SEC propaganda already in full swing by ESPN. No that was a gutsy performance by Georgia's backup, the team rallied around him and they are even better now! Going to be tough to beat them in the playoff!
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
So the ACC gets the choice of: newcomer from lower level coming in and winning the conference OR Clemson backdooring to another championship and getting destroyed in the First Round.
Can't see why other conferences don't take the ACC serious...
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
TBF, this Clemson team reminds me of a couple of VT's ACC championship teams. Weren't great and backed into the ACC title because the rest of the conference was atrocious. 2008 and 2010 come to mind.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
There was also a year or two where we were second in our division, but everyone in the other division had more losses than we did, so it seemed like we would be the clear number 2 playing for the ACC championship.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
True, but we didn't really fare very well against non conference competition that year. Lost to Boise, JMU upset, nearly lost to ECU the following week but had a big second half turnaround. Ran the table in conference play but were boat raced by Stanford. Weren't really nationally a great team by any stretch, but we were the best in a very bad ACC.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Wait, I'm confused. What does Clemson getting destroyed in the first round have to do with anything? Do we think if they beat SMU, that SMU somehow would have fared better? Or would SMU get a bye? But how is that even relevant if they can't even beat Clemson. And if Clemson can beat SMU, what makes you think they'd get destroyed in the first round?
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
SMU if they win would absolutely get a BYE being ranked as high as they are. If Clemson wins they will get the autobid but won't get a bye, will likely be a lower seed playing on the road against an SEC or Big Ten team on the road. This Clemson team isn't anywhere close to being a complete team either. Pretty pedestrian. It just sums up why the ACC gets bad press, teams that are supposed to be good underperform, and a 3 loss average Clemson team is going to back into the championship.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Okay, so what, Clemson should throw the game so SMU gets a bye? If SMU can't beat Clemson, what does it matter? And given that you think Clemson is pedestrian and SMU apparently can't beat them, do you think they would somehow do well in their game even though they got a bye?
So, what, we want Clemson to lose so the ACC gets a team with a bye? What's the real point? The "pedestrian" team is handily beating the higher ranked team. If SMU wanted their bye, they should take care of business.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
SMU getting embarrassed right now. Played a soft schedule even by ACC standards and now getting exposed against a very average Clemson team, who is only in Charlotte because Miami choked. lol what a crap conference.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Meh they're getting pressed. Easily could've scored another 7-10 in this half then it's totally a game. They've got time just need to protect the ball and be efficient on offense, like they usually are
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
We may not be great, but the Big 10 is the only conference to get shut out in a playoff game, and they did it twice. No matter what happens in our conference, I live for the Big 10 shitting the bed.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Big Ten is certainly overrated, but nobody trips over their own feet like the ACC continually. Plus the Big Ten has a big checkbook, while the ESPN which holds the rights to the ACC makes the conference a national punchline continually.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Penn St is getting embarrassed in the first half against Oregon. This one looks to be destined to be as much of a laugher as TCU was in the CFP title game.
But somehow I don't think this will lead to anyone having a referendum questioning Penn State's validity as a playoff team.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
What the hell are these coaches thinking? Georgia did that last week. Go for one, it's nearly automatic. Now they have to go for two if they score again.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
If down 14 in the 4th you got for two. Statistically it's better. 2pt conv happen at a rate greater than 50%. So if you get the first you path to victory is larger. If you don't your odds are going 1/2 is pretty high, much higher than winning in OT. Now lots of things play into this, home teams win OT more. And most of the stats I've seen are NFL stats so not sure how that applies to college
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
My big takeaway - I think the conferences need to do away with the championship games. Very anticlimactic games and really don't make sense anymore with an expanded playoff. Rivalry week last week felt like the climax of the regular season. These just feel like random and unexciting exhibition games. And wait until some top seeds start resting players in these games if they know their playoff spot is secure. Either fold the conference championships effectively into the playoff (by making them requirements for the playoff with less at large teams) or just do away with these games.
