2015 NCAA Football Playoffs...Oregon, Alabama, Ohio St and Florida St

[Kingspoint]

Surprised there's been no thread started yet about it (other than the one that goes back and forth about how great the SEC is and how crappy everyone else is).

So, I'm starting one.

Oregon just took a huge hit. It's equivalent to the Browns losing Haden, the Broncos losing Harris or the Patriots losing Darrelle Revis.

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

Yahoo! Sports' Rand Getlin reports Oregon senior CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu suffered a "serious knee injury" -- believed to be a torn ACL -- in practice Tuesday.

Ekpre-Olomu is believed to be one of the top cornerbacks available in the 2015 draft. He was expected to be a first- or second-round pick. At 5'10/185, he projects as an ideal slot corner at the NFL level. If it's a torn ACL, Ekpre-Olomu won't be available until midseason next year. Now-Jaguars CB Aaron Colvin tore his ACL at the Senior Bowl last year and made his NFL debut in November.

Source: Rand Getlin on Twitter

[Sea Ray]

Surprised there's been no thread started yet about it (other than the one that goes back and forth about how great the SEC is and how crappy everyone else is).

So, I'm starting one.

Oregon just took a huge hit. It's equivalent to the Browns losing Haden, the Broncos losing Harris or the Patriots losing Darrelle Revis.

From Rotoworld w/ Rotoworld comments:

Yahoo! Sports' Rand Getlin reports Oregon senior CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu suffered a "serious knee injury" -- believed to be a torn ACL -- in practice Tuesday.

Ekpre-Olomu is believed to be one of the top cornerbacks available in the 2015 draft. He was expected to be a first- or second-round pick. At 5'10/185, he projects as an ideal slot corner at the NFL level. If it's a torn ACL, Ekpre-Olomu won't be available until midseason next year. Now-Jaguars CB Aaron Colvin tore his ACL at the Senior Bowl last year and made his NFL debut in November.

Source: Rand Getlin on Twitter

Thanks for the update. That's certainly newsworthy. We don't have a lot of RZs to keep us abreast of happenings on the west coast

[Assembly Hall]

Sum beach. I really thought this might be Oregon's year. Hope the kid heals up well.

[Kingspoint]

Looks like the Ducks are going to get their All-American Center back for this game. He's been out nearly eight weeks. That's a big boost.

[Boston Red]

FSU is down 18-6. They've got Oregon right where they want them. :)

[RedTeamGo!]

Oregon's offense looked solid most of the first half, but man that int was terrible. Take a knee and go to halftime up 18-13, poor coaching.

[Roy Tucker]

FSU is chippy as always.

[Assembly Hall]

FSU is chippy as always.

The heck with the Noles........go Ducks!

[Assembly Hall]

Oh yea! Quack, Quack!!!!!!!!

[dabvu2498]

God bless Jamis' pea-pickin little heart.

[Slyder]

If only ANY team on FSU's schedule could have finished the job then FSU wouldn't be subjected to this merciless beat down.

[Assembly Hall]

Of all the hoopla about who should be in it or not. FSU was definitely the one that didn't belong. Notre Dame had them beat for peete's sake. After a great afternoon of games, I got to watch this? Pitiful.

[KronoRed]

Buwahaha.

[Assembly Hall]

Check that......this couldn't be happening to a better team. Quack attack baby!!!!

[Tom Servo]

Of all the hoopla about who should be in it or not. FSU was definitely the one that didn't belong. Notre Dame had them beat for peete's sake. After a great afternoon of games, I got to watch this? Pitiful.
Defending champs and still undefeated, I think it was the right choice. They just imploded.

[Assembly Hall]

Defending champs and still undefeated, I think it was the right choice. They just imploded.

They deserved to be there.....but of the 6 teams, they were by far they were the worst.

[RedsBaron]

Right now I am wondering if Alabama or Ohio State can slow down the Ducks.

[KronoRed]

Lol at Jimbo threatening to bench people...buwahahaha.

[Revering4Blue]

Defending champs and still undefeated, I think it was the right choice. They just imploded.

As much as Florida State is disliked -- mostly because of the off-field Winston saga -- it's difficult to present a logical (read: non-emotional) argument. I don't know how you can keep a team out that went undefeated in a major BCS conference, and beat ND (Yeah, it was a chickenfeed call at the end of that one), Clemson and Georgia Tech, all of whom won Bowl Games (two of the in blowout fashion) within the last week.

Full disclosure: I'm pleased to see the Seminoles sent packing.

[Stray]

Thoroughly enjoying this FSU beatdown by Oregon :D

[MWM]

BCS final would have been Alabama vs FSU. I think it's fair to say the playoff worked.

[KronoRed]

https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2895832/jameispeel.0.gif

[Assembly Hall]

BCS final would have been Alabama vs FSU. I think it's fair to say the playoff worked.

Not according to the seedings.

[Assembly Hall]

https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2895832/jameispeel.0.gif


Suhweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

[MWM]

Not according to the seedings.

Seedings don't matter. If FSU was undefeated they would have been in the BCS title game.

[Assembly Hall]

Seedings don't matter. If FSU was undefeated they would have been in the BCS title game.

Well that might be, but who is to say Oregon wouldn't have been their opponent?

[RedTeamGo!]

Ohio state comes out swinging!!!

[RedsBaron]

Seedings don't matter. If FSU was undefeated they would have been in the BCS title game.

I agree.

[dabvu2498]

Florida States composite computer rankings were pretty awful. Probably too much to overcome.

Actually, you guys are probably correct. Mea culpa. http://www.colleyrankings.com/curBcsLike.html

[RedTeamGo!]

Buckeyes have to put it in the end zone there. Not going to be many opportunities as good as that one against bama.

[The Operator]

Well after forcing a 2nd 3-and-out OSU decided to fumble and give Alabama great field position.

So that sucked.

[RedTeamGo!]

Horrendous playcalling in the red zone by Osu. Absolutely horrendous.

[MWM]

Sugar Bowl about to get ugly. Bucks need a QB and Jones is clearly in way over his head. With eithe Miller or Barrett, I'd give them decent odds. If jones is going to be this lost, we can all go to bed early.

[Roy Tucker]

Herman out thinks himself in the red zone. Bama has the momentum now.

[Stray]

Danger time for Ohio State right now, Bama has the momentum. Need a stop here.

[Roy Tucker]

I don't understand a fair catch on the 5.

[Tom Servo]

I would not recommend continuing to run backwards near your own endzone.

[Assembly Hall]

I don't understand a fair catch on the 5.


That was pitiful.

[Assembly Hall]

I would not recommend continuing to run backwards near your own endzone.

Nor would I recommend throwing it to the other team.

[RedTeamGo!]

Jones is showing why he was 3rd on the depth chart. He is not good.

[MWM]

Jones is not good. If OSU could sustain a drive this could be a close game.

[MWM]

This game is over. Alabama has realized Jones is hardly capable of completing a pass so they're just going to load the line of scrimmage and not let them run. I thought Alabama was too much for OSU but I'd sure like to see how they'd have fared with one of their other QBs.

[Roy Tucker]

Finally. Quit all the film flam and hand the damn ball off to Elliott up the middle.

[dabvu2498]

Finally. Quit all the film flam and hand the damn ball off to Elliott up the middle.

Took a pass that was so poorly thrown that it drew a PI call to make it happen.

[MWM]

Maybe I spoke too soon. Jones looking like a different guy now.

[MWM]

That was a ridiculous catch. It's a game again.

[MWM]

Bucks with 348 yards on offense in the first half.

[RedTeamGo!]

Catch of the year by Thomas!

We have ourselves a ballgame ladies and gents!!!!

[Stray]

Good half. Thought it might get away from Ohio State for a while, but after that taunting penalty the game turned in their favor. Hope we get a good 2nd half.

[The Operator]

OSU should be winning this thing but down by one and getting the ball to start the 3rd quarter ain't too bad considering the two touchdowns given to Alabama via turnover.

[Roy Tucker]

Crazy game. 21-6 and almost a safety and Cardale has a bad case of deer in the headlights. And now 21-20 and Saban is pissed and its a ballgame again.

[The Operator]

Nice start to the 2nd half, Buckeyes.

[The Operator]

Why on God's green earth did Ohio State not have a return man back for that punt?

[RedTeamGo!]

Why on God's green earth did Ohio State not have a return man back for that punt?

That was bizarre

[MWM]

I sure thought OSU was toast.

[MWM]

Horrible play call on 3rd and 1.

[The Operator]

PICK SIX!!!

[Roy Tucker]

Holy crap.

21-6 turns to 21-34.

[RedTeamGo!]

OH MY

[jimbo]

I remember Meyer saying after the Wisconsin game that this team is playing at a high level. I'm finally buying that hype now.

[Tom Servo]

This, I was not expecting.

[MWM]

That was totally pass interference.

[Tom Servo]

lmao that punt. Jeez.

[The Operator]

And now they're shooting themselves in the foot.

A delay of game then a false start while punting in your own endzone, then a 21 yard punt. Oh boy.

- - - Updated - - -

And now an interception!

What a huge play when they needed one the most. Wow!

[dabvu2498]

Why in the love of God is Alabama throwing the ball???

[redsfandan]

Yes! Need another score now.

[Roy Tucker]

Why in the love of God is Alabama throwing the ball???

I don't know but I'm glad they did.

[dabvu2498]

I don't know but I'm glad they did.

Now let's ask the question the other way.

[The Operator]

Looks like it's time for me to break out the blood pressure meds.

Good lord.

[RedTeamGo!]

That was clearly roughing the kicker

[The Operator]

That was clearly roughing the kickerBetween that under-call and the non-call on the PI two drives ago, me no likey the refs right now.

[Yachtzee]

Alabama getting some favorable calls.

[Tom Servo]

Lane Kiffin helping out the OSU defense big time.

