ND's Path to the 2015 Playoffs

[phork]

And we pounded Texas, who pounded them... So opponent commonality means we win.

 

[gkIrish]

And we pounded Texas, who pounded them... So opponent commonality means we win.

That's just not the way things go.

 

[gkIrish]

This is the very thing everyone complains about the SEC doing. Beat up on shit competition all September and then claim "top ten" victories over inflated rivals once conference play begins. Big 12 teams beating each other isn't worth anything unless they also prove they can beat teams outside of the Big 12.

Never said it was a good system but that's the way it is. Obviously all this won't happen. Was just a hypothetical I thought of because the OP said a 1 loss Oklahoma wouldn't jump us.

 

[BobbyMac]

Never said it was a good system but that's the way it is. Obviously all this won't happen. Was just a hypothetical I thought of because the OP said a 1 loss Oklahoma wouldn't jump us.

I'll stick with that. Final SOS to SOS plus Texas as a head to head, I'd go Irish over Oklahoma.

 

[phork]

The simple fact of it all is that ND runs the table ND will be in the playoff with 2 possible Power5 Conferences shut out.

 

[Cackalacky]

And we pounded Texas, who pounded them... So opponent commonality means we win.

Football wins are not transitive.

 

[BobbyMac]

The simple fact of it all is that ND runs the table ND will be in the playoff with 2 possible Power5 Conferences shut out.

LSU, CLEMSON, BAYLOR, OSU win out. Still in?

 

[ACamp1900]

If four unbeaten teams are left no one loss team is getting in obviously... But has that ever happened? Four unbeaten power five teams? I can't remember it happening...

 

[irishfanjho15]

Football wins are not transitive.

They are for the playoff committee.

From CFP website:

When circumstances at the margins indicate that teams are comparable, then the following criteria must be considered:

• Championships won
• Strength of schedule
• Head-to-head competition (if it occurred)
• Comparative outcomes of common opponents (without incenting margin of victory)

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Baylors QB just broke a bone in his neck. Horrible. But, the bears rode to being undefeated just got a little more difficult

 

[wizards8507]

Football wins are not transitive.

Comparing common opponents has always been a criterion. A tiebreaker at least.

 

[gkIrish]

Comparing common opponents has always been a criterion. A tiebreaker at least.

If the sample size is that small it would have really minimal effect. In my earlier hypothetical Oklahoma would have 2 top 5 wins which looks a lot more impressive than anything on our resume.

Committee showed last year that an early loss to a mediocre opponent won't hold you out so the Texas loss wouldn't be that big of a deal.

 

[wizards8507]

If the sample size is that small it would have really minimal effect. In my earlier hypothetical Oklahoma would have 2 top 5 wins which looks a lot more impressive than anything on our resume.

Committee showed last year that an early loss to a mediocre opponent won't hold you out so the Texas loss wouldn't be that big of a deal.

They would have two "at the time" top five wins. That's not the same as final tip five.

 

[gkIrish]

They would have two "at the time" top five wins. That's not the same as final tip five.

And our best "at the time" win will be what? (Again this is purely a hypothetical)

 

[wizards8507]

And our best "at the time" win will be what? (Again this is purely a hypothetical)

Pac 12 champion 11-2 Stanford. 9-3 USC.

They'd have a better first and second win. We'd have the better loss and better "meat" of the schedule. They opened against Akron. That shouldn't even count. They wouldn't be 11-1, they'd be 10-1 with an asterisked second bye week.

 

[gkIrish]

Pac 12 champion 11-2 Stanford. 9-3 USC.

They'd have a better first and second win. We'd have the better loss and better "meat" of the schedule. They opened against Akron. That shouldn't even count. They wouldn't be 11-1, they'd be 10-1 with an asterisked second bye week.

In my hypothetical Stanford did not win the Pac-12 championship.

How is Akron different than UMass?

 

[irishfan]

In my hypothetical Stanford did not win the Pac-12 championship.

How is Akron different than UMass?

I agree. If they get the breaks with their SOS and we do not, then they'll get in at 11-1 over us despite the Texas game.

