stevo
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Post by stevo on Dec 4, 2023 11:18:29 GMT -6
Put aside your like or dislike of Alabama. Who do you think should have received the 4th playoff spot? And why.....
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Post by smith79jordan on Dec 4, 2023 11:26:09 GMT -6
Jax State
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Post by funkychicken on Dec 4, 2023 11:26:16 GMT -6
Alabama, they beat the #1 team in the CFP standings. Also, was not impressed with the FSU sos.
FC
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2023 11:40:04 GMT -6
Texas because Florida State should have been 2. Going undefeated should mean something. They did everything they were supposed to do. They should have been at #2. They're being punished because their QB is hurt. The committee should be ashamed. If they beat Georgia, they should hang the banners.
Just wait until next year when 6 SEC teams get in.
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Post by jsu02 on Dec 4, 2023 11:44:37 GMT -6
The current playoff is a disaster. The upcoming version is a disaster. Once the PAC-2 and MWC consolidate, all conference championship game winners (9) should get in, then the next 7 highest ranked teams get an at large bid.
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leeroy
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Post by leeroy on Dec 4, 2023 11:48:19 GMT -6
Alabama. Full transparency, I grew up in a roll tide house but became a Jax State only fan before Lil Nicky came to town.
The difference between the Alabama I saw play Texas and the one that played Georgia was significant. Some great coaching took place to get those players to rise to the challenge. FSU didn't look like a championship contender against Louisville, and Louisville is no Georgia.
Ultimately, it goes back to how you view the 4 team playoff. Is is a reward for a great season (which FSU had), or is it meant to match the 4 best teams against each other at the end?
See, I think this is why you have to have a playoff structure that guarantees a spot for P5 conference champs.
And no, I'm not sold that Liberty is the best G5 team this year, but I think the NY6 bowls, right now, ARR a reward for a great season. In my mind, it's apples and oranges to compare the FSU and Liberty situations.
This problem won't exist next year, but it's a fun debate.
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leeroy
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Post by leeroy on Dec 4, 2023 11:49:53 GMT -6
Just watch the reaction video of the Michigan team when Alabama popped up instead of FSU. It is clear which one they wanted and expected to play.
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Post by toooldtocare on Dec 4, 2023 12:02:37 GMT -6
They got it right. Florida State is the best team in one of the worst P5 conferences. Kinda like Jax State in the OVC.
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Post by Whup Em All on Dec 4, 2023 13:00:33 GMT -6
Let's start with the easy ones: Michigan earned their way in by going undefeated and beating undefeated and then #2 Ohio State. Washington earned their way in by going undefeated and beating undefeated and then #5 Oregon.
That leaves two spots.
Texas earned their way in by virtue of their 12-1 record, marred only by a 4-point loss against #12 Oklahoma in early October. Their record includes wins over then-ranked teams #3 Alabama, #24 Kansas, #23 Kansas State, and #18 Oklahoma State. Three of those opponents are still ranked by the Selection Committee: Bama (#4), Kansas State (#25), and Oklahoma State (#20). The Longhorns scorched the earth with their CCG opponent, Oklahoma State, winning 49-21. They deserve to be included.
One spot left:
Bama's resume is impressive. After a 10-point loss in early September to then #11 Texas, who is now ranked #3 and in the CFP, the Tide went on a winning streak, taking out then #15 Ole Miss, #17 Tennessee, #14 LSU, and #1 UGA along the way. Each of those wins was by two TDs, except for UGA, which was a 3-point nailbiter. All of those teams are still ranked by the Selection Committee: UGA (#6), Ole Miss (#11), LSU (#13), and Tennessee (#21).
UGA's resume was equally impressive, with wins over then #20 Kentucky, #12 Missouri, #9 Ole Miss, and #18 Tennessee. Most of those wins were blowouts, with Missouri the only team keeping it within two scores. Missouri (#9), Ole Miss (#11), and Tennessee (#21) are all still ranked by the Selection Committee. The Dawgs' only loss was the aforementioned 3-point squeaker to CFP participant Alabama. But despite being a lifelong UGA fan, I can justify their exclusion thusly:
If the playoff were 8 teams instead of only 4, the first round would've seen then #1 UGA and #8 Bama play each other. This mythical game was effectively replaced by the SEC Championship. Both teams were worthy, but the Tide came out on top and advanced. Sorry, Dawgs.
This "playoff" scenario can also be used to eliminate Ohio State (who lost to Michigan) and Oregon (who lost to Washington).
But what about FSU?
I don't care who their quarterback is, or whether he's hurt or not. Injuries are part of the game. The only time this would matter is if FSU had lost their star QB while undefeated, and then proceeded to lose every game since then. But if that had happened, they'd be eliminated anyway. The fact they continued to win proves why the Jordan Travis situation shouldn't even be in this conversation. It's a distraction from the real issue.
