CFP - Here's how I think it's set up

[thewop]

I believe we basically have a quasi bracket already set up. It looks like this. I know the "debate" is between OSU and Alabama, but I don't see it that way:

(winner advances)
OSU
Wisky

(winner advances)
Georgia
Auburn

(winner advances)
Clemson
Miami

Oklahoma (Advances if they win)
TCU

Alabama (Advances if TCU wins)

We'll see what happens Sunday I guess.

 

[Suterman]

That looks right to me.

 

[ICWestfan]

Looks feasible. My only question is if fOSU and Okie win does Bama jump fOSU? Does Bama jump Miami if Wisky and Miami win?

 

[Eternal Return]

Looks feasible. My only question is if fOSU and Okie win does Bama jump fOSU? Does Bama jump Miami if Wisky and Miami win?

Given how the standings are now, the question is whether Ohio State jumps four spots to #4 and if Alabama simply stays put at #5. Ohio State will jump #7 Miami if they lose, but how far does #1 Clemson fall if they lose? The Auburn/Georgia winner will be in top four and the loser will fall below Ohio State so OSU goes up to #7 with a win for sure. If Oklahoma loses the question may be moot, but there's still the possibility of a two-loss Clemson and one-loss Alabama remaining higher ranked than Ohio State.

I know, seems insane, but this is the first year 2-loss teams have even been in the conversation. Also, Penn State was heavily penalized for their blowout loss to Michigan early in the season last year even though they beat Ohio State head-to-head and won the CCG. Iowa's beatdown of Ohio State may play a big role in whether or not OSU gets in the CFP even with a win over UW. And I honestly think UW might pull it off and make this whole conversation pointless. But I have to admit, the conference championship games are much more interesting this year because four of them are play-in games or potential play-in games. Who needs a six or eight team playoff in a situation like this? If Ohio State doesn't get in there's no massive injustice. They lost two games, one a blowout to lowly Iowa. No other contender has a loss that bad.

 

[hawkeye bb n fb fan]

I agree that's how it SHOULD be OP. But if chalk wins and OSU pulls the upset in seeding, they are favored to win, I could see them putting Alabama in the CFB Playoff. We have been talked about a lot lately which can only be a good thing

 

[speed4power]

Looks feasible. My only question is if fOSU and Okie win does Bama jump fOSU? Does Bama jump Miami if Wisky and Miami win?

Question #1 maybe, but unlikely
Question #2 no, winner of Clemson vs Miami will be in

 

[El Simbolo]

Clemson loss to Syracuse is as bad as OSU loss to us

 

[ICWestfan]

I worded my questions poorly. Obviously fOSU wouldn't be jumped by anyone ahead of them. Would Bama get in over conference champ fOSU or conference champ Miami?

IMO anything is possible unless chalk holds and the 4 highest teams win, or if Georgia beats AU.

 

[ICWestfan]

Clemson loss to Syracuse is as bad as OSU loss to us

It's WAAAAAY worse but Clemson is the greatest team ever besides Bama. Also, why aren't they talking about OU and TCU loss to ISU? no, fOSU loss to Iowa is egregious and punitive because, wait for it, .....

They lost to IOWA

 

[hawkedoff]

Clemson loses to Syracuse and gets a pass

Alabama has no quality wins this year and gets a pass....amazing what happens when the sec isnt over ranked.

Oklahoma lost at home to isu...a 7-5 team and gets a pass.

The only reasonable solution is to take the human element out. Conference champions period. USC should have more of a shot than Alabama this year.

 

[speed4power]

Clemson loss to Syracuse is as bad as OSU loss to us

Nah. Clemson lost to Syracuse by 3 without their starting QB. OSU lost by 31. Syracuse was hot and playing good football at the time.

 

[hawkedoff]

Syracuse is 4-8 and 2-6 in conference.

 

[83Hawk]

Any team that doesn’t even win their division (Alabama) should never be eligible for the playoff.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

I want more. Imagine playoff games all over the nation today. Playoff game in kinnick today? Sign me up

 

[Bigfann1966]

Wisconsin loses and there will be two SEC teams going. Alabama is going before OSU. No inside info here just a gut feeling....OSU is out without a miracle!!

 

[LakeviewHawkeye]

It's WAAAAAY worse but Clemson is the greatest team ever besides Bama. Also, why aren't they talking about OU and TCU loss to ISU? no, fOSU loss to Iowa is egregious and punitive because, wait for it, .....

They lost to IOWA

I have a hard time seeing any team with a 31 point loss being in the playoff, regardless of the opponent. I think OSU would get a pass too if they had lost a close one at Kinnick.

 

[speed4power]

I want more. Imagine playoff games all over the nation today. Playoff game in kinnick today? Sign me up

"December Madness"

 

[WhoaNellieCy]

Wisconsin loses and there will be two SEC teams going. Alabama is going before OSU. No inside info here just a guy feeling....OSU is out without a miracle!!

Ya agree, cannot see any way possible osu is in this year with 2 blowout losses this year, combined with the historical fact they received the benefit of the doubt last year and got lit up by clemson 31-0.

