NIL Data

 

#19, so clearly it’s not just having the cash. 😜 

I know it’s a rivalry game, but that home performance against Michigan was beyond pathetic. 10 points at home for your last game of the year?

 

I think we’re playing Tennessee.

They didn’t know who would get the number one seed when this format was agreed to prior to the season taking place, easily could have been an SEC team.

 

Here’s how I’d set it up. 
 

12 teams is fine IMO, just ditch the top 4 conference champs getting a bye and go with seeding as ranked, top 4 still get the bye. Hold the first round. After the first round, #1 seed gets to pick who it wants to play (from the first round winners) and the venue. Then #2 picks, etc.

 

Recruiting?

NIL?

College football experience?

Donor relations?

Energy and vigor to build something?

 

I lived in "the Triangle" for four years, including when Mack returned. Football is, and always will be second fiddle on Tobacco Road.

 

IMO, an unequivocal stunt hire by Bubba that will feel good for about 10 months. If they get at least a couple of good seasons of attendance in that fall sport Bubba is happy.

 

 

On 11/21/2024 at 4:36 PM, Charles Fischer said:

In this thread above and others--the case for Georgia is pretty strong, and that is what most were suggesting.

 

Let's not comment on the reaction of others, as everyone is free to give their thoughts because we "2) do not tell others how to think or what to write."

 

We all offer our opinions...and that is it.

 

Thanks.

 

That was my opinion. So if that’s how this site rolls, adios.

I just don’t share the same angst with the ratings as they stand today…looks about right to me with two regular season games to go for most teams.

 

What is the specific team(s) people think isn’t ranked properly?

 

The bracket formula is what it is, it’s what everyone agreed to. 

 

That being said, their reactions to this weeks games could induce some angst for me, we shall see. 

Joel
 

 

I feel like such a whippersnapper here!

I think all the conspiracy theories revolve around thinking that ESPN has their thumb on the scale and that members of the committee are at their beck and call.
 

Poor lil ole B1G can’t get a break only having 4 teams currently in the top-5.

 

 

On 11/19/2024 at 8:46 AM, David Marsh said:

It certainly needs to be changed. 

 

I'm ok with automatic bids for conference champions, even though the reality of it is that a conference champion worthy of an invite should probably be default be in the top 12 teams. Though access is important for this format so auto bids are important to give the illusion that any team that makes the playoff could win it all. 

 

But lets just assume conference champs get auto bids. The real baffling thing with this format is why do conference champs get an automatic bye? They should get a bid and then with all bids they should be given a rank and those ranks should be slotted in. 

 

That's probably where the playoff is headed.

Indeed.
 

Expand to 16, 6 highest ranked champions get a bid with no guaranteed seeding, opening round games all hosted by higher seed, force ND to join a conference.

 

Boom, done! 😆 

Nice read!

 

As others said, depends on the draw and who is in what cycle. When these conferences get to be 16+  there is definitely a larger element of chance when you are only playing half the teams. Substitute PSU/Indiana for Michigan/Purdue, which on paper would look have looked like an even swap going into the season, and our schedule would have been a lot tougher.

 

In fact, this is why divisions used to exist. Ironically enough, one of the original reasons for getting rid of divisions is now not even a factor with the expanded playoff imo.

I think Indiana is more of a wildcard then most will admit. SOS is terrible, but they've been handling their business.

 

As to the SEC, who knows? Every team has had it's inconsistent moments this year. Very good odds of a 5 way tie for second place. No idea how that tiebreaker shakes out.

 

 

Still a nope for me!

 

On 11/18/2024 at 12:36 PM, David Marsh said:

Well...

 

Theoretically it is possible for an undefeated Army to get in over the Big 12 Champion. After all the guaranteed auto bids are for the 5 highest ranked conference champions. So if Army is a conference champion and higher ranked than the Big 12 Conference Champion then Army would get in and the Big 12 Champion may not. We've just assumed that only one G5 team would get in because historically speaking getting two G5 teams in the Top 25 is rather rare. So the top 5 conference champions getting an auto bid does not guarantee the P4 get in but it does assume they do get a bid. 

 

Is it likely that Army snubs the Big 12 Champ? No... is it possible? Yes. 

 

But using a very broad definition of possible. 

Oh I fully get that it’s unlikely.

 

That being said, how much would Army go up if they knock out ND? I expect BYU to lose to ASU, and CU could easily lose at KU this week. That means everyone in the B12 would have 2+ losses while Army would be undefeated with a late season win over ND in this fantasy world.

 

I would love to see what happens. Go Army!

On 11/18/2024 at 12:37 PM, Solar said:

I know it's easy to forget, but there is this other B1G team lurking out there that indeed could jump the loser of the CCG - Penn State. They were at #4 last week and unlikely to move this week or next.

And Indiana could win out.

Bottom line for me is we’re in good shape to try to win it. 

