Miami, Indiana, Boise State, and SMU

[Sleepyhead]

Combined win % of 89.583 and combined record of 1-4 vs. current top 25.

South Carolina win % of 75 and 3-2 vs current top 25.

I don't fault the committee for its ranking and feel it was fair and one loss teams should get a shot. I can also live with Alabama and Ole Miss getting the nod with identical records who won head to head. These two teams were some of the most respected programs throughout the season. The issue is with the way conferences are uneven and I don't see an easy solution any time soon. Currently the SEC has SEVEN teams with three losses or less who beat up on each other, 2 teams at 8-4, and 4 teams at .500 or better. At this point, I would prefer to see the SEC and BIG add a few more notable programs and break away from the NCAA.

 

[92Pony]

Easy solution - do away with automatic bids.

 

[Lurker123]

The issue is with the way conferences are uneven and I don't see an easy solution any time soon.

One solution should rear its head when the final selections are made. The SEC and B10 should have the most teams in.

But yeah, at some point, a break away needs to happen.

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

Fear of SEC Bias is real for the committee so the ''Legacy Club'' gets preference.

 

[Sleepyhead]

I just don't see how the committee can merit taking all four teams when you look at a statistic like that. Miami played one ranked team all year (A decent Syracuse team) and lost with the season on the line. Indiana only won ONE game against a team with a winning record (7-5 Michigan). At best, you take 2 of those four, conference champions Boise and SMU.

 

[Yard_Pimps]

Until there is a split. Teams are In the conference they are in. They really can hardly control that and even then they can’t control the other teams in the conference. Schedules are flushed out years in advance so imho all conference champions should be in. Consider me in the minority.

 

[Hoganman1]

I think it’s fair that conference champions get in the playoffs but I don’t like that they get a bye. I realize there will have to be 16 teams if they eliminate the byes. That’s not going to happen anytime soon.

 

[Lurker123]

I think it’s fair that conference champions get in the playoffs but I don’t like that they get a bye. I realize there will have to be 16 teams if they eliminate the byes. That’s not going to happen anytime soon.

Agreed. REALLY don't like the bye.

Don't mind conference champs from smaller conferences.

Imo, there will always be angst about teams with lesser records but harder SOS from bigger conferences. Not really sure there is a right way to do that other than the SEC and B10 just having their own tournament.

 

[Sleepyhead]

Agreed. REALLY don't like the bye.

Don't mind conference champs from smaller conferences.

Imo, there will always be angst about teams with lesser records but harder SOS from bigger conferences. Not really sure there is a right way to do that other than the SEC and B10 just having their own tournament.

I don’t know the solution. The conferences are so screwed up at this point that starting from scratch and selecting a 75 team division 1 would be smart. That won’t happen. It seems like a joint sec/big tournament with invitations for schools from other conferences would work best.

 

[Roosterbell]

I think it’s fair that conference champions get in the playoffs but I don’t like that they get a bye. I realize there will have to be 16 teams if they eliminate the byes. That’s not going to happen anytime soon.

Agree. Go to 16 teams and kill those stupid byes. Ole Miss, Alabama or SC could all potentially make some noise in the playoff. I will never say more than 16 deserve in, however.

 

[Sweetwatergolf]

Easy solution - do away with automatic bids.

This exactly! Even add the number of teams to satisfy the "conference Champs should be in crowd". Can't they figure out all conferences aren't created equally

 

[Fried Chicken]

Easy solution - do away with automatic bids

That woundn’t change a whole lot in this bracket. How many of those teams listed received an automatic bid? Boise State would be it. SMU would be in if they beat Clemson without automatic bid, and still might get in if they lose.

this format won’t last long though. There is no reason to have 1st Round byes and when you look at the teams that would get them, it’s clear the system is stupid. As of now Oregon (deserved), SMU (ridiculous), Boise State (Ridiculous) and Texas. We’ll be at 16 soon.

