2024 College Football Playoffs

[PolishDomer]

I don’t think it’s exciting. It’s watered down.

Even if a 12 seed makes a run and wins the natty, I’m going to feel very… hollow about it. What made CFB amazing was the fact that you HAVE to win games. There is no backdooring your way to a championship like other sports.

This is very silly...the other college football divisions have similar playoff formats..and it's worked fine for them...why not FBS? FCS, 2 and 3 have playoffs...

 

[GowerND11]

This is very silly...the other college football divisions have similar playoff formats..and it's worked fine for them...why not FBS? FCS, 2 and 3 have playoffs...

And over the last 10 years the winner of the FCS playoff has been no lower than 4.

Because FBS is different. It is literally in the name of the division. That has what made THIS division different, special, nutty, fun.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

This is very silly...the other college football divisions have similar playoff formats..and it's worked fine for them...why not FBS? FCS, 2 and 3 have playoffs...

For me, championships are the highest prize in a respective sport, only to be earned by the best teams competing against each other after having proved themselves worthy throughout a season.

What I can't stand about basketball is how I can follow a handful of teams all year long who are dominant, only to get beat in the second round of the Tourney because some bubble team got hot and hit a bunch of 3s that lead to an upset. When this happens, it inadvertently punishes the team who's merits suggest they're far better than that given day would suggest. Bye bye championship.

For some, the above scenario is exactly what makes it all so exciting. I agree; it is exciting. But is the goal to be entertained, or is it to ultimately crown the best team? TV execs have us all believing it's the former.

The only logical argument I've been able to tell myself is that it's okay to not view it in a vacuum. For example, crowning a conference champion rewards the merits of the regular season. Crowning a national champion rewards the merits of a tournament of champions in the post season. This is why I, myself, have backed away from the standard models and became okay with tournament expansion to 12 teams (although, I would've preferred only 8).

 

[Irish#1]

David Pollack says believe... David Pollack Names Unexpected Team That Can Win College Football Playoff

I posted this in the General Team Info thread, but this is why we should have a better than average shot at making a run.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I posted this in the General Team Info thread, but this is why we should have a better than average shot at making a run.

Can someone with a better memory than me recall Jamie U's breakdown in the off season about championship caliber teams and the things they had in common? Blue chip ratio, top ranked offense, top ranked defense, etc. He did an analysis on all the champions in the 4-team playoff era and then compared it to ND to see which boxes they had checked and which ones still needed improvement. I wonder how ND stacks up this season. Also, given the parity trend in the sport, I wonder how these data points may change.

 

[Irish#1]

For me, championships are the highest prize in a respective sport, only to be earned by the best teams competing against each other after having proved themselves worthy throughout a season.

What I can't stand about basketball is how I can follow a handful of teams all year long who are dominant, only to get beat in the second round of the Tourney because some bubble team got hot and hit a bunch of 3s that lead to an upset. When this happens, it inadvertently punishes the team who's merits suggest they're far better than that given day would suggest. Bye bye championship.

For some, the above scenario is exactly what makes it all so exciting. I agree; it is exciting. But is the goal to be entertained, or is it to ultimately crown the best team? TV execs have us all believing it's the former.

The only logical argument I've been able to tell myself is that it's okay to not view it in a vacuum. For example, crowning a conference champion rewards the merits of the regular season. Crowning a national champion rewards the merits of a tournament of champions in the post season. This is why I, myself, have backed away from the standard models and became okay with tournament expansion to 12 teams (although, I would've preferred only 8).

You just described what makes the NCAA exciting and popular. Play better defense if you don't want to get beat.

IMO, I don't think you can compare the CFB playoffs to the NCAA tournament.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

You just described what makes the NCAA exciting and popular. Play better defense if you don't want to get beat.

IMO, I don't think you can compare the CFB playoffs to the NCAA tournament.

If we're really interested in crowning a true champion, why not play series of games like the NBA instead of a single-elimination tournament? (Asking rhetorically. I understand the logistical nightmare and how impractical it'd be.) We all know some random bubble team isn't winning a best-of-three series against a top team. Upsets happen on any given day. It doesn't mean much to me in terms of diminishing a team's strength. During the Tournament, it's purely an entertainment value add, nothing more. So again I ask, is the goal to be entertained? Or is it to crown the best team champion of a season? Or crown the best team champion of a given tournament? You're right, bball is different than football. Yet who wants to take bets that there will not be further expansion of the football playoffs in the future?

