Path to the CFP?

[NDGOLDEN]

I don’t really think we need that much praying. Ohio st wins out and bama loses to Georgia we are in. Both very realistic outcomes.

Here is a scenario that would be interesting. Ohio st wins out. Cincy wins out. Bama loses to auburn next week then beats Georgia in SEC final. Georgia loses to bama in SEC final. We are 11-1. What do you do?

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I don’t really think we need that much praying. Ohio st wins out and bama loses to Georgia we are in. Both very realistic outcomes.

Here is a scenario that would be interesting. Ohio st wins out. Cincy wins out. Bama loses to auburn next week then beats Georgia in SEC final. Georgia loses to bama in SEC final. We are 11-1. What do you do?

What about 1 loss Oklahoma St Big 12 champ?

 

[NDGOLDEN]

What about 1 loss Oklahoma St Big 12 champ?

Add that too. Would make it even more complicated

 

[T-Boone]

I don’t really think we need that much praying. Ohio st wins out and bama loses to Georgia we are in. Both very realistic outcomes.

Here is a scenario that would be interesting. Ohio st wins out. Cincy wins out. Bama loses to auburn next week then beats Georgia in SEC final. Georgia loses to bama in SEC final. We are 11-1. What do you do?

that scenario is why they need to get rid of conference championship games except as a tie breaker.

 

[GATTACA!]

Put on your big boy pants bitches. We’re headed to the playoffs.

 

[T-Boone]

that scenario is why they need to get rid of conference championship games except as a tie breaker.

I mean its not like Bama has 1 loss (2 losses in that scenario) but has otherwise been awesome. They have been ordinary in most of their games.

 

[NDGOLDEN]

I mean its not like Bama has 1 loss (2 losses in that scenario) but has otherwise been awesome. They have been ordinary in most of their games.

They would have 2 losses against at the time unranked teams. Could they really jump them over a 11-1 ND who’s only lose is to the 3rd best team? I want to say no but this committee…. Who knows

 

[BeatSC]

This is setting up incredibly well for ND……who would have thought this just a couple of weeks ago?!

I think I would have thought a couple weeks ago….

 

[GATTACA!]

I think I would have thought a couple weeks ago….

There’s dozens of us! DOZENS!!

 

[BeatSC]

So Oregon is now rightfully done and I don’t worry about Ok because they are more lucky than good and their low rankings while being undefeated speak to that. More concerned about Ok St as they look like a far more complete team. How about the phenom Caleb Williams! He stinks.

 

[BeatSC]

There’s dozens of us! DOZENS!!

But we also have those who are hoping we are left outside at #5 with a winnable NY6 meaningless Bowl game.

For Shame!!!

 

[greyhammer90]

Itshappening.gif

 

[NDMatt91]

But we also have those who are hoping we are left outside at #5 with a winnable NY6 meaningless Bowl game.

For Shame!!!

I hate that loser mindset. I'd rather get blown out in a playoff game than appear in a NY6 Bowl against a team whose top players are sitting out for the draft. I want ND to win a Natty, and the only way to do that is to make the playoffs.

Now, are we going to get blown out by UGA, should we play them? It's extremely likely, but I just want to make the playoff.

 

[phillyirish]

Unrelated, but I am so glad the AP still has a poll separate from the CFP committee’s ridiculous rankings. They currently have Cincy #3 and ND at #6. They also have Oregon ahead of OSU, which is how it should be with the H2H win, of course that’ll change after Oregons loss this week.

I think it’d be hilarious for a 2 loss Bama to get in, and win the playoffs with Cincy not included. Only for Cincy to go undefeated and win the AP national title. A split title would make the CFP and it’s committee look like absolute jokes with the limited playoffs still not enough to bring a consensus title.

 

[NDMatt91]

Unrelated, but I am so glad the AP still has a poll separate from the CFP committee’s ridiculous rankings. They currently have Cincy #3 and ND at #6. They also have Oregon ahead of OSU, which is how it should be with the H2H win, of course that’ll change after Oregons loss this week.

I think it’d be hilarious for a 2 loss Bama to get in, and win the playoffs with Cincy not included. Only for Cincy to go undefeated and win the AP national title. A split title would make the CFP and it’s committee look like absolute jokes with the limited playoffs still not enough to bring a consensus title.

The interesting thing is that the 2 times where the CFP put in a team that many felt didn't deserve to be there that team ended up winning the whole thing. That was 2014 (OSU) and 2017 (Bama). With that being said, there's no chance they'd win it all this year. They're not all that good, honestly. Heck, I don't think anyone is all that good outside of UGA and OSU.

 

[Irish2155]

I’m going to read up from here but shame on you folks who said there was NO chance to the party.

 

[Irish2155]

Let’s just hope that things continue to progress our way. But yeah, I’m game planning GA right now and it’s all about speed. Get the ball out now

 

[Bishop2b5]

I don’t really think we need that much praying. Ohio st wins out and bama loses to Georgia we are in. Both very realistic outcomes.

