Path to the CFP?

[NDPhilly]

I can barely remember the NY6 games from last year yet can remember pretty much every CFP game and participants since its inception. For that reason alone i'd rather be part of the dance.

 

[Irish2155]

Always saddens me to see how little faith my fellow Irish fans have in our ability to win games,………

Me too. Ducking the playoffs because of this reason saddens.

 

[Irish2155]

We’ll be better too. I think the days of being “afraid” of OSU are numbered. They do know how to run up scores against lesser opponents. I’ll give them that.

OSU scores a lot, but gives a lot too. Freeman will make his money here

 

[Dizzyphil]

Just updated if the season was to end today -

Selection Committee Bowl Games


Updated Nov 14, 2021

Jan. 1	Sugar	Mississippi	vs. Oklahoma	SEC vs. Big 12	8:45 PM	New Orleans, La.
Jan. 1	Rose	Michigan	vs. Oregon	Big Ten vs. Pac-12	5:00 PM	Pasadena, Calif.
Jan. 1	Fiesta	Michigan St	vs. Oklahoma St	at-large vs. at-large	1:00 PM	Glendale, Ariz.
Dec. 30	Peach	Notre Dame	vs. Pittsburgh	at-large vs. at-large	7:00 PM	Atlanta, Ga.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Just updated if the season was to end today -

Selection Committee Bowl Games


Updated Nov 14, 2021

Jan. 1	Sugar	Mississippi	vs. Oklahoma	SEC vs. Big 12	8:45 PM	New Orleans, La.
Jan. 1	Rose	Michigan	vs. Oregon	Big Ten vs. Pac-12	5:00 PM	Pasadena, Calif.
Jan. 1	Fiesta	Michigan St	vs. Oklahoma St	at-large vs. at-large	1:00 PM	Glendale, Ariz.
Dec. 30	Peach	Notre Dame	vs. Pittsburgh	at-large vs. at-large	7:00 PM	Atlanta, Ga.

I'll take that. I think if we play well, we can beat Pitt.

Let's bring a Peach bowl trophy home!

 

[dad4aa]

Just updated if the season was to end today -

Selection Committee Bowl Games


Updated Nov 14, 2021

Jan. 1	Sugar	Mississippi	vs. Oklahoma	SEC vs. Big 12	8:45 PM	New Orleans, La.
Jan. 1	Rose	Michigan	vs. Oregon	Big Ten vs. Pac-12	5:00 PM	Pasadena, Calif.
Jan. 1	Fiesta	Michigan St	vs. Oklahoma St	at-large vs. at-large	1:00 PM	Glendale, Ariz.
Dec. 30	Peach	Notre Dame	vs. Pittsburgh	at-large vs. at-large	7:00 PM	Atlanta, Ga.

Except most likely scUM and MSU both lose one more game do that won’t happen and hopefully ND can move into an NY6 game

 

[ACamp1900]

Me too. Ducking the playoffs because of this reason saddens.

My point was to win any big game, playoffs or not,… even if it’s just a non playoff NY6… then after that i was being silly…

 

[BeatSC]

Their offense is top 5 but not "unstoppable" like LSU 2019 or Bama 2020. It's conceivable -- but unlikely -- that our defense could keep the score down.

Their defense is historically good and it's unlikely that ND would score more than 14 on them short of some crazy breaks. Georgia would likely be a 3+ TD favorite over ND, based on some "hypothetical" Vegas lines that were thrown around last week by a bookmaker.

are they statistically top 5? I don’t see that at all and without doing research I’d venture not top 10. Easy to play QB when never trailing. Bennet is not even a top 25 QB and we have played against alot better receiving corps to date. Without that D they aren’t in the top 20 imo.

 

[BeatSC]

Yet no one wants us in the CFP.

I think it’s pretty clear that this “Nobody” does!

 

[IrishLax]

are they statistically top 5? I don’t see that at all and without doing research I’d venture not top 10. Easy to play QB when never trailing. Bennet is not even a top 25 QB and we have played against alot better receiving corps to date. Without that D they aren’t in the top 20 imo.

They have the #6 offense per SP+ and #3 offense per FEI. Saying they're "not top 20" is legit crazy my man... offenses ranked 18 through 22, for reference, are Kansas State, Oregon State, Air Force, Tennessee, and Western Kentucky. Surely you think they are better than those teams.

 

[GATTACA!]