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Can someone with a better memory than me recall Jamie U's breakdown in the off season about championship caliber teams and the things they had in common? Blue chip ratio, top ranked offense, top ranked defense, etc. He did an analysis on all the champions in the 4-team playoff era and then compared it to ND to see which boxes they had checked and which ones still needed improvement. I wonder how ND stacks up this season. Also, given the parity trend in the sport, I wonder how these data points may change.

Not sure of Jaimie U breakdown, but being top 10 in both offensive and defensive effeciency sure seems like positive data points. ND is currently 10th in offensive effeciency and 2nd in defensive effeciency.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Not sure of Jaimie U breakdown, but being top 10 in both offensive and defensive effeciency sure seems like positive data points. ND is currently 10th in offensive effeciency and 2nd in defensive effeciency.

I'll see if I can find it. It might be a premium ISD article. I can't remember. He talked about it on his podcast with Greg though, but I can't recall which one. Blue chip ratio was definitely a data point where ND was lacking behind the obvious Bama, Georgia, OSU. There were others, it all just escaped me.

 

[Fbolt]

IMO, stats are skewing the picture. NDs offense is good but not great. I worry about having to rely on RLs arm or a FG at the end of a game. The Irish have holes but it seems all the supposed playoff teams have holes too.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

IMO, stats are skewing the picture. NDs offense is good but not great. I worry about having to rely on RLs arm or a FG at the end of a game. The Irish have holes but it seems all the supposed playoff teams have holes too.

Not sure I follow, how are stats skewing the picture? Stats are stats

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Freeman didn't spare the rod. Someone mentioned a few weeks ago that a lot of these games would have been comfortable 31-14 wins or something along those lines under BK. They kept their foot on the gas and the majority of games were runaway wins. I'll take that every season regardless of who they play. With the schedules made so far in advance there isn't much you can do about who you play.

 

[Fbolt]

Not sure I follow, how are stats skewing the picture? Stats are stats

ND's top 10 efficiency on O does not tell the full story.

 

[JadedDomer]

Is this KVA or a fan account? Either way great point.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

ND's top 10 efficiency on O does not tell the full story.

It's adjusted effeciency ranking. I'd say it tells what it tells. ND has been the 10th most efficient offense in the country this year.

 

[RDU Irish]

Freeman didn't spare the rod. Someone mentioned a few weeks ago that a lot of these games would have been comfortable 31-14 wins or something along those lines under BK. They kept their foot on the gas and the majority of games were runaway wins. I'll take that every season regardless of who they play. With the schedules made so far in advance there isn't much you can do about who you play.

BK was king of running starters for 59 minutes against mediocre opponents, usually b/c we were perpetually letting them stay within two scores. When backups would play, nothing but hand off up the middle. By the end of the season we were all banged up and out of juice. These guys are peaking at the right time, combination of quality depth and a lot less miles driven.

 

[Pete]

I posted this in the General Team Info thread, but this is why we should have a better than average shot at making a run.

Only caveat on the scoring thing, 1968 was a 10 game schedule vs a 12 game schedule this year.

 

[NDRock]

Only caveat on the scoring thing, 1968 was a 10 game schedule vs a 12 game schedule this year.

I assume they’re talking ppg

 

[Fbolt]

It's adjusted effeciency ranking. I'd say it tells what it tells. ND has been the 10th most efficient offense in the country this year.

Ok , I believe you. However, ⬆️.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Ok , I believe you. However, ⬆️.

I'd say most on here, including myself, overanalyze and are hypercritical of ND - because that's what fans do. But if you look around the country and watch other games, you realize NDs offense is actually a lot better than most. And the improvement from the start of the year has been incredible.

 

[GATTACA!]

I'd say most on here, including myself, overanalyze and are hypercritical of ND - because that's what fans do. But if you look around the country and watch other games, you realize NDs offense is actually a lot better than most. And the improvement from the start of the year has been incredible.