Like why should PSU basically have a guaranteed spot in the playoff? They beat absolutely no one this year and hung around in the rankings because they won the games they should and started out high in the rankings. They backed into the championship game with OSU losing, and they're going to get soundly beat by Oregon tonight and still back into a playoff spot. This should be win or go home for them tonight.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Yep. Yet another reason why it was a huge mistake to not make a conference championship a requirement for making the playoff. Conference championship games don't matter anymore.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Problem now is, the conferences have gotten so large, you can't really have a true champion with regular season record and no championship game. The co-champions would be ridiculous. I think at this point you have to make championships a requirement for the playoff with a max of just a handful of at large spots, or just do away with conference championships entirely just put the top 12 teams in the playoff at the end of the year.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Oh it would still be a cluster. But at least there aren't pointless championship games that mean nothing when a lot of these teams could just meet each other again in the playoff. Just end the season after rivalry week, put out the final CFP rankings, and throw the top 12 teams in the field. No conference champions, the conference is just your schedule for the season. No more "winning" a conference since everyone is just playing for the playoff anyhow.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I don't think it is that binary. If all conferences were created equal, then sure, a champions playoff would make sense. But even a conference champion is not a fair determination when you don't play everyone in your conference...even more exacerbated by the fact we have super conferences now with, what...37 teams? (I kid)
Now we have a stupid ass cluster-fuck of a playoff off if you do A then you are in with a bye, if you do B and do it damn near perfect then begrudgingly you are in, but if you do B and only do it kind of well but you aren't SEC then, well, go fuck yourself.
College football is always going to have a national champion/playoff problem because there are just too many teams with too few matchups with too many egos with too much money with zero fucking intelligent people running the operation.
We like to argue these are new issues, but they have been there for a very long time...it's just now we have a billion new ways to scrutinize, discuss, & complain about it.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
College football is always going to have a national champion/playoff problem because there are just too many teams with too few matchups with too many egos with too much money with zero fucking intelligent people running the operation.
This is one of the best summations of the current college football landscape I've seen in a long time. Chef's kiss!
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Very anticlimactic games and really don't make sense anymore with an expanded playoff.
Three of the four power four championships were one score games. How was that anti-climactic?
I also think you are underestimating the value of a first round bye. None of these first round games are going to be automatic wins.
Like why should PSU basically have a guaranteed spot in the playoff? They beat absolutely no one this year and hung around in the rankings because they won the games they should and started out high in the rankings.
Winning 11 games in a season is hard, regardless of conference. Obviously, that alone shouldn't give any team automatic entry into the playoffs, but let's not act like Penn State is a bad team.
At the end of the day, you need to find 12 teams to put into the playoffs. After accounting for the five highest ranked conference champions, it's tough to make a legitimate argument that Penn State is not one of the seven remaining "best" teams.
Now, if you want to make an argument that the format of the playoff is flawed by design, I'd listen, but under the current rules, Penn State is easily and obviously deserving of a playoff bid.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I disagree. Really none of the games had anything at stake. Sure some had exciting finishes but you knew both UGA and Texas were in, you knew both PSU and Oregon were in. SMU and Clemson should both get in but SMU will get the shaft because #goACC. It just seems pointless to play these games when it means nothing largely and these teams could meet again in the playoff. I unlike some don't enjoy seeing the same teams play 2-3 times each year.
And just wait until load management comes into play with top ranked teams that know they have their playoff bid sealed. What is the point of risking injury playing in that game?
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
This ACC championship game is getting good. 1 possession game with 2 minutes left. Question is, who do we want to win? I hate Clemson, but if they win, the ACC should get two playoff teams. BUT, then again, the committee will probably screw SMU over for 9-3 Alabama
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Will be in total shock if they take 11-2 SMU over 9-3 Alabama. And with Alabama getting blasted by a mediocre Oklahoma no less. 99% chance the "don't punish teams for playing the extra game" will go out the window here.
Thank God Penn State lost. Only really good thing during the day for me.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
It's a dangerous situation for the health of college football. If SMU gets left out, it will be the end of the conference championship games. One of the main financial drivers for expansion will be gone.
SMU won 11 games and lost 2 games to ranked teams, 1 on a walk off 56 yd kick. Alabama lost to 2 6-6 teams.
