2018 CFP Rankings

[Rack Em]

The Michigan talk will die as soon as they get waxed by OSU. Doesn't matter how good of a team they put on the field, Urban has Harbaugh's number.

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[Some Irish Bloke]

Even better... I hope MI wins at OSU and wins out.

&

UGA beats Bama in ATL so that the CFP is:

1. Clemson
2. ND
3. UGA
4. Bama

Their message board / Twitter pain would fully stock my screen until next Halloween.

And THEN Michigan loses to OU in the Whatever Bowl for added pleasure.

Damn...I would love that. And it's practically a guarantee.

UGA beating Bama would catapult them to them to the best one loss team by far; Bama is Bama; they're getting in with one loss over anyone else as defending champs and current dynasty, championship will be won through them one way or the other; and undefeated ND, aside from the "eye-test, resume" BS has the head to head against scUM and an additional top 15, maybe even top 10 win over 'Cuse to end that debate before it even starts.

 

[Irish#1]

Even better... I hope MI wins at OSU and wins out.

&

UGA beats Bama in ATL so that the CFP is:

1. Clemson
2. ND
3. UGA
4. Bama

Their message board / Twitter pain would fully stock my screen until next Halloween.

And THEN Michigan loses to OU in the Whatever Bowl for added pleasure.

I don't know. I'm still stuck on the mindset that even if Bama loses, they are no worse than #3.

 

[NDMIA]

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Notre Dame
4. Michigan
5. Georgia
6. Oklahoma
7. West Virginia
8. Washington State
9. Ohio State

I’d have the exact same as last week but West Virginia moving ahead of Ohio State and Washington State. West Virginia has a better SOS in both Sagarin and ESPN than both teams and just came off a thrilling win at Texas where Wazzu look bad against Cal and Ohio State sucked against Nebraska. Basically there are 9 teams with a chance to make the playoffs and I hope we get a few more losses this week to get that number down. Clemson @ BC, Auburn @ Georgia, Ok State @ Oklahoma, Wazzu @ Colorado, and Ohio State @ Michigan St. Those are some big matchups this week and I think some of the top 9 could fall. I think Colorado has the best chance at an upset and Michigan State could have a chance if their offense catches fire which would be a surprise.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Even better... I hope MI wins at OSU and wins out.

&

UGA beats Bama in ATL so that the CFP is:

1. Clemson
2. ND
3. UGA
4. Bama

Their message board / Twitter pain would fully stock my screen until next Halloween.

And THEN Michigan loses to OU in the Whatever Bowl for added pleasure.

This would be so beautiful.

 

[BabyIrish]

Even better... I hope MI wins at OSU and wins out.

&

UGA beats Bama in ATL so that the CFP is:

1. Clemson
2. ND
3. UGA
4. Bama

Their message board / Twitter pain would fully stock my screen until next Halloween.

And THEN Michigan loses to OU in the Whatever Bowl for added pleasure.

My dream scenario was Nd beats Clemson and Michgian beats Bama in the semi's and then we roll them in the finals. But I have to admit, I like yours better

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I don't know. I'm still stuck on the mindset that even if Bama loses, they are no worse than #3.

IIRC, they lost in the Iron Bowl last year and entered the playoffs at #4 over OSU. Probably would happen again IMO.

They would A) Want to avoid a rematch against UGA (Assuming they wouldn't jump UGA in front of us with a loss and we're undefeated), and B) would cream themselves over yet another Clemson/Bama rematch.

 

[irishog77]

IIRC, they lost in the Iron Bowl last year and entered the playoffs at #4 over OSU. Probably would happen again IMO.

They would A) Want to avoid a rematch against UGA (Assuming they wouldn't jump UGA in front of us with a loss and we're undefeated), and B) would cream themselves over yet another Clemson/Bama rematch.

This is where the total bullshit of the committee comes into play. Assuming that scenario played out, the committee would purposely skew the rankings to avoid a rematch from the previous game of alabama-georgia. They would also probably skew the rankings to avoid an alabama-clemson game for the the 4th consecutive year.

Then, of course, we would get to hear about the "integrity" of the committee and how their only focus is to get the 4 best teams into the playoff, regardless of any other factors.

Yeah, I'm bitching about a hypothetical that will almost surely NOT happen, but the point remains- the committee is not above pettiness and jockeying.

 

[BobbyMac]

You want an 8 team playoff?

Let Clemson, ND, Georgia, Michigan/OSU, Oklahoma, Wazzu (and UCF for added measure) win out.

There will be a lot of influential fan bases crying for change.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

You want an 8 team playoff?

Let Clemson, ND, Georgia, Michigan/OSU, Oklahoma, Wazzu (and UCF for added measure) win out.

There will be a lot of influential fan bases crying for change.