[The Operator]

Alabama's punter is insane.

[RedTeamGo!]

This punter is single handedly keeping Alabama in this game.

[The Operator]

Ezekiel Elliot FTW!!!!!!

[Tom Servo]

This, I was not expecting.

[redsfandan]

Yes!!!!!!!

[The Operator]

And the 2-pointer gives us a 2-touchdown lead.

Wow wow wow

[The Operator]

And now the defense is letting them right back into the game.

back to the blood pressure meds.

[redsfandan]

Get just one first down and run the clock out.

[The Operator]

Why are they throwing the ball?

[dabvu2498]

Shouldn't Alabama be the team throwing the ball and calling TOs?

[The Operator]

Shouldn't Alabama be the team throwing the ball and calling TOs?Yeeeaaa, not sure what they're thinking right now.

[MWM]

Good lord, that throw was so incredibly stupid I still can't believe it happened.

[dabvu2498]

Good gracious. The coaching in this game has been horrific.

[Tom Servo]

What in the blue hell was Ohio State thinking that entire series?

[The Operator]

That was the stupidest sequence of plays imaginable. Keeps Alabama right in this game.

[The Operator]

26 seconds off the clock. Twenty. Six. Seconds.

[Tom Servo]

Good gracious. The coaching in this game has been horrific.
On cue Alabama wastes valuable time.

[Revering4Blue]

Ding-Dong! The Witch is dead!

[The Operator]

Wheeeeew.

A nail biter to the end. What a day for the Big Ten!

[redsfandan]

The Buckeyes made it way too close but it's a win. It wasn't pretty but they're still alive.

[WMR]

That final drive by Bama was some of the worst clock management I've ever seen to end a game.

[dabvu2498]

On cue Alabama wastes valuable time.

Also, the best WR in college football not targeted once on the final drive.

[Kilgore_Trout]

The Buckeyes made it way too close but it's a win. It wasn't pretty but they're still alive.

I know you're referring to the way it ended, but overall that was probably the most beautiful thing I've ever watched. My Buckeyes just beat the best team in the country with their third string quarterback. Remarkable.

Rejoice, Buckeye Nation! Rejoice!

[kaldaniels]

In hindsight -

I think I can say the Final 4 should have been Oregon, Bama, TCU and OSU if you are talking about the best 4 teams.

But you can't leave out the unbeaten defending National Champs, who played a respectable schedule.

You can't put TCU in over BU, due to the head-to-head.

So I think the committee did the best they could.

[MWM]

Ohio State with 537 yards of offense with a 3rd string QB. Urban Meyer is a great college football coach.

[The Operator]

That final drive by Bama was some of the worst clock management I've ever seen to end a game.They hired Marvin Lewis as Nick Saban's clock management consultant.

[RiverRat13]

That. Was. Awesome.

[jimbo]

I think I'm going to need anxiety medicine for the championship game. Wow, how fun has today been?

[GAC]

We are good enough! ...... and we belong!

http://www.osuacacia.com/s/559/images/editor/ohio_state_football.jpg

[WMR]

They hired Marvin Lewis as Nick Saban's clock management consultant.

Even worse, that little troll Lane Kiffin. :eek:

[Tom Servo]

In hindsight -

I think I can say the Final 4 should have been Oregon, Bama, TCU and OSU if you are talking about the best 4 teams.

But you can't leave out the unbeaten defending National Champs, who played a respectable schedule.

You can't put TCU in over BU, due to the head-to-head.

So I think the committee did the best they could.
No complaints from me re: the system and the choices, but I'm a fairly impartial viewer with few biases. I just like football.

[WMR]

They need to go to 8 teams ASAP.

[jimbo]

Hey Mark May, how you like us now?

Sorry, couldn't help myself.:D

[Roy Tucker]

Bucks and Ducks.

Woooooi!!!!!!

[dabvu2498]

Ohio State with 537 yards of offense with a 3rd string QB. Urban Meyer is a great college football coach.

And went over a quarter of game play without a first down.

[Stray]

Didn't see this one coming at all, but the difference was Ohio State's defense. They were very very good all game.

Maybe this is a good omen for the Bengals on Sunday.

[jimbo]

And went over a quarter of game play without a first down.

The defense came up big during that stretch.

[RiverRat13]

And went over a quarter of game play without a first down.

That was mainly due to the greatest punter who has ever lived.

[redsfandan]

I know you're referring to the way it ended, but overall that was probably the most beautiful thing I've ever watched. My Buckeyes just beat the best team in the country with their third string quarterback. Remarkable.

Rejoice, Buckeye Nation! Rejoice!
Yeah, it's great that they won but I bet I'm not the only one worried about the championship game.

[KronoRed]

They need to go to 8 teams ASAP.

4 is fine, just need to refine the way in.

Good day of football, two teams of pure evil lose ;)

[kaldaniels]

So whats the quick scouting report on Oregon vs OSU? What should we expect?

[Revering4Blue]

Update: FSU just fumbled again.:D

[Revering4Blue]

Fun fact: The 15 point deficit was the largest OSU has overcome to win a game since 1989, when the Buckeyes rallied from a 31 point deficit to beat Minnesota.

[The Operator]

So whats the quick scouting report on Oregon vs OSU? What should we expect?Well, my early take is that either Oregon or Ohio State will emerge as the national champion.

If you want more, you'll have to pay up - I've adopted ESPN's philosophy regarding online content. Please feel free to sign up for "Operator Insider".

Hey, there's a profit to be had.

[RiverRat13]

Fun fact: The 15 point deficit was the largest OSU has overcome to win a game since 1989, when the Buckeyes rallied from a 31 point deficit to beat Minnesota.

Greg Frey fo' life!

[kaldaniels]

You have to admit this is funny.

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/qnxyoizl7smpol5pgcoe.jpg

[RBA]

I take Oregon -10.5

[kaldaniels]

Henry from Bama was a beast. Don't know why Lane didn't get the ball to him more.

[Assembly Hall]

I don't care what the scoreboard read....the Bucks totally dominated the game. Two turnovers that led to 14 Bama points, and two trips into the redzone that ended in FG's. Way to go go Buckeyes......from a Hoosier fan. Job well done.

[Kingspoint]

In the immortal words of Jackie Gleason...

"How Sweeeeet it is!"

[Kingspoint]

I take Oregon -10.5

It's -7.5 right now. http://www.oddsshark.com/ncaaf/bcs-national-championship-odds

Personally, I'd favor Oregon by 5, so I'd take Ohio State and the 7.5.

[RedTeamGo!]

8378

[Kingspoint]

Wow! The Florida State football program is sure one classless organization. 70% of the team walks into the lockerroom when the game ends instead of shaking hands. What a bunch of cry-babies. Totally classless. A team reflects the personality of it's Head Coach and organization.

[Kingspoint]

The Ducks are going to do to Ohio State what the Bengals just did to Peyton....finally win one after going zero for eight.

Glad the game is at a neutral site in Texas.

[RedsBaron]

Yeah, it's great that they won but I bet I'm not the only one worried about the championship game.
Did you see the post game interview of Urban Meyer? A reporter told him that Oregon had defeated FSU "by 40 points." Meyer appeared to be shocked. Meyer said: "Forty?" Meyer then acted as if he was leaving and joked that he had to start preparing for Oregon.

[RedsBaron]

Wow! The Florida State football program is sure one classless organization. 70% of the team walks into the lockerroom when the game ends instead of shaking hands. What a bunch of cry-babies. Totally classless. A team reflects the personality of it's Head Coach and organization.

Jumbo Fisher and Winston did cross the field and shook hands, but, yes, most of the FSU players did not.
In his post game media conference Winston kept saying that FSU beat itself. Well yes, but Oregon had something to do with that.

[HeatherC1212]

GO BUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :jump:

[jimbo]

Hey Mark May, how you like us now?

Sorry, couldn't help myself.:D

Did anyone see the interviews of Meyer, Ezekiel, and a third player by the ESPN panel after the game, while surrounded by Buckeye fans? Mark May looked as uncomfortable as a nun in a horehouse. :lol:

[IslandRed]

Jumbo Fisher and Winston did cross the field and shook hands, but, yes, most of the FSU players did not.
In his post game media conference Winston kept saying that FSU beat itself. Well yes, but Oregon had something to do with that.

Check the video of the end of any big game. Some of the losing team comes out to shake hands, most (especially if they didn't play or don't have friends on the other team) just trudge straight to the locker room. Happened last night at the Sugar Bowl. Happened at the end of last year's national championship game. Nobody cared. I had FSU season tickets for 20 years, saw a lot of losing visitors head for the bus as fast as they could. No one ever thought anything of it. But when everyone's been saving up for an FSU loss, I guess anything will do.

As for the game itself -- I don't know what would have happened if FSU hadn't turned over the ball five times in 15 minutes' worth of game time, but we sure found out what would happen if they did.

[Kingspoint]

Jumbo Fisher and Winston did cross the field and shook hands, but, yes, most of the FSU players did not.
In his post game media conference Winston kept saying that FSU beat itself. Well yes, but Oregon had something to do with that.

That was good to see of Winston. Maybe he's growing up.

[Kingspoint]

Check the video of the end of any big game. Some of the losing team comes out to shake hands, most (especially if they didn't play or don't have friends on the other team) just trudge straight to the locker room. Happened last night at the Sugar Bowl. Happened at the end of last year's national championship game. Nobody cared. I had FSU season tickets for 20 years, saw a lot of losing visitors head for the bus as fast as they could. No one ever thought anything of it. But when everyone's been saving up for an FSU loss, I guess anything will do.

Then why did the announcer call them out for it like it was a rare instance?

[Kingspoint]

As for the game itself -- I don't know what would have happened if FSU hadn't turned over the ball five times in 15 minutes' worth of game time, but we sure found out what would happen if they did.

