College Football 2016

[xudash]

Did you know that the stadium expansion in South Bend blocks the view of Touchdown Jesus?

[Xville]

When was the last time Notre Dame actually had a good defense? The media thought the Mantei years, but I think that was more based on the offenses they were playing.

[XUMIOH12]

Nah, the refs were pretty good yesterday and let the teams play. Last week was a different story.

HA! Still on that huh?

[xubrew]

Auburn/LSU was just sick.


The thrill of victory, and the agony of :01.

So true for so many reasons. It was just a crazy buildup that culminated into a crazy game with an even crazier finish.

You had part of the LSU lunatic fringe rooting for Auburn because they don't like Les Miles and wanted him fired.

You had part of the Auburn lunatic fringe rooting for LSU because they don't like Gus Malzahn and wanted him fired.

You had a game that was crazy and went back and forth, and ended with LSU winning the game on a crazy play that was doomed to fail from the start but somehow didn't, but then Auburn ended up winning because after the play was over it was decided that they play didn't count!

And then, not even 24 hours later, it looks as though Les Miles has been fired.

http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/lsu-football/report-lsu-fired-les-miles-cam-cameron/


EDIT: Oh yea, and on top of all that, some LSU fan set the oak trees on fire after Auburn fans had rolled them.

[XU 87]

It's incredible to me that Les Miles was so unpopular at LSU at this point. He won a national championship and lost in the BCS in another. He was 114-38 there, playing in the toughest league in college football. I hope LSU follows the same path as Tennessee after they fired Phil Fulmer, their most successful coach in school history since Neyland, who retired in 1952.

[xubrew]

I agree. Knee jerk reactions are not how you move yourself forward. LSU wasn't good, but they really didn't suck either. They certainly weren't so bad that it made any sense to fire a guy that's had the kind of success that Les Miles had had. In their two losses, one was to a Wisconsin team that will likely be ranked in the top ten. It was on the road, and they were in field goal range in the final minute of the game with a chance to win. Now, again, they could have and arguably should have won, losing a close game to a really good team isn't a fireable offense.

And against Auburn, they had a chance to win that one as well, and it actually looked as though they had won it.

LSU wasn't good, but they weren't bad either. I don't think it was to a point to where it looked as though he was incapable of ever turning them back around. I remember when their fans freaked out because they were afraid he'd leave for Michigan.

And seriously, what does firing him now accomplish that firing him at the end of the year does not accomplish??

[XU 87]

I am just amazed on how much of a short leash he had after all the success he has had at LSU, which has never been considered a perennial powerhouse.

It's not like the last two years have been terrible either. They have been good but not great (8-5 and 9-3). Before that he won double digits 4 years in a row.

[paulxu]

The announcer (when he thought LSU's last play catch was good) said "that play just saved LSU's season, and Les Miles' job" or words to that effect.
Didn't really say much when it was overturned, but the thought was there.

Also, the idiot that set fire to the tree lives in Auburn, AL. So, he's probably not a LSU fan. I'm guessing an Alabama fan who got drunk. (My chances are good)

Edit: not so good after all. Drunk German national living in Auburn,

[X-band '01]

It was an Alabama fan who poisoned the oaks the same year Auburn won the national title. Do they not have respect for trees down there/

[X-band '01]

So true for so many reasons. It was just a crazy buildup that culminated into a crazy game with an even crazier finish.

You had part of the LSU lunatic fringe rooting for Auburn because they don't like Les Miles and wanted him fired.

You had part of the Auburn lunatic fringe rooting for LSU because they don't like Gus Malzahn and wanted him fired.

You had a game that was crazy and went back and forth, and ended with LSU winning the game on a crazy play that was doomed to fail from the start but somehow didn't, but then Auburn ended up winning because after the play was over it was decided that they play didn't count!

And then, not even 24 hours later, it looks as though Les Miles has been fired.

http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/lsu-football/report-lsu-fired-les-miles-cam-cameron/


EDIT: Oh yea, and on top of all that, some LSU fan set the oak trees on fire after Auburn fans had rolled them.

Let's also not forget that LSU beat Tennessee back in 2010 in a game where they had absolutely no business winning the game. They get stopped on 2nd and goal with 30 seconds left (no timeouts), can't get a play in, and when they finally snap the ball, it was a bad snap and Tennessee recovered. Game over, Derek Dooley is about to do a postgame interview on CBS.

Only there was a penalty on Tennessee for illegal participation - LSU's attempt at a Chinese fire drill completely confused the Tennessee defense and they wound up playing with 13 guys on the field. After an untimed down, LSU wins on a 1-yard run.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mAHgD-8k9U

I'm also sure Kentucky fans haven't forgotten the Bluegrass Miracle in Lexington, either.

[GoMuskies]

Here's an interesting Lamar Jackson stat ahead of Saturday's big game at Clemson:

Lamar Jackson has accounted for 25 offensive TDs so far this season. Excluding Louisville (obviously), those 25 TDs would rank him (by himself) ahead of all other FBS teams in offensive TDs (Michigan has 26 total TDs, but has two kick return TDs).

[paulxu]

I hope he scores 25 more on Saturday.

[GoMuskies]

Tonight's the first time I have seen U-Dub play. So far, they seem more than legit.

[GoMuskies]

Syracuse /ND on pace for like 120-105.

[Strange Brew]

Syracuse /ND on pace for like 120-105.

What's sad is my DVR has a ratings system for sports based on number of viewers/other factors and ND/SU is by far the highest rated game on right now.

[Muskie]

What's sad is my DVR has a ratings system for sports based on number of viewers/other factors and ND/SU is by far the highest rated game on right now.

I have it as well. It's shockingly accurate.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[xudash]

This Clumpson entrance business is way over cooked.

And Florida State is not what it was thought to be.

[paulxu]

Go, anytime you want to have your Cards start playing is OK by me.

[Xville]

This Clumpson entrance business is way over cooked.

And Florida State is not what it was thought to be.

I think it is way overrated...the rock thing is stupid and the hill keeps the team from really running out onto the field.

[xu82]

Go, anytime you want to have your Cards start playing is OK by me.

They got double screwed with the lack of an obvious jersey-fisted pass interference call followed by a stupid penalty complaining to the ref who missed it.

[xu82]

UL getting screwed by refs on the road. I really dont care either way, but this makes me want to see Clemson go down. I think I actually preferred the Tigers going into this.

[Juice]

UC is of course getting curb stomped by USF. So when does Tubberville get fired? He's terrible.

[GoMuskies]

UL getting screwed by refs on the road. I really dont care either way, but this makes me want to see Clemson go down. I think I actually preferred the Tigers going into this.

Eh, if they hadn't fumbled while driving up 7-0 they'd be in control right now. That play completely turned the game around.

[xu82]

Eh, if they hadn't fumbled while driving up 7-0 they'd be in control right now. That play completely turned the game around.

That's fair, but the two missed PI calls pissed me off, and I dont have a dog in this fight. The first one had a ref squatting down a few yards away staring at the play. How do they miss that? Turns a strong drive with scoring potential into backing up to punt.

[GoMuskies]

We might have a game

[BENWAR]

We might have a game

Confirmed!

[xudash]

This is a goofy football game.

But it's set up for an interesting finish.

[GoMuskies]

James Quick sucks. I hate Trinity.

[Strange Brew]

Waiting for the no props, UofL is so overrated post from MOR....

[xubrew]

Louisville seems to lose to Clemson this way all the time.

[paulxu]

Arrrrggggggggh.

[Masterofreality]

Waiting for the no props, UofL is so overrated post from MOR....

I like U of L. My Mom went there, my cousins went there and my nephew played baseball there. My Grandmother's grave has a great view of Papa Johns Stadium. My hometown school.

They've done an incredible job putting themselves into a "big time" position. No fan of Quick Rick, but otherwise.....

[xubrew]

I'm starting to think that Texas is not the top ten team Texas thought they were right after they beat a Notre Dame team that isn't the top ten team they thought they were.

[XU 87]

UC is of course getting curb stomped by USF. So when does Tubberville get fired? He's terrible.

Tuberville was successful at Auburn, almost winning a national championship one year. He wasn't so successful at Texas Tech, and I suspect he was one year from getting fired when he came to UC, which is why he came. I don't think there can be much dispute that UC has taken a step back under him. The fact that UC keeps getting blown out in some games against mediocre opponents tells me his teams aren't always ready to play before some games. The 4th quarter collapse against Houston, at home, wasn't so good either.

[xubrew]

Is it just me, or are we seeing way more great games than we typically see prior to Halloween this year? It's not like we've never seen these great cataclysmic games before, but they normally come after Halloween, and by then I'm probably more excited about college basketball starting than I am about football ending. Just this weekend we had three games between top ten teams, two were awesome, and on top of that we saw Tennessee's playoff hopes eliminated and then resuscitated in less than a ten minute span.

I don't know if it's an anomaly, but I don't recall a year where college football was this exciting across the board this early into the year. I'd like to credit the playoff for that, but to be fair a lot of these great games have been conference games that would have been played anyway with the same stakes. So, I don't know what the difference is, but it sure as hell been fun!

[Juice]

This week's edition of Brian Kelly being a piece of shit:


Irish Illustrated
‏@PeteSampson_
Brian Kelly calls snapping "atrocious" by Sam Mustipher

[Strange Brew]

This week's edition of Brian Kelly being a piece of shit:

If you watched that game you'd expect Kelly to resign immediately. Horrific play calling.

[paulxu]

Navy?

Connecticut?

[Masterofreality]

If you watched that game you'd expect Kelly to resign immediately. Horrific play calling.

Hurricane Declan extracting more revenge.

Wait until the fat cat Not-re Dome alums have to pay off another long term contract. Oh the humanity.

[Masterofreality]

Navy?

Connecticut?

Just quality American Conference football. #Garbage

[bleedXblue]

I don't care who you are, you can't survive long term at Notre Dame anymore. It's just not possible. Kelly is an a-hole, a rich a-hole at that. I see him going to the NFL when he gets fired. As far as UC and Tuberville, they get what they deserve. They went after a "name" and broke their own model of success. I called it when they hired him. Now of course, the league they are in is killing them from a recruiting perspective. I also heard their focus has been more in the south recently and not getting the local talent they enjoyed for many years. Good luck attracting a good young coach into the AAC. Thats likely not going to happen like it did with Butch Jones and Brian Kelly.

[paulxu]

Michigan and Washington got a head start on the basketball season.

[GoMuskies]

There are plenty of guys who would have no problem winning at Notre Dame long term. Nick Saban, Bobby Petrino or Urban Meyer might go years between losses there. It's okay with me if Notre Dame is unable to lure one of those tyes to South Bend, though.

I also don't think UC will have trouble luring another hot young MAC coach to Clifton. I just think the period of time they'll be able to hold on to that hot young coach will be even shorter now than it was in the Dantonio, Kelly and Jones eras. At least they haven't had a coach bolt for Harvard lately!

