The College Football Playoff

JFK35

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Jun 12, 2022
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Texas Christian University Hornfrogs
vs
University of Michigan Wolverines
CFP Semi-Final • Fiesta Bowl • Glendale, Arizona
December 31st, 2022

________________________

THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
vs
The University of Georgia Bulldogs
CFP Semi-Final • Peach Bowl • Atlanta, Georgia
December 31st, 2022

______________

Kansas State Wildcats vs University of Alabama Crimson Tide
Sugar Bowl • New Orleans, Lousiana • December 30th, 2022

_________________
Tulane Green Wave vs University of Southern Cal Trojans
Cotton Bowl • Arlington, Texas • January 2nd, 2022

_________________
Clemson Tigers vs Tennessee Volunteers
Orange Bowl • Miami, Florida • December 30th, 2022
_________________

Pennsylvania State Nittany Lions vs University of Utah Utes
Rose Bowl • Pasadena, California • January 2nd, 2022
_________________



I think these are what’s expected. The committee never really surprises so it’s no shock. I really think this is unfair to Georgia. Yes Georgia beats Ohio State but shouldn’t they get the easiest opponent
 
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Awesome Fossum

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idk, I don't really feel like Georgia "deserves" anything more than Michigan. They both went undefeated. This isn't the NFL; they didn't earn the right to play the weaker opponent on the field or anything.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Putting the issue of "fairness" aside, am I the only one who thinks a Michigan v OSU rematch would have been more compelling? I mean, those two teams are bitter rivals -- what could be more exciting than to ensure that they match up in the playoffs?
 

EvilEmpire

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Putting the issue of "fairness" aside, am I the only one who thinks a Michigan v OSU rematch would have been more compelling? I mean, those two teams are bitter rivals -- what could be more exciting than to ensure that they match up in the playoffs?
Well, it will be much, much better if they can meet in the final.
 

54thMA

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When did TCU change their name?

Bullfrogs?

And yes, conference championship games are pointless, USC got hosed, tOSU benefits.
 

JFK35

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When did TCU change their name?

Bullfrogs?

And yes, conference championship games are pointless, USC got hosed, tOSU benefits.
Screwed up on the name …

But USC didn’t get hosed. They had 1 loss before this weekend. As did Ohio State. Ohio State lost to a much better team. USC got a chance to earn their way in and didn’t take it.
 

54thMA

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Screwed up on the name …

But USC didn’t get hosed. They had 1 loss before this weekend. As did Ohio State. Ohio State lost to a much better team. USC got a chance to earn their way in and didn’t take it.
They lost largely thanks to their QB getting injured and playing on one leg, they were up 17-3 before he got hurt. Granted their defense was terrible as well, but him getting hurt was a big blow to their chances to win the game.
 

Sad Sam Jones

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USC lost because their defense wouldn't be able to stop a junior high team and there's no justification for allowing them to play for a championship without also allowing the 3-loss team that beat them twice the same opportunity.

Ohio State is in because their only loss was against a much better opponent than any other 1 or 2 loss team had. They played their conference championship game two weeks ago. Anyone who thinks they shouldn't be in because they didn't get to beat up on Purdue last night just wanted to see them get screwed over for playing in the B1G 10 East. As much as I hate Michigan, I'd make the same argument for them if the roles were reversed.
 

The Social Chair

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The USC defense was horrible all year but it didn't matter because their offense was unstoppable. After the Williams injury and subsequent loss they didn't deserve to be in the top 4.

They probably would have made the playoffs if they threw the title game by sitting their starters out. There was no incentive to win that game.


What about the first time they lost to Utah?
2 outrageous roughing the passer penalties handed Utah 14 points in a game that was decided by 1 point.

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/TrevorMBooth/status/1581446132378390529
 
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Ale Xander

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USC lost because their defense wouldn't be able to stop a junior high team and there's no justification for allowing them to play for a championship without also allowing the 3-loss team that beat them twice the same opportunity.

Ohio State is in because their only loss was against a much better opponent than any other 1 or 2 loss team had. They played their conference championship game two weeks ago. Anyone who thinks they shouldn't be in because they didn't get to beat up on Purdue last night just wanted to see them get screwed over for playing in the B1G 10 East. As much as I hate Michigan, I'd make the same argument for them if the roles were reversed.
Did they beat any good teams besides Penn State?
 

JMDurron

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Georgia is playing their game in Atlanta. Let’s not weep for them just yet.
 

