***2023-24 College Football Thread***

[WooBadger18]

From a football stand point, you are 100% correct.

But IMO, I don't think it mattered. Texas going 12-1 sealed Florida State's fate. Because this was about brands, And Match ups.

They wanted a "better" game with Michigan. So they would have simply used the same argument - Jordan Travis being injured - no matter what happened in the SEC title game.

Right, but it is still a big brand (we're not talking about a 13-0 Wake Forest). And the playoffs have done fine while Texas has played poorly. Plus, I wouldn't be surprised if the controversy drives rankings. I won't be watching the playoffs, but I'm sure the controversy will cause others to tune in. And "hate watching" is definitely a thing

 

[stewart092284]

Hypothetical now, but what if Bama loses to Auburn then beats Georgia? Does one loss GA get in over FSU even though they didn't win their CCG? Two loss Bama wouldn't/shouldn't be in the conversation.

Yes. They finished 1 spot behind an undefeated team. And look this is the logic here.

The committee told FSU without Jordan Travis it wasn't good enough to beat any of the top 4.
The same committee also told FSU without Jordan Travis it was going to be ranked ahead of a team that has lost 1 game in three years and is a 2 time defending national champion. And its only loss in that time period was what, to a top 10 team by what, 3 points, on a neutral field?

Make that make sense

If you wanna say we only wanted the 4 best teams in college football - does anyone think Georgia ISN"T one of the 4 best teams in college football? I'd like to meet these people.


This was NOT about football.

Brands
Matchups
Money


That's what this was about. That's why it really is less about Alabama and more about Texas. Texas going 12-1 gave them 5 teams for 4 spots.

 

[BCClone]

I think one of the other reasons that it bugs me so much is that it is proof of concept of what would happen if Iowa State went 13-0.

One of the reasons I have wanted playoff expansion with auto-bids and without byes is that I believe the committee would not treat Iowa State (or other schools that are not the "haves") fairly. This is pretty good evidence of that. Florida State is "have" school; they are historically successful, have a large fanbase, and have a big brand. If they are being screwed over like this, what hope does Iowa State have if they are ever in this situation?

Someone should ask Kirk if this was Iowa what would happen. I chose Iowa due to their weak schedule and basically only having a Michigan win (Penn state would be lower also since they would have lost to them). Would he consider them being being left out?

 

[Cyclonsin]

From a football stand point, you are 100% correct.

But IMO, I don't think it mattered. Texas going 12-1 sealed Florida State's fate. Because this was about brands, And Match ups.

They wanted a "better" game with Michigan. So they would have simply used the same argument - Jordan Travis being injured - no matter what happened in the SEC title game.

If that was what they wanted to do they would've ranked Texas higher than 7th before CCG weekend. If there were 4 undefeated teams, those 4 were getting in. Heck, if Georgia won and Oregon upset UW, Oregon was gonna get in over Texas. The only reason Texas got in is because they beat Bama by 10 in Tuscaloosa.

 

[Cyclonsin]

Hypothetical now, but what if Bama loses to Auburn then beats Georgia? Does one loss GA get in over FSU even though they didn't win their CCG? Two loss Bama wouldn't/shouldn't be in the conversation.

It would be:

Michigan
Washington
Georgia
FSU

 

[stewart092284]

Right, but it is still a big brand (we're not talking about a 13-0 Wake Forest). And the playoffs have done fine while Texas has played poorly. Plus, I wouldn't be surprised if the controversy drives rankings. I won't be watching the playoffs, but I'm sure the controversy will cause others to tune in. And "hate watching" is definitely a thing

right but Texas over FSU = controversy.

And yeah, but you have to remember, texas being back and going to the SEC is great for ESPN who is Mr. SEC.

And yes, you're right, Florida State is a recognized brand.

But again, Texas is like going from a medium or even large Fry to super sized. Its just - bigger. Richer. More.

And that mattered.

Alabama got in for 3 seasons

1) Its name is Alabama
2) Its coached by Nick Saban
3) It won the SEC


This is a team that struggled with freaking Arkansas
This is a team that needed a holy freaking miracle to beat Auburn
This is a team that didn't look great against South Florida



This was not a Bama team that on resume , even with the win against Georgia, has been playing well. They got in on brand and reputation.

And that's why Texas would have got in

 

[stewart092284]

If that was what they wanted to do they would've ranked Texas higher than 7th before CCG weekend. If there were 4 undefeated teams, those 4 were getting in. Heck, if Georgia won and Oregon upset UW, Oregon was gonna get in over Texas. The only reason Texas got in is because they beat Bama by 10 in Tuscaloosa.

Texas hadn't finished the deal yet.

So it doesn't matter where they were before the weekend. Alabama was what, 8th? Texas was ranked higher.

They literally moved Alabama and Texas up the same exact number of spots.

Not to mention, Alabama had the far more impressive opponent and victory. But only moved up JUST enough to get in.

