Playoffs

[ISU_Guy]

Depending on Saturday's results, Alamo is most likely:
ISU or BYU (Big 12) against Colorado (Pac-12)

The Alamo Bowl's history and intent is to take the highest-ranked teams available to them -- and if they have the chance to take two ranked teams that tied for the Big 12 regular season (and didn't play each other), that's a slam dunk.

On the Pac-12 Legacy side of the ledger, that's probably going to be Colorado since Oregon will be in the CFP, no other old P12 school is near the top 25, and ASU/BYU would be a regular-season rematch.

didn't realize the alamo agreement this year and don't like it.
Count me 100% not wanting to go the alamo. Sounds like a great time going back down to Texas after being in Dallas this week just to play a team in your own league. its like having a 2nd conference title game.
Could you imagine Penn State losing the B10 title game and getting kicked of the playoffs and then having to play Illinois in Nashville in a bowl?
yeah screw that.

 

[theshadow]

didn't realize the alamo agreement this year and don't like it.
Count me 100% not wanting to go the alamo. Sounds like a great time going back down to Texas after being in Dallas this week just to play a team in your own league. its like having a 2nd conference title game.
Could you imagine Penn State losing the B10 title game and getting kicked of the playoffs and then having to play Illinois in Nashville in a bowl?
yeah screw that.

It's that way for all of the old Pac-12 bowl slots in 2024 and 2025.

The Sun Bowl could theoretically have two current ACC teams as well.

 

[Inthesystem]

I don’t know why some are afraid of these playoff matchups. There are no super teams that I see and ISU could compete with anyone.

 

[madguy30]

It's that way for all of the old Pac-12 bowl slots in 2024 and 2025.

The Sun Bowl could theoretically have two current ACC teams as well.

It's long past time to get rid of conference pecking order for bowls and just try to find the best matchups available, and make sure they play someone from another conference.

 

[12191987]

I don’t know why some are afraid of these playoff matchups. There are no super teams that I see and ISU could compete with anyone.

Going west to play Oregon in Eugene might be really rough. Not that Oregon is terrifying, but Autzen is loud and going west is supposedly a disadvantage according to Bog 10 teams.

But get that 4 seed? The Cyclones can compete with anyone.

 

[ISU_Guy]

I don’t know why some are afraid of these playoff matchups. There are no super teams that I see and ISU could compete with anyone.

I am not sure people are scared of anybody, but more ticked at the situation and the Big12 being the G5 rep this year.
one situation and path is a lot better than the other and ASU/ISU has a Boise/Committee deciding that fate.

also, there is a reason we are double digit dogs in all the potential 5 seed match ups FWIW.

 

[CyinLimbo]

I'm not expecting any favors from the selection committee as they'll favor the politics/money/power brokers of the Big 10/SEC and anything that serves that narrative. I did find this computer ranking interesting though...Improved RPI column - Dolphin rankings. Check out the Improved RPI column and how the Big 12 looks. Hopefully the Big12 representative(s) get a decent shot at proving the strength of the conference and aren't seeded so poorly.

 

[Gunnerclone]

I don’t know why some are afraid of these playoff matchups. There are no super teams that I see and ISU could compete with anyone.

Except Kansas. Bullet dodged.

 

[cyclones500]

It's long past time to get rid of conference pecking order for bowls and just try to find the best matchups available, and make sure they play someone from another conference.

In principle, I support this. But without the conference tie-in, I fear bowls would be inclined to favor SEC and Big Ten teams over Big 12 (and possibly ACC) regardless of relative merit.

Expanding beyond your basic premise, I guess they could extend the CFP ranking to determine some of that, but it could be "gamed." And I don't know if there are specific critiera bowl officials use to determine preferences that aren't limited by conference connection. We tend to hear "fans travel well," and there seems to be SOME rotation to avoid repeat participants in back-to-back seasons.

Food for thought, I'm open to critique of my analysis.

 

[Clonehomer]

It's that way for all of the old Pac-12 bowl slots in 2024 and 2025.

The Sun Bowl could theoretically have two current ACC teams as well.

So will the Alamo bowl go out of their way to take USC, Cal or Washington even with their poor records just to avoid this?

 

[2speedy1]

didn't realize the alamo agreement this year and don't like it.
Count me 100% not wanting to go the alamo. Sounds like a great time going back down to Texas after being in Dallas this week just to play a team in your own league. its like having a 2nd conference title game.
Could you imagine Penn State losing the B10 title game and getting kicked of the playoffs and then having to play Illinois in Nashville in a bowl?
yeah screw that.

It would be more like Penn St playing Oregon, or USC etc. Being its because of the old Pac12 schools.

While I get your point, it is the case for all the old Pac12 teams and bowls, in all conferences.

Any Pac 12 or former pac 12 team can be selected for any bowls the Pac had agreements with.

So any of these bowls can have the same issue, just that the Alamo is the most prominent and appears to likely to have it happen.

