I’m not so sure about that.You can now etch it in stone….all CFP at-large bids will go to the SEC, B1G, and, maybe, Notre Dame. 0% chance of two teams from the ACC or Big 12 from making it.
A 2-loss BYU has absolutely no chance. You’re forgetting that they needed miracle last second drives to beat a bad Utah team and a really, really bad Oklahoma State team. They just lost at home to 3-6 Kansas. Strength of schedule outside the Top 50. Hell they were only at #6 even while undefeated. The loss they just took is comparable to when Ole Miss lost to Kentucky, except it just happened in mid-November. Their win over Kansas State is also nowhere near as good now, as they are about to dip out of the Top 25.I’m not so sure about that.
Colorado is sitting down there at #17 and the Deion hype train is in full effect. If both Colorado and BYU win out until they meet in the Big 12 Championship game and Colorado comes away with the Championship, I could see a scenario where both Colorado and BYU get in, even with the BYU loss today. If Colorado loses the Big 12 Championship, but some other bubble teams also lose, there could be some pressure to put them in just based on how much attention would be brought to their inclusion.
In the ACC, I could see a scenario where SMU and Miami both get in if SMU (currently #14) wins the ACC Championship over Miami (or even vice versa) with sort of the same scenario. Both teams could win out until the ACC Championship. By then, we’re probably seeing Miami back up around 6-7 and SMU up at 9-12.
Im sure this has been discussed, but are the byes for the highest ranked conference champions regardless of conference? For example, if Boise makes it over either ACC champ or Big 12 champ, would Boise get the bye and one of the other champs could *potentially* be left out?No team from the big 12 should make it.
The way the playoff rule is written it is possible for the G5 team to get the bye because it’s the 4 highest ranked conference champions. The other that’s left out of the byes would still be in the playoff and play in the first round.Im sure this has been discussed, but are the byes for the highest ranked conference champions regardless of conference? For example, if Boise makes it over either ACC champ or Big 12 champ, would Boise get the bye and one of the other champs could *potentially* be left out?
There is no distinction between G5 and P4 in the format. It is a straight 5-7 format. The assumption is most years the P4 champs will get the byes based on rankings.Im sure this has been discussed, but are the byes for the highest ranked conference champions regardless of conference? For example, if Boise makes it over either ACC champ or Big 12 champ, would Boise get the bye and one of the other champs could *potentially* be left out?
0% chance ACC or Big 12 get 2 bids. Loser of SMU-Miami will drop like a rock, and Clemson can’t make the title game without 1 of those 2 losing which would eliminate the chance of a 1-loss ACC team not making the title game. SEC is a lock for 4 playoff teams & may get a 5th if Notre Dame loses.SMU is sitting at 14th, and Miami is till top 10, and they don't play Miami. I would not give 0% chance of the ACC getting two in. BYU really changes nothing. They will still get the 4th seed with a bye if they win out. Only ting change is GA has played and beaten two top 10 team. The SEC will only get four bids. Sorry to say it but they only play 8 conference games. The other P4's play 9. It is going to be healed against them.
There is still a chance. Who knows what the committee is thinking.0% chance ACC or Big 12 get 2 bids. Loser of SMU-Miami will drop like a rock, and Clemson can’t make the title game without 1 of those 2 losing which would eliminate the chance of a 1-loss ACC team not making the title game. SEC is a lock for 4 playoff teams & may get a 5th if Notre Dame loses.
This was the plan all along. I'm convinced. Texas will lose as well. The SEC exists to propel as many teams forward as possible to the sport's playoffs. More revenue, better brand. No other purpose.Yep. Massive help to 10-2 SEC teams.
No 2-loss team outside of SEC, Big 10 or Notre Dame is getting an at large bid. Not going to happen. I think only way SEC doesn’t get 4 teens in is if Army & Boise both win out & win their conference. Then you might see AAC, MWC or Big 12 champion get an at large bid.There are only 2 wrinkles left:
Combining both of the above, remember that BYU beat SMU earlier this year, so if SMU is the ACC's lone representative, and if BYU is 11-2 with a loss in the Big 12 Championship Game, the committee might give them the nod over an SEC team (Ole Miss?) who didn't qualify and also has some questionable performances against bad teams.
