the eye of the beholder ... with the most TV money to lose.
When is our selection?
the set at ESPN is getting heated... and I'm not even sure what point anyone is trying to make. Maybe its confirmation bias, but Booger is the only one making sense while Reece is just trying to keep the peace.
yeah i just texted a friend the same thing. our board isn't happy with this, reddit is furious about this, the espn guys are getting heated on-set.
right now fsu is the darling of the college football world and just about everyone, including alabama and texas fans, think this was an atrocious decision. 'travesty' is the most common word being thrown around
RGIII and Mullen are in the same boat it appears... RGIII - the committee down-slotted FSU because of 1 guy being missing out of 100. Mullen - sometimes the best team doesn't win, that's why you play the game. FSU completed every challenge put in front of them, and ran all over one of the best rush defenses in football, and won by double-digits in a championship game with their 3rd stringer. Neither Texas, Alabama, Ohio St., or Georgia got through their schedule clean when they were at full strength.
Yeah Herbstreit suckin the ESPN tit by complimenting the job the committee did with the selection. Complete sellout.
Here is Phillips statement
Herby definitely knows who pays his salary.
The NFL via Amazon and the NCAA via ESPN, gotta keep mom and dad happy /s
Herbstreit has been a useless Corporate Shill for 10 years now.
He and Mike Greenberg are in a deadheat for most Smug Dispshit on ESPN.
CFP Committee decided to move the last bullet up to #1
Which potentially causes problems going forward. Are teams and players going to lie and rush back from injury to avoid this scenario happening again?
No team has been ranked #1 in the penultimate rankings and not made the playoffs.
No team has been ranked below #6 in the penultimate rankings and made the playoff.
So we have 3 outliers this year.
A cheater, two losers and a dog walk into a bar....payoff time payoff
All of these rules and guidelines for "who gets in" are based on most seasons, where we're deciding between good 1 loss teams, great 2-loss teams, and a couple of teams who didn't even make the CCG.
This year there were 3 locks. Three teams with the absolute perfect resume.
And they stole one of those team's spot and gave it to somebody else.
This is the most spot on succinct take I've seen yet.
Silver lining:
aTm fans are sitting around just having fired their coach and they get to watch Texas in the playoff
I'm not shedding any tears for fsu.
I tried to tell yall, tho. Fsu was always getting left out so the committee could get their darling sec team in.
The playoff has been a flawed sham since day 1. I think the pre playoff era had its issues and I was a proponent of going to a playoff but only if it was a true playoff. It wasn't done correctly and is therefore worse now than it was in the pre playoff era. Adding teams to make it a larger playoff isn't going to fix anything. It likely will just continue to make the sport unwatchable.
I hate everything.
I'm don't think I have any takes that other people haven't already stated, but here's a few of my bullet points:
--ESPNers keep saying "it's the best 4 teams, not the most deserving." But is it the best 4 teams on the day of the selection? Or is it the best 4 teams over the course of the season? I don't actually know the answer to that, maybe someone can clarify. But my understanding is it's supposed to the be the 2nd one. And that would be Florida State, not Alabama.
--Fuck the committee for making me feel sorry for Florida State. And fuck the committee for making me root for Michigan in the semi-final.
--There needs to be pressure for the committee to stop doing this in private, and do their work publicly. There's literally no need for this to be behind closed doors. They're not discussing national security issues, or players' personal information. Put some cameras in the room so people can see what they're discussing.
--I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I wouldn't be surprised if the committee made their decision for spot #4 based on what blowback they thought would be the least horrible. They may have figured that the country feeling like FSU got robbed wouldn't be as bad as infuriating the SEC. I wouldn't even be surprised if Greg Sankey made an overt threat about leaving the SEC out.
The bullets are vague to allow them to do whatever they want.
I don't want to root for Michigan either but I would love to see Bama get utterly obliterated in that game. The committee got it wrong, hopefully, Michigan will prove that on the field.
Ultimately I think the decision came down to this:
1-loss Texas beat 1-loss Alabama so undefeated Florida State can't go to the playoff.
If the 4 best teams aren't the 4 most deserving teams then the CFP has teams in it that don't deserve to be there. That makes no sense.
is there anyone here that would prefer UM, Bama, or Texas win it instead of UW?
My rooting interests:
1v4: I want Alabama to win 69-0
2v3: I want Washington to win
Final:
I could go with Washington but I'd probably prefer Alabama.
If only one of those is in the final, then I'm rooting for them.
If neither makes it and we get cursed with Michigan Texas I guess I'll hope for a meteor but I'll accept no wins by cheaters so Texas I guess but I gag a little to say that.
Living in a world where I have to root for Jim Harbaugh because I hate the SEC more...College Football in 2023 folks.
CFP selection committee rep was just asked by Rece about the Michigan cheating and the dude had the gall to say that not having your coach is huge but it came down to players on the field and the players coming together to win.
Doesn't work I guess
Sam Acho and Dan Mullen are trying to fight the good fight re: FSU.
I don't recall there being this much outrage about a playoff exclusion in the past, can anyone else remember anything of this magnitude?
No because an undefeated Conference Champion in P5 had never been passed over EVER but especially for the $$$
I hope FSU destroys Georgia.
I hope Michigan boat races Bama
I hope Texas beats Washington. Then I hope Texas wins the whole thing. Then FSU is the only remaining undefeated team, call themselves national champs.
Wouldn't the Big XII then get all that playoff money also if Texas wins?
I am done with college football after this. Completely done. I will give no more clicks to ESPN. I will probably opt to listen to our games even if they are on TV. This is such a fucking travesty.
Did they get the best 4 teams? Probably - though one could argue UGA would beat Washington and Texas.
Is the process right? Absolutely not, It's not even veiled as a competition it's straight admitting we're going for money and views.
Herby sucking the ESPN SEC tit after being so adamant about just win and you'll get in is hilarious. Booger calling ESPN out ion the broadcast was gold
Regarding FSU, it's a tough call either way, and I don't think that anybody would dispute the fact that the team that went 2-0 over Florida and Louisville is not near as good as the team that went 11-0 prior to that. I think the committee had to look at the teams as currently constituted, and with a really strong slate of contenders for the CFP (undefeated Pac-12 champ Washington, undefeated B1G champ Michigan, 1-loss Big XII champ Texas whose loss was to...1-loss SEC champ Alabama, 1-loss Georgia) somebody was going to be left out.
But don't let that distract you from the fact that on 16 March 2018, the 16th-seeded UMBC Terriers upset the 1-st overall seeded Virginia Cavaliers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, making the first time that a 16 seed has upset a 1 seed in the tournament.
ITS POOP AGAIN. gif