They clearly didn't belong on the same field with Oregon. They panicked. They quit. They got run out of the building. And, Oregon eased up on them before the 3rd Quarter ended. They got beat up in every aspect of the game.

[Sea Ray]

Henry from Bama was a beast. Don't know why Lane didn't get the ball to him more.

Saban will soon see that hiring Lane Kiffin was a big mistake

[Slyder]

Henry from Bama was a beast. Don't know why Lane didn't get the ball to him more.

Because its Lane Kiffin. Kiffin's why WVU was able to keep it competitive, we would have had NO answer for Bama if they fed Henry and the other RB.

[Tom Servo]

Saban will soon see that hiring Lane Kiffin was a big mistake
I'm no Kiffin fan but I think it has already paid dividends and thus far hasn't resulted in any headaches (though I am sure they will come). He didn't call a very good game last night, but the Alabama defense deserves just as much blame.

[Assembly Hall]

Saban will soon see that hiring Lane Kiffin was a big mistake

Spoken like a true Vol fan!!!!!!!!!! I think the USC fans would agree as well!

[Assembly Hall]

I'm no Kiffin fan but I think it has already paid dividends and thus far hasn't resulted in any headaches (though I am sure they will come). He didn't call a very good game last night, but the Alabama defense deserves just as much blame.

That may be. But something doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Schools like Indiana and Minnesota ran the ball all over the Buckeyes. Makes me wonder about the game plan from the get go. I dunno.

[traderumor]

I'm no Kiffin fan but I think it has already paid dividends and thus far hasn't resulted in any headaches (though I am sure they will come). He didn't call a very good game last night, but the Alabama defense deserves just as much blame.You cannot blame the Alabama D for not being able to stop the Bucks O. The Bucks O is simply balanced, talented, and very hard to stop, and Jones seems to have been a step up from Barrett. They are torching D's and the only thing that seems to stop them is field position and turnovers.

- - - Updated - - -


That may be. But something doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Schools like Indiana and Minnesota ran the ball all over the Buckeyes. Makes me wonder about the game plan from the get go. I dunno.
That is what those teams do and do well.

[*BaseClogger*]

You cannot blame the Alabama D for not being able to stop the Bucks O. The Bucks O is simply balanced, talented, and very hard to stop, and Jones seems to have been a step up from Barrett. They are torching D's and the only thing that seems to stop them is field position and turnovers.

You think so?

[villain612]

The best part of all this....Ohio State will be better next year.

[Assembly Hall]

The best part of all this....Ohio State will be better next year.

I heard that.....that is scary!!!!!!!

[GAC]

The best part of all this....Ohio State will be better next year.

And that's the great thing - irregardless of how they do on Jan 12th ..... this team is young and coming back!

[dabvu2498]

Spoken like a true Vol fan!!!!!!!!!! I think the USC fans would agree as well!

"Kiffining -- The act of destroying once celebrated programs, ideas, and people in exchange for good hair."

[IslandRed]

Then why did the announcer call them out for it like it was a rare instance?

You'd have to ask Herbstreit. I read today that bowl officials were telling them to get off the field so the trophy presentation could start immediately, and some of them probably started rolling out before double-zeroes. That might have rubbed him the wrong way, but I doubt it changed the ratio of shakers to non-shakers at all.

[Assembly Hall]

"Kiffining -- The act of destroying once celebrated programs, ideas, and people in exchange for good hair."

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!! dab can I use that one?

[IslandRed]

They clearly didn't belong on the same field with Oregon. They panicked. They quit. They got run out of the building. And, Oregon eased up on them before the 3rd Quarter ended. They got beat up in every aspect of the game.

The first half of the game went exactly as I figured it would. Very even, both teams moving the ball pretty much at will, red-zone defense making the difference. FSU's ahead at the half if Winston isn't tackled on the six-inch line.

Second half? Still moving the ball at will but Oregon's drives ended in touchdowns and FSU's drives ended in turnovers. Sucks, but that's how it went and Oregon deserves the credit. Good luck against OSU.

[dabvu2498]

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!! dab can I use that one?

Stole it myself... all you...

[*BaseClogger*]

The first half of the game went exactly as I figured it would. Very even, both teams moving the ball pretty much at will, red-zone defense making the difference. FSU's ahead at the half if Winston isn't tackled on the six-inch line.

Second half? Still moving the ball at will but Oregon's drives ended in touchdowns and FSU's drives ended in turnovers. Sucks, but that's how it went and Oregon deserves the credit. Good luck against OSU.

Normally I would insist you give the Oregon defense a little more credit in causing those turnovers, but Winston turned the ball over at will all season--there was nothing surprising about that outcome...

[IslandRed]

Normally I would insist you give the Oregon defense a little more credit in causing those turnovers, but Winston turned the ball over at will all season--there was nothing surprising about that outcome...

For once, Winston wasn't responsible for most of them. He had one snafu -- the hilarious meme-worthy fumble when the game was already getting out of hand -- but otherwise played one of his better games of the season. The rest of the skill guys have had better days, to put it kindly, and Oregon absolutely deserves credit for that.

[Slyder]

For once, Winston wasn't responsible for most of them. He had one snafu -- the hilarious meme-worthy fumble when the game was already getting out of hand -- but otherwise played one of his better games of the season. The rest of the skill guys have had better days, to put it kindly, and Oregon absolutely deserves credit for that.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIAy3Ih_vsY

[GAC]

I really have no idea who is going to win Jan 12th. My gut gives it to Oregon; but the way OSU has been playing (especially their defense), and against some good teams - they are playing motivated (and with momentum).

Defensively, it definitely goes to OSU. Oregon's defense is not very good. Here's Oregon's ranking (vs OSU in parentheses) ....

Total Defense ...... 102nd (29th)
Yards/Game ........ 83rd (15th)
PassYds/Game .... 103rd (17th)
RushYds/Game .... 50th (28th)

As OSU fans, and going back to last season, we all had huge doubts about our defense, especially the secondary. I gave our defensive coordinators (Ash/Fickell) a lot of grief. But Ash, who was at Arkansas, is in his first season. I give a lot of credit to Meyer for getting him too. He came here with one objective - fix our secondary! Last year OSU was 112th in pass defense (268 yds/g). This year, OSU is 17th (188 yds/g). That's a pretty drastic improvement IMO.

Both of these two teams are built on speed. While both teams put up the yardage.... Oregon (7740), OSU (7136) ... offensively Oregon has the advantage, and as far as passing attack, OSU, this year, hasn't faced a QB of the caliber of Mariota. A huge test for our secondary.

OSU put up a pretty balanced attack vs 'Bama (36 pass attempts/ 42 rush attempts). And they just put up 281 yds rushing vs the #2 rush defense in the country. OSU is going to be running the ball vs Oregon and try to keep Mariota off the field as much as possible.

Who wins? All I know is that with two teams playing a very successful spread offense there will be a lot of points put up in this game. Should be a great game to watch.

[Roy Tucker]

I hate it that they're playing this game on a Monday night.

I think "defense" will be a relative term in this game. With both offenses, I think you just want to slow them down as much as you can and strip the ball when you can. But there is going to be scoring-galore in this game. OSU will run the ball a lot and hit the occasional bomb. Oregon will do their hurry-up and chew up yards quickly. I see it as a close, high-scoring game.

[Assembly Hall]

Personally, I think Oregon's run defense is over-rated so to speak. That is to say they get teams down early and force them to throw the ball. Kinda like Peyton and the Colts. And when you do that, you can put heavy pressure on the QB and take chances in the secondary. The best way to beat the Ducks is to keep their offense off the field. Let's call it for what it......the Bucks haven't faced a team like the Ducks and visa versa.

[kaldaniels]

Galloway had a good point. OSU is beat up. Oregon coasted. That matters.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Galloway had a good point. OSU is beat up. Oregon coasted. That matters.

I worry more about it from an emotional stand point. It was a cathartic win in a lot of ways for he Buckeyes. I think Oregon expected to win and did. I'm not saying OSU won't get up for this game, but with how the semi finals played out Oregon doesn't have to reset I guess.

[Slyder]

Personally, I think Oregon's run defense is over-rated so to speak. That is to say they get teams down early and force them to throw the ball. Kinda like Peyton and the Colts. And when you do that, you can put heavy pressure on the QB and take chances in the secondary. The best way to beat the Ducks is to keep their offense off the field. Let's call it for what it......the Bucks haven't faced a team like the Ducks and visa versa.

They're very opportunistic as shown by the FSU game. Oregon is at it's best when someone has to try and come back. They also convert when you give them the extra opportunities.

VS FSU First Half 2 turnovers (downs), 3 points while Oregon had 2 turnovers for 0 FSU points. 2nd Half 5 turnovers turned into like 35 points for Oregon.
Vs Michigan State 2 turnovers, 14 points off those turnovers. Outscored Michigan State 28-3 2nd Half.
Vs UCLA 3 turnovers and 1 missed fg, 28 points off those turnovers.
VS Cal 2 turnover on downs, 2 fumbles, 24 points off those turnovers.
VS WSU 1 missed fg, 1 fumble, and 1 turnover on downs (not counting the last one cause it ended the game), 21 points off these turnovers.

The only team to beat them (Arizona) allowed no turnovers in "good field position" with one int coming with 20 seconds left in the First Half at the Oregon 10, and the other at the Oregon 31.

They want to get you pressing, they really want you to beat yourself. They know their offense is going to score and score often, they just need to make a couple plays to get that extra possession for the offense to really pour it on. This is why I wish TCU had gotten in over FSU, you would have had a much higher quality team for Oregon to get gaged against (and note that's exactly how I would have rated them if I had been in that room)

1 Oregon, 2 Alabama, 3 OSU, 4 TCU to setup the games I thought would have made the best tv and given you the best opportunity to see 2 really compelling, must watch tv games.