Here is a scenario that would be interesting. Ohio st wins out. Cincy wins out. Bama loses to auburn next week then beats Georgia in SEC final. Georgia loses to bama in SEC final. We are 11-1. What do you do?

If Bama lost to Auburn next week, but won the SEC championship, I'd leave Bama out of the playoffs. You can make a reasonable case that they're still a top 4 team if they lose a close game to Georgia. You can't make that case at all if they lose to Auburn.

 

[GATTACA!]

If Bama lost to Auburn next week, but won the SEC championship, I'd leave Bama out of the playoffs. You can make a reasonable case that they're still a top 4 team if they lose a close game to Georgia. You can't make that case at all if they lose to Auburn.

Who is their best win? 2 losses with your best win over two loss Ole Miss? See ya

 

[benneboy]

How much better does this team get if Fisher, Liufau, and Hamilton all return for the playoffs?

 

[NDdomer2]

This is setting up incredibly well for ND……who would have thought this just a couple of weeks ago?!

Well our own fanbase doesn't even like our coordinators and starting QB so id say a select few

 

[Trait Expectations]

We are a very gritty, mentally tough but still-incomplete team. I don't love our chances but I'll root like hell for our boys. They have worked their asses off and stayed committed to the process all season long. If they continue to grow, who knows what can happen in a given playoff game. It's been a pleasure watching this team grow.

 

[Sea Turtle]

How good is Georgia's offense? How does it stack up to our defense?

 

[BleedBlueGold]

If Bama lost to Auburn next week, but won the SEC championship, I'd leave Bama out of the playoffs. You can make a reasonable case that they're still a top 4 team if they lose a close game to Georgia. You can't make that case at all if they lose to Auburn.

That's a cute sentiment and all, but winning the SEC championship is precisely enough reason for the committee to put a 2-loss Bama team in the playoffs. Everyone is already assuming a two-loss non-champion Bama can squeak in if the loss to Georgia is close. Personally, I don't see that happening. However, a 2-loss SEC Champ with a win over #1 ranked Georgia....I'd put money on the committee ranking them top 4. I'm not sure how said rankings would shake out because if Bama and Georgia sit at 2 and 3, there will be a rematch that seems unlikely. It's a wild scenario that doesn't seem likely but it's obviously still possible until the games are played.

 

[BabyIrish]

How good is Georgia's offense? How does it stack up to our defense?

I asked this question a week or so ago. Lax answered by saying that analytics has them as a top 5 offense. But he doesn’t think they’re as good as Bama last year or LSU two years ago.

 

[NDGOLDEN]

How good is Georgia's offense? How does it stack up to our defense?

They are definitely not as explosive as those offenses that’s for sure. I don’t know if they have played any good defenses. Not saying we are amazing but we have a solid D.
Now the defense on the other hand….idk how much we would score unless we just got some lucky bounces and hit on explosive plays

 

[irish4ever]

How much better does this team get if Fisher, Liufau, and Hamilton all return for the playoffs?

I dunno about the OL, they're playing quite well now and with Blake being out this many weeks I can't see him being that much of an improvement (the remaining of this year). Hamilton is definitely a different story ... he's a BIG TIME game changer!

 

[BleedBlueGold]

ND's offense has definitely looked better lately, but it's against weak competition. They'd likely sputter against Georgia's defense similar to how it did against Clemson in 2018. On the other side of the ball, I think they can contain Georgia but keeping them to their lowest point total since Week 1 won't matter if the offense is constantly going 3-out and Coan is getting sacked a thousand times. I don't think this ND team will match up in a way they did in 17 and 19, largely because of our OL. All that said, I'd still prefer to see ND in the playoffs again. You can't win a championship if you don't get in, play the big boys, and beat them.

 

[irish4ever]

Beat Stanford bad and pray. That's about all we can do at this point.

It would be sweet IF the Defense can pitch another TD shut out! Hold them to a few 3's and the Irish run up the score!!!

 

[irish4ever]

ND's offense has definitely looked better lately, but it's against weak competition. They'd likely sputter against Georgia's defense similar to how it did against Clemson in 2018. On the other side of the ball, I think they can contain Georgia but keeping them to their lowest point total since Week 1 won't matter if the offense is constantly going 3-out and Coan is getting sacked a thousand times. I don't think this ND team will match up in a way they did in 17 and 19, largely because of our OL. All that said, I'd still prefer to see ND in the playoffs again. You can't win a championship if you don't get in, play the big boys, and beat them.

Some of that is Coan's own doing though. He has concrete blocks for cleats ... one of the most immobile QB's that I can ever recall. Plus, he seems to never just throw one away. Sometimes it makes sense to chuck one up in the 3rd row as opposed to muddle around back in the pocket and take that 8-10 yard sack!