[Juice]

There are plenty of guys who would have no problem winning at Notre Dame long term. Nick Saban, Bobby Petrino or Urban Meyer might go years between losses there. It's okay with me if Notre Dame is unable to lure one of those tyes to South Bend, though.

I also don't think UC will have trouble luring another hot young MAC coach to Clifton. I just think the period of time they'll be able to hold on to that hot young coach will be even shorter now than it was in the Dantonio, Kelly and Jones eras. At least they haven't had a coach bolt for Harvard lately!

The conference hasn't had problems getting good coaches (e.g. Fuentes and Herman) but it will probably be harder for UC now than it was in the Big East.

[JTG]

Hurricane Declan extracting more revenge.

Wait until the fat cat Not-re Dome alums have to pay off another long term contract. Oh the humanity.

Fortunately for them there is an endless pile of cash in South Bend, no payoff would be too large.

[JTG]

Hurricane Declan extracting more revenge.

Wait until the fat cat Not-re Dome alums have to pay off another long term contract. Oh the humanity.

Fortunately for them there is an endless pile of cash in South Bend, no payoff would be too large.

[xudash]

The conference hasn't had problems getting good coaches (e.g. Fuentes and Herman) but it will probably be harder for UC now than it was in the Big East.

Exactly. They had BCS status in that version of the Big East. UC is now firmly planted in second class status in tha AAC. Young hot coaches do have to work their way up and UC can still be a location where that happens, but it will be harder now for UC to attract them, and they'll be inclined to leave more quickly.

[paulxu]

I got the Cocks +7 1/2 vs. U-BYE.

[GoMuskies]

I hate NC State's kicker.

[xu82]

I feel bad for the NC State kicker, his family, his friends and his dog.

[paulxu]

I hate NC State's kicker.

All of sudden, icing the kicker is working. Happened in a few games the past few weeks.

[xudash]

All of sudden, icing the kicker is working. Happened in a few games the past few weeks.

More like freeze drying isn't it? Wasn't he 1 for 4 or something?

[paulxu]

More like freeze drying isn't it? Wasn't he 1 for 4 or something?

Good point. I sure wish he'd made the last one.

[X-band '01]

Mike Bobinski mercifully fires Darrell Hazell at Purdue as his first major act as Purdue AD. Makes you wonder what else Brian Gregory needed to do at Tech to earn his firing.

[xu82]

Mike Bobinski mercifully fires Darrell Hazell at Purdue as his first major act as Purdue AD. Makes you wonder what else Brian Gregory needed to do at Tech to earn his firing.

Agree to leave for free???

[paulxu]

Penn State. Really?

[X-band '01]

What's more amazing is that Michigan State and Rutgers will be fighting for the basement in the B1G Eastern division. If Ohio State still wins out, it would include wins against Nebraska and Michigan - that would be enough to absorb a loss at Penn State.

As for the Group of Five, we can officially write off Houston - that was SMU's first win against a Top 15 season since 1986 (pre-death penalty SMU).

[gladdenguy]

SUCKEYES!!!!!!
Now with the losses coming Turban might start to have "panic attacks". His grad assistant bang ratio gonna start coming out. Meanwhile,Turban's wife and daughter will be two of the biggest dumbasses on this planet.

F$ck Nut Necklaces

[Xville]

What's more amazing is that Michigan State and Rutgers will be fighting for the basement in the B1G Eastern division. If Ohio State still wins out, it would include wins against Nebraska and Michigan - that would be enough to absorb a loss at Penn State.

As for the Group of Five, we can officially write off Houston - that was SMU's first win against a Top 15 season since 1986 (pre-death penalty SMU).

I wouldn't be so sure regarding that about Ohio state...for one, if they do win out, they still might not even win their division. That kept them out a couple years ago. Two, they would be going up against other strong one loss teams...one being likely a louisville team who has probably the Heisman trophy winner and the committee will take that into consideration.

Now, if Washington loses, that opens the door for Ohio state and a few other teams.

[X-band '01]

It is amazing that the Apple Cup will determine who gets to the Pac-12 title game. The Huskies should win that one, but it would not shock me to see Wazzu spoil that party.

Clemson and Louisville bear watching in the ACC - the Tigers still have to go to Florida State next weekend. Louisville could also potentially be like Ohio State and wind up outside of a conference championship game.

Meanwhile, the Big 12 has to be praying that West Virginia runs the table. They don't want the Baylor sideshow at playoff time, and Oklahoma has too much noncon carnage to be an effective contender.

[X-band '01]

As for Michigan, I'll believe they're back when they finally beat Sparty and Ohio State.

[xudash]

As for Michigan, I'll believe they're back when they finally beat Sparty and Ohio State.

Why would a fan of a team that has Harbaugh as their coach make any snide comments about another team's coach?

[ThrowDownDBrown]

SUCKEYES!!!!!!
Now with the losses coming Turban might start to have "panic attacks". His grad assistant bang ratio gonna start coming out. Meanwhile,Turban's wife and daughter will be two of the biggest dumbasses on this planet.

F$ck Nut Necklaces

Great post man you really got him

[OH.X.MI]

Why would a fan of a team that has Harbaugh as their coach make any snide comments about another team's coach?

When have Michigan fans ever not made snide comments. Worst college football fans in the country. Sparty has been terrible this year, all I can hope for is a miracle win this weekend.

[gladdenguy]

When have Michigan fans ever not made snide comments. Worst college football fans in the country. Sparty has been terrible this year, all I can hope for is a miracle win this weekend.

This is a representative from the WORST college football fans in America.

http://awfulannouncing.com/2016/listen-ohio-state-fan-and-radio-caller-goes-bonkers-over-penn-state-loss.html


Why are Ohio State games like NFL games? Because 95% of the attendance did not go to college.

[gladdenguy]

When have Michigan fans ever not made snide comments. Worst college football fans in the country. Sparty has been terrible this year, all I can hope for is a miracle win this weekend.

Good luck with that. Multiple botched punts can't save them this week. I wouldn't doubt if close to half in attendance are Wolverine fans.

[gladdenguy]

Great post man you really got him

Turban liar is pretty good himself

[gladdenguy]

Why would a fan of a team that has Harbaugh as their coach make any snide comments about another team's coach?

And I will wait to see why you don't like Harbaugh? Because he was a great NFL coach unlike most successful college coaches? Because he is the most creative coach in relating to young athletes?

[xudash]

And I will wait to see why you don't like Harbaugh? Because he was a great NFL coach unlike most successful college coaches? Because he is the most creative coach in relating to young athletes?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/19/wearing-out-welcome-isnt-new-for-jim-harbaugh/

http://www.andthevalleyshook.com/2016/6/1/11833858/satellite-camps-nick-saban-jim-harbaugh-both-of-you-shutup

Satellite camps. Now that was funny, and stupid on Michigan's part.

I don't have the time to link a bunch of articles where the word "idiot" and "asshole" are used to describe the guy.

I actually like him more than not. I believe he's certainly good for Michigan and he'll certainly be good for Michigan v. Ohio State.

If you want to bash Urban, that's your prerogative. But it gets to the "stones and glass houses" thing. Michigan's coach DOES NOT have a halo over his head.

[GoMuskies]

I liked the Frank Beamer story where Harbaugh kept calling VaTech Georgia Tech leading up to the Orange Bowl. Then when Beamer called him on it Harbaugh weirded out and accused Beamer of calling Stanford Samford.

Harbaugh is undeniably an excellent coach. And he is just as undeniably one odd duck.

[OH.X.MI]

This is a representative from the WORST college football fans in America.

http://awfulannouncing.com/2016/listen-ohio-state-fan-and-radio-caller-goes-bonkers-over-penn-state-loss.html


Why are Ohio State games like NFL games? Because 95% of the attendance did not go to college.

I don't care about OSU. But you are kidding if you think half of the Big House isn't full of Walmart-Wolverines. I will say this, at least OSU fans are mostly decent people from Ohio. In 2012 42.6% of UMich students were from out of state and I'm sure it's even higher now. That's ridiculous for a public state university funded in party by Michigan taxpayers. UMich is not a Michigan school. It's party stop for rich kids from NYC and California.

I don't expect MSU to win this weekend, but State fans stand by their team. A foreign concept to UMich fans.

[XUMIOH12]

I don't care about OSU. But you are kidding if you think half of the Big House isn't full of Walmart-Wolverines. I will say this, at least OSU fans are mostly decent people from Ohio. In 2012 42.6% of UMich students were from out of state and I'm sure it's even higher now. That's ridiculous for a public state university funded in party by Michigan taxpayers. UMich is not a Michigan school. It's party stop for rich kids from NYC and California.

I don't expect MSU to win this weekend, but State fans stand by their team. A foreign concept to UMich fans.

you sound just a little bit biased hahaha

[GoMuskies]

Watching a bit of this BYU/Cincy game, and it sounds like a huge portion of the crowd are cheering for BYU. The greater Cincinnati area must have a bigger Mormon population than I thought.

[paulxu]

1 - What's happened to ND (I don't follow them, but you would think with national recruiting they would do better)
2 - Cincinnati and Connecticut should be glad there were not openings in the B12
3 - Sparty? WTF?

[Xville]

1 - What's happened to ND (I don't follow them, but you would think with national recruiting they would do better)
2 - Cincinnati and Connecticut should be glad there were not openings in the B12
3 - Sparty? WTF?

Regarding nd i cant remember the last time they had a good defense...and the year with Teo was not a good one it was way overrated. Thats been their problem for a long time, and maybe kelly just isnt a very good coach?

[Strange Brew]

Regarding nd i cant remember the last time they had a good defense...and the year with Teo was not a good one it was way overrated. Thats been their problem for a long time, and maybe kelly just isnt a very good coach?

Yup. It's been that way since Lou was run off. They played a freaking 3-4 at times against the option in the first qtr which is terrible coaching. I actually enjoy watching Navy play. You best buckle you chinstrap every snap against those guys.

[XUMIOH12]

Yup. It's been that way since Lou was run off. They played a freaking 3-4 at times against the option in the first qtr which is terrible coaching. I actually enjoy watching Navy play. You best buckle you chinstrap every snap against those guys.

wait, but i thought it was the refs fault

[Strange Brew]

wait, but i thought it was the refs fault

They were bad in the MSU game and somehow missed an obvious targeting call in the Tex game. The nonsense against Duke and the stupidity today rest solely on the coaches.

Frankly I thought ND got away with a couple of blatant PI no calls calls today.

[XUMIOH12]

Not since MSU.

HA! That is actually really funny.

[GoMuskies]

Other than A&M losing, it was a pretty dull day of college football yesterday. All the top teams won in blowouts other than Alabama, and they actually bored their opponents to death.

I'm resigned to Louisville finishing #5 in the final playoff poll, which is really gonna suck. Particularly since NC State might have been able to change all that with a 25 yard field goal.

[X-band '01]

Ohio State's margin over what was a Top-10 Nebraska team was still impressive. Penn State may well end up taking their place in the Top 10 at the end of the year.

[paulxu]

Other than A&M losing, it was a pretty dull day of college football yesterday.

