2025 College Football Playoffs

[IRISHDODGER]

I think I’m cheering for Miami. I don’t see Indiana becoming a true problem for HS recruiting, and we don’t have many in state studs. But for the few that are in state and want to stay home, don’t really care to have an in state power with easier classes who pays more either.

Can’t do that. I have more respect for Meatchicken as a rival than Miami and that’s a low ass bar. Miami is like the bully in A Christmas Story. They never learn. They’re always front runners. They’re classless. And like the aforementioned bully, they just need a good punch in the face. For decades they built up & embraced the “thug” image & then whined about racism as soon as it got thrown back in their faces. The “Catholics vs Convicts” shirt in 1988 was what a meme is today. And it went viral b/c there was truth to it. Fuck these front runners.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I wish Cig wasn’t such a dick. I love a underdog story.

Miami’s culture is so classless. Has always been.

 

[Irish#1]

I actually think IU winning is a good story for CFB, particularly after rolling over Alabama. Helps sell the narrative that the SEC isn’t heads and tails above everyone else.

F@ck Michigan & F@ck Miami.

 

[arrowryan]

Things that make you say hmmmm

 

[jprue24]

Did you read the tweets because he acknowledges there is no evidence multiple times. It's an inference based on the odds. Basically Indiana as a football team is a guy at the craps table who cannot miss to the point that a Casino manager would begin looking into it because it doesnt make mathematical sense.

More than tweets...

Big 10 coaches were calling around about it during the season

Not tweets

 

[N_D_Fighting_Irish]

I mean, if CIGNETTI himself came out of nowhere, I might believe it. But he had success at IUP and James Madison, not quite so much at Elon, but not a disaster. The guy DOES win. And I’m sorry, the likelihood he had some super cheating golden scam at IUP is extraordinary low.

He’s good at what he does, and he figured out how to use NIL and the portal in D1 first. That’s why this looks and feels different. Everything isn’t some grand conspiracy and scandal. Ffs.

Everything isn’t some conspiracy? You sure. Was the CFP committee decision to keep ND out rather conspiratorially?

Cignetti did come out of nowhere!? Coming out of James Madison, IUP, and Elon is the definition of out of nowhere. He isn’t an innovator on the defensive nor offensive side. So what is his magic formula that transforms mid level players to outcompete 4-5 star athletes nearly every play. Accountability, execution, take one play at a time…gimme a break. I sometimes I feel like he is method acting …google me I win…who says that cringe shit.

NIL and portal seems to be a convenient cover for the real unknown reason for the turnaround. IMO they are juiced while others seem to claim they are spying ala Michigan. It might be a combination of the two. What strikes me is that they NEVER make simple mistakes and are hyper focused throughout games. Not one game but multiple games playing nearly perfect mentally…which is extraordinary considering their mid level talent.

I doubt we will ever know for sure, but I am curious what these super 3 stars do in the pros.

 

[FOTY977]

Everything isn’t some conspiracy? You sure. Was the CFP committee decision to keep ND out rather conspiratorially?

Cignetti did come out of nowhere!? Coming out of James Madison, IUP, and Elon is the definition of out of nowhere. He isn’t an innovator on the defensive nor offensive side. So what is his magic formula that transforms mid level players to outcompete 4-5 star athletes nearly every play. Accountability, execution, take one play at a time…gimme a break. I sometimes I feel like he is method acting …google me I win…who says that cringe shit.

NIL and portal seems to be a convenient cover for the real unknown reason for the turnaround. IMO they are juiced while others seem to claim they are spying ala Michigan. It might be a combination of the two. What strikes me is that they NEVER make simple mistakes and are hyper focused throughout games. Not one game but multiple games playing nearly perfect mentally…which is extraordinary considering their mid level talent.

I doubt we will ever know for sure, but I am curious what these super 3 stars do in the pros.

It would help explain the “8-5 lifestyle” pitch to assistants & staff. They laid themselves on paying more, working less, and winning. No need to spend hours preparing for everything when you only need to focus on the “right” things you’ll learn from an informational advantage.

 

[ulukinatme]

Things that make you say hmmmm

Is Indiana hacking teams tech a thing? I honestly don't know, I'm trying not to waste a lot of time staying up to date on the comings and goings of other programs.

 

[NDWarrior]

This is ridiculous... 24 teams are way too many.

 

[Bishop2b5]

This is ridiculous... 24 teams are way too many.

FFS, 16 teams are too many unless you're just going the participation trophy route. In no given year are there even 8 teams that are NC caliber, let alone 12 or 16, and especially not 24.