I'd love to see this with both georgia and bama making the playoff while leaving one loss big 12 champion Oklahoma and 1 loss big 10 champion Michigan out.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Tonight:

1. Bama
2. Clemson
3. ND
4. Michigan

My hot take:

If all four win out, the committee will jump Michigan over ND. My Irish brethren need to start preparing for that to happen.

 

[Irish YJ]

Tonight:

1. Bama
2. Clemson
3. ND
4. Michigan

My hot take:

If all four win out, the committee will jump Michigan over ND. My Irish brethren need to start preparing for that to happen.

Already prepared. If they beat OSU in Ohio, that will give the committee all they need to make the jump. Only way it doesn't happen is with scUM having a less than 3pt win, and ND beating their last three opponents by 20+ each. I don't think another close victory over NW in the Big10 CC will do much for the committee. Still holding out a little hope for PU to somehow get to the CC. It'll be interesting.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Already prepared. If they beat OSU in Ohio, that will give the committee all they need to make the jump. Only way it doesn't happen is with scUM having a less than 3pt win, and ND beating their last three opponents by 20+ each. I don't think another close victory over NW in the Big10 CC will do much for the committee. Still holding out a little hope for PU to somehow get to the CC. It'll be interesting.

That early season loss to NW will probably come back to haunt Purdue. But yeah... I would like to see a Purdue/Michigan B1G CCG.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Already prepared. If they beat OSU in Ohio, that will give the committee all they need to make the jump. Only way it doesn't happen is with scUM having a less than 3pt win, and ND beating their last three opponents by 20+ each. I don't think another close victory over NW in the Big10 CC will do much for the committee. Still holding out a little hope for PU to somehow get to the CC. It'll be interesting.

See, I don't see that happening and I would be outraged personally. If we go undefeated and won a head to head against them, but they jump ahead and get an easier path to the 'ship, that's BS. Why did they even play the game in the regular season then?

Who exactly has Michigan beaten? MSU (joke), Wisconsin (joke), Penn St (okay), and OSU (good team, not "great" by their standards).

ND: Stanford (okay, top 10 at the time, equates to Wisconsin), VT (joke, but road win, equals Sparty win), NW (common opponent, wider margin of victory, never trailed), Syracuse (potentially a top 10 win, not the same quality as OSU, but solid W), Oh, and scUM (Gave up one offensive TD, outcome never in doubt, used our now backup QB to gain victory, best offensive player was suspended).

This speculative "Eye-Test" BS should not trump a head to head outcome, and our resumes are similar in this hypothetical scenario. It would be asinine for them to leap us if we're undefeated.

EDIT: This isn't even taking Pitt into consideration who is putting together a pretty strong second half, and has a road to winning their division. It's not a win I would brag about, but it's getting stronger each week.

 

[T Town Tommy]

See, I don't see that happening and I would be outraged personally. If we go undefeated and won a head to head against them, but they jump ahead and get an easier path to the 'ship, that's BS. Why did they even play the game in the regular season then?

Who exactly has Michigan beaten? MSU (joke), Wisconsin (joke), Penn St (okay), and OSU (good team, not "great" by their standards).

ND: Stanford (okay, top 10 at the time, equates to Wisconsin), VT (joke, but road win, equals Sparty win), NW (common opponent, wider margin of victory, never trailed), Syracuse (potentially a top 10 win, not the same quality as OSU, but solid W), Oh, and scUM (Gave up one offensive TD, outcome never in doubt, used our now backup QB to gain victory, best offensive player was suspended).

This speculative "Eye-Test" BS should not trump a head to head outcome, and our resumes are similar in this hypothetical scenario. It would be asinine for them to leap us if we're undefeated.

EDIT: This isn't even taking Pitt into consideration who is putting together a pretty strong second half, and has a road to winning their division. It's not a win I would brag about, but it's getting stronger each week.

I don't necessarily disagree but close games against middling opponents will be the argument used against the Irish. Hell, the talking heads have already started the narrative. They obviously don't vote, but if they are thinking it, one has to believe the people on the committee are thinking it as well. I, for one, believe that head to head matters but I can hear the committee now - "we looked not just at head to head but also the overall body of work and felt that Michigan was just better." To me, that's insane but I think that's where we will be.

 

[Irish YJ]

That early season loss to NW will probably come back to haunt Purdue. But yeah... I would like to see a Purdue/Michigan B1G CCG.

NW would have to lose to @Iowa, and @MN. I do think they will lose this weekend, but @MN is a reach. MN is better at home, but I think NW will escape. I do think PU is playing a lot better right now, and they certainly have more weapons.

 

[arrowryan]

If Notre Dame gets jumped by UM, then head-to-head literally means nothing and then why are playing anyone good at all, ever?