 

[Uscg1984]

I realize there will have to be 16 teams if they eliminate the byes. That’s not going to happen anytime soon.

Oh, I think it's going to happen very soon. I think they designed the 12-team bracket the way they did specifically so that people would call for the 16 team playoff. I will not be surprised if the 12 team bracket is expanded by the 2026 season

 

[Debo77]

I just don't see how the committee can merit taking all four teams when you look at a statistic like that. Miami played one ranked team all year (A decent Syracuse team) and lost with the season on the line. Indiana only won ONE game against a team with a winning record (7-5 Michigan). At best, you take 2 of those four, conference champions Boise and SMU.

Indiana only played TWO teams with a winning record....Mich and Ohio St

 

[Vegas13]

Combined win % of 89.583 and combined record of 1-4 vs. current top 25.

South Carolina win % of 75 and 3-2 vs current top 25.

I don't fault the committee for its ranking and feel it was fair and one loss teams should get a shot. I can also live with Alabama and Ole Miss getting the nod with identical records who won head to head. These two teams were some of the most respected programs throughout the season. The issue is with the way conferences are uneven and I don't see an easy solution any time soon. Currently the SEC has SEVEN teams with three losses or less who beat up on each other, 2 teams at 8-4, and 4 teams at .500 or better. At this point, I would prefer to see the SEC and BIG add a few more notable programs and break away from the NCAA.

Exactly. The good conferences are penalized for being deep. We would have been conference champs in other conferences. At least tack on a strength of schedule requirement for Conference champs automatic bids. Make these teams skating through easy schedules add some good out of conference teams. I wish they'd go back to BCS rankings. Rank them all year, no overt manipulation at the end, and take your top 12. Losing late in the year used to matter. Win streaks against ranked teams used to matter. Now nobody knows what the committe wants. They are using different metrics for different teams.

 

[Blues man]

Oh, I think it's going to happen very soon. I think they designed the 12-team bracket the way they did specifically so that people would call for the 16 team playoff. I will not be surprised if the 12 team bracket is expanded by the 2026 season

I hope you are right. 12 team tournament brackets w/byes should be made only when you can't find 16 teams. I dont think it has ever been the bracket of choice in the history of brackets yet this is what they thought would be a good idea. Blows the mind. To do this on purpose is just idiotic but then again it wouldn't be the first time this committee looked that way. If the idea was they need to tiptoe their way into 16 over a few years, they are in the wrong business and need to be replaced pronto. Preferably by computers.

 

[Backyard Archer]

Until there is a split. Teams are In the conference they are in. They really can hardly control that and even then they can’t control the other teams in the conference. Schedules are flushed out years in advance so imho all conference champions should be in. Consider me in the minority.

To an extent, you're right. But Indiana paid Louisville a cool $1 million to cancel their non-conference game this year so they'd have an easier path.

 

[Yard_Pimps]

To an extent, you're right. But Indiana paid Louisville a cool $1 million to cancel their non-conference game this year so they'd have an easier path.

Hate to ruffle some feathers, but the sec has been doing that with their out of conference schedule for decades. Teams like Alabama always schedules out of conference pansies and then were given a very favorable schedule to compete against in the SEC. While teams like sc and the other usual lower tier teams get crapped on with impossible schedules. Look at Georgia the last few years for another example.


Georgia played a much harder schedule this year and well……

 

[18IsTheMan]

Hate to ruffle some feathers, but the sec has been doing that with their out of conference schedule for decades. Teams like Alabama always schedules out of conference pansies and then were given a very favorable schedule to compete against in the SEC. While teams like sc and the other usual lower tier teams get crapped on with impossible schedules. Look at Georgia the last few years for another example.


Georgia played a much harder schedule this year and well……

Somewhat agree. However, until this year, the bulk of a team's schedule was locked in by having to play the other teams in their respective division. We're also behind the 8 ball because we are locked in with Clemson. Bama, for instance, gets Auburn, which is already a conference game. UF was in a similar boat with us most years, having FSU locked in as an OOC opponent. Alabama also always plays Tennessee.