Particularly since NC State might have been able to change all that with a 25 yard field goal.

Wait! The Gamecocks won! Hope springs eternal with my team. Playing a lot of freshman, including a quarterback who should be in high school. We're looking forward to 2 years from now.

I agree about NC State. Should have beat Clempson.

[xudash]

Wait! The Gamecocks won! Hope springs eternal with my team. Playing a lot of freshman, including a quarterback who should be in high school. We're looking forward to 2 years from now.

I agree about NC State. Should have beat Clempson.

Pitt Took care of it for them! Feeling better Paul?

[paulxu]

Pitt Took care of it for them! Feeling better Paul?

I do. Same deal as NC State. Last second FG, but the Pitt guy hit it.
Cocks swallowed in the Swamp. Very young team. "Should be" good in 2 years.
Meanwhile, we still get to play Clempson. I should get about 47 pts from my Tiger buddies.

[xudash]

The Washington Huskies are about to follow Clemson's lead. Down two scores to Southern Cal with under five minutes to go. And now they just threw a pick; about to go under four minutes.

And in other news, Meatchicken has run into a buzz saw in Iowa.

[X Factor]

Down goes UM...Harbaugh's a tool.

2, 3, and 4 all lose on the same since this same day in 1985. Michigan was one of those teams then too, and Harbaugh was their QB.

[GoMuskies]

Louisville is very close to making the playoff. That pleases me very much.

[Xville]

Figured it was time for michigan to go down...they'll have a second loss against ohio state. Im worried about louisville playing at houston on a very short week.

I think bama and ohio state are 2 of the playoff teams, the other two are up for grabs in my opinion..if louisville does their job, they should be there conference champion or not. Put them on a neutral field, and they are a favorite against any of the 1 loss teams sans maybe ohio state.

[X-band '01]

There hasn't been an at-large team taken yet for the playoff - assuming that Ohio State and Louisville were to win out, I'd be pretty nervous if I'm in the Pac-12 or Big 12 right about now. Washington might sneak in if they win the Pac-12 title (which may or may not involve avenging the USC loss). Oklahoma could run the table in the Big 12, but I can't see them getting ahead of a team like Ohio State.

Michigan still controls their own fate - although if they beat Ohio State and lose the B1G championship game, all bets are off.

[Juice]

So the coaches (Yeah I know they're dumb but whatever) voted Louisville ahead of Clemson even though Clemson beat Louisville and has an OOC win over Auburn while Louisville's best OOC win was Syracuse?

[GoMuskies]

Syracuse is in the ACC. Also, Clemson lost at home to Pitt. That's much worse than losing on the road at Clemson.

AP voters did the same, by the way. Louisville is #3 and Clemson #5.

[Juice]

Syracuse is in the ACC. Also, Clemson lost at home to Pitt. That's much worse than losing on the road at Clemson.

AP voters did the same, by the way. Louisville is #3 and Clemson #5.

Conference realignment. Still haven't gotten it after 5 years.

I agree with that but does the Auburn win not plus a head to head not out weigh that? Considering Pitt beat them by a field goal with like 5 seconds left. And Pitt isn't terrible. They're absolutely average.

[GoMuskies]

We had this same convo a few years back with respect to Baylor and TCU, and I was on the side of head to head not necessarily being the determining factor. Home field is a big deal in college football, so beating a team at home by a couple of yards (which is essentially what Clemson did to Louisville) doesn't necessarily make you the better, more deserving team.

I'm not sure if beating Auburn at home is impressive or not, honestly. The SEC is way down this year, and Auburn couldn't even beat Georgia. Hell, if LSU snaps the ball half a second sooner Auburn would have another loss. Louisville has to beat Houston on the road Thursday night, and to me that' would be every bit as big as beating Auburn at home.

[GoMuskies]

These college football playoff rankings anger me very, very much.

[GoMuskies]

I haven't seen the score. Louisville's killing Houston, right? Making a real playoff statement I bet. Suck on it playoff committee, amirite?

[X-band '01]

I haven't seen the score. Louisville's killing Houston, right? Making a real playoff statement I bet. Suck on it playoff committee, amirite?

My Fuehrer...

[xubrew]

Louisville was pissed off about being ranked #5th, and tonight they're certainly showing everyone that the committee got it wrong!!

[GoMuskies]

Louisville was pissed off about being ranked #5th, and tonight they're certainly showing everyone that the committee got it wrong!!

The committee clearly doesn't know what the fuck they're doing making Louisville #5. Egg's on your face committee!

[xudash]

Go, seriously: what's up with them tonight?

That is one hell of a hole to dig, regardless of UL's potency on offense. It's like they didn't show up.

I expected a good game tonight. I didn't see this coming.

[GoMuskies]

No idea. Fumbling the opening kickoff due to a huge hit by our own blocker and falling behind 7-0 11 seconds in was probably a bad omen.

[Xville]

Go, seriously: what's up with them tonight?

That is one hell of a hole to dig, regardless of UL's potency on offense. It's like they didn't show up.

I expected a good game tonight. I didn't see this coming.

Houston is good
Houston is at home on a thursday night
This is houstons biggest game of the year
Louisville is much more concerned with their ranking than playing football.

With all that said, i would not be surprised if they come back and win this.

[Xville]

Ok so i may have been wrong about the winning thing, but the rest was correct :smile:

[XUMIOH12]

see ya louisville. I would have liked to see them stay in the mix for a playoff spot, but that loss pretty much kills their shot

[Juice]

see ya louisville. I would have liked to see them stay in the mix for a playoff spot, but that loss pretty much kills their shot

In the past Lamar Jackson would have been the exact type of quarterback to take down Alabama or at least give them a scare. But it's my understanding that Saban has recruited defensive players to help alleviate that issue.

[XUMIOH12]

In the past Lamar Jackson would have been the exact type of quarterback to take down Alabama or at least give them a scare. But it's my understanding that Saban has recruited defensive players to help alleviate that issue.

that's a 1 vs 4 matchup I would have liked to see in the playoff

[Xville]

Tom Herman can coach his butt off...if I was any school in America sans maybe Bama, Ohio State or Michigan...I'd be backing the Brinks truck up to him and ask him how much he wants....yes I know they inexplicably lost to SMU but from what I understand they were extremely injured at that time, and the focus was more on where Tom was going to coach next rather than the game itself. Sounds close to what happened to Louisville last night.

I think Petrino is a really good coach, but I'm not sure he is as good as he or some of the Louisville fan base thinks he is. It was pretty clear by the middle of the second quarter, that some offensive adjustments needed to be made, and they never happened.

[X-band '01]

Tommy Tuberville, on the other hand, continues to give the finger to UC and what's left of their football fanbase.

[GIMMFD]

How the hell am I supposed to study with WVU/Oklahoma at a 8pm kick off, in Morgantown...
Ugh the things I would do to be tailgating right now.

[GoMuskies]

How the hell am I supposed to study with WVU/Oklahoma at a 8pm kick off, in Morgantown...
Ugh the things I would do to be tailgating right now.

You're not supposed to study. It's Saturday. You should be preparing to burn couches.

[GoMuskies]

Sparty threatening to add to the chaos.

[xu82]

Sparty threatening to add to the chaos.
Wonder if they wish they had just taken the extra point now?

[XUMIOH12]

Wonder if they wish they had just taken the extra point now?

i thought it was stupid for them to go for 2. They have a QB that sucks, and their defense was playing really well.

[xudash]

i thought it was stupid for them to go for 2. They have a QB that sucks, and their defense was playing really well.

Brilliant if it works, and "goat" if it fails.

If momentum factors into it, then yes, he made s bad decision.

[GoMuskies]

You think Charlie Strong got fired in Lawrence today, or do you think they'll wait until he gets back to Austin?

[GoMuskies]

How the hell am I supposed to study with WVU/Oklahoma at a 8pm kick off, in Morgantown...
Ugh the things I would do to be tailgating right now.

If you're a WV fan, hopefully you kept studying. Lol

Surprised at the sparse crowd there BTW.

[XUMIOH12]

If you're a WV fan, hopefully you kept studying. Lol

Surprised at the sparse crowd there BTW.

it looked like a packed house at the start of the game, i think people left pretty quickly in that one though

[XUMIOH12]

You think Charlie Strong got fired in Lawrence today, or do you think they'll wait until he gets back to Austin?

that pretty much sealed his fate. it'll be interesting to see if they fire him before the season ends, or let him finish it out.

[Masterofreality]

You think Charlie Strong got fired in Lawrence today, or do you think they'll wait until he gets back to Austin?

Did he even survive the trip between the bench and the locker room?

[GIMMFD]

If you're a WV fan, hopefully you kept studying. Lol

Surprised at the sparse crowd there BTW.

Started a game in the second quarter, take a shot every time WVU does something stupid or OU scores, was 7 shots in at half-time. Rough night to say the least. But never turned a game off, and never will... *sigh* every year get my hopes up

[American X]

You think Charlie Strong got fired in Lawrence today, or do you think they'll wait until he gets back to Austin?

Charlie Strong Forever!

http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/229/files/2014/01/charliestrongblazzingsadles.gif

[Masterofreality]

OMG. Brian Kelly.

"Former Notre Dame student athletic trainer committed academic misconduct for football players"

http://http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/news/notre-dame-ncaa-investigation-vacate-wins-probation-brian-kelly/pg2w2eqjk2al1c1kznrwap2fl (http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/news/notre-dame-ncaa-investigation-vacate-wins-probation-brian-kelly/pg2w2eqjk2al1c1kznrwap2fl)

Now, about YOU North Carolina........

[paulxu]

Just think how many wins/championships UNC would have to vacate if they applied the same rules to everybody.

[American X]

OMG. Brian Kelly.

"Former Notre Dame student athletic trainer committed academic misconduct for football players"

http://http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/news/notre-dame-ncaa-investigation-vacate-wins-probation-brian-kelly/pg2w2eqjk2al1c1kznrwap2fl (http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/news/notre-dame-ncaa-investigation-vacate-wins-probation-brian-kelly/pg2w2eqjk2al1c1kznrwap2fl)


Lennay Kekua must be spinning in her grave.

[Masterofreality]

Lennay Kekua must be spinning in her grave.

Where ever that grave might be.....

[X-band '01]

Ohio advances to the MAC title game, but the Miami Redhawks get the spotlight last night for becoming the first team ever in FBS to go from an 0-6 start to 6-6 and becoming bowl eligible.

[Strange Brew]

OMG. Brian Kelly.

"Former Notre Dame student athletic trainer committed academic misconduct for football players"

http://http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/news/notre-dame-ncaa-investigation-vacate-wins-probation-brian-kelly/pg2w2eqjk2al1c1kznrwap2fl (http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/news/notre-dame-ncaa-investigation-vacate-wins-probation-brian-kelly/pg2w2eqjk2al1c1kznrwap2fl)

Now, about YOU North Carolina........

Go Irish!

Who wants a double shot? What a year...

[paulxu]

I'll take the Cocks if I can get 31.

[mohr5150]

I'll take the Cocks if I can get 31.