[Assembly Hall]

Slyder,

I would like to think most good teams are opportunistic. Oregon is a fine team. And a lot of football games, no matter what the level, are determined by turnovers. That being said, the Bucks need to hang to the ball and shove it down their beaks so to speak.

I have no problem with the four you had in there. But FSU was undefeated from a Big 5, and call it for what it is, TCU didn't win their own conference.

[villain612]

TCU and Baylor had the same record and played in the same conference. With Baylor winning the head to head, I don't understand what universe TCU fans live in to think their team should've been in the playoff over Baylor.

[RedTeamGo!]

Galloway had a good point. OSU is beat up. Oregon coasted. That matters.

Didn't oregon's best receiver suffer a pretty bad injury, though?

Also their best defensive player, a db is out with a knee injury and their best safety took a beating against fsu having to leave a couple times.

It's not like Oregon played Toledo.

[Slyder]

I have no problem with the four you had in there. But FSU was undefeated from a Big 5, and call it for what it is, TCU didn't win their own conference.
If the purpose of this playoff is to get THE BEST FOUR TEAMS in there, then the committee failed, if the playoff is to get 4 conference champions in there then they succeeded.

I've watched all season and honestly FSU never came close to passing the eye test to me THIS YEAR. I know they somehow survived against what I and many viewed as a weaker conference (I believe even Sagarin had them rated behind the much maligned Big 10 much of the season). Baylor I always viewed as poor mans Miami without the national championships to back up the ego. Baylor's OOC were an outright joke, at least TCU had Minnesota. Baylor's coach is an egotistical a-hole, their players fit in with "the U" label minus the national titles. I didn't get to see them as often (only the WVU game in its entirety, and parts of others) but I thought they'd be a very poor matchup for teams because anyone with any discipline to go along with talent was going to give them fits. They CONSISTANTLY shoot themselves in the foot with STUPID penalties and plays much like what happened to FSU against Oregon. And its not like they blew TCU out at TCU they survived at home. Baylor got dominated by a WVU team who had an entire season of inconsistent play, problems with fumbles, and couldn't/didn't score without WVU giving them the ball in plus territory in that game.

I thought TCU was the better team and had the better overall strength of schedule if you include the OOC. I also have more respect for what Coach Patterson has done at TCU. So take it for what its worth, I won't try and say I'm impartial because I am not. I know it, I think Baylor got lucky that one night and if you were to replay that game TCU would win at least 3/4 of the time. I thought TCU games showed more than Baylor's did. Not having a 13th game hurt, that could have been the rematch of the season and a premier chance for TCU and Baylor to show again what they were made of. Instead the committee got to punish a team for winning by 50. If they were going to do that they should have done that WEEKS BEFORE they did. That was low rent IMO.

[Slyder]

I would like to think most good teams are opportunistic. Oregon is a fine team. And a lot of football games, no matter what the level, are determined by turnovers. That being said, the Bucks need to hang to the ball and shove it down their beaks so to speak.


It is true that most good teams are but how often do you see that kind of efficiency? When Oregon gets those mistakes they scored, and more often than not it was for 6. I wish WVU had ONE game of that kind of efficiency that Oregon did over the course of an ENTIRE year.

I would not be surprised to see OSU come real close or win it, I just think where Oregon is going to win it is much like how Alabama got out to a 21-6 (almost 23-6 lead) and Oregon isn't going to let you come back. We shall see it should be a real good game and I'm taking the over if its anything under about 80 because I see a TON of points coming on both sides of the scoreboard Monday.

[kaldaniels]

If the purpose of this playoff is to get THE BEST FOUR TEAMS in there, then the committee failed, if the playoff is to get 4 conference champions in there then they succeeded.

I've watched all season and honestly FSU never came close to passing the eye test to me THIS YEAR. I know they somehow survived against what I and many viewed as a weaker conference (I believe even Sagarin had them rated behind the much maligned Big 10 much of the season). Baylor I always viewed as poor mans Miami without the national championships to back up the ego. Baylor's OOC were an outright joke, at least TCU had Minnesota. Baylor's coach is an egotistical a-hole, their players fit in with "the U" label minus the national titles. I didn't get to see them as often (only the WVU game in its entirety, and parts of others) but I thought they'd be a very poor matchup for teams because anyone with any discipline to go along with talent was going to give them fits. They CONSISTANTLY shoot themselves in the foot with STUPID penalties and plays much like what happened to FSU against Oregon. And its not like they blew TCU out at TCU they survived at home. Baylor got dominated by a WVU team who had an entire season of inconsistent play, problems with fumbles, and couldn't/didn't score without WVU giving them the ball in plus territory in that game.

I thought TCU was the better team and had the better overall strength of schedule if you include the OOC. I also have more respect for what Coach Patterson has done at TCU. So take it for what its worth, I won't try and say I'm impartial because I am not. I know it, I think Baylor got lucky that one night and if you were to replay that game TCU would win at least 3/4 of the time. I thought TCU games showed more than Baylor's did. Not having a 13th game hurt, that could have been the rematch of the season and a premier chance for TCU and Baylor to show again what they were made of. Instead the committee got to punish a team for winning by 50. If they were going to do that they should have done that WEEKS BEFORE they did. That was low rent IMO.

I acutally kind of understand the committee ranking TCU over Baylor before the entire season was complete. They "looked" like the better team most of the year. But....after all the games were said and done, you had to put Baylor over TCU. Baylor, to me, was the problem child in all of this...at least in terms of causing TCU to be shut out of the playoff. FSU, despite not "looking the part", earned its way in. I really feel like OSU > Baylor was an easy choice. But I also feel like TCU makes it in if Baylor lost 2 games...shutting out OSU.

It really was a unique Mexican standoff of the 3 "controversial" one-loss teams.

If only 2 of the teams were in contention for the last head-to-head I think the committee would have gone:

OSU>Baylor
Baylor>TCU
TCU>OSU.

[Assembly Hall]

I have said time and time again that FSU was by far the worst team out of the four. They did it with smoke mirrors all year long. TCU should have been there, but dang they didn't win their conference.

[Stray]

Rooting for you Buckeyes to win the championship game, but Mariota and the Ducks are gonna test your defense a lot harder than Bama did. Offensively you should be able to get what you want on the Ducks tho. Take care of the ball and you can march up and down the field with your offensive line.

Gonna be an awesome matchup between two different styles of play. Urban Meyer is also a huge advantage to the Buckeyes. Against Saban I think they're a draw, which is a compliment to both really...I think both are top tier coaches, but in this matchup against Oregon I trust Urban to dial up some looks that'll give Oregon problems. Meyer is too good not to.

[GAC]

If the purpose of this playoff is to get THE BEST FOUR TEAMS in there, then the committee failed, if the playoff is to get 4 conference champions in there then they succeeded.

I actually do agree with you on this, as far as, IMO, those were the 4 best teams. But as AH mentioned .... the committee wasn't going to overlook the reigning national champion who went undefeated and were conference champs. It doesn't matter how they looked or played, at times, the bottom line is they ran the table. Again - remember some of those OSU teams that were in a similar situation, had the same accusations leveled at them, yet got in the NC games. And in the end - just as with FSU - they got exposed.

I actually felt sorry for TCU. How do you drop from #3 to #5? Not that OSU didn't deserve to be there too, it just presented the committee with a very perplexing situation/decision to make, and I think it came down to the B12 not having a conference championship game. And it also didn't help matters when the B12 AD named TCU and Baylor co-conference champions. Then what is the committee suppose to do?... who, of the two, deserves to go?

The committee, IMO, opted to take the easy out. ;)

[Assembly Hall]

I agree with you GAC.

But here is a twist. Everybody, including myself, says not having a conference championship hurt the Big 12. But wouldn't logic say that even if the Big 12 had 12 teams that Baylor and TCU would have been put in the same division? And the outcome would have been Baylor going to the championship game? I dunno, but it is interesting conversation.

[Sea Ray]

I actually do agree with you on this, as far as, IMO, those were the 4 best teams. But as AH mentioned .... the committee wasn't going to overlook the reigning national champion who went undefeated and were conference champs. It doesn't matter how they looked or played, at times, the bottom line is they ran the table. Again - remember some of those OSU teams that were in a similar situation, had the same accusations leveled at them, yet got in the NC games. And in the end - just as with FSU - they got exposed.

I actually felt sorry for TCU. How do you drop from #3 to #5? Not that OSU didn't deserve to be there too, it just presented the committee with a very perplexing situation/decision to make, and I think it came down to the B12 not having a conference championship game. And it also didn't help matters when the B12 AD named TCU and Baylor co-conference champions. Then what is the committee suppose to do?... who, of the two, deserves to go?

The committee, IMO, opted to take the easy out. ;)

If they're going to stick with this system for awhile, I hope future committees consider not including undefeated teams with weak schedules. So what if FSU was undefeated? TCU only had one loss and it was to a better team than anyone FSU played

[Assembly Hall]

If they're going to stick with this system for awhile, I hope future committees consider not including undefeated teams with weak schedules. So what if FSU was undefeated? TCU only had one loss and it was to a better team than anyone FSU played

I don't agree SR. I am the biggest Nole hater out there but weak schedule? The conference games are dealt to you, FSU cant control that. However, they played at Okie St., with the agreement the Irish made with the ACC the Noles played Notre Dame, and to top it off they played Florida. That looks like a pretty formidable OOC schedule to me. Actually probably better than any other Big 5 school out there. To top it off they beat a Ga. Tech team at the end of the year. How do you keep them out. Their problem was they didn't impress and to be honest there were probably 10+ teams out there that would have waxed them. JMHO.

[Sea Ray]

I don't agree SR. I am the biggest Nole hater out there but weak schedule? The conference games are dealt to you, FSU cant control that. However, they played at Okie St., with the agreement the Irish made with the ACC the Noles played Notre Dame, and to top it off they played Florida. That looks like a pretty formidable OOC schedule to me. Actually probably better than any other Big 5 school out there. To top it off they beat a Ga. Tech team at the end of the year. How do you keep them out. Their problem was they didn't impress and to be honest there were probably 10+ teams out there that would have waxed them. JMHO.

