Actually, Wisconsin's loss was better than Alabama's loss. They had the better argument to go to the playoffs. What about Iowa? By 31 pts! Bobda, " if" is a really big word. 8) 8)
KP, So the correct iinterpretaion of your criteria is that a 1 loss conference champion with three victories over top ranked teams but 1 horrible loss should be ranked below a team with no title but only 1 loss with no quality wins?
Bobda, who is the 1 loss conference champ? And did you read what I said about Wisconsin? You are taking this as an argument for Alabama to be selected. I'm not. I just think a 1 loss team should be in before a 2 loss team especially when one of the losses is to an unranked team by 30 pts. Just to reiterate, I think Wisconsin had the better argument to be in.
Well my 2 cents worth is that they made the right decision. I am also of the opinion that the playoffs should be expanded to either 6 or 8 teams. I think any one of these four teams could come out the winner.
KP, My earlier point was that if OSU and USC had chosen to schedule a doormat team rather than Okla or ND, they would have fit into your criteria. Your response was to point out the Iowa loss which I interpreted your suggesting that 1 "bad" loss was also disqualifying. That prompted my question to you. If you are comparing 1 loss to 2 loss teams, I think SOS has to be considered since automatically knocking out 2 loss teams would lead to teams avoiding scheduling competitive non conference games.
Agree or disagree with the decision it was the combination of two losses and how bad they lost those two games. If Auburn had won yesterday they would have been in with two losses. I don't think it was an easy decision for the committee but in the end their decision had the same four teams that both the Coaches and AP polls. And both those polls had a razor thin difference between the two teams.
Bobda, Alabama played the number 2 ranked team in the country in the 1st game of the season. We have done this every year for the last 10 years or so. I don’t think we are motivated to dodge anyone. With 8 mandatory conference games and 1 top ranked out of conference game, it is sometimes difficult to get 3 more top ranked teams to play. Fresno St. (#25 last week), and Colorado St. were the other 2. Y’all want to be one our season openers? I think we have Miami in a couple of years.
Nearly everyone seemed on board with a 2 loss Auburn being in the playoffs if they beat Georgia. I understand the arguments why the same conscensus was not present with USC and OSU but also think that there were subjective conclusions made in the evaluations that may or may not be factually accurate.
Bobda, you need to go back and read my posts. I said from the beginning that a 2 loss team should not be in the playoffs. I acknowledged that if Auburn won the SEC then the SEC may not have a team in the playoffs. With Alabama and Wisconsin being the only 1 loss teams I think they were the only choices left.
Well I am satisfied that the Committee got it right. I certainly understand the angst over the situation. With 4 slots for the current setup there is always going to be somebody left out and then the parsing of schedules, MOV, etc begins. I just feel like Alabama is one of the 4 best teams, and while they did lose to Auburn I don't think they are the 3rd best SEC team. Last year when Ohio State got in after not making to the championship game and losing in the head to head on the field game between PSU the official B10 Champion I don't think there was a lot of Ohio State is the 3rd best B10 team. But I did think that they were the better team than Penn State last year when the committee voted them in the CFP. As I said I'm against autobid for Conf Champs, and I am for the 4 best teams. I'd just as soon no conference ended up with 2 teams in the top 4, but that's what we have. You know even if Wisc had pulled the game out and beaten Ohio State I wouldn't have believed they were one of the best 4 teams, but I would have gone along since I do think unbeaten P5 schools have to get in, even if their schedule is favorable. And if you look at that top 8. 1. Clemson 2. OU 3. UGA 4. Alabama 5. Ohio State 6. Wisc 7. Auburn 8. USC There you have it, all 5 P5 conferences are represented. We wouldn't have needed any stink'n autobids to get them all in to the 8 team CFP. And that's the way it'd be most years , and if some year the Conf Champion is an upset winner who even with the upset doesn't make it to the top 8 well that's the breaks. Congrats to all the teams who made it, hopefully we won't have blowouts in the semifinals like we had last year. I do think that OU will win it all though.
KP, I was replying to Bill's post re my Auburn comments. Re your points, not saying that Alabama's non conference schedule is risk adverse as taking on FSU involved a huge risk. Also agree that Alabama has usually opened the season playing a very tough non conference foe. My primary point was that a hard and fast playoff rule re 1 vs 2 loss teams will likely lead teams to be avoid risk in non conference scheduling which would be bad for college football and its fans. I've ranted enough about the playoffs given that my team is not living close to that neighborhood.
NCAA needs to mandate that no P5 can schedule anything other than Group of 5 or Power 5 opponents in the non-conf. Before the season the non-conf schedule of FSU, Fresno State and Colorado State was as ambitious as OU, Army and UNLV...the difference was mainly that the SEC is still with a 8 game conf schedule and he B1G is at 9 games. Dare I suggest that had Ohio State had an 8 game Conf slate that the 4th non-conf opponent would have come from category of a team that had no chance of coming to Columbus and getting a win?
9 conference games on the surface seems like a good thing and it does solve some scheduling issues and while it doesn't necessarily eliminate teams from scheduling a BUY opponent. But it certainly will make it maybe a little harder on independents like ND. Although our schedule is pretty much set with these 8 opponents every year. 5 ACC opponents USC Stanford Navy Then add in 1 Top 25 type opponent from a power 5 conference. Last 2 years Texas, this year UGA, next year Mich, and the following year Georgia again. Arkansas and Texas A&M are also on future schedules for a home/home. Next year we have 2 non-power 5 opponents Ball State and Navy. All the others are Power 5. The following year we have 3 non-power 5 opponents, New Mexico, Navy, and Bowling green...all members of Group of 5 conferences.
Also I must say that having a final 4 that does not include either a Pac12 or a Big10 team is likely to fast forward a move to an 8 team playoff. If you remember the Bowl Coalition years ago the Pac10 and Big10 snubbed their noses at it because the Rose Bowl was more important to them than being part of the attempt to have the Nat'l Champion determined on the field via a 1 vs 2 match up. I don't remember how long that lasted but you can bet watching their best teams not having a shot at the Nat'l Title probably led to their deciding to join Coalition that I think then became the BCS. I know contracts are in place and it won't be easy to change them overnight, but I really believe this years final four will be a catalyst for expansion of the CFP I just hope they don't go for the auto bids, but I fear that they will.
In all fairness I have to admit: 1. Nick Saban has campaigned for 9 conference games 2. Nick Saban has campaigned to play only power 5 teams. 3. Though we may agree, nor not, with the playoff committee... it's a hell of a lot better arguing over who is #4 rather than who is going to get to play at all. I slept most of today and awoke to check our bowl draw. Wish I had a way to Orlando because LSU is always a fun game. I've seen the Irish play them twice now. The Alabama fans in my Facebook feed are outta control. Trash talking like crazy, even the good ones.. There's a lot of football left to be played. Oh, also, I hope UCF smokes Auburn.
Terry, I know P12 fans remember that well. We joined the coalition and still were getting left out. We had to schedule our way into beating the piss out of the Auburn's, Alabama's and Tennessee's of the world (and kudos to those teams for having the balls to schedule the game btw) before we started to get any recognition in the BCS. Of course, corrupt ass USC wound up being our leader during that time... grrrr