At the end of the day, nobody really gets an easy ride in the SEC.

 

[Sleepyhead]

Every team in the country is guilty of scheduling weak, smaller schools 1-3 times a year. Look at the schedules. The sec seems to more late in the season which throws people off.

 

[Yard_Pimps]

Somewhat agree. However, until this year, the bulk of a team's schedule was locked in by having to play the other teams in their respective division. We're also behind the 8 ball because we are locked in with Clemson. Bama, for instance, gets Auburn, which is already a conference game. UF was in a similar boat with us most years, having FSU locked in as an OOC opponent. Alabama also always plays Tennessee.

At the end of the day, nobody really gets an easy ride in the SEC.

That’s just not true. Please go pull up Georgias schedule the last 3 years. I’m sorry but this sec hype is ridiculous. I haven’t and never will buy into it. You will never hear me cheer “SEC”, it’s dumb. If it were that hard, the new teams wouldn’t come in and compete. Just like smu moving into the Acc and are in the championship. This **** is way over blown to build up a cash cow. Sorry but it’s true to anyone who looks through clear glasses.

 

[atl-cock]

Until there is a split. Teams are In the conference they are in. They really can hardly control that and even then they can’t control the other teams in the conference. Schedules are flushed out years in advance so imho all conference champions should be in. Consider me in the minority.

16-team playoff. Higher seed hosts through the semifinals. Championship game at a neutral site. Bowls operate completely outside of the playoffs. And all FBS conference champions get an automatic bid. Yes, that includes the MAAC and the Sun Belt. Otherwise, as others have stated, break away, or perhaps create a P4 division.

 

[atl-cock]

Agree. Go to 16 teams and kill those stupid byes. Ole Miss, Alabama or SC could all potentially make some noise in the playoff. I will never say more than 16 deserve in, however.

24 in FCS. Top 8 got a first round bye.

 

[will110]

I think it’s fair that conference champions get in the playoffs but I don’t like that they get a bye. I realize there will have to be 16 teams if they eliminate the byes. That’s not going to happen anytime soon.

I'm good with conference champions making the playoffs if they're one of the best 12 teams. There's zero reason, though, for a weak conference champion get an automatic bid.

Clemson is 17. Iowa State is 16. Both of those teams jump into the playoffs if they win their conference championship this weekend. That's absurd.

 

[Yard_Pimps]

16-team playoff. Higher seed hosts through the semifinals. Championship game at a neutral site. Bowls operate completely outside of the playoffs. And all FBS conference champions get an automatic bid. Yes, that includes the MAAC and the Sun Belt. Otherwise, as others have stated, break away, or perhaps create a P4 division.

Jesus no, 12 is plenty. Even if the power 4 break off that won’t solve some of the issues y'all have discussed. Especially as it pertains to the ACC. That only takes out the group of 5 leader.

 

[will110]

That’s just not true. Please go pull up Georgias schedule the last 3 years. I’m sorry but this sec hype is ridiculous. I haven’t and never will buy into it. You will never hear me cheer “SEC”, it’s dumb. If it were that hard, the new teams wouldn’t come in and compete. Just like smu moving into the Acc and are in the championship. This **** is way over blown to build up a cash cow. Sorry but it’s true to anyone who looks through clear glasses.

SEC hype is not ridiculous. The conference has won 13 national championships since 2006. The SEC consistently has the best teams and the best players. The SEC has had the most players drafted for 18 consecutive drafts.

"New teams" coming in and competing is limited to Texas. Oklahoma came in and has seriously struggled. Texas was in the CFP last year; they're a powerful program, and they also were gifted a very easy schedule as far as conference opponents go. Texas A&M has yet to get to Atlanta. Missouri backed their way into 2 championship games early, but they've done nothing since then.