Outside of the state of Texas, how many people are in outrage if it was Bama at #3 - Texas at #4? Not many in all likelihood

 

[isufbcurt]

It would be:

Michigan
Washington
Georgia
FSU

That's what it should be now imo

 

[WooBadger18]

Someone should ask Kirk if this was Iowa what would happen. I chose Iowa due to their weak schedule and basically only having a Michigan win (Penn state would be lower also since they would have lost to them). Would he consider them being being left out?

Sorry, if Iowa was 13-0 or if Iowa had beaten Michigan?

 

[stewart092284]

That's what it should be now imo

Agreed. But as I keep saying and I'll shout to the end of times - this was not about football. It never was.

As Coach Sanders said, you have to remember this is a business.

 

[HFCS]

Right, but it is still a big brand (we're not talking about a 13-0 Wake Forest). And the playoffs have done fine while Texas has played poorly. Plus, I wouldn't be surprised if the controversy drives rankings. I won't be watching the playoffs, but I'm sure the controversy will cause others to tune in. And "hate watching" is definitely a thing

I never "hate watch" SEC just because they have tended to have best teams in CFP most years and are the only conference where several teams have been contenders...but I will this year because they got a helping hand and screwed somebody else. Also probably more likely to watch FSU's bowl.

 

[stewart092284]

I never "hate watch" SEC just because they have tended to have best teams in CFP most years and are the only conference where several teams have been contenders...but I will this year because they got a helping hand and screwed somebody else. Also probably more likely to watch FSU's bowl.

I am going to root and hope like hell, Michigan and Washington win.

 

[isufbcurt]

I really want Washington to win it all

 

[Cyclonsin]

Texas hadn't finished the deal yet.

So it doesn't matter where they were before the weekend. Alabama was what, 8th? Texas was ranked higher.

They literally moved Alabama and Texas up the same exact number of spots.

Not to mention, Alabama had the far more impressive opponent and victory. But only moved up JUST enough to get in.

Outside of the state of Texas, how many people are in outrage if it was Bama at #3 - Texas at #4? Not many in all likelihood

They moved UT and Bama up the same number of spots because they couldn't put Bama in front of Texas and they needed to put them into the top 4. Your argument is that a CCG victory over Okie State is as valuable as a CCG victory over UGA in the committee's eyes. Zero chance that's true. If Texas didn't have the H2H over Bama they absolutely would have been leap frogged. Maybe Texas would still have gotten in over FSU, but I doubt it.

The Commitee is obviously interested in fabricating the playoff in a way that maximizes TV interest, but if they can get close to their ideal situation without breaking the illusion of fairness that's what they'll do, as we've seen before.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

It wasn't just about SEC... Its branding. Matchups. Money.

This was a business decision. This was ESPN deciding who the 4 best were. This wasn't about who won what or "deserved" or "4 best". This was they wanted big brands, big matchups and lots of $

Name me one school with more money than Texas.

Agreed, that’s why ESPN needs to disclose on their selection show that they and their employees have a vested interest in getting Bama/SEC in.

 

[Cyclonsin]

Agreed, that’s why ESPN needs to disclose on their selection show that they and their employees have a vested interest in getting Bama/SEC in.

If you have even the tiniest shred of hope that ESPN will be honest and transparent with its audience, then I have a wonderful bit of oceanfront property in South Dakota I'd like to sell you.

 

[RealisticCy]

Even Texas would’ve been screwed if they hadn’t scheduled Bama.

They staff the committee stacked with two conferences and the committee protects the two conferences when needed.

Most years the SEC needs no help, they needed help for the first time and got it at FSU’s expense.

I agree.....Texas may have even been screwed if Georgia had beaten Alabama.

IMO an undefeated FSU gets in ahead of a one-loss Texas team if UGA wins the SEC. That scenario is clean: 4 undefeated major conference champs. The committee was hamstrung when Bama beat Georgia.....SEC had to be in, which meant Bama had to be in somehow someway......so they were left with two scenario's: either the head to head with Texas/Bama mattered more and Texas had to be in at #3, or an undefeated ACC champ that beat two SEC teams mattered more. They chose to justify it with an injured QB rather than have to answer questions about why Bama got in over Texas after the Longhorns beat them in Tuscaloosa.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

If you have even the tiniest shred of hope that ESPN will be honest and transparent with its audience, then I have a wonderful bit of oceanfront property in South Dakota I'd like to sell you.

Zero hope that they do it on their own but there is a case that they should be forced too especially since they put out rankings and have other metrics that impact rankings.

 

[BCClone]

Sorry, if Iowa was 13-0 or if Iowa had beaten Michigan?

13-0

 

[KnappShack]

If you have even the tiniest shred of hope that ESPN will be honest and transparent with its audience, then I have a wonderful bit of oceanfront property in South Dakota I'd like to sell you.

ESPN is one step away from being the WWE