- Holiday Bowl vs ACC
- LA Bowl vs Mountain West
- Las Vegas Bowl vs SEC
- Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl vs Big 12
- Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl vs ACC
- Valero Alamo Bowl vs Big 12

So we could have the same thing in the Independence Bowl, ACC could have it happen with Cal. Since the Rose is the only B1G/Pac bowl, and that went to the playoff that wont be an issue. But there are some scenarios where teams fill some spots for bowls not tied directly to the conference that possibly but unlikely make it happen.

There will be a lot of interconference matchups in the playoffs too, which I think is worse. Its a playoff, take the champions from the conferences period. If a team cant win their conference why should they be in the playoff, against teams that already beat them out.

 

[cycloneworld]

I'm not expecting any favors from the selection committee as they'll favor the politics/money/power brokers of the Big 10/SEC and anything that serves that narrative. I did find this computer ranking interesting though...Improved RPI column - Dolphin rankings. Check out the Improved RPI column and how the Big 12 looks. Hopefully the Big12 representative(s) get a decent shot at proving the strength of the conference and aren't seeded so poorly.

The whole Boise State as the #4 seed over Iowa State or Arizona State isn't politics/money, it’s pure ineptness.

If you are going to put 9-3 SEC teams ahead of Big 12 teams because of strength of schedule (which I think is probably correct), then you put 10-2 Big 12 teams like ASU, ISU, and BYU ahead of Boise for the same reason. Boise’s quality of wins are awful outside of UNLV and their strength of schedule sucks. They deserve to be in the playoff but no where near a Top 4 bye.

 

[Cloned4Life]

The whole Boise State as the #4 seed over Iowa State or Arizona State isn't politics/money, it’s pure ineptness.

If you are going to put 9-3 SEC teams ahead of Big 12 teams because of strength of schedule (which I think is probably correct), then you put 10-2 Big 12 teams like ASU, ISU, and BYU ahead of Boise for the same reason. Boise’s quality of wins are awful outside of UNLV and their strength of schedule sucks. They deserve to be in the playoff but no where near a Top 4 bye.

Correct. It’s absolutely INSANE that the media and decision makers and influencers have adopted (and blathered and repeated and pushed) this “Boise as the #4” narrative. It’s the most brazen f*ck you to a major power conference in college football history. They don’t want the Big 12 to be knocked down a peg or 2; they want the Big 12 gone. Like, gone gone.

 

[jdoggivjc]

The whole Boise State as the #4 seed over Iowa State or Arizona State isn't politics/money, it’s pure ineptness.

If you are going to put 9-3 SEC teams ahead of Big 12 teams because of strength of schedule (which I think is probably correct), then you put 10-2 Big 12 teams like ASU, ISU, and BYU ahead of Boise for the same reason. Boise’s quality of wins are awful outside of UNLV and their strength of schedule sucks. They deserve to be in the playoff but no where near a Top 4 bye.

Heard on the radio (heavy Big 10 bias) that Boise's best "win" was a "loss" to Oregon. Not a truer statement in all of this.

 

[mjhavlo76]

Would be shocked if big 12 got 2 in. Unless Boise loses, big 12 champ is probably the 12 seed going to Penn State/Oregon loser

Agree. Whoever wins the Big 12 Champ., will secure the only conference bid.

 

[trajanJ]

I wouldn't be surprised if next year they seed the entire playoff.

 

[Pitt_Clone]

The whole Boise State as the #4 seed over Iowa State or Arizona State isn't politics/money, it’s pure ineptness.

If you are going to put 9-3 SEC teams ahead of Big 12 teams because of strength of schedule (which I think is probably correct), then you put 10-2 Big 12 teams like ASU, ISU, and BYU ahead of Boise for the same reason. Boise’s quality of wins are awful outside of UNLV and their strength of schedule sucks. They deserve to be in the playoff but no where near a Top 4 bye.

Yeah, put Boise through a full Big 12 schedule and see how many losses they end up with. And the fact that Tulsa winning or losing a couple weeks ago had any effect at all on where the Big 12 ends up shows what a joke this all is.

 

[GoHawks]

I would be honestly very suprised I think ASU/Iowa State will have 2-3 spots on them this week. That'd be an unexplainable leap considering iowa state or Arizona state will also have a top 15 victory

I'm really suprised clemson is directly behind Big 12 top 2. Byu should be ahead of Clemson minimum. I think Clemson beats SMU. I assumed then ACC would lose the bye. I'm not completely sure that's case now but still would be a little suprised if Clemson leaped to 4 spot

 

[KidSilverhair]

Committee: Boise has only lost once, BYU and Iowa State and Arizona State have all lost twice, of course they’ll be ranked higher

Also the committee: Alabama and South Carolina and Ole Miss have lost three games, but they were such good losses, of course they’ll be ranked above ACC and Big XII teams with two losses

 

[AlaCyclone]

Going west to play Oregon in Eugene might be really rough. Not that Oregon is terrifying, but Autzen is loud and going west is supposedly a disadvantage according to Bog 10 teams.

But get that 4 seed? The Cyclones can compete with anyone.

Jack Trice Stadium is BIGGER than Autzen. Just sayin'.