Also, then I hope Notre Dame doesn't make the playoff because I'd rather watch them beat a team in a NY6 bowl and not watch them get bent over by Bama for 60 minutes.

Holy cow, I'd be pissed about that for a long time.

 

[ACamp1900]

If Notre Dame gets jumped by UM, then head-to-head literally means nothing and then why are playing anyone good at all, ever?

Also, then I hope Notre Dame doesn't make the playoff because I'd rather watch them beat a team in a NY6 bowl and not watch them get bent over by Bama for 60 minutes.

Holy cow, I'd be pissed about that for a long time.

This is basically me since 1993... schedule ten wins a season and take your chances on the two actual games you play every year,.... like some other programs that will remain unnamed do.

 

[arrowryan]

This is basically me since 1993... schedule ten wins a season and take your chances on the two actual games you play every year,.... like some other programs that will remain unnamed do.

I mean, wouldn't and shouldn't head-to-head be the ultimate trump card? Does the committee not have any rules or regulations to go by? They just go off feel?

If an unbeaten Notre Dame team gets jumped by a Michigan team which Notre Dame beat then the playoff committee and format is incredibly faulty. Just the thought of that pisses me off. Notre Dame would damn near have to fully join the ACC.

 

[Irish YJ]

See, I don't see that happening and I would be outraged personally. If we go undefeated and won a head to head against them, but they jump ahead and get an easier path to the 'ship, that's BS. Why did they even play the game in the regular season then?

Who exactly has Michigan beaten? MSU (joke), Wisconsin (joke), Penn St (okay), and OSU (good team, not "great" by their standards).

ND: Stanford (okay, top 10 at the time, equates to Wisconsin), VT (joke, but road win, equals Sparty win), NW (common opponent, wider margin of victory, never trailed), Syracuse (potentially a top 10 win, not the same quality as OSU, but solid W), Oh, and scUM (Gave up one offensive TD, outcome never in doubt, used our now backup QB to gain victory, best offensive player was suspended).

This speculative "Eye-Test" BS should not trump a head to head outcome, and our resumes are similar in this hypothetical scenario. It would be asinine for them to leap us if we're undefeated.

EDIT: This isn't even taking Pitt into consideration who is putting together a pretty strong second half, and has a road to winning their division. It's not a win I would brag about, but it's getting stronger each week.

I'd love to see Pitt take the Coastal. Could happen.

Like it or not, our schedule which was very tough at the beginning of the season, has been soft since scUM. And like it or not, most believe the first game of the season is the worst gauge. And while it might not have been in doubt, it was a 7pt loss on the road which the committee will not see as too bad. If scUM wins out, they will have wins over 3 current top 25 teams, 4 if Wiscy gets back in. ND one or two (Cuse might fall out with losses to ND and @BC). And, scUM has been winning a lot of games (some over top 25) convincingly.

I don't like it, but those are the things will be kicked around.

 

[arrowryan]

I'd love to see Pitt take the Coastal. Could happen.

Like it or not, our schedule which was very tough at the beginning of the season, has been soft since scUM. And like it or not, most believe the first game of the season is the worst gauge. And while it might not have been in doubt, it was a 7pt loss on the road which the committee will not see as too bad. If scUM wins out, they will have wins over 3 current top 25 teams, 4 if Wiscy gets back in. ND one or two (Cuse might fall out with losses to ND and @BC). And, scUM has been winning a lot of games (some over top 25) convincingly.

I don't like it, but those are the things will be kicked around.

This is such a bull shit thought process. So when does the season really "start" then? When Michigan players came up with the cheesy "revenge tour"? Notice how Notre Dame isn't mentioned in the revenge tour! If that happens then cancel the game next year because theres literally no point in playing in it.

If Notre Dame would've went 11-1 last year with just the 1 point loss to Georgia, would UGA have been threatened to get jumped by ND? No and they absolutely shouldn't have.

 

[ACamp1900]

I mean, wouldn't and shouldn't head-to-head be the ultimate trump card? Does the committee not have any rules or regulations to go by? They just go off feel?

If an unbeaten Notre Dame team gets jumped by a Michigan team which Notre Dame beat then the playoff committee and format is incredibly faulty. Just the thought of that pisses me off. Notre Dame would damn near have to fully join the ACC.

I don't think the committee cares about anything other than creating hype, talking points and driving ratings/attention... such a great system we sold our cfb souls for...

 

[arrowryan]

I don't think the committee cares about anything other than creating hype, talking points and driving ratings/attention... such a great system we sold our cfb souls for...

The day that a 12-0 ND gets jumped by an 11-1 UM is the day that I stop watching college football as long as the playoff system is in place.

 

[koonja]

I can't believe there is a single idiot willing to concede to Michigan in the rankings, let alone a few of you.

We beat them. Our best win is their best loss. We beat the common opponent in a stronger fashion than them as well, but that doesn't even matter.