31 cocks???? At one time???

Sorry Paul. I couldn't resist.

[paulxu]

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/0a/c1/b5/0ac1b532517618e5500c65ba4aeed92d.jpg > http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xr/82804770.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=3&d=77BFBA49EF8789215ABF3343C02EA54839DC5B0C42F03F9C F09A5B3111F72FC9A7EBE4A81D7A877C

[xudash]

Y e s ! ! !

[X Factor]

Hell yeah Buckeyes!!! What a game!!

Harbaugh now 0-2 vs the Bucks...

[mohr5150]

It is impossible to describe how much in OSU's pocket those refs were today. Numerous holdings not called, critical pass interference not called, bogus pass interference called on an uncatchable ball, and that ridiculous spot and lack of a measurement to end the game. I'm no Michigan fan, but that was complete and total bullshit and completely obvious homering.

[paulxu]

It is impossible to describe how much in OSU's pocket those refs were today. Numerous holdings not called, critical pass interference not called, bogus pass interference called on an uncatchable ball, and that ridiculous spot and lack of a measurement to end the game. I'm no Michigan fan, but that was complete and total bullshit and completely obvious homering.

True

[xubrew]

It is impossible to describe how much in OSU's pocket those refs were today. Numerous holdings not called, critical pass interference not called, bogus pass interference called on an uncatchable ball, and that ridiculous spot and lack of a measurement to end the game. I'm no Michigan fan, but that was complete and total bullshit and completely obvious homering.

Ohio State is one of the great black marks of this Earth. I can sometimes stomach their basketball team if I hold my nose. I can't stand their football team, or their fans. Your typical Ohio State football fan is probably also a Dayton basketball fan. They're not just similar. They're literally the exact same people. So, there's that to think about. I'm not a Michigan fan either. I just hate Ohio State.

[Juice]

Ohio State is one of the great black marks of this Earth. I can sometimes stomach their basketball team if I hold my nose. I can't stand their football team, or their fans. Your typical Ohio State football fan is probably also a Dayton basketball fan. They're not just similar. They're literally the exact same people. So, there's that to think about. I'm not a Michigan fan either. I just hate Ohio State.

Ohio State fans are all Stark County trash

[muskienick]

Hell yeah Buckeyes!!! What a game!!

Harbaugh now 0-2 vs the Bucks...

It couldn't happen to a more deserving person. Whining and pointing the finger at everyone but himself again is his modus operendi.

[bleedXblue]

It is impossible to describe how much in OSU's pocket those refs were today. Numerous holdings not called, critical pass interference not called, bogus pass interference called on an uncatchable ball, and that ridiculous spot and lack of a measurement to end the game. I'm no Michigan fan, but that was complete and total bullshit and completely obvious homering.


I'm not an OSU fan either, but I think you're taking it a bit too far......a few calls went their way which happens from time to time. The spot was too close to overturn. Holding calls or non calls could literally happen on just about every single play.....

[Xville]

I'm not an OSU fan either, but I think you're taking it a bit too far......a few calls went their way which happens from time to time. The spot was too close to overturn. Holding calls or non calls could literally happen on just about every single play.....

Nm....i hate ohio state

[Strange Brew]

C-A-T-S! Cats, Cats, Cats!

[paulxu]

Hah. The Cocks looked like a high school team, lost in the big boy leagues.

Building for the future.

[Xville]

Hah. The Cocks looked like a high school team, lost in the big boy leagues.

Building for the future.

Do you think muschamp is the answer there? The guy just seems like a pompous jerk to me, but then again it seems most college football coaches are

[bleedXblue]

Do you think muschamp is the answer there? The guy just seems like a pompous jerk to me, but then again it seems most college football coaches are

They were showing Hermann pregame yesterday kissing his players as they entered the locker room. He took the Texas job later that same day.

Most of these guys are aholes......

[GoMuskies]

Why does that make Herman an ahole?

[Xville]

They were showing Hermann pregame yesterday kissing his players as they entered the locker room. He took the Texas job later that same day.

Most of these guys are aholes......

I dont think that makes him an ahole...the guy does care about his players and he does that before every game. I think what maade him an ahole though is lying...telling the reporter dont believe everything you hear when the reporter asked about the texas job. I wish there was some kind of rule where a coach and his agent could not be contacted about a job until the seasom was over...this contacting during the season stuff needs to end

[Masterofreality]

Oh, yeah it begins with this.

You know, all those Notre Dame Irish are choir boys. Great recruiting of quality humans Coach Kelly.

http://www.wndu.com/content/news/Notre-Dame-football-player-arrested-390783811.html

The overall season doesn't end with this, but Notre Dome's does. #DisgracefulDumpsterFire

http://deadspin.com/brian-kelly-closes-out-notre-dames-dogshit-season-by-lo-1789393141?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitte r&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

[paulxu]

Do you think muschamp is the answer there? The guy just seems like a pompous jerk to me, but then again it seems most college football coaches are

I actually don't have any idea. I'd like to think he could help us. Playing a freshman QB is problematic, but necessary for the future.
I am (absent some stripper parties) willing to give him a chance. I think Strong should have gotten one more year at Texas.

[xubrew]

If the football committee worked the way the basketball committee does as far as ranking the teams, these would be the top four...

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Michigan
4. Clemson

If this were an 8, 12, or 16 team playoff, those would be the top four seeds. Winning a conference championship gets you into the basketball tournament, but that's really all it does. Finishing in first place and/or winning the conference tourney doesn't mean you're automatically going to be seeded ahead of everyone else.

Going into last week, both Michigan and Ohio State were ahead of Clemson. In basketball, the fact that #2 and #3 play each other does not mean that one of them will suddenly become #4. You don't get leapfrogged by teams that are behind you because you lost to a team that was ahead of you. If you're ahead of Clemson, and you lose to a team that's also ahead of Clemson, then it doesn't mean you're suddenly not as good as Clemson. Yet, in football, it seems to.

Michigan beat Penn State, Colorado, and Wisconsin, and lost at Ohio State. Those four games are all tougher (or were at least against teams that are ranked higher) than Clemson's toughest game, and Michigan won three of them.

Now, Clemson should be in. They won at Auburn and Florida State, and beat Louisville. That's more than what Washington has done. But, they shouldn't suddenly get to jump Michigan simply because Michigan lost to a team that's ranked higher than Clemson.

But, it is what it is. I wouldn't be entirely surprised if they took Penn State, Washington, Clemson, and Alabama. They've never taken a team that didn't win an outright conference championship, and they've leapfrogged outright conference champions over teams in the final poll.

So, we shall see.

[paulxu]

Count me as confused (as I don't follow all this stuff) but I find it interesting that 2 teams who are not playing for the Big 10 championship, could somehow be in the final 4 of the football playoffs.

[X-man]

If the football committee worked the way the basketball committee does as far as ranking the teams, these would be the top four...

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Michigan
4. Clemson

If this were an 8, 12, or 16 team playoff, those would be the top four seeds. Winning a conference championship gets you into the basketball tournament, but that's really all it does. Finishing in first place and/or winning the conference tourney doesn't mean you're automatically going to be seeded ahead of everyone else.

Going into last week, both Michigan and Ohio State were ahead of Clemson. In basketball, the fact that #2 and #3 play each other does not mean that one of them will suddenly become #4. You don't get leapfrogged by teams that are behind you because you lost to a team that was ahead of you. If you're ahead of Clemson, and you lose to a team that's also ahead of Clemson, then it doesn't mean you're suddenly not as good as Clemson. Yet, in football, it seems to.

Michigan beat Penn State, Colorado, and Wisconsin, and lost at Ohio State. Those four games are all tougher (or were at least against teams that are ranked higher) than Clemson's toughest game, and Michigan won three of them.

Now, Clemson should be in. They won at Auburn and Florida State, and beat Louisville. That's more than what Washington has done. But, they shouldn't suddenly get to jump Michigan simply because Michigan lost to a team that's ranked higher than Clemson.

But, it is what it is. I wouldn't be entirely surprised if they took Penn State, Washington, Clemson, and Alabama. They've never taken a team that didn't win an outright conference championship, and they've leapfrogged outright conference champions over teams in the final poll.

So, we shall see.

I agree. If PSU beats Wiscy, they are in ahead of the Buckeyes.

[GoMuskies]

Michigan should be punted to the curb in this discussion. If they get in over either Clemson or Washington (assuming a win in championship games for both), it will be a traveshamockery.

[GoMuskies]

I agree. If PSU beats Wiscy, they are in ahead of the Buckeyes.

I hate Ohio State, but if Penn State gets in ahead of them it will be the biggest joke in the history of college football. And that's saying something.

[muskiefan82]

That is what happens when you have two divisions and an unbalanced football schedule where everyone doesn't have to play the same teams. Wisconsin vs. Penn State for the right to watch OSU and/or Michigan play for a shot at the national title. Crazy.

[GoMuskies]

Also, I'm a touch bitter that FSU is ranked ahead of Louisville and headed for the Orange Bowl. Yes, Louisville shit the bed at Houston and against Kentucky. But both teams are 9-3. Louisville is two games ahead of FSU in the ACC. Oh, and Louisville could have beaten FSU by 100 points if they felt like it head to head (and settled for 43 instead).

When Louisville was ranked behind Clemson two weeks ago, I was told that head to head matters. Now? Apparently not.

[X-band '01]

You also have to avoid bad losses like Michigan (see the Iowa game).

If we focus only on quality wins, let's add Pitt to the discussion since they won at Clemson and beat Penn State at home. We can overlook 8-4, right?

[paulxu]

Western Michigan !

(plus, they're 2-0 against the B1G)

[xubrew]

Michigan should be punted to the curb in this discussion. If they get in over either Clemson or Washington (assuming a win in championship games for both), it will be a traveshamockery.

Why?? Because they lost at Ohio State?? They played better teams and beat better teams than both Clemson and Washington. Washington's signature win would be against Colorado, who Michigan also beat. Rather convincingly, actually. Michigan also won against Penn State and Wisconsin. That's three wins against top ten teams. They have three times as many top ten wins as Washington has top 25 wins.

In basketball, Michigan would be ahead of both of them. It wouldn't even be a debate. Michigan played half the teams in the top eight and beat three of them.

[GoMuskies]

They also lost at Iowa. If this were basketball, they would be ranked behind Clemson and Washington. 100%.

[xubrew]

Count me as confused (as I don't follow all this stuff) but I find it interesting that 2 teams who are not playing for the Big 10 championship, could somehow be in the final 4 of the football playoffs.

If both teams played and beat top ten teams out of conference and the other two did not, then you have to factor that in as well. You also have to factor in that it's a tiebreaker and not an outright first place finish that put Penn State into the title game.

[GoMuskies]

By the way, 'brew, how many of Michigan's good wins were on the road?

You know how the basketball folks feel about not winning any big games on the road.

I'll help. Michigan only left the friendly confines four times this year. Once, they played a bad high school team in NJ. Another was against a bad Michigan Sate team. One was against a midling Iowa team that was ALMOST good enough to beat North Dakota State at home. ALMOST. One was against Ohio State.