Now whether or not the SEC being great is good for South Carolina is a debate worth having. But it's a fact that the SEC is the deepest, best league in college football.

 

[Yard_Pimps]

I'm good with conference champions making the playoffs if they're one of the best 12 teams. There's zero reason, though, for a weak conference champion get an automatic bid.

Clemson is 17. Iowa State is 16. Both of those teams jump into the playoffs if they win their conference championship this weekend. That's absurd.

It’s not absurd at all. They are the best in their conference and should be in a playoff period. Goes back to my statement earlier. You have to play who you have to play. Let’s don’t sit here and act like ratings are on the up and up to. Certain conferences get preferential treatment there.

 

[will110]

It’s not absurd at all. They are the best in their conference and should be in a playoff period. Goes back to my statement earlier. You have to play who you have to play. Let’s don’t sit here and act like ratings are on the up and up to. Certain conferences get preferential treatment there.

Would you rate Clemson or Iowa State higher than they are now? Obviously the rankings are controversial, but I don't see why Clemson or Iowa State should be rated high enough to be in the playoff conversation on their own merits.

But let's take them out of the picture. Should the MAC champion (Ohio or Miami) make the playoff? What about the Sun Belt champ (Louisiana or Marshall)? Or Conference USA (Jacksonville State or Western Kentucky)?

Clearly some conferences deserve preferential treatment.

 

[atl-cock]

SEC hype is not ridiculous. The conference has won 13 national championships since 2006. The SEC consistently has the best teams and the best players. The SEC has had the most players drafted for 18 consecutive drafts.

"New teams" coming in and competing is limited to Texas. Oklahoma came in and has seriously struggled. Texas was in the CFP last year; they're a powerful program, and they also were gifted a very easy schedule as far as conference opponents go. Texas A&M has yet to get to Atlanta. Missouri backed their way into 2 championship games early, but they've done nothing since then.

Now whether or not the SEC being great is good for South Carolina is a debate worth having. But it's a fact that the SEC is the deepest, best league in college football.

But the SEC is more than just football. Let's see how well OK does in the numeous other sports in which the league conducts championships.

 

[atl-cock]

Would you rate Clemson or Iowa State higher than they are now? Obviously the rankings are controversial, but I don't see why Clemson or Iowa State should be rated high enough to be in the playoff conversation on their own merits.

But let's take them out of the picture. Should the MAC champion (Ohio or Miami) make the playoff? What about the Sun Belt champ (Louisiana or Marshall)? Or Conference USA (Jacksonville State or Western Kentucky)?

Clearly some conferences deserve preferential treatment.

Yes, you have to include the champions of all FBS conferences in the playoff. Integrity demands it. No one is stating that the MAC champion is a better football team than the third or fourth place finisher in the SEC.

Otherwise, create a P4 division, a G5 division, and have a playoff for each.

 

[atl-cock]

SEC hype is not ridiculous. The conference has won 13 national championships since 2006. The SEC consistently has the best teams and the best players. The SEC has had the most players drafted for 18 consecutive drafts.

"New teams" coming in and competing is limited to Texas. Oklahoma came in and has seriously struggled. Texas was in the CFP last year; they're a powerful program, and they also were gifted a very easy schedule as far as conference opponents go. Texas A&M has yet to get to Atlanta. Missouri backed their way into 2 championship games early, but they've done nothing since then.

Now whether or not the SEC being great is good for South Carolina is a debate worth having. But it's a fact that the SEC is the deepest, best league in college football.

Is that 13 total since 2006 or just 13 football since 2006?

 

[will110]

Is that 13 total since 2006 or just 13 football since 2006?

Football only. That's what I thought the conversation was about. If we're counting all sports it would be a bunch

 

[Anon1704296804]

Agreed. REALLY don't like the bye.

Don't mind conference champs from smaller conferences.

Imo, there will always be angst about teams with lesser records but harder SOS from bigger conferences. Not really sure there is a right way to do that other than the SEC and B10 just having their own tournament.

