The Road to the Playoff

[wizards8507]

I'm sorry, but what's the big deal about travel distance? If I'm getting on a plane, it doesn't make much difference to me if it's a two hour flight to Chicago or a four hour flight to LA. Things like Hawaii or Ireland might be a different beast, but I'd much rather see Alabama schedule Clemson than Utah.

 

[Ndaccountant]

I'm sorry, but what's the big deal about travel distance? If I'm getting on a plane, it doesn't make much difference to me if it's a two hour flight to Chicago or a four hour flight to LA. Things like Hawaii or Ireland might be a different beast, but I'd much rather see Alabama schedule Clemson than Utah.

I would love to see them play either on the road.

Distance does play a role in that it's disruptive to your normal schedule and comfort levels, especially when you are flying across multiple time zones. Some these kids have never been to any area outside the SE and traveling to Lincoln or Phoenix is unique and can impact their performance.

 

[Rhode Irish]

I'm sorry, but what's the big deal about travel distance? If I'm getting on a plane, it doesn't make much difference to me if it's a two hour flight to Chicago or a four hour flight to LA. Things like Hawaii or Ireland might be a different beast, but I'd much rather see Alabama schedule Clemson than Utah.

In USC's case, traveling west to east can mess with you if it's an early start time. But a night game shouldn't have bothered them too much.

 

[Ndaccountant]

In USC's case, traveling west to east can mess with you if it's an early start time. But a night game shouldn't have bothered them too much.

I am not sure the time switch mattered too much here. I do think the distance mattered only to the extent that they were coming off the Stanford win, playing across the country with not many fans coming with them, against a big underdog in BC with whom they were not familiar with.

 

[T Town Tommy]

I give USC a ton of credit for actually traveling to Boston College to play the Eagles. That showed more balls than the majority of SEC schools whose only non-conference opponents tend to be FCS powder puffs at home, or traveling all the way to South Carolina to play Clemson. ND will have hit almost every corner of the nation by the end of season yet the average SEC school won't travel much further than 600 miles away from their school.

LOL... so now we are eliminating games that are less than 600 miles away from the schools in the SEC. Maybe the SEC should become the Pac 12. Maybe Alabama should become Independent. So far we have eliminated the SEC games against the Power 5 schools over the last decade, the bowl games from the last 14 or so years, the regional Power 5 matchups, and now any Power 5 team that is closer than 600 miles from the SEC school. Guess we will just have to schedule Notre Dame home and home six times a year. I can live with that.

You guys make me laugh with all the anti-SEC stuff.

 

[irishfan]

LOL... so now we are eliminating games that are less than 600 miles away from the schools in the SEC. Maybe the SEC should become the Pac 12. Maybe Alabama should become Independent. So far we have eliminated the SEC games against the Power 5 schools over the last decade, the bowl games from the last 14 or so years, the regional Power 5 matchups, and now any Power 5 team that is closer than 600 miles from the SEC school. Guess we will just have to schedule Notre Dame home and home six times a year. I can live with that.

You guys make me laugh with all the anti-SEC stuff.

You guys should schedule a neutral site game with Oklahoma. That would be fun.

Why is Bama ranked ahead of OU again? Can't be media bias....

 

[irishog77]

I liked it when usc beat arkansas 50-14, in Fayetteville, the year arkansas barely lost to national champion florida in the sec championship game. And how they hung 70 on them the year before. And how arkansas had to buy itself out of a game with Texas because they didn't want to suffer another demoralizing loss to them. I remember #2 ranked auburn getting beat pretty bad against usc as well.

When the sec actually plays good out of conference teams, or that aren't in "neutral" (read: still favorable to the sec) sites, they seem to fare as well or bad as other conferences.

Calling teams out for disingenuously stacking the deck isn't anti-sec, it's anti-disingenuous BS.

 

[ickythump1225]

LOL... so now we are eliminating games that are less than 600 miles away from the schools in the SEC. Maybe the SEC should become the Pac 12. Maybe Alabama should become Independent. So far we have eliminated the SEC games against the Power 5 schools over the last decade, the bowl games from the last 14 or so years, the regional Power 5 matchups, and now any Power 5 team that is closer than 600 miles from the SEC school. Guess we will just have to schedule Notre Dame home and home six times a year. I can live with that.

You guys make me laugh with all the anti-SEC stuff.

I'm not "eliminating" anything I'm merely calling the SEC for their chickensh!t scheduling. The only time most SEC schools will schedule a decent non-conference opponent (aside from traditional regional rivalries like Florida/FSU) is at "neutral" sites like Atlanta because you know...Georgia totally isn't in the heart of SEC country. Atlanta is an ACC town. They can chest thump about how strong they are when they aren't scheduling McNeese St. at home or playing West Virginia in Atlanta (which is only 3 hours from T-town but nearly 10 hours from Morgantown).