I also don't know why Indiana is not in the conversation, their resume isn't particularly exciting and they are not a "brand name" team.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Everything I've seen has Indiana very much in the conversation. I don't think I've seen a single media member who doesn't have them in the playoff? But perhaps that's because I live in my college football bubble and only follow only ex-banner society and ex-athletic folks
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
What you say is true, but (I suspect) also irrelevant. Committee will likely take Alabama because they are Alabama the same way the Fiesta Bowl took a 6-4-1 Notre Dame because they're Notre Dame. Indiana won't get the huge bonus for being in the Big 10 that Alabama gets from being in the SEC, but at 11-1, I can't imagine them not making it.
Again, I'm not saying Alabama should be in the playoffs. Just saying I have almost total confidence they will be. Hopefully I am wrong here.
EDIT: I am very, very pleased to be wrong about 9-3 Alabama.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Not worth its own thread, and I'm not sure where else to post this, but got a real kick out of the ESPN bottom 10 article. This was #9 talking about FSU:
"9. Flori-duh State (2-10)
Wins: +2
Losses: -10
Longest losing streak: -6
Point differential: -151 (185 for, 336 against)
Turnover margin: -16
WoS: -11
Randy Edsall Fired Coach Bonus: N/A
Total: -192
Games played: 12
Final Bottom 10 Faux Pas Index: -16
The Semi-No's spent their entire offseason in court desperately trying to prove they had no business playing football in the ACC. Then they spent the entire season proving beyond a shadow of doubt that, no, they certainly didn't."
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
For consistency tho, UGA needs to be disqualified since their starting QB was injured and they aren't the same team. So Alabama should get in over Georgia.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Yeah I mean the argument Saban tried to pull on Bama being left out was it disincentivizes scheduling a strong non conference schedule. Lmao ok who did bama challenge themselves with in the non conference? Strong non conference can give you a buffer for not winning your conference, and winning your conference gives you a buffer for not having a strong non conference schedule. Bama had neither a strong non conference slate and didn't win the SEC - had three losses. UGA Texas and Tennessee all had fewer losses.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Comments
I'm cold just watching the Boise St. / UNLV game.
And if you want to see an amped-up crowd, check out the AAC game. The cadets at West Point are loving this.
If Oregon, ASU, SMU, and Texas win then all P4 conference will be won by new comers. This means Big 12 > SEC, Pac 12 > Big12 and Big 10, and AAC >ACC
The last team to join a power conference and win it in year one was........ Virginia Tech.
As a casual fan of Arizona State I appreciated that shout out at the end of their Big-12 thrashing of Iowa State. Huge turnaround for the Devils.
Well, it was nice while it lasted for Iowa State. Still a really good season for them. Hopefully they can win the bowl game.
Just a meltdown on offense. What, three turnovers in a row? Yeesh, that's hard to overcome.
Iowa State is getting absolutely dog walked
Who knew he knew Ball.
He was actually a really good guest picker!! Like you said, seems like he actually knows ball
Lisan Al-Gaib! The prophecies are true!
So who else is hoping Clemson upsets SMU and Army gets the fifth autobid as AAC championship over Clemson?
Who isn't?!
At this point, my rooting is down to anyone but Penn State.
CBS not covering the SEC Championship just feels weird. I need Brad Nessler's voice over corporate E$ECPN shill Herbstreit.
Herbstreit definitely has a Saban Shrine in his bedroom closet.
Still don't understand the love fest for Saban. It's like rooting for Amazon or Walmart.
And now Saban just sounds angry and can't keep up with the play by play during the halftime show.
I'm a fan of whoever this is talking
I missed whatever happened - why is Beck not in the game?
Hit on the arm/elbow at the end of the first half.
So that means they're not eligible for the playoffs anymore, right?
Yup, the precedent was set last year. Auto disqualification for losing your starting QB.
SEC propaganda already in full swing by ESPN. No that was a gutsy performance by Georgia's backup, the team rallied around him and they are even better now! Going to be tough to beat them in the playoff!
Clemson making SMU look pedestrian would be a great finish to the day
So the ACC gets the choice of: newcomer from lower level coming in and winning the conference OR Clemson backdooring to another championship and getting destroyed in the First Round.
