2014 NCAA Football Thread

[BlackBolt3]

I never said SEC East, I said SEC. No divisions. And the last time I checked, all those teams are part of it. The ACC is Florida State to Wake Forest just as much as the SEC is Alabama to Vanderbilt. But I mean, by all means, don't give them any respect. The SEC is still the best conference in football. The gap is just not as large as it seems.

[Burmy]

So, your 2014 Sun Belt Champions are the Georgia Southern Eagles!

IMHO, the NCAA should grant any team that wins their conference championship a waiver from that silly technicality they have...it appears they've denied it, but GSU is appealing. #FreeGeorgiaSouthern is a trending topic...

[GriffinM6]

Duke Johnson breaks the all time Miami rushing record, but this team ain't gonna win tonight. How pathetic. Al Golden has taken a giant dump on one of the best fan bases in CFB. Get him the out of Coral Gables. He is not a proven winner, and just flat out makes terrible decisions. Canes fans deserve better than this. We don't deserve to go through the hell of mediocrity for 10+ years. This program is becoming a ing laughing stock and it DISGUSTS me. I just want to see Miami be successful, but it will probably be well into my adulthood before they succeed again. I guess I'll just lower my expectations for this crap.

[dfwabel]

Duke Johnson breaks the all time Miami rushing record, but this team ain't gonna win tonight. How pathetic. Al Golden has taken a giant dump on one of the best fan bases in CFB. Get him the out of Coral Gables. He is not a proven winner, and just flat out makes terrible decisions. Canes fans deserve better than this. We don't deserve to go through the hell of mediocrity for 10+ years. This program is becoming a ing laughing stock and it DISGUSTS me. I just want to see Miami be successful, but it will probably be well into my adulthood before they succeed again. I guess I'll just lower my expectations for this crap.

Even Dan LeBatard would laugh at your "best fan bases in CFB" comment. Attendance has always been spotty back to Kosar and there was a reason after six coaches from 70-78, if Schnellenberger failed, they were going to drop the sport.

[GriffinM6]

Duke Johnson breaks the all time Miami rushing record, but this team ain't gonna win tonight. How pathetic. Al Golden has taken a giant dump on one of the best fan bases in CFB. Get him the out of Coral Gables. He is not a proven winner, and just flat out makes terrible decisions. Canes fans deserve better than this. We don't deserve to go through the hell of mediocrity for 10+ years. This program is becoming a ing laughing stock and it DISGUSTS me. I just want to see Miami be successful, but it will probably be well into my adulthood before they succeed again. I guess I'll just lower my expectations for this crap.

Even Dan LeBatard would laugh at your "best fan bases in CFB" comment. Attendance has always been spotty back to Kosar and there was a reason after six coaches from 70-78, if Schnellenberger failed, they were going to drop the sport.

Well I wasn't really referring to attendance at home games, more so the fans that root for the team all over the country. We are a family and love our Canes.

[See Red]

So, this Iron Bowl is pretty crazy, eh?

[rams80]

Duke Johnson breaks the all time Miami rushing record, but this team ain't gonna win tonight. How pathetic. Al Golden has taken a giant dump on one of the best fan bases in CFB. Get him the out of Coral Gables. He is not a proven winner, and just flat out makes terrible decisions. Canes fans deserve better than this. We don't deserve to go through the hell of mediocrity for 10+ years. This program is becoming a ing laughing stock and it DISGUSTS me. I just want to see Miami be successful, but it will probably be well into my adulthood before they succeed again. I guess I'll just lower my expectations for this crap.

Even Dan LeBatard would laugh at your "best fan bases in CFB" comment. Attendance has always been spotty back to Kosar and there was a reason after six coaches from 70-78, if Schnellenberger failed, they were going to drop the sport.

Well I wasn't really referring to attendance at home games, more so the fans that root for the team all over the country. We are a family and love our Canes.

Yeah...dfwabel's point still stands.

[DS729]

So, this Iron Bowl is pretty crazy, eh?

Yeah. If I saw that point count I'd think it was a Big 12 game, not an SEC game.

But I think it Auburn puts up that performance, they probably beat anyone else in the country, they really played well, they had Bama on their heels all night. If Auburn could've just scored a few more touchdowns instead of kicking field goals in the redzone, they would've one. I think Alabama is easily the best team in the country at Bryant-Denny, but they don't play nearly as well on the road, so that'll be interesting, I wouldn't write them off as champions just yet. Hopefully FSU turns out to be a one-and-done in the playoff.

