2016 NCAA Football Thread

[burgundy]

15 minutes ago, oldschoolvikings said:

Maybe I'm just being an Ohio state homer, but that's not how I see it at all. After Tuesday, OSU is likely to be number two.  If they win out, they'll be a one loss team, with a final season win against a top ten michigan. even without the conference championship, I can't see the committee picking a two loss team over them.  Remember, they've said all along, their only true criteria is best four teams.

 

Plus, don't be naive about what that OSU name and money will do.

 

If there is a 1-loss conference champ Washington, a 1-loss conference champ Clemson, and a conference champ Wisconsin/Penn State, and Ohio State gets in over one of them, then what the hell is the point of conference championships? Why even bother with having them? Of course, I could totally see the committee taking Ohio State, but it would completely invalidate conference championships, and make conference play inconsequential.

[Wings]

I can't see Louisville being put above Clemson when they lost to them.

 

My current top 4:

1. Alabama

2. Ohio State

3. Michigan

4. Clemson

 

Ohio State or Michigan will most likely be eliminated in a few weeks anyway. 

 

[crashcarson15]

3 hours ago, burgundy said:

 

If there is a 1-loss conference champ Washington, a 1-loss conference champ Clemson, and a conference champ Wisconsin/Penn State, and Ohio State gets in over one of them, then what the hell is the point of conference championships? Why even bother with having them? Of course, I could totally see the committee taking Ohio State, but it would completely invalidate conference championships, and make conference play inconsequential.

If the committee puts Washington in over a one-loss Ohio State, that’d be a huge miss for me. I hate the Buckeyes as much as the next guy, but Ohio State will have wins over a top-10 Michigan team, a top-10 Wisconsin team, a top-15 Nebraska team and what could be a top-10 Oklahoma team by season’s end.

 

Washington will have… a couple wins over Utah and a win over Washington State, both of whom are probably going to finish around 20th? The body of work ain’t comparable at all.

 

While conference championships should matter to a point, nobody would argue Western Michigan should be in the playoff over Ohio State because Western won the MAC. But conference titles should really only come into play when two teams have similar resumes — an 11-1 Ohio State’s slate would be a hell of a lot more impressive than 12-1 Washington’s or, one could argue, 12-1 Clemson’s, too.

[oldschoolvikings]

3 hours ago, burgundy said:

 

If there is a 1-loss conference champ Washington, a 1-loss conference champ Clemson, and a conference champ Wisconsin/Penn State, and Ohio State gets in over one of them, then what the hell is the point of conference championships? Why even bother with having them? Of course, I could totally see the committee taking Ohio State, but it would completely invalidate conference championships, and make conference play inconsequential.

 

Well, your point on Clemson (not so much Washington... see above) would stand, but a Wisconsin/Penn State winner would be a two loss champion, so if the final decision really and truly does come down to who the committee feels is the best overall team (as has been stated) I could see OSU getting picked ahead of them... especially a two loss Wisconsin team that they beat in their stadium.

As for what's the point of conference championships?  In 2016, not much, as far as I'm concerned. IMO, the best thing about this current set up is the committee (theoretically, anyway) picks the best team period.  I'm not interested in a scenario in which a 3 loss team from the SEC East plays the game of their lives, beats an undefeated team from the SEC West, and gets in the playoffs.  No thanks. 

[MJWalker45]

If Ohio State,  Louisville and Oklahoma finish 11-1 and 10-2 for Oklahoma, and there's only one spot left in the playoffs I think Oklahoma might get it as the BIG XII champs, even if they are behind both in the polls. That's only going to happen if the committee picks league titles over top 25 wins. The Penn State/Wisconsin winner would probably be in and Ohio State gets sent to the Rose Bowl due to overall record. I'm still pretty leary of everyone overlooking Michigan State. Sparty has the ability to ruin the postseason for the two East leaders over the next two weeks. As far as the rest of the Big 6 games, Navy could earn a high level games still but it would take a lot of dominos to fall their way. 

[DS729]

1 hour ago, MJWalker45 said:

If Ohio State,  Louisville and Oklahoma finish 11-1 and 10-2 for Oklahoma, and there's only one spot left in the playoffs I think Oklahoma might get it as the BIG XII champs, even if they are behind both in the polls. That's only going to happen if the committee picks league titles over top 25 wins. The Penn State/Wisconsin winner would probably be in and Ohio State gets sent to the Rose Bowl due to overall record. I'm still pretty leary of everyone overlooking Michigan State. Sparty has the ability to ruin the postseason for the two East leaders over the next two weeks. As far as the rest of the Big 6 games, Navy could earn a high level games still but it would take a lot of dominos to fall their way. 

Why would the comittee pick Oklahoma over Ohio State when Ohio State beat Oklahoma handedly in their own stadium? Plus, the Big 12 is a very weak conference. The conference championship shouldn't trump head to head result, especially in a game that wasn't close. 

[MJWalker45]

Only if the committee put titles above records would I believe this could happen.  Hopefully Michigan State knocks off Penn State and saves everyone else the headache. 

[Wings]

The only way anyone would accept Penn State in the playoffs if this happens: 

Alabama 72, Penn State 0. 

[MJWalker45]

18 hours ago, Wings said:

The only way anyone would accept Penn State in the playoffs if this happens: 

Alabama 72, Penn State 0. 

Nope. I'd rather that happen at the Kickoff Classic than the playoffs. 