JFK35

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I never get sentiments like this. In the end, if UGA is the top dog, they demonstrate that regardless who they play.
That’s not the point. They demonstrated in the regular season they were the best in the nation - they should get rewarded for that. Michigan gets a bye into the title game while Georgia has to go toe to toe with a soft but very talented Ohio State team. And yes it’s in Atlanta and yes Georgia will win but it’ll take a toll that playing TCU wouldn’t
 

Awesome Fossum

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Applying the 2024 format:

#1 UGA vs winner of #9 KSU at #6 Tennessee
#8 Utah vs winner of #16 Tulane at #3 TCU

#7 Clemson vs winner of #11 PSU at #4 Ohio State
#2 UM vs winner of #10 USC at #5 Alabama

I guess the arguments here would be who deserves the bye (Utah or KSU) and who deserves the final at large spot (PSU or Washington).
 

snowmanny

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That’s not the point. They demonstrated in the regular season they were the best in the nation - they should get rewarded for that. Michigan gets a bye into the title game while Georgia has to go toe to toe with a soft but very talented Ohio State team. And yes it’s in Atlanta and yes Georgia will win but it’ll take a toll that playing TCU wouldn’t
That's not the point. TCU had one loss in their conference championship game and Ohio State lost at home to not make their conference championship. Why should an Ohio State university leapfrog a team with the same record when they didn't play?

I notice that so far nobody has said it is unfair to Ohio State. Is it "bullshit" they have to play Georgia instead of Michigan?

I mean it's arguing about nothing.

edit - also it is all USC's fault
 
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snowmanny

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Applying the 2024 format:

#1 UGA vs winner of #9 KSU at #6 Tennessee
#8 Utah vs winner of #16 Tulane at #3 TCU

#7 Clemson vs winner of #11 PSU at #4 Ohio State
#2 UM vs winner of #10 USC at #5 Alabama

I guess the arguments here would be who deserves the bye (Utah or KSU) and who deserves the final at large spot (PSU or Washington).
Wait - the 7&8 seeds get a bye?
 

Ale Xander

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The fact that there even was garbage time says it all.

Michigan has already beaten Ohio State. If UGA is so obviously superior to Michigan, they can beat Ohio State too.
If you're going to use the transitive property, then Tulane deserves to be in.
 

snowmanny

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If you're going to use the transitive property, then Tulane deserves to be in.
The only teams that deserve to be in are Michigan and Georgia. It's a flawed format. Perhaps you never noticed that before and thus the outrage?
 

Sad Sam Jones

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Did they beat any good teams besides Penn State?
Why would they even need a "besides Penn State"? That's a much bigger accomplishment on their resume than anything USC or Alabama has. Penn State is #9. USC beat #17 Oregon State by a field goal. Alabama beat #21 Texas by 1 point after they knocked the Longhorns' starting QB out of the game. Ohio State's 2nd highest ranked opponent they beat was #19 Notre Dame... by the same margin as USC (and again, better than anything Alabama can claim).

It doesn't matter if you want to look at losses or best wins, Ohio State is clearly ahead of those two.
 

BaseballJones

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Applying the 2024 format:

#1 UGA vs winner of #9 KSU at #6 Tennessee
#8 Utah vs winner of #16 Tulane at #3 TCU

#7 Clemson vs winner of #11 PSU at #4 Ohio State
#2 UM vs winner of #10 USC at #5 Alabama

I guess the arguments here would be who deserves the bye (Utah or KSU) and who deserves the final at large spot (PSU or Washington).
That makes no sense to me. Why would #8 Utah get a bye while #3 TCU doesn't? Why would #7 Clemson get a bye while #4 OSU doesn't? Conference champs?

EDIT: Sorry, answered already. But that still doesn't make sense. Bizarre to have a #8 seeded team get a bye instead of the #3 seeded team. Just seed Utah #3 or whatever.
 

Awesome Fossum

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I'm just using this year's CFP rankings. I'm sure they'll give Utah the "4 seed" so the bracket makes sense visually.
 
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Awesome Fossum

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I'm also pretty sure that just as we've seen the committee avoid a UM/OSU rematch this year, they'd massage things so that we wouldn't get a OSU/PSU rematch in the first round. Probably by ranking OSU ahead of TCU!
 