 

[DillonHall]

My first reaction was 24 is too many. But why not just let a bunch of teams in and let the championship be decided on the field instead all the BS politics? The NFL lets nearly half of its teams in the playoffs

 

[Pete]

My first reaction was 24 is too many. But why not just let a bunch of teams in and let the championship be decided on the field instead all the BS politics? The NFL lets nearly half of its teams in the playoffs

The first time the Big 10 asked for 24 teams they wanted 6 auto bids for the, and the SEC each. That would have gotten Michigan, Southern Cal, and Iowa in this year.

 

[DillonHall]

The first time the Big 10 asked for 24 teams they wanted 6 auto bids for the, and the SEC each. That would have gotten Michigan, Southern Cal, and Iowa in this year.

I'm perfectly fine with that. I'd rather let the championship be decided on the field rather than ESPN and a group of biased idiots on a made up committee

 

[NDWarrior]

I personally think 16 is ok; keep maybe 1 G5 school slot in there as this year, but only one and must have min. record w/ only 1 maybe 2 losses (or maybe the top 4 G5 teams have their own top 4-team mini playoff to get that spot?). Top 4 seeds play the bottom 13-16 spots in the first round. There would have been no controversy this year with such a system. Maybe USC is first team out and a 3-loss team that already lost to 2 of the top 16 teams would make them being left out a non-issue.

and for God's sake, eliminate the CCGs and ANY auto bids which cause the worst field distortion.

 

[Kingbish01]

12 is fine and 16 with some byes is probably best and I'd be fine with 24 because 16/24 would make bowl season fun again.

 

[GATTACA!]

I personally think 16 is ok; keep maybe 1 G5 school slot in there as this year, but only one and must have min. record w/ only 1 maybe 2 losses (or maybe the top 4 G5 teams have their own top 4-team mini playoff to get that spot?). Top 4 seeds play the bottom 13-16 spots in the first round. There would have been no controversy this year with such a system. Maybe USC is first team out and a 3-loss team that already lost to 2 of the top 16 teams would make them being left out a non-issue.

and for God's sake, eliminate the CCGs and ANY auto bids which cause the worst field distortion.

Agree with most of this. I think 16 is the best number. No byes.

I think it needs to go back to a BCS style ranking. Computer metric that takes advanced stats and the AP into account. Spits out the top 16, and then here's where I would like to see an adaptation.........call your shot.

How fun would it be if after the top 16 is revealed Curt Cignetti gets to go to the podium as #1 and call out whatever team he wants to face. Does he pick whoever is #16? Maybe he takes the G5 team who is #13? Maybe they go for broke and try to take out their biggest competition right off the bat. Or they think one of the SEC teams is a paper tiger. Once they're done picking we give #2 ten minutes and then it's Ryan Day's turn to go call out whoever it is OSU wants to face. We keep going until all opponents are selected.

First and second round games are on campus of the higher ranked school.

Imagine the spectacle.

 

[ulukinatme]

Agree with most of this. I think 16 is the best number. No byes.

I think it needs to go back to a BCS style ranking. Computer metric that takes advanced stats and the AP into account. Spits out the top 16, and then here's where I would like to see an adaptation.........call your shot.

How fun would it be if after the top 16 is revealed Curt Cignetti gets to go to the podium as #1 and call out whatever team he wants to face. Does he pick whoever is #16? Maybe he takes the G5 team who is #13? Maybe they go for broke and try to take out their biggest competition right off the bat. Or they think one of the SEC teams is a paper tiger. Once they're done picking we give #2 ten minutes and then it's Ryan Day's turn to go call out whoever it is OSU wants to face. We keep going until all opponents are selected.

First and second round games are on campus of the higher ranked school.

Imagine the spectacle.

I like this. Either way the BYEs have to go, they just don't seem to favor teams.

 

[Notre Dame Joe]

Everything isn’t some conspiracy? You sure. Was the CFP committee decision to keep ND out rather conspiratorially?

Cignetti did come out of nowhere!? Coming out of James Madison, IUP, and Elon is the definition of out of nowhere. He isn’t an innovator on the defensive nor offensive side. So what is his magic formula that transforms mid level players to outcompete 4-5 star athletes nearly every play. Accountability, execution, take one play at a time…gimme a break. I sometimes I feel like he is method acting …google me I win…who says that cringe shit.

NIL and portal seems to be a convenient cover for the real unknown reason for the turnaround. IMO they are juiced while others seem to claim they are spying ala Michigan. It might be a combination of the two. What strikes me is that they NEVER make simple mistakes and are hyper focused throughout games. Not one game but multiple games playing nearly perfect mentally…which is extraordinary considering their mid level talent.