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Much as I hate 'bama... you have to give them the edge with 1 loss to a good Auburn team over tOSU with 2 losses. Schedule comparison, opponents etc is all fun analysis, but sometimes we overthink it. Bottom line, if you lose, especially if you lose twice it should bump you down.

 

[hawkedoff]

That is fine. Usc won their conference. Put them in

 

[thewop]

If UCF wins today, I'd personally prefer they be in over any 2 loss team. Let someone prove they don't belong as opposed to handing a 2 loss team its 3rd loss.

 

[Randall Stanhope]

Let's have an 8 team playoff, and 8 conferences.

Conference champions get in.

 

[iahawks10]

Nah. Clemson lost to Syracuse by 3 without their starting QB. OSU lost by 31. Syracuse was hot and playing good football at the time.

Syracuse was scorching hot at the time. They were (3–3) including a loss to Middle Tennessee. Unstoppable.

 

[iahawks10]

"December Madness"

I think you meant December situations.

 

[Eternal Return]

Clemson loss to Syracuse is as bad as OSU loss to us

I know what you mean, but the issue is their positions in the poll now. Clemson is #1 and Ohio State is #8. It's likely that Ohio State jumps them, but it is a scenario to consider. Ohio State has no slam dunk situation to get into the playoffs this year. Being ranked #8 instead of #6 might turn out to be a big deal in terms of how much they can climb. Let's say Clemson falls four spots to #5 (which is what happened to #1 Alabama after losing to Auburn). Does that mean Alabama falls one spot to #6 or moves up one spot to #4? Ohio State moved up last year without playing. My guess is Alabama does, too, if Clemson wins. There's a lot left to settle. Those two late games today are going to determine everything which is why this is such a great play-in weekend. We just don't know what the committee is going to do which is awesome!

 

[Michael1969]

I think Oklahoma winning went a long ways to putting the puzzle together.

In my opinion it comes down to the Big Ten title game. A Wisconsin win means ACC champion, SEC champion, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. A Wisconsin loss means ACC champion, SEC champion, Oklahoma and Alabama (or Clemson with the defending champion benefit of the doubt consideration, and they're the current #1). We shall see.

 

[WhoaNellieCy]

I think Oklahoma winning went a long ways to putting the puzzle together.

In my opinion it comes down to the Big Ten title game. A Wisconsin win means ACC champion, SEC champion, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. A Wisconsin loss means ACC champion, SEC champion, Oklahoma and Alabama (or Clemson with the defending champion benefit of the doubt consideration, and they're the current #1). We shall see.

Ya good summary, if Auburn and Wisconsin win, could be an interesting wrinkle for the committee to decide between "Wisconsin and Alabama". Auburn win makes Alabama loss look better. But Wisconsin is undefeated. Should Wisconsin be penalized for their soft pre-season schedule, while Alabama at least scheduled perennial power FSU.

Another way of looking at this is which team does the committee think would win best 2 of 3 game series?

Real solution is expanding to 8 team playoff - 5 P5 Conf champs + 3 wildcards.

 

[speed4power]

Syracuse was scorching hot at the time. They were (3–3) including a loss to Middle Tennessee. Unstoppable.

Syracuse played LSU, NC State, Miami, and FSU all really tough around the time they upset Clemson. They almost won several of these games. Not a team to sleep on.

 

[iahawks10]

Syracuse played LSU, NC State, Miami, and FSU all really tough around the time they upset Clemson. They almost won several of these games. Not a team to sleep on.

Middle Tennessee must have read your scouting report. They were wide awake.

 

[El Simbolo]

If UCF wins today, I'd personally prefer they be in over any 2 loss team. Let someone prove they don't belong as opposed to handing a 2 loss team its 3rd loss.

I’d be down with that if Wisconsin loses

 

[HawkNole09]

I’d be down with that if Wisconsin loses

SIAP, but if the CFP takes a second SEC team over the B1G Champ then I for one will be boycotting the playoffs. (Hawks aren’t in it anyway, so WTF)

I’m tired of Alabama. And they played a crap schedule. And they’re not even in their Championship game which should automatically give them a “2nd loss”

 

[KujawaFan]

I want OSU to win tonight as it will blow up the 4 team playoff. The SEC may be the best football conference in recent memory, although arguably not this year, but the Big 10 is by far the most powerful conference and Delaney is the most powerful person in college football. And it isn't close. Leave out a Big 10 champ for a team that didn't even play in their champ game, Delaney will have it blown up next week to 8 with the 5 champs and 3 wild cards.

 

[Michael1969]

I want OSU to win tonight as it will blow up the 4 team playoff. The SEC may be the best football conference in recent memory, although arguably not this year, but the Big 10 is by far the most powerful conference and Delaney is the most powerful person in college football. And it isn't close. Leave out a Big 10 champ for a team that didn't even play in their champ game, Delaney will have it blown up next week to 8 with the 5 champs and 3 wild cards.

And does the committee want to put a non-division winner in the playoffs again after Ohio State's performance against Clemson last year? That also could work against Alabama.