Also there isn't really a game breaking QB in the playoff field this year. There is no Lawrence or Tua. Who is the best QB we could face? Dillon Gabriel? Carson Beck?

 

[LifelongFan]

Also there isn't really a game breaking QB in the playoff field this year. There is no Lawrence or Tua. Who is the best QB we could face? Dillon Gabriel? Carson Beck?

Gabriel and Ewers are the only ones I feel like are better than RL, and I'm not a big fan of RL. Or of those two honestly. Maiava's performance on Saturday was as good as I've seen from any qb who might be playoff bound besides Ward who is on the bubble

 

[Fbolt]

IMO, stats are skewing the picture. NDs offense is good but not great. I worry about having to rely on RLs arm or a FG at the end of a game. The Irish have holes but it seems all the supposed playoff teams have holes too.

ND's top 10 efficiency on O does not tell the full story.

I'd say most on here, including myself, overanalyze and are hypercritical of ND - because that's what fans do. But if you look around the country and watch other games, you realize NDs offense is actually a lot better than most. And the improvement from the start of the year has been incredible.

There is no disagreement here.

For clarity, ND lacks an explosive passing and FG game. They'll need both in close games and likely the playoffs.

 

[RDU Irish]

There is no disagreement here.

For clarity, ND lacks an explosive passing and FG game. They'll need both in close games and likely the playoffs.

Maybe just romp through the playoffs and don't let it get close.

 

[NDohio]

There are very few college teams this year that are well-rounded on the offensive side of the ball. With the way ND's running attack and short to intermediate passing game is currently playing, ND is in a pretty good spot offensively. It's gonna be fun to watch this team try and power through the playoffs.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

There are very few college teams this year that are well-rounded on the offensive side of the ball. With the way ND's running attack and short to intermediate passing game is currently playing, ND is in a pretty good spot offensively. It's gonna be fun to watch this team try and power through the playoffs.

Matt Leinhert had a good point, he said the only way he sees a team stopping ND is if they can jump on us early and force us into a situation where we have to throw the ball to win. But so far this year, ND has done a nice job of grinding teams down in the run game even when they know it's coming.

 

[bcole2]

I think comparing two VASTLY different sports, sports that have a massive difference in games played, is doing a disservice to CFB.

We all know March Madness is awesome. But I think basketball, especially college ball that has over 2 1/2 the amount of teams than in college football, lends itself to that type of system. I know I am yearning for things that will not exist again. I accept many will not share my views anymore. However, there is something special about bowl games, about having to win 11-12 games to have a chance, on campus regular season games, polls, and surprisingly computers (haha).

Absolutely agree. They are 2 very different sports and entertainment domains. CBB does have a tendency to be rather mundane during the regular season. I mean there are certainly marquee matchups that are must-see and important, especially in conference, but it is much different than the edge of your seat anxiety that CFB has on each Saturday where each game feels so important.

I feel that the current system has a good balance of keeping the importance of the season while also increasing some opportunity to still deserving teams. Football I think also lends itself to producing the best team over the course of a game, and certainly I think it will be very unlikely for a Cinderella team to win 4 games in a row against top notch teams.

If I was to make a change, I would get rid of the conference champions being the only ones that can earn byes. It should be the top 4 in the rankings. Conference championships should earn you an automatic bid, but not a bye, and winning one can be reflected in the overall rankings by the committee.

 

[JadedDomer]

Pretty devastating if true. In Irish Illustrated's pod today, at the 52 minute mark they respond to question on "who's health for playoffs".

Tim Prister is very clear that KVA is not expected back for playoffs. He of course didn't elaborate, but not a first good sign. We really need him and it showed on Saturday.

 

[ThePiombino]

Pretty devastating if true. In Irish Illustrated's pod today, at the 52 minute mark they respond to question on "who's health for playoffs".

Tim Prister is very clear that KVA is not expected back for playoffs. He of course didn't elaborate, but not a first good sign. We really need him and it showed on Saturday.

Cross will almost assuredly be back which will help greatly.

 

[BoredIrish]

ND had better not draw Bama in the 1st round.

Not saying we couldnt beat them... but I'd much rather play ASU or Miami.