My point is this:

The committee's job is to pick the 4 best teams as of about Dec 1st. FSU was not one of the 4 best teams. In that sense they failed.

Do you disagree with that?

[bucksfan2]

My point is this:

The committee's job is to pick the 4 best teams as of about Dec 1st. FSU was not one of the 4 best teams. In that sense they failed.

Do you disagree with that?

Problem with that logic is not losing a game has to count. No power 5 conference team is going to be left out if the run the table. While I don't think they were all that impressive at times, they went out and scheduled 3 non conference power 5 opponents and won all their games. IMO their schedule was better than what Baylor or TCU played.

[kaldaniels]

"The Best"

Is it the best 4 teams on Jan 1?

Is it the 4 teams that had the best 4 overall seasons?

Or is it a shade or gray as things usually are? SeaRay appears to go with choice 1 above. By using the best 4 teams on January 1 option you could easily have a situation where a teams star QB is out the first 5 games resulting in 3 losses. If the team is amazing upon his return, should they be considered?

[Boston Red]

If they're going to stick with this system for awhile, I hope future committees consider not including undefeated teams with weak schedules. So what if FSU was undefeated? TCU only had one loss and it was to a better team than anyone FSU played

FSU's strength of schedule was about the same as Ohio State's. And they went undefeated in ACC. Ohio State went 0-1.

[Assembly Hall]

My point is this:

The committee's job is to pick the 4 best teams as of about Dec 1st. FSU was not one of the 4 best teams. In that sense they failed.

Do you disagree with that?

Yes I do. They played perhaps the best non-conference schedule out of the Big 5. I know the ACC was the weakest out of the five, but the conference schedule is what it is. That wasn't FSU's fault.

Picking the 4 best teams is subjective. But I imagine the committee has some sort of protocol in place....I don't know what it is.

But leaving the defending NCs out after 20+ consecutive victories doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

[Sea Ray]

Problem with that logic is not losing a game has to count. No power 5 conference team is going to be left out if the run the table. While I don't think they were all that impressive at times, they went out and scheduled 3 non conference power 5 opponents and won all their games. IMO their schedule was better than what Baylor or TCU played.

I understand that no undefeated power 5 conference team will be left out but I'm thinking outside the box and raising the question: Is that the way it should be? We saw undefeated teams a few years ago get blown out in NCs. I do not think undefeated power 5 conferences should get automatic nods over teams that had losses who played superior opponents. By that thinking Marshall would have been far overrated going into their final game

Simply put, I don't think there should be any "automatic bids" in this process

[Sea Ray]

Yes I do. They played perhaps the best non-conference schedule out of the Big 5. I know the ACC was the weakest out of the five, but the conference schedule is what it is. That wasn't FSU's fault.

Picking the 4 best teams is subjective. But I imagine the committee has some sort of protocol in place....I don't know what it is.

But leaving the defending NCs out after 20+ consecutive victories doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

Do you think the committee picked the 4 best teams this year? Do you think FSU would win on a neutral field vs TCU?

[redrum]

Do you think the committee picked the 4 best teams this year? Do you think FSU would win on a neutral field vs TCU?

I don't think it is a given that Alabama would beat TCU on a neutral field. I'm also not sure who would win between Alabama and FSU. After all FSU beat the SEC's best in last year's championship game. Who is to say that Alabama wasn't the weak link?

[Sea Ray]

I don't think it is a given that Alabama would beat TCU on a neutral field. I'm also not sure who would win between Alabama and FSU. After all FSU beat the SEC's best in last year's championship game. Who is to say that Alabama wasn't the weak link?

You're making my point. You're giving another scenario where the committee did not pick the best 4 teams

[redrum]

You're making my point. You're giving another scenario where the committee did not pick the best 4 teams

The committee MIGHT not have selected the best 4 teams, but maybe they did. There is no way to know and really no way to 'fix' it. No matter the number, making a list of the top N teams is subjective and open to debate. TCU looked awfully good and FSU looked awfully bad, but FSU played Oregon and TCU played Ole Miss. Maybe part of the difference was the quality of play by their respective opponents.

I fully believe that on any given day any of the top 20 teams could beat any other of the top 20 teams. That is what makes the SEC west so interesting (and strong), every conference game is a potential loss. If you expand the playoffs you are actually making it less likely the best team will win.

[kaldaniels]

I said before the playoff FSU would have been my #1 seed. Take issue with that if you will.

But they were the only unbeaten team in the land and defending National Champs. And frankly, a respectable schedule. (I will be interested in how the Bowls affect the SOS for many teams) You have to at least include them in the playoff. And just because they got ran off the field one afternoon...does not make the committee's decision to include them a failure. (But if you will be pointing the finger of failure at the committee just realize, on their own website they state no system is going to be perfect)

Does TCU beat FSU on the proverbial neutral field...who knows. I saw TCU squeak by KU about 4 games ago...let's not forget about that team. FSU imploded in freakish fashion in the second half against Oregon (the Ducks played great too)...but it was just a 5 point game at the half. I think Oregon goes into the half up by 14 vs TCU, but that's all academic. And I think the world of TCU...but one weekend does not convince me. If I was really pushing it I would start to think about the motives/desire TCU and MSU had going into their game. Point being, the TCU-MSU game and the FSU-Oregon game do not convince me beyond a shadow of a doubt TCU is better than FSU...though I would lean that way.

[Assembly Hall]

Do you think the committee picked the 4 best teams this year? Do you think FSU would win on a neutral field vs TCU?

I think they picked the best four as far as whatever criteria they had. And personally, I think TCU wins that game.

[Assembly Hall]

I will say this much from my personal stand point. When you got 5 power conferences and only a 4 team play-off, it opens a can of worms.

[villain612]

I am probably a lone voice on this one, but I think 4 teams is just about right.

Once you go to 8, you're going to start getting 2 loss teams who have no business playing for the title.

I'd rather have a 5th ranked team complain about not getting included and keep the integrity of the regular season than expand to 8 like everyone wants to.

[Assembly Hall]

I am probably a lone voice on this one, but I think 4 teams is just about right.

Once you go to 8, you're going to start getting 2 loss teams who have no business playing for the title.

I'd rather have a 5th ranked team complain about not getting included and keep the integrity of the regular season than expand to 8 like everyone wants to.

I can understand that. But what if you got 8 one-loss teams? LOL

[Slyder]

I am probably a lone voice on this one, but I think 4 teams is just about right.

Once you go to 8, you're going to start getting 2 loss teams who have no business playing for the title.

I'd rather have a 5th ranked team complain about not getting included and keep the integrity of the regular season than expand to 8 like everyone wants to.

What about 6 team? You can't say there wasn't/isn't 6 teams almost every year that could be believable in the tournament.

Teams selected early Dec.
1 & 2 gets byes.
3 & 4 host 5&6

Week off Game 1 right before the bowls start.
Winners play NYD
Championship the following week.

Using the current commitees top teams...
1 Alabama and 2 Oregon get byes
3 Florida State vs 6 TCU
4 Ohio State vs 5 Baylor

You can either NFL style it or just say Game 4 v 5 plays #1 regardless after.

[bucksfan2]

I understand that no undefeated power 5 conference team will be left out but I'm thinking outside the box and raising the question: Is that the way it should be? We saw undefeated teams a few years ago get blown out in NCs. I do not think undefeated power 5 conferences should get automatic nods over teams that had losses who played superior opponents. By that thinking Marshall would have been far overrated going into their final game

Simply put, I don't think there should be any "automatic bids" in this process

I don't quite understand your logic here. Do you want the best 4 teams over the entire football season or do you want the teams who are playing the best at the end of the season? Because if you want the ladder you are bringing in teams with a couple of losses or more because they were young and got better. FSU was the ONLY power school that ran the table undefeated. OSU, Alabama, TCU, and Baylor all had games in which they lost during the football season. You have to consider that. It has to be the best 4 teams over the course of a season, not who looks the best when the final teams are picked. I think the committee did a disservice to the selection part by broadcasting weekly rankings as early as they did. And they did the boneheaded thing of moving TCU up to three prior to the end of the season.

[Sea Ray]

I don't quite understand your logic here. Do you want the best 4 teams over the entire football season or do you want the teams who are playing the best at the end of the season? Because if you want the ladder you are bringing in teams with a couple of losses or more because they were young and got better. FSU was the ONLY power school that ran the table undefeated. OSU, Alabama, TCU, and Baylor all had games in which they lost during the football season. You have to consider that. It has to be the best 4 teams over the course of a season, not who looks the best when the final teams are picked. I think the committee did a disservice to the selection part by broadcasting weekly rankings as early as they did. And they did the boneheaded thing of moving TCU up to three prior to the end of the season.

I want the best 4 teams as of the end of the year. Since NCAA schedules vary so much, I think too much emphasis is put on records. Why should a loss here or there have so much clout when comparing teams with few or no common opponents? This isn't the NFL.

[gonelong]

I want the best 4 teams as of the end of the year. Since NCAA schedules vary so much, I think too much emphasis is put on records. Why should a loss here or there have so much clout when comparing teams with few or no common opponents? This isn't the NFL.

How will the "4 best" teams be selected? No thanks.

There was a good deal of discussion about an OSU/Mich rematch in the title game in 2007. I was against it. Imagine if that rematch had happened and FLA had not been given a chance to win that NC? The Big10 would have another National championship and continue to cement its reputation as one of, if not *the* premier conferences in NCAA football. Recruiting would be affected, as would rankings for the next (or several) seasons afterwards.