They have the #6 offense per SP+ and #3 offense per FEI. Saying they're "not top 20" is legit crazy my man... offenses ranked 18 through 22, for reference, are Kansas State, Oregon State, Air Force, Tennessee, and Western Kentucky. Surely you think they are better than those teams.

I think they're mostly on par with Georgia offenses of the past few years. Their defense has obviously taken a large step forward in becoming elite. I think Georgia would be a heavy heavy favorite against ND rightfully so, but I'd feel better having an outside shot vs a team with a great defense instead of a historic offense. At least gives you a punchers chance.

Also Georgia likes to melt in big time situations. That could be helpful too.

 

[NDdomer2]

And I can also hear "ND has only one ONE NY6 game and it was against NCST. Congrats lol."

No one cares more about NY6 games than people on this board.

You're not wrong. But I'll take a soft jab on a win over the lame excuse ass beating

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Non playoff Bowl games are now virtually irrelevant except for a small payout and some extra practice.

 

[BeatSC]

They have the #6 offense per SP+ and #3 offense per FEI. Saying they're "not top 20" is legit crazy my man... offenses ranked 18 through 22, for reference, are Kansas State, Oregon State, Air Force, Tennessee, and Western Kentucky. Surely you think they are better than those teams.

Ok you got me. I will say they are not passing my eye test!!! That’s all I have to hang my hat on. I would like to see them against several of the tougher BIG 10 top defenses. I’m still routing for a playoff spot even if we have to face off against GA. We have played them very tough as prohibitive underdogs and gave them all they could handle. Cincy did the same last year. I would take my chances and I know the ND team would want that too.

 

[Irish2155]

Not that it means much but the coach’s have us 6

 

[BabyIrish]

Not that it means much but the coach’s have us 6

We’re gonna pass the two Michigan’s after they lose to OSU. We need Oregon to lose at some point, hopefully this weekend against Utah. That puts us #5 unless they want the Big 12 champ to jump us. Then if Bama loses to Georgia, which I’m not quite sure is a lock to happen like other people think, I think that would get us to 4. We’ll see though. Lots of football left.

 

[Irish2155]

We’re gonna pass the two Michigan’s after they lose to OSU. We need Oregon to lose at some point, hopefully this weekend against Utah. That puts us #5 unless they want the Big 12 champ to jump us. Then if Bama loses to Georgia, which I’m not quite sure is a lock to happen like other people think, I think that would get us to 4. We’ll see though. Lots of football left.

This is my biggest concern right here. Bama is going to beat GA in the SEC game.

 

[BabyIrish]

This is my biggest concern right here. Bama is going to beat GA in the SEC game.

That’s what I’m thinking too. Bryce Young is the heisman favorite for a reason.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

That’s what I’m thinking too. Bryce Young is the heisman favorite for a reason.

In that case it's likely
1) Bama
2) Ohio St
3) Georgia
4) Cincy

This is assuming Oregon loses again and Big 12 cannibalize themselves, both of which I believe are likely.

 

[NDdomer2]

This is my biggest concern right here. Bama is going to beat GA in the SEC game.

The SEC certainly has biased interest in making sure Bama beats Georgia when it gets them 2 Playoff teams.

 

[Ndaccountant]

I think they're mostly on par with Georgia offenses of the past few years. Their defense has obviously taken a large step forward in becoming elite. I think Georgia would be a heavy heavy favorite against ND rightfully so, but I'd feel better having an outside shot vs a team with a great defense instead of a historic offense. At least gives you a punchers chance.

Also Georgia likes to melt in big time situations. That could be helpful too.

Jack Coan, Quinn's OL and our current WR depth playing UGA would be far worse than what UVA experienced this past weekend against ND.

I generally agree with you, that for ND, keeping scoring low is usually a better indication of potential victory in big games versus getting into a shoot out. But this current ND team has neither an imposing defense nor an imposing offense. Even the past few weeks when ND has found success, it's usually because someone makes an obscenely athletic individual play against less talented teams. UVA was a HORRIBLE defense and ND made it look really hard.

Yes, the offense has improved, but it's still severely limited by a QB who isn't comfortable waiting for plays to develop (can't blame him given what Quinn has done this year) and isn't mobile enough to create time. Honestly, that is why it's a travesty that Buchner isn't playing more than he is, and when he is playing, is being used like Denard Robinson. ND's path forward is TB being balanced. As it stands, his first real experience in being balanced will be in Columbus to open 2022. Yikes.