The SEC benefits from immense media bias. There is no sane or rational argument that puts Alabama ahead of Oklahoma to begin the season. There is no reason that South Carolina can thoroughly thumped by Texas A&M at home, giving up like 1000 yards of offense and 52 points, stay ranked, beat a cupcake and then squeak a home win out against (an overrated UGA team) and pole vault back into the top 15.

For no real reason Ole Miss was a preseason top 20 team, have handled 3 cupcakes, jumped into the top 10, have another one on the schedule and will have Alabama roll into Oxford insuring that when Alabama pummels them they will "have beaten a TOP TEN TEAM!!!" ESPN will be hysterical because "TOUGH SEC SCHEDULE!!" Even if Ole Miss happens to win Alabama is protected because Ole Miss has an inflated ranking right now so no one will blame Alabama for losing to a "tough SEC rival" on the road.

 

[GowerND11]

LOL... so now we are eliminating games that are less than 600 miles away from the schools in the SEC. Maybe the SEC should become the Pac 12. Maybe Alabama should become Independent. So far we have eliminated the SEC games against the Power 5 schools over the last decade, the bowl games from the last 14 or so years, the regional Power 5 matchups, and now any Power 5 team that is closer than 600 miles from the SEC school. Guess we will just have to schedule Notre Dame home and home six times a year. I can live with that.

You guys make me laugh with all the anti-SEC stuff.

Play at Notre Dame in November. It's easy for these SEC teams to play at neutral site in the South (Dallas and Atlanta), three other OOC games at home, or one OOC game at, say, Clemson, and on the rare, RARE occasion, north of the Mason Dixon Line (In August or 1st week of September of course). Play up north that week you play that FCS team in November.

 

[NCND]

I'm not "eliminating" anything I'm merely calling the SEC for their chickensh!t scheduling. The only time most SEC schools will schedule a decent non-conference opponent (aside from traditional regional rivalries like Florida/FSU) is at "neutral" sites like Atlanta because you know...Georgia totally isn't in the heart of SEC country. Atlanta is an ACC town. They can chest thump about how strong they are when they aren't scheduling McNeese St. at home or playing West Virginia in Atlanta (which is only 3 hours from T-town but nearly 10 hours from Morgantown).

The SEC benefits from immense media bias. There is no sane or rational argument that puts Alabama ahead of Oklahoma to begin the season. There is no reason that South Carolina can thoroughly thumped by Texas A&M at home, giving up like 1000 yards of offense and 52 points, stay ranked, beat a cupcake and then squeak a home win out against (an overrated UGA team) and pole vault back into the top 15.

For no real reason Ole Miss was a preseason top 20 team, have handled 3 cupcakes, jumped into the top 10, have another one on the schedule and will have Alabama roll into Oxford insuring that when Alabama pummels them they will "have beaten a TOP TEN TEAM!!!" ESPN will be hysterical because "TOUGH SEC SCHEDULE!!" Even if Ole Miss happens to win Alabama is protected because Ole Miss has an inflated ranking right now so no one will blame Alabama for losing to a "tough SEC rival" on the road.

+1. Wtf has Ole Miss done? For the people who think they are a Top 10 team, go back and watch the Boise state game.

 

[irishfan]

+1. Wtf has Ole Miss done? For the people who think they are a Top 10 team, go back and watch the Boise state game.

This. They're 15-11 the last two seasons. How the hell are they a Top-10 team right now.

This is why pre-season rankings are bogus. How are they ranked ahead of BYU? Or Arizona State? Or Misouri? Or Kansas State? Or even UCLA who has struggled but played solid teams.

The annoying thing is that I honestly think the Playoff Committee poll will just about mirror the AP/Coaches Top 25.

 

[NCND]

Random question.. Is the 94 Cotton Bowl ND's last major bowl win? Thanks

 

[IrishSteelhead]

The Road to the Playoff

Random question.. Is the 94 Cotton Bowl ND's last major bowl win? Thanks

Yes. There was the horrible losing streak after that until the (gulp) Hawaii Bowl win.

*Should have won the Orange Bowl against FSU a year after the CB.