My Top 10 for Tuesday;

1. Alabama

2. Oregon

3. Florida State (Gets lucky AGAIN!)

4. TCU

5. Ohio St.

6. Baylor

7. Arizona

8. Michigan State

9. Wisconsin

10. Georgia Tech

I don't know who said it, but I remember someone remarking on how no Big Ten teams were going to be ranked by the end of the year earlier... yet it looks like there will be three in the Top 10 come Tuesday. It'll be interesting to see where they spot Auburn, I don't really think you can move them down after that performance, hell, I'd put them at 9 if it were me. That said, I think Mississippi State will fall out of the Top 10. They weren't very impressive today, and they just lost to a team who was taken to the shed by a .500 Arkansas team. Baylor should jump TCU, but they're really making it hard for the committee by letting the Texas Tech's of the world hang around with them each week, while TCU is just blowing everyone else out of the water. I really hope Baylor trips up against K-State (who is about 10 spots too high) next week so we can get the real best team in the Big 12 in the Playoff.

Other Big-Name Bowls:

Cotton: Baylor (10-2) vs. Ohio St. (11-2)

Fiesta: Arizona (10-3) vs. Wisconsin (11-2)

Orange: Georgia Tech (10-3) vs. Michigan St. (10-2)

Peach: Auburn (8-4) vs. Boise St. (12-1)

[FiddySicks]

I kinda feel that this season started out really strong. But then, just like every season, it pretty much went to s**t this weekend.

If the national championship game isn't Bama routing Ohio State or Florida State in another snoozer, I'd be pretty surprised.

[PSUcelticsWON95]

My top 8:

1. Oregon- They choke every year, but luckily they got it out of the way early this season. I'd like to see the Ducks win it all if not for FSU, and Mariota deserves the Heisman, hands down.

2. Alabama- Great team, but they've been in some close ones this year. But, Saban has problems losing football games.

3. Florida State- You know who else has problems losing football games? I don't care how close the games are, by now, I think they could beat anybody. Last year they averaged wins by over 40 points, this year it's about 12, but I'd pick them in just about any match-up. By the way, coming into this week, FSU had more wins against CFP T-25 teams than Alabama.

4. Ohio State- Jumping TCU, even after losing J.T. Barrett. I think Urban can get Jones in the rhythm, and I think they'll beat Wisconsin and earn a spot in the Playoff. The loss to VT should hardly be holding them back anymore.

5. TCU- Aside from Kansas, OU, and Baylor, they've blown every team out.

6. Baylor- Had some struggles this year as well. They had to rely on a late surge to beat TCU, and they lost to a mediocre WVU squad. I know they have the head-to-head win over TCU, but I think the Frogs are the better team. Especially if Petty is out any longer.

7. Arizona- Beat Oregon, beat ASU, they're a good team.

8. MIchigan State- Losses to Oregon and OSU, they're a very dangerous team.

9. Wisconsin- They'll be matched up against a touch Buckeye team, but they've won great football games this year, and lost to good teams (except Northwestern, but I'm not getting into that)

10. Georgia Tech- Started out with a 5-0 start, barely lost to Duke, barely lost to UNC, but then they bounce back to win 5 straight including wins against Clemson and Georgia.

Once again, I'm saddened by the Playoff not being 8 teams...

[dbadefense1990]

I was personally rooting for Auburn because all the legions of SEC conference homers would have gone all-ecstasy-bats#it over the last SEC team ('Bama) being knocked out of the CFP race. And I had my hopes so high on this...up until the 3rd quarter, when Sims was reminded that he plays in the SEC, while the whole NCAA was once-again reminded why it's a hellhole to be the visitors at Bryant-Denny in November. Interesting to see the SEC title game with a road-mediocre Tide against Mizzou, America's last hope for some sanity against SEC-stacking for the CFP.

[DS729]

I was personally rooting for Auburn because all the legions of SEC conference homers would have gone all-ecstasy-bats#it over the last SEC team ('Bama) being knocked out of the CFP race. And I had my hopes so high on this...up until the 3rd quarter, when Sims was reminded that he plays in the SEC, while the whole NCAA was once-again reminded why it's a hellhole to be the visitors at Bryant-Denny in November. Interesting to see the SEC title game with a road-mediocre Tide against Mizzou, America's last hope for some sanity against SEC-stacking for the CFP.

What the are you talking about?

[dbadefense1990]

What the are you talking about?

One of the biggest teases in this inaugural edition of the CFP was the question of if a two-loss SEC team would supercede a one-loss team from another power-5 conference and play in the tourney. Auburn could have made the selection committee face this question head-on, but yet, the Tide still has one loss in their resume tonight. It could have been mightily fascinating (and amusing) to hear all the reactions nationwide, of if two-loss 'Bama is more equipped to play in the CFP over one-loss OSU, TCU or Baylor.

[DS729]

What the are you talking about?