Can't see why other conferences don't take the ACC serious...
TBF, this Clemson team reminds me of a couple of VT's ACC championship teams. Weren't great and backed into the ACC title because the rest of the conference was atrocious. 2008 and 2010 come to mind.
There was also a year or two where we were second in our division, but everyone in the other division had more losses than we did, so it seemed like we would be the clear number 2 playing for the ACC championship.
2010 VT was undefeated in conference. Tyrod was ACC player of the year.
True, but we didn't really fare very well against non conference competition that year. Lost to Boise, JMU upset, nearly lost to ECU the following week but had a big second half turnaround. Ran the table in conference play but were boat raced by Stanford. Weren't really nationally a great team by any stretch, but we were the best in a very bad ACC.
Wait, I'm confused. What does Clemson getting destroyed in the first round have to do with anything? Do we think if they beat SMU, that SMU somehow would have fared better? Or would SMU get a bye? But how is that even relevant if they can't even beat Clemson. And if Clemson can beat SMU, what makes you think they'd get destroyed in the first round?
SMU if they win would absolutely get a BYE being ranked as high as they are. If Clemson wins they will get the autobid but won't get a bye, will likely be a lower seed playing on the road against an SEC or Big Ten team on the road. This Clemson team isn't anywhere close to being a complete team either. Pretty pedestrian. It just sums up why the ACC gets bad press, teams that are supposed to be good underperform, and a 3 loss average Clemson team is going to back into the championship.
Okay, so what, Clemson should throw the game so SMU gets a bye? If SMU can't beat Clemson, what does it matter? And given that you think Clemson is pedestrian and SMU apparently can't beat them, do you think they would somehow do well in their game even though they got a bye?
So, what, we want Clemson to lose so the ACC gets a team with a bye? What's the real point? The "pedestrian" team is handily beating the higher ranked team. If SMU wanted their bye, they should take care of business.
Welp...this one's over.
Thanks for playing, SMU.
SMU getting embarrassed right now. Played a soft schedule even by ACC standards and now getting exposed against a very average Clemson team, who is only in Charlotte because Miami choked. lol what a crap conference.
Meh they're getting pressed. Easily could've scored another 7-10 in this half then it's totally a game. They've got time just need to protect the ball and be efficient on offense, like they usually are
We may not be great, but the Big 10 is the only conference to get shut out in a playoff game, and they did it twice. No matter what happens in our conference, I live for the Big 10 shitting the bed.
Big Ten is certainly overrated, but nobody trips over their own feet like the ACC continually. Plus the Big Ten has a big checkbook, while the ESPN which holds the rights to the ACC makes the conference a national punchline continually.
Penn St is getting embarrassed in the first half against Oregon. This one looks to be destined to be as much of a laugher as TCU was in the CFP title game.
But somehow I don't think this will lead to anyone having a referendum questioning Penn State's validity as a playoff team.
James Franklin is Brent Pry but with a lot more talent to hide behind and in a P2 conference versus the woeful ACC.
It's 28-24 with 1:53 left in 2Q. I'm confused about what makes you think they are being embarrassed
i think a lot changed in the last 15 minutes of real time
They were down 28-7 when I commented early in the 2nd
4pt game...
what we have here is a James Franklin special
WHY? WHY go for two in that situation?!?!?
What the hell are these coaches thinking? Georgia did that last week. Go for one, it's nearly automatic. Now they have to go for two if they score again.
If down 14 in the 4th you got for two. Statistically it's better. 2pt conv happen at a rate greater than 50%. So if you get the first you path to victory is larger. If you don't your odds are going 1/2 is pretty high, much higher than winning in OT. Now lots of things play into this, home teams win OT more. And most of the stats I've seen are NFL stats so not sure how that applies to college
I have no damn idea
My big takeaway - I think the conferences need to do away with the championship games. Very anticlimactic games and really don't make sense anymore with an expanded playoff. Rivalry week last week felt like the climax of the regular season. These just feel like random and unexciting exhibition games. And wait until some top seeds start resting players in these games if they know their playoff spot is secure. Either fold the conference championships effectively into the playoff (by making them requirements for the playoff with less at large teams) or just do away with these games.
