CFPlayoff's so far thread

[BubsFinn]

I think the playoff games so far have shown us that it probably should be only eight teams. SMU didn’t belong. Indiana didn’t belong. Tennessee didn’t belong. The only somewhat competitive game was Clemson-Texas, and that was at least a two score difference for most of it.

 

[RLMHAWK]

The lowest ranked teams all lost handily. Is eight the right number? I still question if Boise State should be in top eight. Stop the home field games and play in neutral sites. Asking these kids to play 16 games is not good.

However, professional athletes should be able to play 16 games. Hate that college FB has come to this, but it has. Student athletes are a dying breed. Professional college athlete just doesn't have a good ring to it.

 

[blubberhawk]

I have no idea if the cold is playing a huge factor or not, but after PSU crushed SMU earlier and OSU is already up 2 tuddys on Tennessee ....... maybe there's something to it.

Maybe PSU and OSU are just better

I’m a fan of these games. Sure SMU and Indiana got in this year, but in the future it may be Alabama and Ole Miss or even Miami which should give better matchups. I think we should give it a few years.

Just an FYI. Alabama lost to Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt lost to Georgia State. Georgia State was 3-9 this season. Alabama lost to Tenn. Alabama got totally dominated by the worst Oklahoma team in decades. What makes you think Alabama would have matched up better against OSU?

 

[kwik44]

Try just 8 teams now. P4 champs. Big 12 champ, 3 At-Large.

And properly vet the 3 At-Large this time.

 

[SCHawkeye99]

I would like to see 8 teams.
Quarterfinals @ home field of higher seed.
Semis = neutral*
Finals= neutral*

*Peach, Orange, Sugar and Cotton bowls are not "neutral" sites

 

[swagsurfer02]

Maybe PSU and OSU are just better

Just an FYI. Alabama lost to Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt lost to Georgia State. Georgia State was 3-9 this season. Alabama lost to Tenn. Alabama got totally dominated by the worst Oklahoma team in decades. What makes you think Alabama would have matched up better against OSU?

I didn’t say sub Tennessee for Bama, it was down between SMU and Bama. Yes, Alabama would’ve been a much bigger test for Penn State than SMU was.

 

[swagsurfer02]

The lowest ranked teams all lost handily. Is eight the right number? I still question if Boise State should be in top eight. Stop the home field games and play in neutral sites. Asking these kids to play 16 games is not good.

I don’t necessarily know if it’s the right number of teams or if you actually took the best 8 teams.

 

[Heathen Raider]

i loved watching the B1G OSU throttle SEC Tennessee

 

[Beattheohiostate]

I don’t understand the argument for less teams. There’s over 100 D1 teams. 16 teams is the number imo, and I believe we will get there very soon. Yes, so far the games have not been close, but let’s not pretend when we had the BCS there weren’t blowouts. Same with the 4 team playoff. Gotta give teams something to play for. Should Alabama have been in over SMU? Right now the answer seems to be yes, but let’s see how this postseason plays out. Opinions might change by the time we get to the championship game.

The playoffs are one game. Anything can happen in one game. So Indiana didn't belong because it lost to ND by 10? But Alabama should have been in despite losing late in the season 24-3 to 6-6 Oklahoma? LOL

If Indiana had lost to Vanderbilt and given up 40 points in the process, which Alabama actually did, and then lost to OU 24-3 late in the season, do you think anyone would be arguing Indiana should be in the playoffs? Hell no. But when it says "Alabama" on the jerseys, the facts don't mean a thing, kinda like when America chooses a president.

 

[Beattheohiostate]

However, professional athletes should be able to play 16 games. Hate that college FB has come to this, but it has. Student athletes are a dying breed. Professional college athlete just doesn't have a good ring to it.

FCS has had playoffs for almost 50 years. The teams who will play for the national title will be in their 15th game. Somehow, those fellas have survived for nearly half a century.

I didn’t say sub Tennessee for Bama, it was down between SMU and Bama. Yes, Alabama would’ve been a much bigger test for Penn State than SMU was.

And you know this how? Because Bama lost to 6-6 Oklahoma 24-3? Or because Alabama gave up 40 points in its loss to Vanderbilt?

 

[hawkedoff]

SMU and Indiana absolutely belonged there. Both lost on the road to higher ranked opponents in their home stadium. Same for Clemson. This ESPN bullshit propaganda needs to stop. ESPN should not have a say in anything other than reporting on the results. Their opinions mean nothing.

The interesting part of this format is we get to see exactly how the vaunted sec actually performs up north on the road. No more bullshit and false equivalence.