 

[NCND]

Holy shit. That needs to end this yr.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Updating for Week 4:

FLORIDA STATE
Polls: AP - 1; USAT - 1
Who They've Beat: #24 Oklahoma State; Clemson;
Who They'll Face: vs. #8 Notre Dame (10/18); @Louisville (10/30); *ACC Championship Game (12/4)
Schedule Degree of Difficulty: 4

OREGON
Polls: AP - 2; USAT - 4
Who They've Beat: #9 Michigan State
Who They'll Face: @ #11 UCLA (10/11); vs. #16 Stanford (10/18); Pac 12 Championship Game (12/5);
Schedule Degree of Difficulty: 5

ALABAMA
Polls: AP - 3; USAT - 2
Who They've Beat: NR West Virginia
Who They'll Face: @ #10 Ole Miss (10/4); vs. #6 Texas A&M (10/18); @ #17 LSU (11/8); #14 Miss State (11/15); vs. #5 Auburn (11/29); *SEC Championship Game (12/6);
Schedule Degree of Difficulty: 8

OKLAHOMA
Polls: AP - 4; USAT - 3
Who They've Beat: @ NR West Virginia
Who They'll Face: vs. #25 K-State (10/18); vs. #7 Baylor; vs. #24 Oklahoma State (12/6);
Schedule Degree of Difficulty: 5

AUBURN
Polls: AP - 5; USAT - 5
Who They've Beat: @ #25 K-State
Who They'll Face: vs. #17 LSU (10/4); @ #14 Miss State (10/11); vs. #13 South Carolina (10/25); @ #10 Ole Miss (11/1); vs. #6 Texas A&M (11/8); @ #12 UGA (11/15); @ #3 Alabama (11/29); *SEC Championship Game (12/6);
Schedule Degree of Difficulty: 11

TEXAS A&M
Polls: AP - 6; USAT - 7
Who They've Beat: @ #9 South Carolina
Who They'll Face: @ #14 Miss State (10/4); vs. #10 Ole Miss (10/11); @ #3 Alabama (10/18); @ #5 Auburn (11/8); vs. Mizzou (11/15); vs. #17 LSU (11/27); *SEC Championship Game (12/6);
Schedule Degree of Difficulty: 9

BAYLOR
Polls: AP - 7; USAT - 6
Who They've Beat:
Who They'll Face: @ NR West Virginia (10/18); @ #4 Oklahoma (11/8), vs. #24 Oklahoma State (11/22); vs. #25 K-State (12/6)
Schedule Degree of Difficulty: 6

NOTRE DAME
Polls: AP - 8; USAT - 8
Who They've Beat: vs. NR Michigan
Who They'll Face: vs. #16 Stanford (10/4); vs. NR North Carolina (10/11); @ #1 Florida State (10/18); @ #15 Arizona St. (11/8); vs. NR Louisville (11/22); @ #18 USC (11/29);
Schedule Degree of Difficulty: 7.5

Dropped Out: LSU (loss to #14 Miss State)

Next Teams In: #9 Michigan State (threat level: 6 - not enough chances for good wins); #10 Ole Miss (threat level: 2 - no chance at surviving brutal schedule).

 

[DogDaysIrish]

Updating for Week 4:

FLORIDA STATE
Polls: AP - 1; USAT - 1
Who They've Beat: #24 Oklahoma State; Clemson;
Who They'll Face: vs. #8 Notre Dame (10/18); @Louisville (10/30); *ACC Championship Game (12/4)
Schedule Degree of Difficulty: 4

OREGON
Polls: AP - 2; USAT - 4
Who They've Beat: #9 Michigan State
Who They'll Face: @ #11 UCLA (10/11); vs. #16 Stanford (10/18); Pac 12 Championship Game (12/5);
Schedule Degree of Difficulty: 5

ALABAMA
Polls: AP - 3; USAT - 2
Who They've Beat: NR West Virginia
Who They'll Face: @ #10 Ole Miss (10/4); vs. #6 Texas A&M (10/18); @ #17 LSU (11/8); #14 Miss State (11/15); vs. #5 Auburn (11/29); *SEC Championship Game (12/6);
Schedule Degree of Difficulty: 8

OKLAHOMA
Polls: AP - 4; USAT - 3
Who They've Beat: @ NR West Virginia
Who They'll Face: vs. #25 K-State (10/18); vs. #7 Baylor; vs. #24 Oklahoma State (12/6);
Schedule Degree of Difficulty: 5

AUBURN
Polls: AP - 5; USAT - 5
Who They've Beat: @ #25 K-State
Who They'll Face: vs. #17 LSU (10/4); @ #14 Miss State (10/11); vs. #13 South Carolina (10/25); @ #10 Ole Miss (11/1); vs. #6 Texas A&M (11/8); @ #12 UGA (11/15); @ #3 Alabama (11/29); *SEC Championship Game (12/6);
Schedule Degree of Difficulty: 11

TEXAS A&M
Polls: AP - 6; USAT - 7
Who They've Beat: @ #9 South Carolina
Who They'll Face: @ #14 Miss State (10/4); vs. #10 Ole Miss (10/11); @ #3 Alabama (10/18); @ #5 Auburn (11/8); vs. Mizzou (11/15); vs. #17 LSU (11/27); *SEC Championship Game (12/6);
Schedule Degree of Difficulty: 9