Take all that out - ND has improved more than Michigan since the game, and I'm not even sure that's a debate.

What the hell would put Michigan against ND? Twitter buzz?

Their best remaining game won't matter, either. We'll be playing ~#15 Syracuse and they'll be playing ~#11 OSU.

That's as much of a wash as it gets. My Lord.

 

[Irish YJ]

This is such a bull shit thought process. So when does the season really "start" then? When Michigan players came up with the cheesy "revenge tour"? Notice how Notre Dame isn't mentioned in the revenge tour! If that happens then cancel the game next year because theres literally no point in playing in it.

If Notre Dame would've went 11-1 last year with just the 1 point loss to Georgia, would UGA have been threatened to get jumped by ND? No and they absolutely shouldn't have.

BS or not, it's what is being said, and what will be said. I learned that lesson in 93...

Last year, UGA was convincing all year long except for the first match up @Auburn. They proceeded to crush Auburn on a neutral field, then beat #2 in the first round, and took Bama to OT. They beat everyone on their schedule by 20-30+ pts except for SC (beat them by 14, and SC went on to beat scUM) and the first match up with Auburn.

If ND had been convincing like that post UGA game, and UGA struggled with cupcakes down the stretch... and didn't have a lot of top 25 wins (except for ND), then yes, ND would have a case to jump.

 

[GowerND11]

I can't believe there is a single idiot willing to concede to Michigan in the rankings, let alone a few of you.

We beat them. Our best win is their best loss. We beat the common opponent in a stronger fashion than them as well, but that doesn't even matter.

Take all that out - ND has improved more than Michigan since the game, and I'm not even sure that's a debate.

What the hell would put Michigan against ND? Twitter buzz?

Their best remaining game won't matter, either. We'll be playing ~#15 Syracuse and they'll be playing ~#11 OSU.

That's as much of a wash as it gets. My Lord.

I don't think anyone is really saying WE believe they should be above us. It's the fear that, because of the buzz and whatnot, that they will be regardless if they deserve it (they don't).

 

[Irish YJ]

I can't believe there is a single idiot willing to concede to Michigan in the rankings, let alone a few of you.

We beat them. Our best win is their best loss. We beat the common opponent in a stronger fashion than them as well, but that doesn't even matter.

Take all that out - ND has improved more than Michigan since the game, and I'm not even sure that's a debate.

What the hell would put Michigan against ND? Twitter buzz?

Their best remaining game won't matter, either. We'll be playing ~#15 Syracuse and they'll be playing ~#11 OSU.

That's as much of a wash as it gets. My Lord.

Beating NW by more than they did (and the timing of it) is the best argument for ND not getting jumped.

I agree that ND has improved, but it's not showing up on the score board at times. Wins definitely, but not pretty like scUM's domination the last 3 games. IF Cuse falls out, we'll have 1 top 25 win. scUM will have 3-4.

 

[arrowryan]

BS or not, it's what is being said, and what will be said. I learned that lesson in 93...

Last year, UGA was convincing all year long except for the first match up @Auburn. They proceeded to crush Auburn on a neutral field, then beat #2 in the first round, and took Bama to OT. They beat everyone on their schedule by 20-30+ pts except for SC (beat them by 14, and SC went on to beat scUM) and the first match up with Auburn.

If ND had been convincing like that post UGA game, and UGA struggled with cupcakes down the stretch... and didn't have a lot of top 25 wins (except for ND), then yes, ND would have a case to jump.

Notre Dame has played pretty convincing football once Book has entered the starting lineup minus the Pitt game. So the media can say "Michigan is a different team than what they were in week 1", they can say the same thing about ND but refuse not to.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I don't necessarily disagree but close games against middling opponents will be the argument used against the Irish. Hell, the talking heads have already started the narrative. They obviously don't vote, but if they are thinking it, one has to believe the people on the committee are thinking it as well. I, for one, believe that head to head matters but I can hear the committee now - "we looked not just at head to head but also the overall body of work and felt that Michigan was just better." To me, that's insane but I think that's where we will be.

I'm with ACamp Arrow and Koon here all the way; the day that bad wins against "middling" opponents are trumped by a close HEAD TO HEAD loss is when CFB will be completely lost on me. You cannot let a sport become a speculative beauty pageant decided by 14 (or however many) people who claim and "Eye test is all" mentality. Bring back the BCS if that's the case, period.

 

[Irish YJ]

I don't think anyone is really saying WE believe they should be above us. It's the fear that, because of the buzz and whatnot, that they will be regardless if they deserve it (they don't).

It's just the way it is. I'm an ND homer, I'm just not blind to how things work. Everyone that has a hard time with the whole head to head debate need only to google Notre Dame 1993. And hell, that wasn't even an early season game.