Agreed, however the only reason I like it is because it means ND will never have a bye as long as they are not in a conference.

 

[Piscis]

12 is too many. 8 is the magic number with a three round playoff, no byes, no seeding, first round opponents selected by random drawing. Create 8 12 team conferences with geographically logical boundaries and have the 8 conference champions face off in the three round playoff. Each conference can decide how it wants to choose its champion.

 

[Anon1704296804]

Combined win % of 89.583 and combined record of 1-4 vs. current top 25.

South Carolina win % of 75 and 3-2 vs current top 25.

I don't fault the committee for its ranking and feel it was fair and one loss teams should get a shot. I can also live with Alabama and Ole Miss getting the nod with identical records who won head to head. These two teams were some of the most respected programs throughout the season. The issue is with the way conferences are uneven and I don't see an easy solution any time soon. Currently the SEC has SEVEN teams with three losses or less who beat up on each other, 2 teams at 8-4, and 4 teams at .500 or better. At this point, I would prefer to see the SEC and BIG add a few more notable programs and break away from the NCAA.

I think the problem for most fans is they blur the lines between automatic bids and at large bids. We know the top 5 conference champs get in period...regardless of record, wins vs T25, bad losses, etc. Its simple, want a sure bid in the CFP, win the conference. Some conferences are easier, some are tougher. That is just the way it is.

The at-large bids provide a "2nd chance" for those who don't win the conference. This is where your resume comes in. And right, wrong or indifferent, the pre-season ranking and brand is also part of the formula, with brand often reflected in the preseason rankings. Those starting unranked will have a much harder time and have little room for error while those starting higher can afford a slip up or two. Remember Boise St has to prove themselves for 4,5,6 years before they were granted a BCS spot.

The only true fair system is to have a playoff consisting only of conference champions...from all conferences. Because if you are not the best team in your conference, you can't be the best team in the country. This makes the conference championships mean something as they would be the first round of a playoff. But that creates bad matchups for TV like a Oregon vs Miami OH, Texas vs Marshall, Army vs Jacksonville St so it would never work.

 

[atl-cock]

I think the problem for most fans is they blur the lines between automatic bids and at large bids. We know the top 5 conference champs get in period...regardless of record, wins vs T25, bad losses, etc. Its simple, want a sure bid in the CFP, win the conference. Some conferences are easier, some are tougher. That is just the way it is.

The at-large bids provide a "2nd chance" for those who don't win the conference. This is where your resume comes in. And right, wrong or indifferent, the pre-season ranking and brand is also part of the formula, with brand often reflected in the preseason rankings. Those starting unranked will have a much harder time and have little room for error while those starting higher can afford a slip up or two. Remember Boise St has to prove themselves for 4,5,6 years before they were granted a BCS spot.

The only true fair system is to have a playoff consisting only of conference champions...from all conferences. Because if you are not the best team in your conference, you can't be the best team in the country. This makes the conference championships mean something as they would be the first round of a playoff. But that creates bad matchups for TV like a Oregon vs Miami OH, Texas vs Marshall, Army vs Jacksonville St so it would never work.

IMO, if the Redhawks can beat the Ducks in a first round game in Eugene, they deserve to move on.

This is akin to the excitement of mid-major basketball and baseball teams winning their conference and going dancing. All part of the college athletic experience.

 

[Piscis]

I think the problem for most fans is they blur the lines between automatic bids and at large bids. We know the top 5 conference champs get in period...regardless of record, wins vs T25, bad losses, etc. Its simple, want a sure bid in the CFP, win the conference. Some conferences are easier, some are tougher. That is just the way it is.

The at-large bids provide a "2nd chance" for those who don't win the conference. This is where your resume comes in. And right, wrong or indifferent, the pre-season ranking and brand is also part of the formula, with brand often reflected in the preseason rankings. Those starting unranked will have a much harder time and have little room for error while those starting higher can afford a slip up or two. Remember Boise St has to prove themselves for 4,5,6 years before they were granted a BCS spot.