2 wins away from home against an historically awful team and a bad one? Not good enough.

[xubrew]

They also lost at Iowa. If this were basketball, they would be ranked behind Clemson and Washington. 100%.

Maybe by the top 25 voters but not by the selection committee. There is no way they'd put Clemson and Washington ahead of Michigan.

[GoMuskies]

Maybe by the top 25 voters but not by the selection committee. There is no way they'd put Clemson and Washington ahead of Michigan.

'brew, you obviously have never listened to yourself talk about the importance of winning away from home in the eyes of the Selection Committee.

[xubrew]

By the way, 'brew, how many of Michigan's good wins were on the road?

You know how the basketball folks feel about not winning any big games on the road.

I'll help. Michigan only left the friendly confines four times this year. Once, they played a bad high school team in NJ. Another was against a bad Michigan Sate team. One was against a midling Iowa team that was ALMOST good enough to beat North Dakota State at home. ALMOST. One was against Ohio State.

2 wins away from home against an historically awful team and a bad one? Not good enough.

Good point about playing at home, but it isn't nearly the advantage in football that it is in basketball, and even if it were I think Michigan would still get a ton of credit considering the teams they beat were a combined 11-5 on the road. Auburn and Florida State were a combined 10-4 at home, so we're not talking about a huge difference.

[GoMuskies]

Good point about playing at home, but it isn't nearly the advantage in football that it is in basketball

Can't agree with you here.

[X-band '01]

You are seriously underestimating how tough it is winning at places like Penn State and Wisconsin.

Clempson did win at Florida State - I'll give them that. Washington's best win away from home? #20 Utah. #18 Stanford is their only other win of note.

[xubrew]

Can't agree with you here.

Well, then look at conference home records. It's not even close, actually. Last year the SEC, which is supposed to be the biggest and baddest home fields imaginable, were a combined 30-26 in conference home games. I'm not going to tally it all up right now, but that's a pretty standard home record for just about any conference. That's an advantage, but it isn't anywhere near the advantage that it is in basketball. Look at any conference at any given year and compare them. It's not even close to being the same advantage in football as it is in basketball.

Hell, ask any oddsmaker. I don't even gamble on sports and I know that. I'm surprised you don't.

[GoMuskies]

It's just as big an advantage in football when you're Michigan playing at Iowa or home to Colorado. Football is a different animal, though, in that Rutgers cannot compete with Michigan no matter where they play because the physical advantages are just too great. But for teams that are actually somewhat able to compete physically, home field is just as big in football.

[GoMuskies]

. Washington's best win away from home? #20 Utah.

Which is a shit ton better than Michigan's best win away from home. And it's better than a team that Michigan actually lost to on the road.

[xubrew]

It's just as big an advantage in football when you're Michigan playing at Iowa or home to Colorado. Football is a different animal, though, in that Rutgers cannot compete with Michigan no matter where they play because the physical advantages are just too great. But for teams that are actually somewhat able to compete physically, home field is just as big in football.

Yes, football is a different animal. When you're on the field the closest fans are still over 100 yards away. There also aren't nearly as many variables. The fields are pretty much the same. You don't have different types of floors, different shooting backgrounds, and different rims that the other team is instinctively used to because they practice or play on it virtually every day. It's not the same. It's not even close to being the same advantage. If you want to take the time and really look at it you'd see that. And, again, ask the experts. Ask the oddsmakers.

[GoMuskies]

All I have to do is follow Bobby Petrino's teams to know how big a deal home field is in college football. And there's no significant difference with the oddsmakers. Other than perhaps how the Rutgers' of the world get treated.

[X-band '01]

When was the last time a college basketball team lost a timeout because it was too loud?

Better yet, when was the last time college basketball teams tried to stop the game because it was too loud and intense? (Insert Utah/BYU jokes here)

[XUMIOH12]

All I have to do is follow Bobby Petrino's teams to know how big a deal home field is in college football. And there's no significant difference with the oddsmakers. Other than perhaps how the Rutgers' of the world get treated.

that sounds like a Bobby Petrino problem

[xubrew]

All I have to do is follow Bobby Petrino's teams to know how big a deal home field is in college football. And there's no significant difference with the oddsmakers. Other than perhaps how the Rutgers' of the world get treated.


Since Petrino returned to Louisville I think he's lost twelve games. Four were at home, six were on the road, and two were on neutral sites. So, that's a slight advantage. But, if you want to look at it a little more closely, they've lost three games to unranked teams, and two of those were at home. Now, again, that is an advantage, but it's nowhere close to what your typical advantage is in basketball.

I really don't know why you're insisting that the home field advantage in football is the same as it is in basketball. It's not. It's not even close. I'm not saying there isn't an advantage. I'm saying it's nowhere close to the advantage that the home team gets in basketball, and it isn't.

[GoMuskies]

I'm just gonna have to disagree with you on this one. It's not as universal, but it's still huge. You can't play 8 of your 12 at home, lose to the only two teams with a pulse you play on the road and act like it's not a big deal because, you know, home field isn't that big a deal anyway. It is.

Anyway, you're the one who brought up the basketball selection committee. And I'm just telling you how the basketball people would look at it. Mostly using your own words from different threads.

[Xville]

Also, I'm a touch bitter that FSU is ranked ahead of Louisville and headed for the Orange Bowl. Yes, Louisville shit the bed at Houston and against Kentucky. But both teams are 9-3. Louisville is two games ahead of FSU in the ACC. Oh, and Louisville could have beaten FSU by 100 points if they felt like it head to head (and settled for 43 instead).

When Louisville was ranked behind Clemson two weeks ago, I was told that head to head matters. Now? Apparently not.

I'm a Louisville fan and a season ticket holder but they were vastly overrated from the Clemson game on.....I think that game broke them. I'm still a bit bitter that they hired Bobby back...the guy is just a snarky douche, who doesn't deserve nice things.

Louisville gets what they deserve after losing to Kentukcy...that loss was inexcusable...at least i got to see two girls fist fight in the stands after the game...that was fun

[xubrew]

I'm just gonna have to disagree with you on this one. It's not as universal, but it's still huge. You can't play 8 of your 12 at home, lose to the only two teams with a pulse you play on the road and act like it's not a big deal because, you know, home field isn't that big a deal anyway. It is.

Anyway, you're the one who brought up the basketball selection committee. And I'm just telling you how the basketball people would look at it. Mostly using your own words from different threads.

You're right that the basketball committee would put more weight on them not winning on the road, but from a practical standpoint it's not nearly as big of a deal in football. Michigan and Ohio State went to double overtime. The game was at Ohio State. I don't think it was such a huge advantage that I'd say that Michigan automatically wins that game on a neutral site, or even had they played them at home. If this were basketball, I would probably feel that way. There are more variables working against the visiting team in basketball than there are in football. So, if you want to look at it that way, then you have to deemphasize the loss at Ohio State even more.

It's also not unusual at all to see highly ranked basketball teams lose on the road to unranked teams. Once conference play starts it seems to happen almost weekly. When that happens in football, it's one of the top stories of the year.

[GoMuskies]

It's also not unusual at all to see highly ranked basketball teams lose on the road to unranked teams. Once conference play starts it seems to happen almost weekly. When that happens in football, it's one of the top stories of the year.

This distinction is mostly because they play more games in basketball.

[GoMuskies]

I'm still a bit bitter that they hired Bobby back.

I love Bobby Petrino. Just wish he'd beat a good team on the road now and then.

[xubrew]

This distinction is mostly because they play more games in basketball.

I just remembered that I think we had this discussion before. Well, sort of. And, it turns out it was in this thread. Look back at our earlier posts this thread (#28 or so). Now, we weren't talking about this exact point, but we were talking about gambling (or, you were) and I mentioned that in football it's a lot easier to pick out the winning team because the better team in football will win a much higher percentage of the time than in basketball.

Now, to be fair I didn't make the specific point that one of the reasons the better team in basketball wins less often than the better team in football is because playing at home is such a huge advantage in basketball, but that is one of the biggest reasons. Home conference records in football are much closer to even than they are in basketball (you can't really count buy games because those are such big mismatches that the better team would win no matter where it was played). Playing at home is a bigger advantage in basketball than in football. It's not like I'm making some sort of outrageous claim.

[GoMuskies]

Now, to be fair I didn't make the specific point that one of the reasons the better team in basketball wins less often than the better team in football is because playing at home is such a huge advantage in basketball, but that is one of the biggest reasons. H

Yeah, I don't think that's it. They're just different games, and the physical advantages are just so much more difficult to overcome in football. There's no three-point shot equivalent to sometimes level the playing field. But with two relatively evenly matched teams, home field is enormous in football just as it is in basketball.

[GoMuskies]

I decided to let Jeff Sagarin be the ultimate arbiter because, well, he's Jeff Sagarin and MIT and all that shit.

He says college football teams get a 2.32 point advantage for home field and that college basketball teams get a 3.07 point advantage on their home court. So I defer to Sagarin (and therefore, however grudgingly, 'brew).

[xubrew]

I decided to let Jeff Sagarin be the ultimate arbiter because, well, he's Jeff Sagarin and MIT and all that shit.

He says college football teams get a 2.32 point advantage for home field and that college basketball teams get a 3.07 point advantage on their home court. So I defer to Sagarin (and therefore, however grudgingly, 'brew).

2.32 and 3.07.

I don't know Jeff Sagarin, but I do know Ken Pomeroy, and I'm laughing out loud right now because I can actually hear his voice in my head.

Not 2

Not 3

2.32 and 3.07.

My personal calculations allow for a 3.13 point advantage.

[GoMuskies]

Kevin Wilson managed to get himself fired by IU for being an asshat.

[GoMuskies]

Now that it's been made abundantly clear that Colorado isn't worth a shit, does Michigan still get credit for having beaten them?

[xudash]

Now that it's been made abundantly clear that Colorado isn't worth a shit, does Michigan still get credit for having beaten them?

I turned the channel after the back-to-back interceptions in the 3rd Quarter. And Liufau looked like he was smiling after each one.

[Strange Brew]

Now that it's been made abundantly clear that Colorado isn't worth a shit, does Michigan still get credit for having beaten them?

So CU is on the same level is U of L then?

[GoMuskies]

So CU is on the same level is U of L then? Haha!

About right. Not rolling around in shit like Notre Dame, but pretty bad.

[Strange Brew]

About right. Not rolling around in shit like Notre Dame, but pretty bad.

Yes, ND sucks this year and frankly I only posted b/c you calling out CU while UL is tanking is so Card fan. Go CATS!

[Xville]

Not sure there is anyway to tell if washington is any good or not. And we wont know anytime this year since they are going to lose by 2-3 tds in the alabama invitational. Colorado being in the top 10 is a freaking joke though.

[GoMuskies]

Go CATS!

I apologize. I didn't know your were specially challenged like that.

[paulxu]

Western Michigan! 12-0, along with Alabama.