On 11/18/2024 at 12:14 PM, Jon Joseph said:

 

If the B1G conference champ game does feature OBD vs tOSU, why should the loser of a close game be penalized for playing in its conference champ game; especially, when Notre Dame has a champ game 'bye' and 2-loss teams sit out the conference champ game? 

 

If Georgia plays Alabama in the SEC champ game then based on strength of record and strength of schedule a 3-loss UGA or Bama should get in instead of a possible 2-loss Texas and should be seeded above even a 1-loss Texas.

 

The Committee penalizes conference champ losers and it will be a black eye for the Committee and likely lead to multiple automatic PO spots for three or four B1G and SEC teams come 2026. 

 

And while it's not desirable as Charles pointed out, if there are four B1G teams in the PO field as we should so desire ($$$$), we will see at least one and likely both brackets having B1G teams in the same bracket.   

Don’t disagree with your logic of how it should be, but I could still see 10-2 Georgia (or whoever loses SEC tiebreaker and doesn’t play in the SEC championship game) getting the nod for a 5 seed over 11-2 tOSU due to strength of schedule. As I said, depends on the nature of the theoretical tOSU loss. 
 

The real jockeying will be if Indiana beats tOSU and then loses to OBD to finish 12-1.
 

Black eyes are already going to be plentiful when/if the tournament has 8 or 9 teams from the big 2.

 

 

On 11/18/2024 at 10:11 AM, David Marsh said:

Notre Dame doesn't get in if Army beats them. Period. 

 

Army is probably on the outside looking in and another SEC team gets an invite. 

Would be fun to see, they could be flirting with a ranking similar to the B12 winner the way that conference is going. They're currently only 4 spots behind BYU without a big win against ND. 

On 11/18/2024 at 11:34 AM, Charles Fischer said:

Precisely my point; we should NOT be in the same bracket, because even if Ohio State loses to Oregon in the B1G Championship...they will probably get the No. 5 Seed and are in our Playoff Bracket.

 

Oregon playing who everyone recognizes as the No. 2 team in the nation, three fricken times...

 

 

I'll be mildly surprised if tOSU gets the nod over one of the big names from the SEC with the same number of losses. Probably depends on the nature of the loss by tOSU. I don't think that it is a certainty that a conference championship loser automatically gets the nod over a #3 10-2 SEC team (especially if it's Alabama or Georgia) that lost a conference tiebreaker and didn't play in their championship game.

 

We shall see!

 

 

On 11/18/2024 at 5:59 AM, DrJacksPlaidPants said:

Deion doesn’t care about recruiting rankings because he has somewhat of a unique strategy when it comes to bringing in Freshmen.

 

 

 

It’s a fine theory/spin I think, but it assumes hitting on everyone they bring in. You have to play the numbers game a bit when you can’t pick up new players mid-season. The portal will be inconsistent so you really need to have at least 10 - 15 frosh per year pan out to be a legitimate contender IMO.
 

Why would you choose to not have the best 85+ players you could possibly get? There is no 53 player limit in college Prime. No draft or combine either Coach.

 

It’s a good theory like I said, but I call BS.

On 11/17/2024 at 9:42 PM, David Marsh said:

But they'll still have to play 2 games and that does expose them to more injuries and less rest time. 

 

I know many are thinking the 5 seed is easier and it might be on paper but exposing players to more hits and an extra game is also quite difficult. 

 

Also.... Boise State is slated to be the 12 spot but there is a chance they come in at number 11 or 10 and throw everything else off in current projections. Not saying it will happen, as I think it's unlikely but it is possible. 

 

Or... Complete chaos and Boise State gets the auto bye over Colorado! 

And what if Army beats ND and goes undefeated? 

Kirby was fine with the system until it gave a result that didn’t favor him.

 

Yes.
 

The B1G absolutely gave us the FU newbie schedule. No breaks and playing multiple teams coming off byes…but we made it.

B12 is awful this year.

 

CU, BYU, and ASU were picked at (or near) the very bottom and look where they’re at, it’s not because they’re stellar. It’s almost the equivalent of Indiana, Purdue, and Northwestern being at the top of the B1G.

 

CU got absolutely manhandled up front against Nebraska. I think they’re slightly improved over last year and always have a punchers chance with all those first round picks at skill positions, but until proven otherwise, there’s no way they’d win 3 straight against quality opponents IMO.

 

That being said, it’s still impressive and FSU will notice.

They don’t produce guidelines because they don’t exist. It’s probably impossible to have a “league” with 130 teams and unequivocally determine who the best 12 truly are. How do you “prove” the 5th place team in the best league is better than the 2nd place team in the 4th best league when they don’t even have a common opponent?
 

You can’t. You come up with what is probably the best 12, give a nod to a degree of broader inclusion in case you’re wrong, and call it close enough.

 

Anyone asking for “the formula” is just politicking IMO.

 

 

Could be lucky, 3 close games we won because of NBC? 😆 

 

 

 

 

Beavis fans are going nuclear.
 

Enjoy your bean-counting wars victory of 2024…it’s really making a huge difference.