Like why should PSU basically have a guaranteed spot in the playoff? They beat absolutely no one this year and hung around in the rankings because they won the games they should and started out high in the rankings. They backed into the championship game with OSU losing, and they're going to get soundly beat by Oregon tonight and still back into a playoff spot. This should be win or go home for them tonight.
Yep. Yet another reason why it was a huge mistake to not make a conference championship a requirement for making the playoff. Conference championship games don't matter anymore.
Problem now is, the conferences have gotten so large, you can't really have a true champion with regular season record and no championship game. The co-champions would be ridiculous. I think at this point you have to make championships a requirement for the playoff with a max of just a handful of at large spots, or just do away with conference championships entirely just put the top 12 teams in the playoff at the end of the year.
Except we can never have a consensus on what those top 12 teams are
Oh it would still be a cluster. But at least there aren't pointless championship games that mean nothing when a lot of these teams could just meet each other again in the playoff. Just end the season after rivalry week, put out the final CFP rankings, and throw the top 12 teams in the field. No conference champions, the conference is just your schedule for the season. No more "winning" a conference since everyone is just playing for the playoff anyhow.
I don't think it is that binary. If all conferences were created equal, then sure, a champions playoff would make sense. But even a conference champion is not a fair determination when you don't play everyone in your conference...even more exacerbated by the fact we have super conferences now with, what...37 teams? (I kid)
Now we have a stupid ass cluster-fuck of a playoff off if you do A then you are in with a bye, if you do B and do it damn near perfect then begrudgingly you are in, but if you do B and only do it kind of well but you aren't SEC then, well, go fuck yourself.
College football is always going to have a national champion/playoff problem because there are just too many teams with too few matchups with too many egos with too much money with zero fucking intelligent people running the operation.
We like to argue these are new issues, but they have been there for a very long time...it's just now we have a billion new ways to scrutinize, discuss, & complain about it.
This is one of the best summations of the current college football landscape I've seen in a long time. Chef's kiss!
Solution - just stop watching and DGAF! That works for me.
I completely disagree.
Three of the four power four championships were one score games. How was that anti-climactic?
I also think you are underestimating the value of a first round bye. None of these first round games are going to be automatic wins.
Winning 11 games in a season is hard, regardless of conference. Obviously, that alone shouldn't give any team automatic entry into the playoffs, but let's not act like Penn State is a bad team.
At the end of the day, you need to find 12 teams to put into the playoffs. After accounting for the five highest ranked conference champions, it's tough to make a legitimate argument that Penn State is not one of the seven remaining "best" teams.
Now, if you want to make an argument that the format of the playoff is flawed by design, I'd listen, but under the current rules, Penn State is easily and obviously deserving of a playoff bid.
I disagree. Really none of the games had anything at stake. Sure some had exciting finishes but you knew both UGA and Texas were in, you knew both PSU and Oregon were in. SMU and Clemson should both get in but SMU will get the shaft because #goACC. It just seems pointless to play these games when it means nothing largely and these teams could meet again in the playoff. I unlike some don't enjoy seeing the same teams play 2-3 times each year.
And just wait until load management comes into play with top ranked teams that know they have their playoff bid sealed. What is the point of risking injury playing in that game?
This ACC championship game is getting good. 1 possession game with 2 minutes left. Question is, who do we want to win? I hate Clemson, but if they win, the ACC should get two playoff teams. BUT, then again, the committee will probably screw SMU over for 9-3 Alabama
Where to take this morning gas is the committee drop SMU out of the playoffs, then they are by definition punishing a team for playing an extra game.
Not sure the committee will care about that, but they should
SMU has mounted one hell of a come back here
Big Ten was getting close until Penn State chucked up an interception under with 2 minutes to go.
Wow what a finish!
Ugh. A happy Dabo is just so cringe.
Awesome ending, though; hate the outcome
Every post-game field interview with Dabo looks like an outtake from O Brother Where Art Thou
Oregon Won the Big 10. Az st won the Big 12. The Pac12 was the best conference in the country
That Clemson ending was pretty epic
Classic go b ACC finish. Clemson is going to get plastered in the playoffs
Clemson wins yet another conference championship in a toilet paper soft ACC.