 

[irishtrain]

I think Ala beats Ga both get in and its the same ole bull@*$# like every year-and I dont want Notre Dame in the playoff just to get wasted again by either team-I m ok with just a great bowl game but what bothers me more than anything is why college football has been allowed to morph into this have and have not situation. Even in the past -60's 70's 80's etc every year at the beginning there would be 15 teams that could win a National champions ship today those teams are just by lines. SC/UCLA/NEB/OKLA/COL/PENN STATE/TEXAS/ARK/MICH/OHIO ST/PITT/MIAMI/PURDUE/MICH ST/ all these blue bloods rendered meaningless because one conference has pretty well been allowed to damn well do as they please. Even SYRACUSE had a run.

 

[irishff1014]

Jack Coan, Quinn's OL and our current WR depth playing UGA would be far worse than what UVA experienced this past weekend against ND.

I generally agree with you, that for ND, keeping scoring low is usually a better indication of potential victory in big games versus getting into a shoot out. But this current ND team has neither an imposing defense nor an imposing offense. Even the past few weeks when ND has found success, it's usually because someone makes an obscenely athletic individual play against less talented teams. UVA was a HORRIBLE defense and ND made it look really hard.

Yes, the offense has improved, but it's still severely limited by a QB who isn't comfortable waiting for plays to develop (can't blame him given what Quinn has done this year) and isn't mobile enough to create time. Honestly, that is why it's a travesty that Buchner isn't playing more than he is, and when he is playing, is being used like Denard Robinson. ND's path forward is TB being balanced. As it stands, his first real experience in being balanced will be in Columbus to open 2022. Yikes.

Good comparison. Which is bad for TB.

 

[Bishop2b5]

I think Ala beats Ga both get in and its the same ole bull@*$# like every year-and I dont want Notre Dame in the playoff just to get wasted again by either team-I m ok with just a great bowl game but what bothers me more than anything is why college football has been allowed to morph into this have and have not situation. Even in the past -60's 70's 80's etc every year at the beginning there would be 15 teams that could win a National champions ship today those teams are just by lines. SC/UCLA/NEB/OKLA/COL/PENN STATE/TEXAS/ARK/MICH/OHIO ST/PITT/MIAMI/PURDUE/MICH ST/ all these blue bloods rendered meaningless because one conference has pretty well been allowed to damn well do as they please. Even SYRACUSE had a run.

First bolded - Right now, both polls, the playoff committee, and most power rankings have Georgia and Bama 1 & 2. Virtually all of the experts and knowledgeable fans who've watched them play also think they're the two best teams in the country. If they meet in the SECCG and it's a close game, would there be any reason to think they weren't still the two best teams? I get that you and lots of other people are tired of the same teams in the playoffs, but it's about putting the best teams in, not the best who haven't been in awhile, nor giving the also-rans a chance. It's their job to hire better coaches, recruit better, execute better, and get better. Don't forget, it hasn't been that long since both Georgia and Bama were far from being elite and teams like USC and Florida and Texas were the top programs. Bama & Georgia (and a few others) worked hard, made the right hires, and earned their way to the top.

Second bolded - What, exactly, has the SEC been allowed to do that is against the rules or that other conferences have been prohibited from doing? Recruit better? Develop better? Hire better coaches?

 

[phillyirish]

First bolded - Right now, both polls, the playoff committee, and most power rankings have Georgia and Bama 1 & 2. Virtually all of the experts and knowledgeable fans who've watched them play also think they're the two best teams in the country. If they meet in the SECCG and it's a close game, would there be any reason to think they weren't still the two best teams? I get that you and lots of other people are tired of the same teams in the playoffs, but it's about putting the best teams in, not the best who haven't been in awhile, nor giving the also-rans a chance. It's their job to hire better coaches, recruit better, execute better, and get better. Don't forget, it hasn't been that long since both Georgia and Bama were far from being elite and teams like USC and Florida and Texas were the top programs. Bama & Georgia (and a few others) worked hard, made the right hires, and earned their way to the top.

Second bolded - What, exactly, has the SEC been allowed to do that is against the rules or that other conferences have been prohibited from doing? Recruit better? Develop better? Hire better coaches?

I am so sick and tired of this argument used by the pundits and the committee….

IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU ARE THE BEST TEAM. National championships are not given to the most talented team, they are awarded to who earn them. Georgia is one of the most talented teams I’ve seen in college football, if they lose back to back games to end the year should they just be slotted in because of their talent? Why play the games then. We can just award championships based off of 247’s rolling composite team rankings after each class signs.

This “are they the best or most talented team” argument is just a back door policy to keep out Cinci and other group of 5 school, or hell, anyone who might dame the playoff revenue like a Wake forest.

You don’t get what you deserve, you get what you earn.

 

[Irishbounty28]

I do think expanding the playoff is a good thing for college football, but it is at the expense of a lot of tradition with the bowl games. It also takes away the “every game matters” that has been a staple of college football for so long.

I do think it will increase parody in the sport. A crazy fact:

Since 2006 there have only been four coaches not named Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, or Dabo Sweeney to win a national championship. Those coaches are Gene Chizik,, Les Miles, Ed Orgeron, and Jimbo Fisher. None of these coaches have went on to win a second title. After this year, none of these coaches will be at the school where they won. Two of those dudes aren’t even great coaches IMO(Chizik, Orgeron).

Crazy to think over the last 15 years three coaches are responsible for 11 national championships.

 

[BeatSC]

In that case it's likely
1) Bama
2) Ohio St
3) Georgia
4) Cincy

This is assuming Oregon loses again and Big 12 cannibalize themselves, both of which I believe are likely.

Cincy could lose to SMU or Houston and we would jump them. If OSU lost to Wisconsin in the Big 10 championship game then we don’t need Oregon to lose
but a loss to Utah this weekend would be nice.

SEC let’s their players do less as a student and their is a code to look the other way in the South for CFB.

 

[Irishbounty28]

I am so sick and tired of this argument used by the pundits and the committee….

IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU ARE THE BEST TEAM. National championships are not given to the most talented team, they are awarded to who earn them. Georgia is one of the most talented teams I’ve seen in college football, if they lose back to back games to end the year should they just be slotted in because of their talent? Why play the games then. We can just award championships based off of 247’s rolling composite team rankings after each class signs.

This “are they the best or most talented team” argument is just a back door policy to keep out Cinci and other group of 5 school, or hell, anyone who might dame the playoff revenue like a Wake forest.

You don’t get what you deserve, you get what you earn.

This is so on point man. Right on! The games should matter.

 

[GATTACA!]

I am so sick and tired of this argument used by the pundits and the committee….

IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU ARE THE BEST TEAM. National championships are not given to the most talented team, they are awarded to who earn them. Georgia is one of the most talented teams I’ve seen in college football, if they lose back to back games to end the year should they just be slotted in because of their talent? Why play the games then. We can just award championships based off of 247’s rolling composite team rankings after each class signs.

This “are they the best or most talented team” argument is just a back door policy to keep out Cinci and other group of 5 school, or hell, anyone who might dame the playoff revenue like a Wake forest.

You don’t get what you deserve, you get what you earn.

If Georgia lost back to back games they wouldn't make the playoffs. The argument is if they only lost the SEC championship game. They would deserve to be in over any other one loss team. Who has a better resume than 12-1 with a loss to the then #1 team?

Cincy could lose to SMU or Houston and we would jump them. If OSU lost to Wisconsin in the Big 10 championship game then we don't need Oregon to lose
but a loss to Utah this weekend would be nice.

SEC let's their players do less as a student and their is a code to look the other way in the South for CFB.

I think Oregon losing 1 out of 2 to Utah is more likely than OSU losing to Wisconsin, but I'll happily take either.

 

[Bishop2b5]

I am so sick and tired of this argument used by the pundits and the committee….

IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU ARE THE BEST TEAM. National championships are not given to the most talented team, they are awarded to who earn them. Georgia is one of the most talented teams I've seen in college football, if they lose back to back games to end the year should they just be slotted in because of their talent? Why play the games then. We can just award championships based off of 247’s rolling composite team rankings after each class signs.

This “are they the best or most talented team” argument is just a back door policy to keep out Cinci and other group of 5 school, or hell, anyone who might dame the playoff revenue like a Wake forest.

You don’t get what you deserve, you get what you earn.

What are you even talking about? Who said anything about putting anyone in the playoffs just based on how talented their roster is? Nobody said anything about giving anyone a national championship based on talent instead of winning it on the field. Who said anything about letting anyone in with back-to-back losses or even two losses? We all understand that on-the-field performance is what matters. If that's what you got from my post, you misread it completely.