BAYLOR
Polls: AP - 7; USAT - 6
Who They've Beat:
Who They'll Face: @ NR West Virginia (10/18); @ #4 Oklahoma (11/8), vs. #24 Oklahoma State (11/22); vs. #25 K-State (12/6)
Schedule Degree of Difficulty: 6

NOTRE DAME
Polls: AP - 8; USAT - 8
Who They've Beat: vs. NR Michigan
Who They'll Face: vs. #16 Stanford (10/4); vs. NR North Carolina (10/11); @ #1 Florida State (10/18); @ #15 Arizona St. (11/8); vs. NR Louisville (11/22); @ #18 USC (11/29);
Schedule Degree of Difficulty: 7.5

Dropped Out: LSU (loss to #14 Miss State)

Next Teams In: #9 Michigan State (threat level: 6 - not enough chances for good wins); #10 Ole Miss (threat level: 2 - no chance at surviving brutal schedule).

Degree of difficulty: Is is best to be high or low? I don't understand.

 

[Irish8248]

Degree of difficulty: Is is best to be high or low? I don't understand.

The higher the number the more difficult it is to run the table

 

[Rhode Irish]

The higher the number the more difficult it is to run the table

^

 

[dshans]

Degree of difficulty: Is is best to be high or low? I don't understand.

You clearly don't pay attention to diving, certain forms of skiing, skate boarding, etc.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

You clearly don't pay attention to diving, certain forms of skiing, skate boarding, etc.

Does anyone?

 

[DogDaysIrish]

You clearly don't pay attention to diving, certain forms of skiing, skate boarding, etc.

This is true... But I do pay attention to the degree of difficulty when it comes to putting on a pair of size 20 waist straight leg jeans when I'm a man of considerable girth. It's all about the maneuverability to be sure, but sometimes, you've just gotta take chance and let 'er rip.

 

[DogDaysIrish]

The higher the number the more difficult it is to run the table

^

Thanks Brahs....... Couldn't make heads or tails of that.

 

[Cali_domer]

NCAAF Dantonio: Reward conference titlists - ESPN

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Dantonio shouldn't have to worry. If Sparty goes 12-1 I would bet they would get in, unless something like ND/FSU, Oregon, Bama, and Oklahoma all finish the year undefeated.

 

[Rocknes Ghost]

NCAAF Dantonio: Reward conference titlists - ESPN

Dantoni should focus on his big game with Wyoming this week. Maybe he should not also play Jacksonville State and Eastern Michigan in addition to the easy big ten schedule...

I think MSU is a solid team, but they get a little more love than they probably should. They got beat soundly by Oregon and have beaten nobodies (not nobodies like Michigan!).

 

[johnnycando]

Too bad MSU already got jail sexed by Oregon.

Those pussies.

 

[irishfan]

Wish this playoff had 8 teams already.

Any conference champ who has only has 1 loss has a good argument (yes, even a 12-1 MSU), and they wouldn't even be close to a lock for the 4-team playoff.

The more I think of possible scenarios, I really don't see any way that any conference can get 2 teams into the playoff. Might be blasphemy to our Bama friends, but I just can't get any scenario in my head where 2 SEC teams will be chosen. There will be those stupid years where there will be two 11-1 SEC West teams at the end of the regular season, but I don't think those will be happening too much in the future with how stacked that division is.

It would take something like a 10-2 Georgia team beating a 12-0 Bama team in the conference championship.

 

[johnnycando]

Wish this playoff had 8 teams already.

Any conference champ who has only has 1 loss has a good argument (yes, even a 12-1 MSU), and they wouldn't even be close to a lock for the 4-team playoff.

The more I think of possible scenarios, I really don't see any way that any conference can get 2 teams into the playoff. Might be blasphemy to our Bama friends, but I just can't get any scenario in my head where 2 SEC teams will be chosen. There will be those stupid years where there will be two 11-1 SEC West teams at the end of the regular season, but I don't think those will be happening too much in the future with how stacked that division is.

It would take something like a 10-2 Georgia team beating a 12-0 Bama team in the conference championship.

None of this will be an issue, with a 12-0 Notre Dame.

 

[Pachuco]

None of this will be an issue, with a 12-0 Notre Dame.

Exactly. Win every game, and we're in. Simple as that.

 

[stlnd01]

It would take something like a 10-2 Georgia team beating a 12-0 Bama team in the conference championship.

Could happen. Georgia doesn't suck. Also, could definitely see a scenario with an undefeated SEC champ and a 1-loss runner-up from the West, with a close regular season loss, both outclassing a pair of 1 (or 2) loss champs from the ACC/Big12/Pac12/B1G. Kind of like 2011.