- Will the committee punish teams for losing conference championship games? An example would be Texas A&M beats Texas to get to 10-2 and a berth in the SEC Championship Game with Alabama(?), and Texas A&M and Alabama are both in the top 12 before the game. Is it really fair to drop the loser (who would now be a 3-loss team) out of the bracket to benefit a team that didn't qualify for their conference championship game? No, I don't think so.
- This same situation probably doesn't apply to the Big 12 Championship Game, where I doubt both 11-1 BYU and 10-2 Colorado are considered "in" before the game, so if BYU loses, they just get replaced by Colorado in the final bracket.
- How important are head-to-head victories? Historically, they've meant a lot. The committee will bend over backwards to rank several teams in a row with the same records by head-to-head status. But sometimes they don't. The committee just does whatever it wants and makes up a justification after the fact, so I wouldn't be surprised if Ole Miss stays in front of Georgia, or if they don't.
- You also have situations like Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee, who all went 1-1 against each other.
They are likely to play Miami in the ACC title game, unless one of them loses multiple games…..not likely.SMU is sitting at 14th, and Miami is till top 10, and they don't play Miami.
Of course they will, but they can no longer get an at large with 2 losses. They won’t finish near high enough. That was the big change with their loss yesterday….they had at least somewhat of an argument at 12-1 with a loss in the title game. They no longer have that path.BYU really changes nothing. They will still get the 4th seed with a bye if they win out.
Probably correct if chalk holds. But its not impossible for 5. A Notre Dame loss to currently undefeated and 16th ranked Army is all it would take to open up a 5th slot for the SEC. IU getting badly beaten by Ohio State is another possible path to 5 from the SEC.Only ting change is GA has played and beaten two top 10 team. The SEC will only get four bids.
Sorry to say it but they only play 8 conference games. The other P4's play 9. It is going to be healed against them.
You can remove the "maybe," unless they **** the bed vs USCw AND Urmy, both teams they should easily beat, ND will be comfortably in the playoff.maybe, Notre Dame.
You can’t ignore any data point, and the committee never has. It’s even more important to not do so this year, because the tiebreakers aren’t clean and the conference championship representatives aren’t going to really have a concrete mandate to be there in many cases. If Texas A&M and Bama play in Atlanta, both knowing they are playing for an auto bid and a bye, and Bama wins 45-0, you’re not going to hold that against A&M?There are only 2 wrinkles left:
- Will the committee punish teams for losing conference championship games? An example would be Texas A&M beats Texas to get to 10-2 and a berth in the SEC Championship Game with Alabama(?), and Texas A&M and Alabama are both in the top 12 before the game. Is it really fair to drop the loser (who would now be a 3-loss team) out of the bracket to benefit a team that didn't qualify for their conference championship game? No, I don't think so.
In the current rankings and SEC scenarios, not that important. Too many conflicts and too many teams nested together that don’t all play each other. Ole Miss beat UGA, who beat Tennessee, who beat Alabama, who beat LSU, who beat Ole Miss. Tennessee and Bama have the same predicament as Ole Miss and UGA.
- How important are head-to-head victories? Historically, they've meant a lot. The committee will bend over backwards to rank several teams in a row with the same records by head-to-head status. But sometimes they don't. The committee just does whatever it wants and makes up a justification after the fact, so I wouldn't be surprised if Ole Miss stays in front of Georgia, or if they don't.
BYU isn’t getting an at-large with 2 losses. They aren’t going to have the SOS to justify it.Combining both of the above, remember that BYU beat SMU earlier this year, so if SMU is the ACC's lone representative, and if BYU is 11-2 with a loss in the Big 12 Championship Game, the committee might give them the nod over an SEC team (Ole Miss?) who didn't qualify and also has some questionable performances against bad teams.