One of the biggest teases in this inaugural edition of the CFP was the question of if a two-loss SEC team would supercede a one-loss team from another power-5 conference and play in the tourney. Auburn could have made the selection committee face this question head-on, but yet, the Tide still has one loss in their resume tonight. It could have been mightily fascinating (and amusing) to hear all the reactions nationwide, of if two-loss 'Bama is more equipped to play in the CFP over one-loss OSU, TCU or Baylor.

Let's say that Auburn scores 3 touchdowns in the redzone instead of kicking the field goals and winning 56-55. 2-loss Alabama still probably beats Missouri, and 2-loss Bama probably has a good enough resume to still make it into the playoff. They won't take TCU and Baylor ahead of 2-loss Bama, and Ohio State may not beat Wisconsin, but their loss is so god-awful that Bama still probably gets in because they lost to two Top 10 teams. Your stupid wet dream isn't going to happen.

[Webfooter]

All Mariota needs to wrap up the Heisman is beat Arizona for the conference title. Arizona has given Oregon problems the last couple years but I'm hoping things will work out differently this coming Friday.

[DaRadniz29]

After the SEC Championship, Alabama will have played and possibly defeated all three Tigers teams in the SEC.

The top 10 will change with Mississippi State, UCLA and Georgia losing. UCLA and Georgia will likely drop out of the top 10. Mississippi State is the question mark, how far do they drop? I could see Mississippi St. staying in the top 8, I can also see them falling a bit farther.

My top 16:

1. Alabama

2. Oregon

3. Florida St.

4. TCU

5. Ohio St.

6. Baylor

7. Michigan St.

8. Mississippi St.

9. Arizona

10. Kasas State

11. Wisconsin

12. Georgia Tech

13. Missouri

14. Ole Miss

15. Georgia

16. UCLA

TCU/Baylor may come down to H2H in the Selection show, but for now TCU has the edge. Ohio State's loss to VT looks a bit less ugh, with VT now going bowling, but still not enough to surpass TCU. Baylor stands pat at #6. Michigan State moves up a couple of spots with a easy victory over Penn State. Mississippi St. falls only four spots. Arizona moves up two spots with their home victory over Arizona State. Kansas State easily handles Kansas. Wisconsin jumps three spots with their win over Minnesota. Georgia Tech, Missouri and Ole Miss make big jumps, while UCLA and Georgia drop out of the top 10.

Why does Mississippi State only fall four spots? Taking this from the same congruency when 1-loss Ole Miss fell very few spots, and Mississippi State fell only three spots after losing at Alabama. This is also in conjunction with Georgia and UCLA losing.

Let's play predictions:

- Missouri beats Alabama

- Arizona beats Oregon

- Georgia Tech beats Florida State

- Wisconsin beats Ohio State

- Iowa State (somehow) beats TCU

- Kansas State beats Baylor (This is more likely than ISU beating TCU)

This would definitely be Chaos, but this isn't as far fetched as some might think. Missouri can beat Alabama. Arizona has already beaten Oregon. Georgia Tech could give FSU fits. Wisconsin will fight it out with Ohio St. Badgers only lost by 7 in Columbus last season to the #4 team at that time. Iowa State only lost by four to TCU last season. Again, this is this season not last season, but these are games where the above scenarios can happen.

Interesting to think about if you have no horse in the race, but nerve-wracking if your a alum and/or fan of the those teams.

[PSUcelticsWON95]

Nebraska fires Pelini. ESPN store here. This really makes me upset. I actually liked Pelini, and I wouldn't blame him for all the struggles. Really curious as to who Nebraska tries to pick up. They'll most likely go for Scott Frost, or at least everyone around here thinks so.

[LAWeaver]

Nebraska fires Pelini. ESPN store here. This really makes me upset.

You hate Nebraska, yet this upsets you? o_0

[See Red]

Nebraska fires Pelini. ESPN store here. This really makes me upset. I actually liked Pelini, and I wouldn't blame him for all the struggles. Really curious as to who Nebraska tries to pick up. They'll most likely go for Scott Frost, or at least everyone around here thinks so.

Who would you blame then? In college football it almost always comes back to the head coach.

[PSUcelticsWON95]

Nebraska fires Pelini. ESPN store here. This really makes me upset.

You hate Nebraska, yet this upsets you? o_0

I liked him as a coach. He was passionate (sometimes excessively, yes) and he won football games.

Nebraska fires Pelini. ESPN store here. This really makes me upset. I actually liked Pelini, and I wouldn't blame him for all the struggles. Really curious as to who Nebraska tries to pick up. They'll most likely go for Scott Frost, or at least everyone around here thinks so.

Who would you blame then? In college football it almost always comes back to the head coach.

Some of their wins were luck, some of their losses were luck. I know they played some easy schedules and got steamrolled in some big games, but they've been conference contenders nearly every season.