[Still MIGHTY]

Tostitos --> Vizio --> BattleFrog --> PlayStation Fiesta Bowl

[BlackBolt3]

Wait, the Fiesta Bowl has a new name again? Playstation? Oh my...

[Still MIGHTY]

Relevant teams in College Football Playoff rankings:

 

1. Alabama (in line for SEC title game)

2. Ohio State (may not play in Big 10 title game)

3. Michigan (may not play in Big 10 title game)

4. Clemson (in line for ACC title game)

---

5. Louisville (may not play in ACC title game)

6. Washington (may not play in Pac 12 title game)

---

7. Wisconsin (in line for Big 10 title game)

8. Penn State (in line for Big 10 title game)

9. Oklahoma (in line for Big 12 title)

10. Colorado (in line for Pac 12 title game)

11. Oklahoma State (in Big 12 title race)

12. Utah (in Pac 12 South title race)

13. USC (in Pac 12 South title race)

---

19. Tennessee (in line for SEC title game)

20. Boise State (may not play in MWC title game, in line for Group of 5 spot)

21. Western Michigan (undefeated, in line for MAC title, in race for Group of 5 spot)

22. Washington State (in line for Pac 12 title game)

---

 

Whole lotta mess

 

[dfwabel]

Again, the Top 15 are all Power 5 teams.

B1G: 4

Pac-12: 4

Big XII: 3

ACC: 2

SEC: 2

 

Kirby Hocutt got grilled on the conference call over why OU being so much higher than WVU.

[BlackBolt3]

So going by that, provided chalk wins out, and only conference champs get it, Bama is 1, Clemson is 2, Penn State/Wisconsin is 3, do you put a two loss Oklahoma or Colorado in at 4? This year is really going to show how much a conference championship is worth.

[Still MIGHTY]

10 minutes ago, BlackBolt3 said:

So going by that, provided chalk wins out, and only conference champs get it, Bama is 1, Clemson is 2, Penn State/Wisconsin is 3, do you put a two loss Oklahoma or Colorado in at 4? This year is really going to show how much a conference championship is worth.

 

Agreed. The committee kind of puts themselves in a bind no matter what, if records hold out. Which one is it? Best teams no matter what? Or best conference champions?

 

If it's Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State/Michigan winner, Louisville/Washington, then conference championships don't matter as much as they've said.

 

If it's Alabama, Clemson, Penn State/Wisconsin, Oklahoma/Colorado/Washington State, then the committee isn't picking the best teams like they've said.

 

But you do also see them hedging bets by putting Penn State/Oklahoma/Colorado as high as they are. Slowly working their way up so it's not some grand surprise if they switch in the conference champs for the final rankings.

[HedleyLamarr]

I don't have a problem if an at-large team gets in, provided that their division/conference champion also gets in.

[BlackBolt3]

41 minutes ago, Still MIGHTY said:

Agreed. The committee kind of puts themselves in a bind no matter what, if records hold out. Which one is it? Best teams no matter what? Or best conference champions?

I think the key thing to see is how the Big Ten Champion is held by the committee. Obviously Michigan can win out and save one headache, but if either of the two loss teams makes it in over a possible 1 loss Washington as a conference champ or 1 loss Ohio State/Louisville, neither of which even won their divisions, then it really doesn't matter how many times you've lost, provided you won your conference. Which really sucks because, for instance, Louisville lost the one game that really mattered in terms of the division, but Oklahoma can lose twice in the year, "get hot" and run through a weaker conference, and sneak in. December 4th, provided things don't clear up, will be interesting to see.

[FiddySicks]

4 hours ago, Still MIGHTY said:

Tostitos --> Vizio --> BattleFrog --> PlayStation Fiesta Bowl

 

You forgot Sunkist and IBM. 

[DS729]

Ugh, why is Tennessee ranked? I thought we were done with the Vols after Alabama beat them by 39 in their stadium. 

 

Also, Boise State, despite being ranked ahead of undefeated Western Michigan still needs help to win their own division. Their best shot is a Wyoming loss to 8-1 San Diego State this week. Even if that falls, Boise would have to play the aforementioned San Diego State team in the Mountain West title. I don't get why they're ranked ahead of an undefeated Western Michigan squad. 

[Still MIGHTY]

44 minutes ago, BlackBolt3 said:

I think the key thing to see is how the Big Ten Champion is held by the committee. Obviously Michigan can win out and save one headache, but if either of the two loss teams makes it in over a possible 1 loss Washington as a conference champ or 1 loss Ohio State/Louisville, neither of which even won their divisions, then it really doesn't matter how many times you've lost, provided you won your conference. Which really sucks because, for instance, Louisville lost the one game that really mattered in terms of the division, but Oklahoma can lose twice in the year, "get hot" and run through a weaker conference, and sneak in. December 4th, provided things don't clear up, will be interesting to see.

 

Yeah, I think of the potential at-larges, Louisville has the best loss. Plain and simple. If we're going to pick an at-large, it has to be Louisville. If things are going to be easy, Michigan wins out to be Big 10 champ and #3 and Louisville wins out as the #4. That's the easy choice, and would make for a great playoff. Alabama vs Louisville, Clemson vs Michigan. I'll take that. But Alabama/Clemson vs Oklahoma/Colorado/Penn State/Wisconsin? Ugh.

 

I don't want a two-loss Oklahoma anywhere near this thing. The Big 12 is  and they had their shot last year. No thank you.

 

As a Pac 12 guy, I kinda wanted to let Washington have their shot, but they're just not in that same class, I don't think. Neither are Colorado or Wazzu.