[X-band '01]

13-0 counting the MAC title game for Western. They should be the Group of 5 pick, but don't count out Navy if they beat Temple (9-3 themselves) and Army in the regular season finale.

As for Washington, I'm liking their chances after giving Colorado a beatdown that Blackburn Review would call a "pink-socking."

[Strange Brew]

I apologize. I didn't know your were specially challenged like that.

It's ok Fredo, I forgive you.

[xubrew]

Now that it's been made abundantly clear that Colorado isn't worth a shit, does Michigan still get credit for having beaten them?

If this is the case you're making against Michigan, then you're making an even stronger one against Washington.

[xubrew]

Western Michigan!!! CASE CLOSED!!!

2118

[GoMuskies]

If this is the case you're making against Michigan, then you're making an even stronger one against Washington.

Yeah, but Washington is a one loss conference champ who has beaten an actual college football team or two away from home. They don't need the help with their resume that Michigan does.

[xubrew]

Yeah, but Washington is a one loss conference champ who has beaten an actual college football team or two away from home. They don't need the help with their resume that Michigan does.

If I were in a debate class and the assignment was to make a case for Washington, then I could actually do it if I had to. So, them getting in isn't completely outrageous.

It isn't that I like Michigan. It's that I hate the football mentality of a team being moved down after losing on the road to the #2 team in the nation, and leapfrogged by someone who won against an unranked team. That's my issue.

Let's suppose Michigan had won those games on the road (Penn State, Colorado, and Wisconsin). I know they didn't, but let's just suppose that they did. They still would have moved down after losing to Ohio State. That's my problem. A team who is behind you shouldn't move ahead of you after you lost a road game to the #2 team, and they won a game against an unranked team. Maybe you feel Washington and Clemson should be ahead of Michigan. That's fine. But, if you didn't feel that way before the Ohio State game, then you shouldn't feel that way after the Ohio State game. Yet, that seems to be how everyone thinks, and that's what I don't like. Everyone thought Michigan was better (at least those who rank the teams), but after Michigan failed to win at #2 Ohio State, and Clemson succeeded in winning at home against South Carolina, then everyone changed their minds. That's what's insane to me. I'd care a lot less about it if they had already had Clemson and Washington ahead of them.

[Xville]

If I were in a debate class and the assignment was to make a case for Washington, then I could actually do it if I had to. So, them getting in isn't completely outrageous.

It isn't that I like Michigan. It's that I hate the football mentality of a team being moved down after losing on the road to the #2 team in the nation, and leapfrogged by someone who won against an unranked team. That's my issue.

Let's suppose Michigan had won those games on the road (Penn State, Colorado, and Wisconsin). I know they didn't, but let's just suppose that they did. They still would have moved down after losing to Ohio State. That's my problem. A team who is behind you shouldn't move ahead of you after you lost a road game to the #2 team, and they won a game against an unranked team. Maybe you feel Washington and Clemson should be ahead of Michigan. That's fine. But, if you didn't feel that way before the Ohio State game, then you shouldn't feel that way after the Ohio State game. Yet, that seems to be how everyone thinks, and that's what I don't like. Everyone thought Michigan was better (at least those who rank the teams), but after Michigan failed to win at #2 Ohio State, and Clemson succeeded in winning at home against South Carolina, then everyone changed their minds. That's what's insane to me. I'd care a lot less about it if they had already had Clemson and Washington ahead of them.

They didnt move down just because they lost to the #2 team in the nation on the road, they dropped because they did that and lost to an iowa team that is mediocre. The way you saw that loss is how the polls look at things, which is archaic. The committee, that i fo ahve some issue with in some cases, at least is looking at entire resumes, and that is why michigan dropped behind washington. Everyone wants to just discount the fact that some teams have 2 losses...well they do, so lets move on.

[xubrew]

They didnt move down just because they lost to the #2 team in the nation on the road, they dropped because they did that and lost to an iowa team that is mediocre. The way you saw that loss is how the polls look at things, which is archaic. The committee, that i fo ahve some issue with in some cases, at least is looking at entire resumes, and that is why michigan dropped behind washington. Everyone wants to just discount the fact that some teams have 2 losses...well they do, so lets move on.

The Iowa game was several weeks ago. They were still ranked #3 after having lost it. They don't look at the entire resume. They don't even seem to look at who teams beat and who they lost to. They just seem to look at when the most recent loss was. That's how the polls look at it. That's why the polls dropped them. That's what's archaic. Michigan is #5th in both polls after being #3 in both polls. How in the hell can you say I'm looking at it the same way that the polls are, and that the committee is not looking at it that way?? The committee is looking at it EXACTLY the same way the polls are looking at it. That's actually my entire problem with it.

EDIT: Michigan is actually #6th in the coaches' poll. My mistake. But, that hardly goes against my point. If anything it furthers my point. The committee agrees with the polls. I disagree with the polls. Yet, I'm looking at it the same way as the polls are and the committee is not. Yeah, that makes sense.

[GoMuskies]

In college football, losses are at a premium because you only play 12. One loss is 8%of your season. If you have the same number of losses as another team, you can point to your marginally better accomplishments and say you should be ranked ahead of them. Once you have more losses than another team, you'd better have a DAMN compelling case why your resume is better than another team. Michigan doesn't have that over Clemson or Washington. Not even close.

[xubrew]

In college football, losses are at a premium because you only play 12. One loss is 8%of your season. If you have the same number of losses as another team, you can point to your marginally better accomplishments and say you should be ranked ahead of them. Once you have more losses than another team, you'd better have a DAMN compelling case why your resume is better than another team. Michigan doesn't have that over Clemson or Washington. Not even close.

Clemson and Washington didn't win a game that's as hard to win as winning at Ohio State. Clemson passed them after winning at home agianst a shitty South Carolina team. If you felt Michigan "damn compelling" enough to be ranked ahead of them before, then I fail to see how they're any less compelling now. I think it sucks that going 10-0 against teams ranked between #40-#60 is valued more than going 8-2 against teams ranked between #1 and #20. But, in football, that's how it works. There was a year Cincinnati almost made the title game after beating no one inside the top thirty. The committee was supposed to prevent that.

...and before you point out home and away, I'm talking in general. If people thought Michigan deserved to be ahead of Clemson and Washington two weeks ago, then why would you change your mind after they lost in overtime to Ohio State, and Clemson and Washington won against far lesser competition??

[GoMuskies]

It wasn't damn compelling. It was marginally better. Now they're a two loss team and need a damn compelling case. They don't have it. Is it fair? Yes, IMO. Michigan played a bit tougher schedule. So if they had the same number of losses, their reward would have been getting in ahead of other one loss teams with weaker schedules. But they pooped the bed at Iowa. They had a chance to make up for it in Columbus but failed to get it done. Them's the breaks.

[xubrew]

It wasn't damn compelling. It was marginally better. Now they're a two loss team and need a damn compelling case. They don't have it. Is it fair? Yes, IMO. Michigan played a bit tougher schedule. So if they had the same number of losses, their reward would have been getting in ahead of other one loss teams with weaker schedules. But they pooped the bed at Iowa. They had a chance to make up for it in Columbus but failed to get it done. Them's the breaks.

Yes, the's are the breaks, but it's flawed logic.

if the second and third best teams play each other, and you believe that those are the second and third best teams going into the game, then it's crazy to think that one of them will suddenly have to become the fifth best team after playing each other, but wouldn't have had to become the fifth best team had they not played each other.

I don't think teams should move up for beating teams behind them, nor should they move down for losing to teams that are ahead of them. I certainly don't think you should jump over a team that lost to someone ahead of you simply because you beat someone that was behind you. That's the difference between the football and basketball committee. That's really the difference between the football committee and virtually all the other committees for all the other sports. Including, interestingly enough, FCS football.

[GoMuskies]

It's not flawed logic. They had the third best resume. Then they didn't. The end.

[xubrew]

I decided to let Jeff Sagarin be the ultimate arbiter because, well, he's Jeff Sagarin and MIT and all that shit.

He says college football teams get a 2.32 point advantage for home field and that college basketball teams get a 3.07 point advantage on their home court. So I defer to Sagarin (and therefore, however grudgingly, 'brew).

Okay, I just looked at Sagarin's football ratings for the first time all year. It's worth pointing out that he agrees with me. He has Michigan third and Clemson fourth.

Well, okay, I don't know what his reasoning is, but his top four matches my top four. Bama, Ohio State, Michigan, Clemson. I'm willing to guess that his thought process is the same as mine. His formula won't move a team down for losing to someone that's ahead of them and leapfrog someone over them who won against a far weaker team. Just sayin'

[Michigan Muskie]

WMU isn't the only undefeated team in Michigan.

Division II Grand Valley State is 12-0 and ranked #2 in the country. They are hosting #15 Ferris St. in the 3rd round of the playoff bracket today (down 12-10 at the half as I type this.)

I know nobody else cares, but my son attends GVSU and is at today's game, so I felt damn compelled to share. Go Lakers! Carry on.

[paulxu]

I think people on this page were disrespecting my Cocks...but I'm not sure.

[Xville]

The Iowa game was several weeks ago. They were still ranked #3 after having lost it. They don't look at the entire resume. They don't even seem to look at who teams beat and who they lost to. They just seem to look at when the most recent loss was. That's how the polls look at it. That's why the polls dropped them. That's what's archaic. Michigan is #5th in both polls after being #3 in both polls. How in the hell can you say I'm looking at it the same way that the polls are, and that the committee is not looking at it that way?? The committee is looking at it EXACTLY the same way the polls are looking at it. That's actually my entire problem with it.

EDIT: Michigan is actually #6th in the coaches' poll. My mistake. But, that hardly goes against my point. If anything it furthers my point. The committee agrees with the polls. I disagree with the polls. Yet, I'm looking at it the same way as the polls are and the committee is not. Yeah, that makes sense.

You are completely wrong when you say they dont look at the whole resume. The committee says they look at the whole resume every single week. You said the committee dropped thrm because of a recent loss, thats wrong. Thats what the polls do. The committee dropped them because after looking at the whole resume, they have two losses, one to a mediocre team and one to a great team vs washington who has one loss, several ranked wins just like michigan, and was abiut to play in a conference championship game.

The committe dropped them passed washington because washington has one loss and good wins while michigan has two losses and good wins.

All of this really doesnt mater anyways. Alabama is going to win again. There isnt anyone that can beat them this year on a neutral field in my opinion.

[xubrew]

You are completely wrong when you say they dont look at the whole resume. The committee says they look at the whole resume every single week. You said the committee dropped thrm because of a recent loss, thats wrong. Thats what the polls do. The committee dropped them because after looking at the whole resume, they have two losses, one to a mediocre team and one to a great team vs washington who has one loss, several ranked wins just like michigan, and was abiut to play in a conference championship game.

The committe dropped them passed washington because washington has one loss and good wins while michigan has two losses and good wins.

All of this really doesnt mater anyways. Alabama is going to win again. There isnt anyone that can beat them this year on a neutral field in my opinion.