I doubt we will ever know for sure, but I am curious what these super 3 stars do in the pros.

Espionage wouldn't prevent mistake free football though.

 

[IrishBryan77]

FFS, 16 teams are too many unless you're just going the participation trophy route. In no given year are there even 8 teams that are NC caliber, let alone 12 or 16, and especially not 24.

Fucking participation trophies. I swear to God the downfall of america started with squeeze cheese from a metal container.......then participation trophies.....then boys wanting to play in girls sports but NO girls at all that want to play in boys sports (which is weird to me 🤔).......now 39 genders when there's really only 2.

What next america....what next.

 

[irishff1014]

The only reason I would want 16 teams is so that USC might get in and have to come to South Bend in December.

Then Riley’s bitch ass can cry some more while we are smoking him like some brisket.

 

[RDU Irish]

The benefit of a 24 team playoff would be nowhere for SEC to hide as they would have to face good OOC competition with money on the line. This year Iowa, ND, Miami, Georgia Tech and Virginia taking out OU, Bama, Ole Miss and Vandy for example.

Other than pantsing the SEC it is a lame idea.

 

[DillonHall]

The more I think about it, 24 makes sense. It wouldn’t affect the best teams because the top 8 would get byes in the first round. There’s too much variability in schedules, might as well get every decent team in the tournament and let them battle it out. There may be even more blowouts but it’s not going to be drastically different compared to 12 or 16

 

[irishff1014]

The more I think about it, 24 makes sense. It wouldn’t affect the best teams because the top 8 would get byes in the first round. There’s too much variability in schedules, might as well get every decent team in the tournament and let them battle it out. There may be even more blowouts but it’s not going to be drastically different compared to 12 or 16

8 teams with byes is to many.

 

[stlnd01]

24 is too many. It'd become college basketball where the regular season is meaningless. Iowa (!) would have made the field this year.

16 feels like too many even. Though it has the advantage of eliminating byes, which at this point seem like a design flaw that punishes the top seeds more than it helps them. And this year the last four in would've all been strong and relatively-deserving teams.

12 is OK, even if we didn't make it in this time. The problem with 12 is the autobids that give precious spots to weak teams, and conference championship games that apparently only mean something if you win them.

8 would be good, even. Realistically there aren't eight teams capable of winning the thing. But you'd need some good system to pick those eight, better than the one we've got.

 

[DillonHall]

I’ll always have a distrust for the committee so I want them to have as little impact as possible. That’s my main reason for being open to 24 teams. Sure there will be undeserving teams that get in, but that’s going to happen every year. Somebody mentioned Iowa would’ve gotten in - don’t forget they gave IU as much of a fight as anyone else. There’s too much bias in college football based on brand recognition - just let actual outcomes determine who the best teams

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

As long as they cancel conference championships and they figure out another way to feature the Army-Navy game, then 24 is fine. They need to have a more streamlined schedule without prolonged breaks.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I always think that Kelly is wearing a whipped cream bikini at first in your avatar.

OMG can you imagine

 

[IrishBryan77]

I always think that Kelly is wearing a whipped cream bikini at first in your avatar.

OMG can you imagine

Yes.....I can imagine. That's the beautiful thing about imagination. 🤣

 

[IrishTusker]

Expansion to 16 or 24 is necessary so long as the committee exists. The committee will usually have a financial incentive to under-rank ND. So this year, ND deserved to be 8 or 9 but ended up at 11. If we deserve to be 11 we will be 14. Etc. Expansion is some protection against that.

Also, if it's 24 teams but 18 or whatever are determined by auto-bids, then ND is really competing for the few remaining spots. Auto-bids will never help ND so long as it is independent. The SEC's preferred approach -top 16, no auto-bids- is probably better for ND than the Big 10's approach.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

FCS was 16 and expanded to 24. I am not a huge fan. I think 16 is fine, but they want more teams for more eyes and more dollars. It isn't so much about participation as it is about the ability to draw TV ratings and revenue. Every sport is doing this now.

March Madness used to be 64 teams. Now there are multiple play in games because watching Hofstra play Minnesota for the privilege of a 12th seed is must see TV. UEFA now has Champions League, Europa League and Conference League tournaments. What smore, they've expanded the amount of teams in all of them, too. Yes, let's watch Real Madrid destroy some club near Prague in the group stages because I've got the free time.

Whatever. Notre Dame wins a National Championship, I'm not going to care, but that's where my interest lies.