Flash forward. The "best teams" line of thinking led to the ALA/LSU National championship match-up. They handed a NC to the conference that year, robbing Oklahoma State of the chance to earn that title. OK St beat a good Standford team in their bowl and very well might have handled LSU that year. A straight up sham. Imagine how an OK St win would have altered the college landscape.

For football, I want conference champs. I don't care about injuries, I don't care about your schedule, etc. If you can't win your conference, you don't get a chance to be National Champion. If you don't get a fair shake in your conference, bring it up with them. Let each conference determine how they want to pick their champion and put them all in a playoff. Nobody has displayed a good track record of determining when one conference is up and another is down and vice/versa ... it remains a popularity contest (ask Baylor or TCU) which is a great disservice those that put in the work to get their chance. Give every team in the power 5 a legitimate chance to make the playoff by winning their respective conference. Then they each have their chance. If that means a 2 loss SEC team or a one loss Oklahoma State wins the whole thing, I have no issue with that. Bravo!

On a side note ... I am amazed the teams outside of the Power5 conferences don't get together and have their own playoff. Invite the power 5 conference winners each year and then when they don't show declare your winner the only true National Champion. I suspect you could sell this to ESPN and make more than these teams generally make going to a 3rd rate bowl game.

GL

[villain612]

I think conference titles should be considered by the committee but I do not want automatic bids. Every now and then a 2 or 3 loss team will win a major conference.

And in addition to that, if all you have to do to get in the tournament is to win your conference, you might as well schedule cupcake FCS teams for your non conference scheduling instead of playing decent opponents.

It would render out of conference scheduling virtually meaningless with automatic bids.

[Assembly Hall]

I think conference titles should be considered by the committee but I do not want automatic bids. Every now and then a 2 or 3 loss team will win a major conference.

And in addition to that, if all you have to do to get in the tournament is to win your conference, you might as well schedule cupcake FCS teams for your non conference scheduling instead of playing decent opponents.

It would render out of conference scheduling virtually meaningless with automatic bids.

Well, I am in favor of automatic bids. But I know what you are saying and concur.

[gonelong]

I think conference titles should be considered by the committee but I do not want automatic bids. Every now and then a 2 or 3 loss team will win a major conference.

So? If the league is soft and you have 2 or 3 losses they will get trucked. If your leagues is difficult, etc. then 2-3 losses is not an automatic dis-qualifier. I have yet to see a system that consistently and accurately rates the conferences and the teams in them. Everybody (in the Power5) gets a shot to prove it on the field.


And in addition to that, if all you have to do to get in the tournament is to win your conference, you might as well schedule cupcake FCS teams for your non conference scheduling instead of playing decent opponents.

If out of conference games don't affect your standing within the conference you'd see an astounding increase in quality out of conference games. Everybody currently schedules cupcake FCS teams.


It would render out of conference scheduling virtually meaningless with automatic bids.

What we have now is meaningful? No way.

GL

[Assembly Hall]

What about 6 team? You can't say there wasn't/isn't 6 teams almost every year that could be believable in the tournament.

Teams selected early Dec.
1 & 2 gets byes.
3 & 4 host 5&6

Week off Game 1 right before the bowls start.
Winners play NYD
Championship the following week.

Using the current commitees top teams...
1 Alabama and 2 Oregon get byes
3 Florida State vs 6 TCU
4 Ohio State vs 5 Baylor

You can either NFL style it or just say Game 4 v 5 plays #1 regardless after.

I like it Slyder......I would prefer an 8 team field, but this year your formula would have worked perfectly.

[villain612]

So? If the league is soft and you have 2 or 3 losses they will get trucked. If your leagues is difficult, etc. then 2-3 losses is not an automatic dis-qualifier. I have yet to see a system that consistently and accurately rates the conferences and the teams in them. Everybody (in the Power5) gets a shot to prove it on the field.



Perhaps its a philosophical difference but I don't care if they win their conference or not, I don't think a 3 loss team has any business competing for a national title. I'll say the same thing for a 2 loss team. I know there was that one flukey year in 2007 when everyone ended up with 2 losses and LSU got in the title game, but that is an extreme exception. It's only happened once.




If out of conference games don't affect your standing within the conference you'd see an astounding increase in quality out of conference games. Everybody currently schedules cupcake FCS teams.



Ohio State didn't.



What we have now is meaningful? No way.

I don't have the exact numbers but Ohio State's out of conference strength of schedule was in the 40's I think, and both TCU and Baylor's were in the 100's. That mattered to the committee.

[Slyder]

I like it Slyder......I would prefer an 8 team field, but this year your formula would have worked perfectly.

I think most years it would work and not put too much extra on the plate of the student athletes. Most years (you might have to squint for a couple) I think its safe to say you have a legitimate 6 without dragging it out.

[Sea Ray]

How will the "4 best" teams be selected? No thanks.

There was a good deal of discussion about an OSU/Mich rematch in the title game in 2007. I was against it. Imagine if that rematch had happened and FLA had not been given a chance to win that NC? The Big10 would have another National championship and continue to cement its reputation as one of, if not *the* premier conferences in NCAA football. Recruiting would be affected, as would rankings for the next (or several) seasons afterwards.

Flash forward. The "best teams" line of thinking led to the ALA/LSU National championship match-up. They handed a NC to the conference that year, robbing Oklahoma State of the chance to earn that title. OK St beat a good Standford team in their bowl and very well might have handled LSU that year. A straight up sham. Imagine how an OK St win would have altered the college landscape.

For football, I want conference champs. I don't care about injuries, I don't care about your schedule, etc. If you can't win your conference, you don't get a chance to be National Champion. If you don't get a fair shake in your conference, bring it up with them. Let each conference determine how they want to pick their champion and put them all in a playoff. Nobody has displayed a good track record of determining when one conference is up and another is down and vice/versa ... it remains a popularity contest (ask Baylor or TCU) which is a great disservice those that put in the work to get their chance. Give every team in the power 5 a legitimate chance to make the playoff by winning their respective conference. Then they each have their chance. If that means a 2 loss SEC team or a one loss Oklahoma State wins the whole thing, I have no issue with that. Bravo!

On a side note ... I am amazed the teams outside of the Power5 conferences don't get together and have their own playoff. Invite the power 5 conference winners each year and then when they don't show declare your winner the only true National Champion. I suspect you could sell this to ESPN and make more than these teams generally make going to a 3rd rate bowl game.

GL

How are they selected now? By committee. I'm not suggesting anything different.

[Assembly Hall]

I think most years it would work and not put too much extra on the plate of the student athletes. Most years (you might have to squint for a couple) I think its safe to say you have a legitimate 6 without dragging it out.


As I said, I like the automatic qualifiers. I understand Villain's concern about having a conference champ that has 3 losses. But my 8 team field would automatically qualify all the Power 5 conference champions and add three "at larges". And those three at larges would allow teams in that happened to be in a tough conference. The committee could pick those teams, as they do now with the four, as well as seed them by what ever criteria they want to put in place, regardless of overall record.

I know we all have the ability of hind sight right now.............but looking back on it these are the 8 teams that I would have put in it this year.

Automatic Bids:

Ohio St.

Alabama

Florida St.

Oregon

Baylor

At Larges

TCU

Michigan St.

Georgia Tech

Give them a week off after the conference championship games and then play the quarter final games. Higher seed gets the home game. Then when it is knocked down to 4, pick up with what they are doing this year.

[Kingspoint]

I guarantee that some City/County/State officials from both States will find ways to use tax-payer's money to fund "tourism" explorations to Texas.

[redrum]

How are they selected now? By committee. I'm not suggesting anything different.

What are you suggesting then? You say TCU should have been included, but then who should have been excluded? With so few common opponents it is purely subjective. Even the premise that the SEC was significantly stronger than any other conference was subjective - and took a hit this post season. And based on Georgia's performance against Miss St., maybe the ACC wasn't all that bad. What was the correct 4, and how could the committee have gotten it right in the first place?

[Sea Ray]

What are you suggesting then? You say TCU should have been included, but then who should have been excluded? With so few common opponents it is purely subjective. Even the premise that the SEC was significantly stronger than any other conference was subjective - and took a hit this post season. And based on Georgia's performance against Miss St., maybe the ACC wasn't all that bad. What was the correct 4, and how could the committee have gotten it right in the first place?

It's not fair to the committee for me to use hindsight but since you asked, I think the four teams should have been OSU, Oregon, Bama and TCU.

What I'm suggesting is that they not give automatic bids to undefeated teams from weak conferences

[Kingspoint]

No automatic bids.

Let a vote decide the best eight. If you're number 9 or 10, then too bad. You should have played better so that there wasn't a question mark. There will never be a perfect system. Eight is the right amount. Four is too few. 12 or 16 too many...waters down the regular season.

[redrum]

It's not fair to the committee for me to use hindsight but since you asked, I think the four teams should have been OSU, Oregon, Bama and TCU.

What I'm suggesting is that they not give automatic bids to undefeated teams from weak conferences

FSU was not only undefeated, but they were the reigning champions having beaten the SEC champion the previous year. I don't think it was an automatic bid, but it would have been insanity to exclude them.

[redrum]

Not to mention that 'strength of conference' is itself extremely subjective. And since most games are played within the conference that makes 'strength of schedule' quite subjective as well.

[villain612]

People can rightfully look down on how FSU played during the year but defending national champs, undefeated, played in a power 5 conference: no way they should get left out of the final 4. I thought the committee nailed it.

[Assembly Hall]

People can rightfully look down on how FSU played during the year but defending national champs, undefeated, played in a power 5 conference: no way they should get left out of the final 4. I thought the committee nailed it.

And played the toughest OOC of them all.

[gonelong]

What I'm suggesting is that they not give automatic bids to undefeated teams from weak conferences

Weak or strong is only a perception until the dust settles. You, nor I, nor anyone has shown the ability to consistently determine when a conferences has stepped ahead of, or behind another.