SMU fans should be ready with their pitchforks, Bama will get in over them.
Edit: shocked smu got in, but glad they took a spot away from Miami!
Will be in total shock if they take 11-2 SMU over 9-3 Alabama. And with Alabama getting blasted by a mediocre Oklahoma no less. 99% chance the "don't punish teams for playing the extra game" will go out the window here.
Thank God Penn State lost. Only really good thing during the day for me.
It's a dangerous situation for the health of college football. If SMU gets left out, it will be the end of the conference championship games. One of the main financial drivers for expansion will be gone.
SMU won 11 games and lost 2 games to ranked teams, 1 on a walk off 56 yd kick. Alabama lost to 2 6-6 teams.
I also don't know why Indiana is not in the conversation, their resume isn't particularly exciting and they are not a "brand name" team.
Everything I've seen has Indiana very much in the conversation. I don't think I've seen a single media member who doesn't have them in the playoff? But perhaps that's because I live in my college football bubble and only follow only ex-banner society and ex-athletic folks
Indiana getting in and SMU getting left out is a prime example of why you shouldn't play in the conference game though.
Yea we'll see if SMU gets left out. I think they are in and bama is out but I'm not confident.
What you say is true, but (I suspect) also irrelevant. Committee will likely take Alabama because they are Alabama the same way the Fiesta Bowl took a 6-4-1 Notre Dame because they're Notre Dame. Indiana won't get the huge bonus for being in the Big 10 that Alabama gets from being in the SEC, but at 11-1, I can't imagine them not making it.
Again, I'm not saying Alabama should be in the playoffs. Just saying I have almost total confidence they will be. Hopefully I am wrong here.
EDIT: I am very, very pleased to be wrong about 9-3 Alabama.
Alright, let's see who these fucking shills are.
Not worth its own thread, and I'm not sure where else to post this, but got a real kick out of the ESPN bottom 10 article. This was #9 talking about FSU:
"9. Flori-duh State (2-10)
Wins: +2
Losses: -10
Longest losing streak: -6
Point differential: -151 (185 for, 336 against)
Turnover margin: -16
WoS: -11
Randy Edsall Fired Coach Bonus: N/A
Total: -192
Games played: 12
Final Bottom 10 Faux Pas Index: -16
The Semi-No's spent their entire offseason in court desperately trying to prove they had no business playing football in the ACC. Then they spent the entire season proving beyond a shadow of doubt that, no, they certainly didn't."
I'll believe when I see it. ESPN is talking up Alabama Big time.
For consistency tho, UGA needs to be disqualified since their starting QB was injured and they aren't the same team. So Alabama should get in over Georgia.
SMU gets in. Stuff it Bama fans
Football beats money.
Saban tears taste fantastic.
Um SMU is all money, they just have to ask and that athletic department will have more money than just about everyone else not named Texas
LOL touche
I am amazed. Happy, but amazed.
I'm very pleasantly surprised! But screw the SEC!
So pleased (and surprised) they did the right thing.
Saban tears flowing! "Why can't we just put the whole damn SEC in the playoff?"
Yeah, if we don't quit picking on them, they'll deconstruct their whole super conference to make easier schedules for themselves.
Go right ahead, Nick.
Almost like forming television conglomerates with non balanced schedules instead of true conferences can hurt teams that would be in otherwise.
Texas in the B12 means Bama is in.
Yeah I mean the argument Saban tried to pull on Bama being left out was it disincentivizes scheduling a strong non conference schedule. Lmao ok who did bama challenge themselves with in the non conference? Strong non conference can give you a buffer for not winning your conference, and winning your conference gives you a buffer for not having a strong non conference schedule. Bama had neither a strong non conference slate and didn't win the SEC - had three losses. UGA Texas and Tennessee all had fewer losses.
Western Kentucky 8-5
USF 6-6
Wisconsin 5-7
Mercer 11-2
If you had asked me to guess the records of these schools before I looked it up I would have been wrong on all four.....especially Mercer.
Notre Dame got a little reality check knocked down a few spots.