 

[BobbyMac]

After no help earlier including the 100th blown 4th qtr lead by the Vols, tonight is shaping up to be better for the Irish. SC & Ole Miss are taking care of business while WKU, GT and Rutgers are all within a score.

 

[BobbyMac]

Ramblin' Wreck!

 

[stlnd01]

Really this week could not have gone better for our SOS and playoff hopes.
Texas gets a quality W.
Temple and Pitt hang on to win.
Clemson demolishes Miami.
Then Ga Tech knocks off FSU.
And USC smoking Utah.
Best of all, none of our guys get hurt.
Just hope Stanford wins tonight, and we're probably 8th come Sunday.

 

[johnnycando]

ND's Path to the 2015 Playoffs

Really this week could not have gone better for our SOS and playoff hopes.
Texas gets a quality W.
Temple and Pitt hang on to win.
Clemson demolishes Miami.
Then Ga Tech knocks off FSU.
And USC smoking Utah.
Best of all, none of our guys get hurt.
Just hope Stanford wins tonight, and we're probably 8th come Sunday.

The trail is blazed and the potential is unreal.

Go Irish, the future is bright. The path cleared.

 

[ickythump1225]

Ga. Tech and USC puttin' in work for us tonight. Clemson looking like a world beater helps us as well. The Pac-12 should cannibalize itself out of contention. The B1G could still cannibalize itself out of contention as well. We're left with the SEC, ACC, and Big 12.

The Big 12 plays a weak schedule and they could end up cannibalizing each other but assuming TCU can come out on top with 0 or 1 losses they're in. A 1 loss SEC champ (perhaps even a 2 loss champ under the right situation) is in. If Clemson runs the table they're definitely in. That leaves an opening for us. A path is being forged for us we just have to hold up our end of the bargain. Win 5 more games in we're in.

 

[irishfan]

Ga. Tech and USC puttin' in work for us tonight. Clemson looking like a world beater helps us as well. The Pac-12 should cannibalize itself out of contention. The B1G could still cannibalize itself out of contention as well. We're left with the SEC, ACC, and Big 12.

The Big 12 plays a weak schedule and they could end up cannibalizing each other but assuming TCU can come out on top with 0 or 1 losses they're in. A 1 loss SEC champ (perhaps even a 2 loss champ under the right situation) is in. If Clemson runs the table they're definitely in. That leaves an opening for us. A path is being forged for us we just have to hold up our end of the bargain. Win 5 more games in we're in.

Baylor's QB may be out for the year as well. Sucks for them, but worth noting.

 

[Rocknes Ghost]

I believe would now be best for us to have FSU (or Pitt) win the ACC (ie beat Clemson)...in that scenario I think we get in over the ACC as well...

 

[johnnycando]

I believe would now be best for us to have FSU (or Pitt) win the ACC (ie beat Clemson)...in that scenario I think we get in over the ACC as well...

No one but crickets can argue that my man.

That is the best case scenario.

 

[irishfan]

I believe would now be best for us to have FSU (or Pitt) win the ACC (ie beat Clemson)...in that scenario I think we get in over the ACC as well...

This might not be entirely realistic, but FSU beating Clemson and then losing to Florida to end the year would really mess things up as well.

 

[CTIDANDREW]

No one but crickets can argue that my man.

That is the best case scenario.

If FSU were to win out that would include wins at Clemson and at Florida on top of winning a conference championship game. That would be a very respectable resume...just playing Devils advocate.

 

[DillonHall]

This might not be entirely realistic, but FSU beating Clemson and then losing to Florida to end the year would really mess things up as well.

Good point- this is probably the best case scenario

 

[johnnycando]

If FSU were to win out that would include wins at Clemson and at Florida on top of winning a conference championship game. That would be a very respectable resume...just playing Devils advocate.

It's true.

But that would only secure a 3rd seed. I can see us still securing that 4th seed.

Florida beating FSU is best case with us winning out now, providing FSU winning the ACC.

 

[Rocknes Ghost]

Good point- this is probably the best case scenario

Yep- Pitt winning is actually the best case scenario but that only happens in Mark May's dreams...