I never said they didn't look at the whole resume. I said what they do matches what the voters do, and it does. The top 10/12 has been virtually identical for the last three weeks. They move teams up and down in the exact same way the voters do. It's not too crazy to jump to the obvoius conclusion that they must be doing it for the same reasons. They don't operate the same way the committees for all other college sports in all other divisions, including FCS, div2, and div3 football, operate. They look at it similar to the way the AP looks at it. That's why results are pretty much the same.

No other selection committee would have dinged Michigan for the loss at Ohio State. If they felt they were #3 going into that game, then they still would have felt that way after that game. The polls would move them down, but the committee would not.

[Xville]

I never said they didn't look at the whole resume. I said what they do matches what the voters do, and it does. The top 10/12 has been virtually identical for the last three weeks. They move teams up and down in the exact same way the voters do. It's not too crazy to jump to the obvoius conclusion that they must be doing it for the same reasons. They don't operate the same way the committees for all other college sports in all other divisions, including FCS, div2, and div3 football, operate. They look at it similar to the way the AP looks at it. That's why results are pretty much the same.

No other selection committee would have dinged Michigan for the loss at Ohio State. If they felt they were #3 going into that game, then they still would have felt that way after that game. The polls would move them down, but the committee would not.

Ok well then i guess the committee is lying because they say they do the opposite of what you say they do every week

[xubrew]

Ok well then i guess the committee is lying because they say they do the opposite of what you say they do every week

Well, the results matching the AP poll as closely as they do kinda makes you wonder doesn't it?? You're insisting that they don't look at it in the same way that the voters do. Any thoughts on why the results are virtually identical from week to week these past three weeks?

[Xville]

Well, the results matching the AP poll as closely as they do kinda makes you wonder doesn't it?? You're insisting that they don't look at it in the same way that the voters do. Any thoughts on why the results are virtually identical from week to week these past three weeks?

A few weeks ago when clemson, michigan and someone else all lost, the polls all droppes them...a couple of them dropped a few spots. The committee basically didnt drop any of them because they looked at their full resume..louisville was i think #3 in the poll, didnt move up by the committee because they knew better and looked at the resume.

[xubrew]

A few weeks ago when clemson, michigan and someone else all lost, the polls all droppes them...a couple of them dropped a few spots. The committee basically didnt drop any of them because they looked at their full resume..louisville was i think #3 in the poll, didnt move up by the committee because they knew better and looked at the resume.

Actually the committee dropped all three of them, as they should have because they lost to teams that were behind them.

If you look at the two major polls, they basically both work the same way and the voters generally vote the same way, but there are still subtle differences. The differences in the playoff poll aren't any greater. The final results just look like another poll where the voters are looking at the same things.

I don't really agree with GO, but at least I understand what his thought process is. I have no idea what your thought process is.

I come out and say that I think Michigan should be ahead of Clemson and Washington because losing to a team that's ranked ahead of both of them shouldn't move said team below both of them. A simple thought that every other committee in every other sport subscribes to.

You come out and say that I'm looking at it the way that I saw the loss was how the polls look at things, and that's archaic, and that the committee doesn't look at it that way. The fact that the committee and the polls are all saying the same thing and I'm saying something different kind of debunks this. I point this out, and you come back and say that I'm completely wrong about how the committee looks at the teams whole resumes.

Well, I never said that they didn't look at the whole resumes. I just said that they look at them the same way the voters in the polls do. Hence, the similar results. You come back say that "Well, I guess the committee must be lying then." Huh??

I don't think they're lying. I just think they look at it the same way the AP and coaches poll voters do. How can anyone not think that given how similar their rankings are to both of those polls and how similar the movements are from week to week?? I also don't think they look at it the same way any other selection committee in any other sport looks at it. I don't agree with their method, or at least I don't agree with the results the method yield. Apparently Jeff Sagarin doesn't either. It doesn't matter. They are the committee and they can weigh it how they won't. I wouldn't weigh it that way. I'm merely pointing out that other committees for other sports don't weigh it that way either.

[Xville]

Actually the committee dropped all three of them, as they should have because they lost to teams that were behind them.

If you look at the two major polls, they basically both work the same way and the voters generally vote the same way, but there are still subtle differences. The differences in the playoff poll aren't any greater. The final results just look like another poll where the voters are looking at the same things.

I don't really agree with GO, but at least I understand what his thought process is. I have no idea what your thought process is.

I come out and say that I think Michigan should be ahead of Clemson and Washington because losing to a team that's ranked ahead of both of them shouldn't move said team below both of them. A simple thought that every other committee in every other sport subscribes to.

You come out and say that I'm looking at it the way that I saw the loss was how the polls look at things, and that's archaic, and that the committee doesn't look at it that way. The fact that the committee and the polls are all saying the same thing and I'm saying something different kind of debunks this. I point this out, and you come back and say that I'm completely wrong about how the committee looks at the teams whole resumes.

Well, I never said that they didn't look at the whole resumes. I just said that they look at them the same way the voters in the polls do. Hence, the similar results. You come back say that "Well, I guess the committee must be lying then." Huh??

I don't think they're lying. I just think they look at it the same way the AP and coaches poll voters do. How can anyone not think that given how similar their rankings are to both of those polls and how similar the movements are from week to week?? I also don't think they look at it the same way any other selection committee in any other sport looks at it. I don't agree with their method, or at least I don't agree with the results the method yield. Apparently Jeff Sagarin doesn't either. It doesn't matter. They are the committee and they can weigh it how they won't. I wouldn't weigh it that way. I'm merely pointing out that other committees for other sports don't weigh it that way either.

Michigan didnt move at all with the committee when they lost to iowa.

The polls moved Michigan down a few spots.

My point is the committee did not move mochigan behind clemson and washington because thry lost to ohio state, though that was part of it. They moved behind them because their wins were similar and they have two losses...whole resume.

[GoMuskies]

If Penn State is in the playoffs, it better be at Ohio State's expense. Which would still be complete bullshit.

[xubrew]

Michigan didnt move at all with the committee when they lost to iowa.

The polls moved Michigan down a few spots.

My point is the committee did not move mochigan behind clemson and washington because thry lost to ohio state, though that was part of it. They moved behind them because their wins were similar and they have two losses...whole resume.

Since the committee started putting a poll out this year, I think there were nine games where a ranked team lost to someone ranked ahead of them. Of those nine games, eight moved down anyway, and seven were passed by someone who won against a team ranked below them or not ranked at all. Teams moved down after losing to Alabama, and they're ranked #1.

I don't know. I'm starting to think that, like the voters, they move teams down when they lose even if the loss came to a team that was already ranked ahead of them.

I took a quick glance at last year's rankings. In 11 games where teams lost to higher ranked teams, 10 still moved down. So, the last 20 times a team has lost to a higher ranked team, 18 were moved down in the rankings. That is exactly how the AP and coaches polls operate. They move teams down no matter how high the opponent is who beat them. There were cases of teams who were ranked in the teens losing to someone in the top three, and still dropping five or six spots. In that regard they are same as the other voters. That's not a statistical oddity. That is a clear trend.

[xubrew]

If Penn State us in the playoffs, it better be at Ohio State's expense. Which would still be complete bullshit.

But DAMN it would be funny!!!

[D-West & PO-Z]

Unfortunately I think OSU is a lock.

1 spot up for grabs and it is between Penn State and Washington. Because of the strength of Big 10 this year I could see the committee convincing themselves its ok to take OSU and Penn State.

[xubrew]

Another thing that the committee does that the polls do. Every single one loss team who has made the playoffs lost earlier in the season than the teams who didn't make the playoffs. So, the two most important factors seem to be how recently a team lost, and how many losses they have. Like the polls, those two things matter a lot more than how strong a team's schedule is or how many highly ranked teams they've beaten. Those two trends are exactly the same.

[American X]

Am I the only person who remembers that Penn State should not have a football program?

[Juice]

Am I the only person who remembers that Penn State should not have a football program?

Nope. I want nothing but all the bad things to happen to them and only them...and maybe Baylor...and Florida State...but yeah those three.

[GoMuskies]

Oklahoma should have scheduled Tulsa and Maryland instead of Houston and Ohio State. They'd be 12-0 and the #2 seed.

[xubrew]

Oklahoma should have scheduled Tulsa and Maryland instead of Houston and Ohio State. They'd be 12-0 and the #2 seed.

Probably so.

I think that I'm thinking what everyone else is thinking, and that it will be Bama v Washington and Ohio State v Clemson.

[XUglow]

Oklahoma should have scheduled Tulsa and Maryland instead of Houston and Ohio State. They'd be 12-0 and the #2 seed.

Big XII has got to step up and win some decent OOC games. The committee isn't going to be impressed with anyone from the Big XII until they do. The best win for the whole conference was a home win by Okie State over and an unranked 8-4 Pitt team.

[xubrew]

Big XII has got to step up and win some decent OOC games. The committee isn't going to be impressed with anyone from the Big XII until they do. The best win for the whole conference was a home win by Okie State over and an unranked 8-4 Pitt team.

I don't think it matters. Who did Washington beat out of conference??

I agree with Go. The message here is to not lose OOC games, and the best way to do that is to not schedule difficult OOC games. Had Oklahoma scheduled Tulsa and Maryland instead of Ohio State, they'd be in. And...that's really a shame.

For all three years, the four playoff teams that the committee has selected has identically matched what the top four BCS teams would have been had they used that formula. It's the same, and the points of emphasis are the same. Don't lose. It's better to beat ten average teams than to beat nine good teams and lose to one really good team.

[X-band '01]

I don't think it matters. Who did Washington beat out of conference??

I agree with Go. The message here is to not lose OOC games, and the best way to do that is to not schedule difficult OOC games. Had Oklahoma scheduled Tulsa and Maryland instead of Ohio State, they'd be in. And...that's really a shame.

For all three years, the four playoff teams that the committee has selected has identically matched what the top four BCS teams would have been had they used that formula. It's the same, and the points of emphasis are the same. Don't lose. It's better to beat ten average teams than to beat nine good teams and lose to one really good team.

Brew, Oklahoma would be in (they would be 11-1) and Ohio State (they would be 10-2) wouldn't even be under serious discussion had the Sooners won that game at home. Then we'd be having a furious debate between Washington getting in and Penn State not getting in.

[xubrew]

Brew, Oklahoma would be in (they would be 11-1) and Ohio State (they would be 10-2) wouldn't even be under serious discussion had the Sooners won that game at home. Then we'd be having a furious debate between Washington getting in and Penn State not getting in.

I agree.

But, the whole elo chess concept is basically thrown out the window with the football committee just as it is with the voters. It's the non-power five teams being completely ignored, then it's the power five teams with the fewest losses, then it's the power five teams who lost the earliest. That's how they're rankings typically play out, and that's how the top four playoff teams have always played out. It's different people, but they're looking at things in pretty much the same way and producing the same results.