The only true fair system is to have a playoff consisting only of conference champions...from all conferences. Because if you are not the best team in your conference, you can't be the best team in the country. This makes the conference championships mean something as they would be the first round of a playoff. But that creates bad matchups for TV like a Oregon vs Miami OH, Texas vs Marshall, Army vs Jacksonville St so it would never work.

The conference champion playoff model is the only model that makes any real sense. The first step is to push about 55 teams out of the top level of college football. Teams like Jacksonville State, Miami OH, Georgia Southern, etc. have no business being in the same division as most of the current P4 teams. Vandy, Wake Forest, Duke, Miss State and some other P4 teams would have to be pushed out as well, they are never going to win a championship.

8 conferences with 10 teams each would be perfect. Each team could play a 12 game schedule with 9 conference games so they would play everyone in their conference every season and there would be no need for conference championship games. OOC games could be played against members of the other 7 conferences (playing against lower division opponents would be against the rules) because and OOC loss would have zero effect on a team's chance of making it to the playoff. The 8 conference champions could play in a three round true playoff to determine a true national champion. There could be bowl games for the remaining 72 teams to play in if they wanted to.

 

[Piscis]

IMO, if the Redhawks can beat the Ducks in a first round game in Eugene, they deserve to move on.

This is akin to the excitement of mid-major basketball and baseball teams winning their conference and going dancing. All part of the college athletic experience.

There is a HUGE difference in the makeup of football vs basketball or baseball teams. A basketball team can have one or two really good players and they can stay on the floor with anyone. Baseball is one of the most egalitarian sports on the planet. Small schools can field very good baseball teams since players don't get full scholarships for baseball at the vast majority of schools and baseball players don't have to be super fast, strong, big, tall, etc. to be good baseball players. Upsets in basketball and baseball where much smaller programs beat bigger school's teams are not uncommon. Upsets where a smaller college football team beats a traditional power are very rare.

 

[atl-cock]

The conference champion playoff model is the only model that makes any real sense. The first step is to push about 55 teams out of the top level of college football. Teams like Jacksonville State, Miami OH, Georgia Southern, etc. have no business being in the same division as most of the current P4 teams. Vandy, Wake Forest, Duke, Miss State and some other P4 teams would have to be pushed out as well, they are never going to win a championship.

8 conferences with 10 teams each would be perfect. Each team could play a 12 game schedule with 9 conference games so they would play everyone in their conference every season and there would be no need for conference championship games. OOC games could be played against members of the other 7 conferences (playing against lower division opponents would be against the rules) because and OOC loss would have zero effect on a team's chance of making it to the playoff. The 8 conference champions could play in a three round true playoff to determine a true national champion. There could be bowl games for the remaining 72 teams to play in if they wanted to.

Fantasy stuff. I dream about a return to the 8-member ACC we left (which in reality no longer exists).

Vanderbilt and Wake Forest have been members in good standing in their respective conferences since the respective leagues' inception, and it's "morally" wrong to kick them out.

This does not appear to take into account other sports a school sponsors,

Having stated this, I see you point, and am inclined to think that it's time for yet another split. D-I has FBS and FCS. FCS seems to be doing fine, and round 2 of their playoffs is this weekend.

Split FBS in two. The P4 leagues in one group and the G5 in another. Each conducts their own playoffs.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I don't mind a bye, if given properly. I think it blows that team can go 13-0 and then have to win 3 more games to prove they're the champion, must less 4 games without the bye. That's an entire freaking 1/4 of another season. Good grief.

If, somehow, a 3-loss Clemson gets in and advances to the title game against, by then, a 15-0 Oregon and somehow Clemson pulls the massive upset. Should a 3-loss team really be declared the champion over a team than didn't have a single misstep until their 16th game of the season?

And, yes, I know, this is how the NCAAT works. Different sport. And just because they do it, doesn't make it right.