It robs the kids who put in the time, blood, sweat, and tears a chance to compete.

GL

[MWM]

I also think it's insane to leave an undefeated team from one of the big conferences out. The whole thing isn't science and it's not like college football is solving world hunger. So what if every once in a while one team winds up in rather another that may have been "better". Is that really the worst thing in the world?

You put together the best system possible, but there are going to be weaknesses. There is no perfect system. Even professional sports aren't perfect, as evidenced by this year's Carolina Panthers. There's no way to avoid anomalies without bringing way too much subjectivity into play. This is even more true in a sport where there's so little overlap of opponents. Making it the "4 best teams" without any objective criteria is a recipe for disaster.

[villain612]

There are 128 teams in FBS. Florida State is the only one who went through their regular season undefeated.

If it were easy, more teams would do it. Being undefeated in a Power 5 conference is about the only automatic qualifier I'd be okay with giving.

[IslandRed]

I'm not a fan of redlining entire conferences when there are only five that matter to begin with. If a Power 5 team that runs the table and plays a good non-conference schedule hasn't earned a shot at the title -- if you think the conference is THAT weak -- then at least have the honesty to cut them out of the deal up front, like they did with the Big East.

(When the playoff talk started brewing and realignment rumors were everywhere, many FSU fans were convinced the SEC, B1G, Pac-12 and Big 12 were about to do that very thing. Four-team playoff... four conferences... seemed logical. Thus the near-panic among some to jump ship.)

[Assembly Hall]

There are 128 teams in FBS. Florida State is the only one who went through their regular season undefeated.

If it were easy, more teams would do it. Being undefeated in a Power 5 conference is about the only automatic qualifier I'd be okay with giving.

I think the majority of us believe that FSU should have been included. I also believe the majority of us feel that FSU was not the best team in the country. I think back a few years when Notre Dame ran the table and got crushed in the NC game. Had it not been for Ohio St. being in-eligible, It would have been the Irish vs. the Bucks. Notre Dame's schedule at the beginning of the year looked ominous, but at the end of the year it was so-so. Ohio St. stormed through the B1G and that particular year the conference was absolutely horrid. But undefeated is undefeated.

[Sea Ray]

I think the majority of us believe that FSU should have been included. I also believe the majority of us feel that FSU was not the best team in the country. I think back a few years when Notre Dame ran the table and got crushed in the NC game. Had it not been for Ohio St. being in-eligible, It would have been the Irish vs. the Bucks. Notre Dame's schedule at the beginning of the year looked ominous, but at the end of the year it was so-so. Ohio St. stormed through the B1G and that particular year the conference was absolutely horrid. But undefeated is undefeated.

The question isn't whether you felt that FSU was the best team in the country...Do you think they were one of the best 4 teams in the country?

[Assembly Hall]

The question isn't whether you felt that FSU was the best team in the country...Do you think they were one of the best 4 teams in the country?

No, I didn't.

[Sea Ray]

No, I didn't.

That's my point. If you think one of the precious 4 spots should go to honor a team due to its past, fine, but understand that you're not picking the 4 best teams

[Assembly Hall]

That's my point. If you think one of the precious 4 spots should go to honor a team due to its past, fine, but understand that you're not picking the 4 best teams

I sometimes have the habit of comparing college football to college basketball. I know the structure is completely different. But if you go back into the 70's 32 teams got invites. And they weren't the 32 best teams out there. Quite a few years the second best team in the country didn't get to participate. It was the criteria set in place. Now I don't know what the committees criteria is...but as I said earlier the best teams don't always win or in this case even get in.

[Roy Tucker]

I think the playoff committee has a very difficult task. Two things.... The college game is very regional and heterogeneous. Trying to compare teams with uneven schedules is hard. And there don't seem to be any accurate advanced analytics (like in MLB, NFL, and NBA) that you can use with any degree of certainty. So it's hard not to fall back on the age-old AP/UPI college ranking "rules". And a top rule is being undefeated. That seems to trump most everything.

Maybe in the future, a lesson will have been learned in 2014 and that unwritten rule won't be so ironclad. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

[Assembly Hall]

I agree with ya Roy. Going undefeated trumps everything.

This thread has me thinking about a lot of things. One of the things is that with this 4 team play-off, I think the ACC is gonna slow but sure get squeezed out of the equation. I do believe that this year was an anomaly, it is too bad it happened the first year it was in place.

[top6]

I still think an 8 team playoff makes the most sense, with round 1 the week after the conference championship games.

The 8 teams are the 5 power conference champions, plus 3 other teams, but with the caveat that any remaining undefeated teams automatically get a spot.

The committee still ranks the teams for seeding and to pick the 3 other teams (if necessary), and the top 4 teams plays their first round game at home.

This would give every team a chance to make the tournament regardless of what a committee thinks (except in the unlikely case that there are more than 3 undefeated teams who are not Power 5 champions). The regular season would still be very meaningful (especially because the reward for a top 4 seed would be so great). And, by the way, the Round 1 losers can still play in bowl games if they want so there will still be big bowls.

[Assembly Hall]

I love it top6. The only problem I see is potential games being played in bad weather.

[IslandRed]

I agree with ya Roy. Going undefeated trumps everything.

This thread has me thinking about a lot of things. One of the things is that with this 4 team play-off, I think the ACC is gonna slow but sure get squeezed out of the equation. I do believe that this year was an anomaly, it is too bad it happened the first year it was in place.

It will certainly hurt teams that scrape through unbeaten without ever really looking like a championship club. Well -- it would hurt some teams. We could certainly come up with a list of favored names that would never be left out as an unbeaten, no matter how ugly it was.

As for the ACC, I don't know if they'll be squeezed out necessarily, but the reality is they'll have a higher bar to clear. Unbeaten? Better be winning them in style. Once beaten? Forget it. And it really doesn't matter if the league improves over the next decade or not. People think what they think.

[bucksfan2]

I love it top6. The only problem I see is potential games being played in bad weather.

You mean like seeing LSU playing outdoors in East Lansing or Happy Valley? I love that idea. Because it sure gets old seeing LSU playing in a big bowl game at home. Or USC playing in the Rose Bowl or a Florida team playing in Miami.

[MWM]

I wouldn't want anything done that would deter teams from scheduling tough non-conference games. That's the one thing college football is missing. I'd love to see more early season games against top programs from different conferences. I'd like to see that be rewarded somehow.... but not by these composite "strength of schedule" calculations that are mostly rubbish.

[villain612]

If I could boil it down, the committee should pick the 4 teams that deserve to be there.

The term "best" is much more subjective. Determining if a team deserves to be there is much more quantifiable based on a team's record, strength of schedule, etc.

As far as raw talent goes, Alabama could have very well been the "best" team in the country last year. But they didn't deserve to go to the title game. Sometimes the "best" team doesn't always win on the field. Having a 4 team playoff makes the margin of error much easier for the committee than just picking two. But I will always take deserves to be there over "best".

[Assembly Hall]

You mean like seeing LSU playing outdoors in East Lansing or Happy Valley? I love that idea. Because it sure gets old seeing LSU playing in a big bowl game at home. Or USC playing in the Rose Bowl or a Florida team playing in Miami.

LOL..........How about Alabama playing at Boise St.?

[bucksfan2]

LOL..........How about Alabama playing at Boise St.?

I get the whole idea about playing in perfect conditions, but that is a misnomer, those don't exist. I know southern teams don't want to travel north because of the cold, but how about northern teams traveling south to play in humidity?

[Sea Ray]

I sometimes have the habit of comparing college football to college basketball. I know the structure is completely different. But if you go back into the 70's 32 teams got invites. And they weren't the 32 best teams out there. Quite a few years the second best team in the country didn't get to participate. It was the criteria set in place. Now I don't know what the committees criteria is...but as I said earlier the best teams don't always win or in this case even get in.

The basketball set up is totally different. It's big enough that the inclusion of teams outside of the top 32 is not a big deal. I imagine it included automatic invites. Football is not to that point

[Sea Ray]

I still think an 8 team playoff makes the most sense, with round 1 the week after the conference championship games.

The 8 teams are the 5 power conference champions, plus 3 other teams, but with the caveat that any remaining undefeated teams automatically get a spot.

The committee still ranks the teams for seeding and to pick the 3 other teams (if necessary), and the top 4 teams plays their first round game at home.

This would give every team a chance to make the tournament regardless of what a committee thinks (except in the unlikely case that there are more than 3 undefeated teams who are not Power 5 champions). The regular season would still be very meaningful (especially because the reward for a top 4 seed would be so great). And, by the way, the Round 1 losers can still play in bowl games if they want so there will still be big bowls.

Sounds good but I think a week is a little quick. In order for teams to be chosen, schedule and arrange the games they'd need two weeks

[Sea Ray]

I get the whole idea about playing in perfect conditions, but that is a misnomer, those don't exist. I know southern teams don't want to travel north because of the cold, but how about northern teams traveling south to play in humidity?

Humidity's not a problem in the south in December. But I am OK with a higher seeded team getting a home field advantage for the first week. If Florida has to travel to Ann Arbor, so be it

[Assembly Hall]

The basketball set up is totally different. It's big enough that the inclusion of teams outside of the top 32 is not a big deal. I imagine it included automatic invites. Football is not to that point

No, my point was that those 32 back in those days never had the best 32....never.

[Sea Ray]

No, my point was that those 32 back in those days never had the best 32....never.

Yeah I get that. My point is that those 32 likely included the top 4 or 5

[bucksfan2]

Humidity's not a problem in the south in December. But I am OK with a higher seeded team getting a home field advantage for the first week. If Florida has to travel to Ann Arbor, so be it

Warm temperatures in December/January are something northern teams have to deal with, especially coming from freezing temps. It may not be terribly humid, but it is an obstacle.