[X-band '01]

And then there's the coaching carousel for football. With the vacancies at Texas, Baylor, Oregon and Purdue now filled, the notable openings are now UC, Houston, South Florida and Temple. With PJ Fleck still available, I'd have to think that UC has to be getting everything but the kitchen sink ready to entice him to come to Clifton. I'm surprised he didn't go to Purdue - he must be holding out for a real plum job to open up in another year or two. He's gone as far as he can at Western Michigan.

[Xville]

Just go to the 8 team playoff already...5 power conference champions, 1 non power 5 champion, and two at large. That would give teams like ohio state and michigan this year the ability to still be in the playoff and it would give winning a conference championship meaning again.

I dont understand why people are against this...they say "well it will lessen the regular season" No it wont and thats a terrible argument. If anything it will give more credence to the regular season becauee conference championships will actually mean something.

[XUMIOH12]

Just go to the 8 team playoff already...5 power conference champions, 1 non power 5 champion, and two at large. That would give teams like ohio state and michigan this year the ability to still be in the playoff and it would give winning a conference championship meaning again.

I dont understand why people are against this...they say "well it will lessen the regular season" No it wont and thats a terrible argument. If anything it will give more credence to the regular season becauee conference championships will actually mean something.

i like that format, but it works best if the quarterfinal games are played on campus for the higher seeds. Gives a little more meaning to being in the top 4 as opposed to 5th-8th

[muskiefan82]

I look forward to the 9th and 10th team arguments.

[GoMuskies]

I look forward to the 9th and 10th team arguments.

Yeah, but who cares? It's about the same as the 69th and 70th teams complaining in basketball. Maybe you've got a gripe, but you weren't going to win anyway, so it doesn't REALLY matter.

[muskiefan82]

True, but ESPN has to light some sort of fire over this so it will happen. USC should get in over Wisconsin!! Look how they are playing now!

[xubrew]

i like that format, but it works best if the quarterfinal games are played on campus for the higher seeds. Gives a little more meaning to being in the top 4 as opposed to 5th-8th

Absolutely, and keeping it at campus sites means that the regular season is pretty damned important.

I could gag on eight because at least that format opens the door to everyone. I still think the Goldilocks number where it's just right is either 12 or 16. Either the top six conference champions (which will almost always be the P5 winners plus one other team) and six at-larges, or just take all 10 conference champions and six at-larges.

I'd also be a fan of the NCAA getting a hold of it and running it the way they do all of their other champions. I don't think people really understand the bowls, and what they are, and who they are, and how they work, and why they work. If they did, they'd realize that the schools almost always lose money, the NCAA gets no money, very little money is shared, and the only people that really get anything are the ADs and coaches who get contractual bonuses, and the individuals on the bowl committees themselves. It resembles extortion more than anything else. So, yeah, getting away from that would be nice.

[Xville]

i like that format, but it works best if the quarterfinal games are played on campus for the higher seeds. Gives a little more meaning to being in the top 4 as opposed to 5th-8th

works for me. I just can't understand any argument against doing it. I hear some of these "experts" arguments against going to an 8 team playoff and it makes zero sense to me. This makes the regular season even more important, and it at least gives the faintest hope to a non power five team.....at least one team would get included every year.

[Juice]

works for me. I just can't understand any argument against doing it. I hear some of these "experts" arguments against going to an 8 team playoff and it makes zero sense to me. This makes the regular season even more important, and it at least gives the faintest hope to a non power five team.....at least one team would get included every year.

Because how many games are you going to make non-employee students play? Just so you get more games to watch?

Yeah let's make the smash their heads in a few more games a year, open themselves to injury, and devote more of their time to football instead of school while not seeing a dollar more. Or for you traditionalists, it's not like the NCAA is offering them a few more hours/courses of free college tuition to compensate them.

[GoMuskies]

Because how many games are you going to make non-employee students play? Just so you get more games to watch?

Yeah let's make the smash their heads in a few more games a year, open themselves to injury, and devote more of their time to football instead of school while not seeing a dollar more. Or for you traditionalists, it's not like the NCAA is offering them a few more hours/courses of free college tuition to compensate them.

The season was expanded to 12 games at some point in the last decade or so. Easy enough to roll that back to 11 and then play 3 playoff games. Then the effect is that the teams in the championship play the same number of games and most players end up playing one fewer game.

[xubrew]

Because how many games are you going to make non-employee students play? Just so you get more games to watch?

Yeah let's make the smash their heads in a few more games a year, open themselves to injury, and devote more of their time to football instead of school while not seeing a dollar more. Or for you traditionalists, it's not like the NCAA is offering them a few more hours/courses of free college tuition to compensate them.

1. Div3 has a 32 game playoff, and the winning team plays as many as 15 games. If an FCS team makes the playoffs and does not get a bye, they would play in 16 games. The FBS teams currently play the fewest.

2. Just about every player would jump at the chance to play in the playoffs

3. Cost of living stipends are a thing now.

[Xville]

Because how many games are you going to make non-employee students play? Just so you get more games to watch?

Yeah let's make the smash their heads in a few more games a year, open themselves to injury, and devote more of their time to football instead of school while not seeing a dollar more. Or for you traditionalists, it's not like the NCAA is offering them a few more hours/courses of free college tuition to compensate them.

Insert eye-roll here.....no one is forcing them to play.

[XUMIOH12]

Because how many games are you going to make non-employee students play? Just so you get more games to watch?

Yeah let's make the smash their heads in a few more games a year, open themselves to injury, and devote more of their time to football instead of school while not seeing a dollar more. Or for you traditionalists, it's not like the NCAA is offering them a few more hours/courses of free college tuition to compensate them.

if you really think that is a huge issue, then an easy fix would be to either eliminate the conference championship games or eliminate 1 non-conference game.

[Juice]

if you really think that is a huge issue, then an easy fix would be to either eliminate the conference championship games or eliminate 1 non-conference game.

Do that then. The conference championship games clearly don't mean shit.

[Juice]

Insert eye-roll here.....no one is forcing them to play.

I'll take that argument for why to pay or not pay a student-athlete but you can't use it as a bunch of nerds who don't play shit sit there and tell a bunch of other people to play more games with no additional compensation.

"We want to be compensated" - athlete
"No one is forcing you to play" - NCAA and fat asses sitting at home
"Fine. We will play." - athlete
"Now play more games because I want 8 playoff teams" - NCAA and fat asses sitting at home
"Pay us more, or take away a game, give us something for this" - athlete
"No one is forcing you to play" - NCAA and fat asses sitting at home

That is essentially your argument.

[GoMuskies]

You really think the players are going to complain about an extra round of playoffs?!?

[Xville]

I'll take that argument for why to pay or not pay a student-athlete but you can't use it as a bunch of nerds who don't play shit sit there and tell a bunch of other people to play more games with no additional compensation.

"We want to be compensated" - athlete
"No one is forcing you to play" - NCAA and fat asses sitting at home
"Fine. We will play." - athlete
"Now play more games because I want 8 playoff teams" - NCAA and fat asses sitting at home
"Pay us more, or take away a game, give us something for this" - athlete
"No one is forcing you to play" - NCAA and fat asses sitting at home

That is essentially your argument.

Actually I can...in this argument I'm the NCAA and I can do whatever the hell I want. If this really becomes an issue, take away a non-conference game.

I really don't want to get into the we need to pay players or not argument...been down that road many times and trust me...neither one of us is going to change the others' opinion.

[Juice]

Actually I can...in this argument I'm the NCAA and I can do whatever the hell I want. If this really becomes an issue, take away a non-conference game.

I really don't want to get into the we need to pay players or not argument...been down that road many times and trust me...neither one of us is going to change the others' opinion.

First, I think the players should be paid. Regardless of that, since they aren't, I think it's bullshit to just add games because random jackasses at home are mad that they're favorite team was left out of the playoff. So if you aren't going to compensate them for an extra game, you've got take a game away.

And for the people saying that FCS plays 13-16 games or whatever, you're probably the same people who say that college players shouldn't be allowed to leave before three years in bc their bodies aren't ready for a full NFL season.

[Xville]

First, I think the players should be paid. Regardless of that, since they aren't, I think it's bullshit to just add games because random jackasses at home are mad that they're favorite team was left out of the playoff. So if you aren't going to compensate them for an extra game, you've got take a game away.

And for the people saying that FCS plays 13-16 games or whatever, you're probably the same people who say that college players shouldn't be allowed to leave before three years in bc their bodies aren't ready for a full NFL season.

Just fyi, I'm not mad that one team or another was left out of the playoff, I just think it would be a lot more fun and would make a lot more sense to have an 8 team playoff.

Also, for your "if you aren't going to compensate them for an extra game...." argument....the NCAA doesn't have to do anything they don't want to do.

Regardless, apparently all of this is a huge trigger for you, so you may want to take a deep breath and R-E-L-A-X.

[xubrew]

Juice, you're overlooking a couple things...

1. The players are paid now

2. All the money that all 351 schools get from the NCAA for their Student Assistants Funds comes from the basketball tournament. If there was a football tournament, they'd get more money, and have more money to give to the student athletes. ALL the student-athletes, not just football.

3. The bowls are holding the postseason hostage. They are the ones costing schools money and keeping it for themselves.

4. No football player would be against a 12-16 team playoff.


Seriously dude, you're fighting a fight that's already been won. The players are getting paid now. They're getting paid more now than what had been previously proposed. You can relax and feel good about that now.

[American X]

I think it's bullshit to just add games because random jackasses at home are mad that they're favorite team was left out of the playoff.

They are not random jackasses. They are specific jackasses - fans of a program that raped kids...alot. F'em, really f'em.

[Juice]

Juice, you're overlooking a couple things...

1. The players are paid now

2. All the money that all 351 schools get from the NCAA for their Student Assistants Funds comes from the basketball tournament. If there was a football tournament, they'd get more money, and have more money to give to the student athletes. ALL the student-athletes, not just football.

3. The bowls are holding the postseason hostage. They are the ones costing schools money and keeping it for themselves.

4. No football player would be against a 12-16 team playoff.


Seriously dude, you're fighting a fight that's already been won. The players are getting paid now. They're getting paid more now than what had been previously proposed. You can relax and feel good about that now.

do you know that every player would say yes? And yeah they get paid a few thousand a year.

[Juice]

Just fyi, I'm not mad that one team or another was left out of the playoff, I just think it would be a lot more fun and would make a lot more sense to have an 8 team playoff.

Also, for your "if you aren't going to compensate them for an extra game...." argument....the NCAA doesn't have to do anything they don't want to do.

Regardless, apparently all of this is a huge trigger for you, so you may want to take a deep breath and R-E-L-A-X.

Because I disagree with you means that I'm worked up? Oh ok...

[xu82]

They are not random jackasses. They are specific jackasses - fans of a program that raped kids...alot. F'em, really f'em.

Ummmmmm, I was going to say I'm one of those jackasses, but not one of THOSE jackasses!!! I just want to see more games that matter. Some random bowl game means zero to me. I'm not pushing PSU or anyone else, I just hate that the old way only one game counted. Now it's 3 games, and we could add some. This is purely me as the selfish jackass I am, without a care in the world for any particular school (especially that school).