The Noles were undefeated against a schedule which included three then-ranked teams: #5 LSU, #16 Duke, and #15 Louisville. LSU (#13) and Louisville (#15) remain in the Selection Committee's Top 25.
Honestly, there's no reason to exclude them, other than the fact that Michigan, Washington, Texas, Bama, and UGA had more impressive resumes, and (had it not been for the early September Texas loss) Bama would've likely been No. 2 behind UGA heading into the SEC Championship Game. Maybe even No. 1. FSU does not have a single win against a team currently ranked in the Selection Committee's Top 10. All the others do.
But FSU has a chance to prove the committee wrong, since they were paired with UGA in the Orange Bowl.
If the Noles beat the Dawgs (close or not) or lose a nailbiter, they'll prove the committee made a mistake. On the other hand, if UGA monkeystomps FSU and wins by three TDs or more, then the Seminole Nation can sleep soundly knowing their CFP bid would've just ended in heartbreak.
Likewise, if UGA pounds the Noles into fine powder, they make their case that they should've made it in over *somebody*.
If Bama destroys Michigan, then the Big Ten is the weak link. If Texas destroys Washington, then the PAC is the weak link. If both the Big Ten and PAC win, then FSU probably would've won the Natty.
Is a hypothetical a proper consolation prize for FSU? Of course not. Same goes for UGA. The CFP sucks.
But it's all we've got under the current rules.
Will things improve under the 12-team format next year?
Well, we would've ended up with something like this (using the 6+6 format since the PAC-12 is still a thing... next season will be 5+7)
1 Michigan (Big Ten champ) (bye)
2 Washington (PAC-12 champ) (bye)
3 Texas (Big XII champ) vs 23 Liberty (CUSA Champ / Highest Ranked G5)
4 Alabama (SEC champ) vs 11 Ole Miss
5 FSU (ACC champ) vs 10 Penn State
6 UGA vs 9 Missouri
7 Ohio State vs 8 Oregon
Now #12 Oklahoma (10-2 with a win over #3 Texas) is left out. So is #13 LSU. The wailing and gnashing of teeth would continue:
"How can *Liberty* make it in while these teams sit at home?!!"
"Why should Michigan and Washington claim byes while fellow undefeated FSU is stuck having to play the national power Penn State if the mighty Big Ten in Round One?"
I, for one, am looking forward to it. LOL.
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Post by pubdaze on Dec 4, 2023 13:27:27 GMT -6
Alabama. A couple of thoughts - Alabama's SOS was 5th, compared to FSU's which was 55th. I believe Alabama beat 4 ranked teams, FSU 3. FSU led Louisville 3 - 0 at halftime. Yes, the starting QB was out with an injury but Alabama was without their starting RB? UGA had injuries with Brock & Ladd and others. Unfortunately injuries are part of the game, next man up. Leading up to the game they said it didn't matter, FSU would dominate with their run game? On the other hand Alabama beat UGA in the SEC Championship. As in UGA the #1 team in the nation, 2x defending national champs and on a 29 game winning streak. Is there nothing to be said for Alabama doing that? And what about Michigan and the cheating scandal? That seems to have been quietly swept under the rug. Oh sure, all teams do it but at this level? This was highly organized and Harbie wants to act like he knew nothing about it. Please, enough. Yes, all things considered they got it right. Sorry FSU.
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Post by cockygolfer on Dec 4, 2023 14:03:49 GMT -6
They started with 5 P5 conferences and a 4-team playoff... it was flawed from the start and something had to give.
Lucky for them it took this long for a problem to arise.
Alabama.
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Post by gemofthehills on Dec 4, 2023 15:08:01 GMT -6
Liberty, they are undefeated
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2023 15:27:16 GMT -6
Poor Liberty is going to lose their bowl 77-0.
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Post by JSUSoutherner on Dec 4, 2023 16:17:09 GMT -6
There's not many on this board that despise Alabama more than I do.
That said. Alabama over Florida State.
The thing I believe the CFP gets right is (most of the time) they pick the best 4 football teams.
Florida State had a stellar season. No doubt. I'm glad their back at the top. CFB is better when Florida State isn't garbage.
That said, Alabama is rolling. Just took down Georgia, their only loss is #2 Texas and Jordan Travis has a broken leg.
That's really all their is to it.
You can put it in a vacuum and say, "oh well Florida State went undefeated". But their LSU win was forever ago (just like Alabamas Texas loss), they dodged Clemson, they played Duke after their QB went down, and Louisville is a team that lost to Kentucky two weeks ago.
Alabama, by contrast, just beat the best team in college football for the past three years.
Resumes matter, but so do trajectories. I think the CFP committee sees that.
That said, I think situations like this are why the expanded playoffs will be a good thing.
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Post by pubdaze on Dec 5, 2023 7:21:06 GMT -6
The real winners in this are the committee and college football. The media buzz around all of this is priceless. The end.
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