SoxJox

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That’s not the point. They demonstrated in the regular season they were the best in the nation - they should get rewarded for that. Michigan gets a bye into the title game while Georgia has to go toe to toe with a soft but very talented Ohio State team. And yes it’s in Atlanta and yes Georgia will win but it’ll take a toll that playing TCU wouldn’t
I'm sorry. That IS the point. The teams will put up or shut up. Give it a break. Do we really want to split hairs about the microscopic differences at this point? First, we all argue about the top 4. Then we argue about pairing of the top 4. Jeeeeeezzzzzeeeeez.

Argumento indefincemo.
 

Average Reds

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I'm also pretty sure that just as we've seen the committee avoid a UM/OSU rematch this year, they'd massage things so that we wouldn't get a OSU/PSU rematch in the first round. Probably by ranking OSU ahead of TCU!
It’s worth noting that they did the same sort of manipulation of seedings last year.

Going into conference championships, Georgia was 1, Michigan was 2 and Alabama was 3.

Georgia lost to Alabama and Michigan crushed Iowa. Logically, that would have dictated Michigan as 1, Alabama as 2 and Georgia as 3. But - as they stated at the time - the committee pushed Alabama ahead of Michigan to avoid having the two SEC teams meeting in the first round.

Getting Georgia instead of Cincinnati hurt Michigan last year. Playing TCU instead of OSU (probably) helps them this year. No idea if their approach is correct, but it’s consistent.
 

Ale Xander

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It’s worth noting that they did the same sort of manipulation of seedings last year.

Going into conference championships, Georgia was 1, Michigan was 2 and Alabama was 3.

Georgia lost to Alabama and Michigan crushed Iowa. Logically, that would have dictated Michigan as 1, Alabama as 2 and Georgia as 3. But - as they stated at the time - the committee pushed Alabama ahead of Michigan to avoid having the two SEC teams meeting in the first round.

Getting Georgia instead of Cincinnati hurt Michigan last year. Playing TCU instead of OSU (probably) helps them this year. No idea if their approach is correct, but it’s consistent.
Even accepting the implied assumption that the B1G is on the same level as the SEC over the recent past, the drop down from 2 to 3 is much greater this year than last.
 

Average Reds

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Even accepting the implied assumption that the B1G is on the same level as the SEC over the recent past, the drop down from 2 to 3 is much greater this year than last.
I wasn’t implying any such thing. Simply stating what the committee does and why, which has nothing to do with implied assumption of conference quality.
 

nolasoxfan

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That makes no sense to me. Why would #8 Utah get a bye while #3 TCU doesn't? Why would #7 Clemson get a bye while #4 OSU doesn't? Conference champs?

EDIT: Sorry, answered already. But that still doesn't make sense. Bizarre to have a #8 seeded team get a bye instead of the #3 seeded team. Just seed Utah #3 or whatever.
To make sure conference championships are somewhat relevant.
N/m. You answered your own question .
 

BaseballJones

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To make sure conference championships are somewhat relevant.
N/m. You answered your own question .
To me they're still relevant by the fact that they still get into the playoff. I mean, if you're an 8-4 team that manages to win their conference championship, they make it into the playoff, even though they really aren't that good. It's like in the NCAA basketball tournament, conference championships matter a ton for mid-major conferences, because not winning the conference means you likely don't even make the NCAA tourney. Besides, winning your conference is a heck of an accomplishment on its own.
 

Ale Xander

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FBS Playoff should really be this:

#4 SEC plays #5 SEC (So perhaps Ole Miss v. LSU?)

Winner plays Georgia
#2 SEC (Alabama) plays #3 SEC (Tennessee)
Two winners play each other for the title.
 

CFB_Rules

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That makes no sense to me. Why would #8 Utah get a bye while #3 TCU doesn't? Why would #7 Clemson get a bye while #4 OSU doesn't? Conference champs?

EDIT: Sorry, answered already. But that still doesn't make sense. Bizarre to have a #8 seeded team get a bye instead of the #3 seeded team. Just seed Utah #3 or whatever.
Yeah guys, the top 4 conference champs get byes because they are automatically seeded 1-4. So now the conference champ games matter again.

So it would be (numbers are seeds, not ranking):

#4 Utah awaits the winner of #12 Tulane @ #5 TCU
#3 Clemson awaits the winner of #11 Penn State @ #6 Ohio State
#2 Michigan awaits the winner of #10 USC @ #7 Alabama
#1 Georgia awaits the winner of #9 Kansas State @ #8 Tennessee

EDIT: Looking at the above, conversations in later years are going to be heavy on which conference champion is ranked 4th highest vs 5th highest. KSU being one spot behind Utah drops them from getting a bye to going on the road to Tennessee.