[Assembly Hall]

Yeah I get that. My point is that those 32 likely included the top 4 or 5

Nope, that is why they came up with the "Maryland Rule". Up until 1975 only one team per conference was allowed in. Funny how the year after they allowed 2 teams from the same conference in, that Indiana played Michigan for the national title.

[Sea Ray]

Nope, that is why they came up with the "Maryland Rule". Up until 1975 only one team per conference was allowed in. Funny how the year after they allowed 2 teams from the same conference in, that Indiana played Michigan for the national title.

Thanks for the history of the tournament. If that's really the way they did it then, yeah, that was stupid. Let's not repeat anything like that

[Assembly Hall]

Thanks for the history of the tournament. If that's really the way they did it then, yeah, that was stupid. Let's not repeat anything like that

I didn't say it wasn't, I am saying it was just the accepted method back in those days. Another thing is they regionalized the teams. You could have had the 4 best teams in the country playing in the same regional and only one would make it to the Final Four.

But I agree with ya on trying to get it right in football. Sooner or later they will, or as close to perfect as possible.

[Kingspoint]

Thanks for the history of the tournament. If that's really the way they did it then, yeah, that was stupid. Let's not repeat anything like that

From Wikipedia...

The NCAA tournament has expanded a number of times throughout its history. This is a breakdown of the history of the tournament formats:

1939–1950: 8 teams
1951–1952: 16 teams
1953–1974: varied between 22 and 25 teams
1975–1978: 32 teams
1979: 40 teams
1980–1982: 48 teams
1983: 52 teams (four play-in games before the tournament)
1984: 53 teams (five play-in games before the tournament)
1985–2000: 64 teams
2001–2010: 65 teams (one play-in game to determine whether the 64th or 65th team plays in the first round)
2011–present: 68 teams (four play-in games in the first round before all remaining teams compete in the second round)
After the conclusion of the 2010 tournament, there was much speculation about increasing the tournament size to as many as 128 teams. On April 1, 2010, the NCAA announced that it was looking at expanding to 96 teams for 2011. On April 22, 2010, the NCAA announced a new television contract with CBS/Turner that would expand the field, but only to 68 teams.

Other changes
Prior to 1975, only one team per conference could be in the NCAA tournament. However, after several highly ranked teams in the country were denied entrance into the tournament (e.g., South Carolina, which was 14-0 in conference play during 1970, Southern Cal, which was ranked #2 in the nation during 1971, and Maryland, which was ranked #3 in the nation in 1974), the NCAA began to place at-large teams in the tournament, instead of just conference champions. At times during the pre-at-large era, the NIT tournament competed for prestige with the NCAA tournament. However, in the 1950s the NCAA ruled that no team could compete in both tournaments, in effect indicating that if a team were eligible for the NCAA tournament, it had better play in it. Since then, the NCAA tournament has clearly been the major one, with conference champions and the majority of the top-ranked teams participating in it.

[Assembly Hall]

Thanks for putting that up there Kings. If you go through that stuff year by year....there were a lot of teams that were in the Top 20 that didn't make the field based on the final polls.

They expanded to 40 in '79. As a B1G fan that year raises my eyebrows. That year, there was a 3-way tie for 1st. Purdue was one of those teams and they got left out. Purdue made the Final Four the following year, but Boiler fans would tell you they got hosed and that the '79 team was better. BTW, '79 is the year that Michigan St. won the title.

With this football stuff, I just dunno. It is possible to have the four best teams in the country that could be from the same conference.

[bucksfan2]

Thanks for putting that up there Kings. If you go through that stuff year by year....there were a lot of teams that were in the Top 20 that didn't make the field based on the final polls.

They expanded to 40 in '79. As a B1G fan that year raises my eyebrows. That year, there was a 3-way tie for 1st. Purdue was one of those teams and they got left out. Purdue made the Final Four the following year, but Boiler fans would tell you they got hosed and that the '79 team was better. BTW, '79 is the year that Michigan St. won the title.

With this football stuff, I just dunno. It is possible to have the four best teams in the country that could be from the same conference.

It is, the SEC West tried to claim that this season. The problem in football is without playing quality OCC opponents on the road and at neutral sites you really don't know. There was a time when pundits thought Alabama, Miss St, and Ole Miss were the top three teams in the country because they beat each other up. Well that self proclaiming prophecy really came to an abrupt end when they laid an egg in the bowls.

I don't really like bowls as judgement tools, but when teams like the Mississippi's best OCC opponent combined is Boise St, what other tool do you have?

[Assembly Hall]

It is, the SEC West tried to claim that this season. The problem in football is without playing quality OCC opponents on the road and at neutral sites you really don't know. There was a time when pundits thought Alabama, Miss St, and Ole Miss were the top three teams in the country because they beat each other up. Well that self proclaiming prophecy really came to an abrupt end when they laid an egg in the bowls.

I don't really like bowls as judgement tools, but when teams like the Mississippi's best OCC opponent combined is Boise St, what other tool do you have?

I agree bucksfan2. It is hard to judge a conference when they don't play anybody decent OOC and beat up on each other within conference play. I am with dab, I think the NCAA needs to step in and force the Power 5 conferences to play non-conference games against each and they ought to limit the number of home games they play as well.

[*BaseClogger*]

If I could boil it down, the committee should pick the 4 teams that deserve to be there.

The term "best" is much more subjective. Determining if a team deserves to be there is much more quantifiable based on a team's record, strength of schedule, etc.

As far as raw talent goes, Alabama could have very well been the "best" team in the country last year. But they didn't deserve to go to the title game. Sometimes the "best" team doesn't always win on the field. Having a 4 team playoff makes the margin of error much easier for the committee than just picking two. But I will always take deserves to be there over "best".

Word.

What's to say a 6-6 team that started 0-6 and then won six straight games by 100 points doesn't look like one of the four "best" teams in the country come December (hyperbole intentional, but you get the point)?

[Sea Ray]

Word.

What's to say a 6-6 team that started 0-6 and then won six straight games by 100 points doesn't look like one of the four "best" teams in the country come December (hyperbole intentional, but you get the point)?

I think there comes a point where too many losses play you out of a field of four

[Kingspoint]

Word.

What's to say a 6-6 team that started 0-6 and then won six straight games by 100 points doesn't look like one of the four "best" teams in the country come December (hyperbole intentional, but you get the point)?

That was usually the case with Oregon State under Mike Riley. Because he didn't have the money and city to draw high-end recruits to tiny Corvallis, Oregon, he would always begin the season with below average talent for an FBS school. But, because of his coaching, his teams would improve at a greater rate than most teams in the country so that by the end of the season, they were usually as good as most Top-25 schools. They would have early season losses, and sometimes to some bad teams, but by the end of the year, they were the last team you wanted to be playing. This is one reason why it's going to be very interesting to see what happens in Nebraska when he'll have money and a recruiting venue for the first time in his College Coaching career.

[Chip R]

Interesting little story out of L.A. and USC's team doctor and Toradol.

https://sports.vice.com/article/usc-football-team-doctor-admits-to-ignoring-fda-and-ncaa-painkiller-regulations

[Kingspoint]

Interesting little story out of L.A. and USC's team doctor and Toradol.

https://sports.vice.com/article/usc-football-team-doctor-admits-to-ignoring-fda-and-ncaa-painkiller-regulations

Wow!

Except it's the entire NFL and what sounds like a majority of the competitive NCAA teams.

[Assembly Hall]

Word.

What's to say a 6-6 team that started 0-6 and then won six straight games by 100 points doesn't look like one of the four "best" teams in the country come December (hyperbole intentional, but you get the point)?

Actually that could happen if a conference champion ever received an automatic bid. Heck, although unlikely, you could have a conference champion from a Power 5 that could go 6-7. Conference champion and not bowl elegible!

[*BaseClogger*]

I think there comes a point where too many losses play you out of a field of four

In that case you are no longer purely choosing the best teams, but considering their worthiness to a degree... :)

[Sea Ray]

In that case you are no longer purely choosing the best teams, but considering their worthiness to a degree... :)

Exactly, hence the discussion we're having. Those are all factors. The question is where those lines are drawn. I don't think one loss should necessarily be that line but I agree with you that 6 would. So we've agreed that a 6 loss team should never be in a 4 team playoff...Did we accomplish anything here?

[Assembly Hall]

Exactly, hence the discussion we're having. Those are all factors. The question is where those lines are drawn. I don't think one loss should necessarily be that line but I agree with you that 6 would. So we've agreed that a 6 loss team should never be in a 4 team playoff...Did we accomplish anything here?

What if that 6 loss team beat an undefeated, ranked #1 team in a conference championship? Should that 1 loss team be considered for one of the four spots?

[Sea Ray]

What if that 6 loss team beat an undefeated, ranked #1 team in a conference championship? Should that 1 loss team be considered for one of the four spots?

No. If there are only 4 spots then conference champions should not get even "almost" automatic bids. In fact this year, if it came down to it, TCU should have gotten the nod over Baylor

[kaldaniels]

No. If there are only 4 spots then conference champions should not get even "almost" automatic bids. In fact this year, if it came down to it, TCU should have gotten the nod over Baylor

Not if I'm making the decision. I abide by the adage of "settle it on the field" if at all possible. Two one-loss teams vying for the same spot? I throw everything else out the window and go with the head-to-head.

[GAC]

I find this simply amazing.....

Darren Carrington ruled ineligible

http://espn.go.com/college-football/bowls14/story/_/id/12145339/darren-carrington-oregon-ducks-ineligible-national-championship-mark-helfrich-says

And it's not only Carrington, but also RB Ayele Forde.

Is smoking pot that important to you guys? How can you be so stupid (and selfish IMO) Geez!

Also....


The Ducks already are without freshman receiver Devon Allen, who injured his knee on the opening kickoff of the Rose Bowl. Tight end Pharaoh Brown also has been sidelined for several games with a leg injury.