No we do not need neutral sure games. We need the second round to be home games as well. Every other division does this and it works just fine.

I happen to still like the bowl games. Basketball has the NIT and football can maintain their bowl ties. If bowl games go away the vast majority of college football fans will tune out. No one actually care outside the sec if Georgia or Alabama win the national championship.

 

[hawkedoff]

I didn’t say sub Tennessee for Bama, it was down between SMU and Bama. Yes, Alabama would’ve been a much bigger test for Penn State than SMU was.

Maybe but who gives a shit. USC was the team to best for a very long time. Miami at one point was unbeatable.

Who give a shit if Alabama wins another national championship. I don't and am tired of ESPN dictating who is worthy

 

[yrunvs]

The playoffs are one game. Anything can happen in one game. So Indiana didn't belong because it lost to ND by 10? But Alabama should have been in despite losing late in the season 24-3 to 6-6 Oklahoma? LOL

If Indiana had lost to Vanderbilt and given up 40 points in the process, which Alabama actually did, and then lost to OU 24-3 late in the season, do you think anyone would be arguing Indiana should be in the playoffs? Hell no. But when it says "Alabama" on the jerseys, the facts don't mean a thing, kinda like when America chooses a president.

beats own words

"the facts don't mean a thing, kinda like when America chooses a president."

 

[BonzoFury]

Crazy thing is...despite all the shifts and changes we end up with a traditional Rose Bowl. Pac vs Big. Oregon vs Ohio State

 

[uihawk82]

I think the playoff games so far have shown us that it probably should be only eight teams. SMU didn’t belong. Indiana didn’t belong. Tennessee didn’t belong. The only somewhat competitive game was Clemson-Texas, and that was at least a two score difference for most of it.

I agree with 8 teams but Tenn really missed their super running back, about 1500 yds and 22 TDs.

The BCS with only 2 teams left out a few top teams, the 4 team CFP seemed to always have a damn good 5th team left out.

When you get over 8 teams it is diluted and only proves the disparity of the top 6 to 7 teams.

So 8 is best, no byes, 3 rounds of games

 

[IaHawks03]

Iowas only chance to ever make the playoffs is with a 12+ team field.
So why would you want to make the field smaller? March madness in hoops has blowouts the first 2 rounds and nobody cares.

 

[ISUBryce]

I can’t believe people want more neutral sites. There shouldn’t be any neutral site games except the national championship

 

[uihawk82]

Try just 8 teams now. P4 champs. Big 12 champ, 3 At-Large.

And properly vet the 3 At-Large this time.

Yeah, the vetting process should not just mean the rankings. A top team expected to be in an 8 team playoff should have no losses to a team with a losing record, they need a more concrete metric like Bball has with great wins, good wins, meh wins, and wins against the sisters of the poor, and a big negative for who you lose to. Then add up the points

 

[yrunvs]

I can’t believe people want more neutral sites. There shouldn’t be any neutral site games except the national championship

Well if you are trying to establish the best team there should be no special advantages for any of them. Level playing field for all. No home games no byes.

 

[uihawk82]

This ESPN bullshit propaganda needs to stop. ESPN should not have a say in anything other than reporting on the results. Their opinions mean nothing.

Correct I basically stopped watching any espn a long time ago except for televised games. When most of their non-actual sporting event coverage went to opinion like a steven A smith, and the whole litany of talking heads talking about trades, injuries which is just betting info, and whatever it gave it up also showing a loto of interesting sports.

Gone are the old days of Sportscenter with lots of highlights and descriptions of the those highlights and the standings and then they showed a lot of sports.

 

[uihawk82]

Iowas only chance to ever make the playoffs is with a 12+ team field.
So why would you want to make the field smaller? March madness in hoops has blowouts the first 2 rounds and nobody cares.

But march madness has a lot more of the first round upsets by far over football. And then the 2nd round of Bball has another batch of upsets

 

[blubberhawk]

I didn’t say sub Tennessee for Bama, it was down between SMU and Bama. Yes, Alabama would’ve been a much bigger test for Penn State than SMU was.

And you know that how ? Alabama scored 3 points against Oklahoma. Forget about the name. This was not a vintage Alabama team

 

[NorthEndzoneCrew]

Iowas only chance to ever make the playoffs is with a 12+ team field.
So why would you want to make the field smaller? March madness in hoops has blowouts the first 2 rounds and nobody cares.

Do we want to be a national fake ID, make an expanded playoff field and get matched up with OSU, Oregon etc and get smoked in prime time?

 

[Auger]

If they would seed the top 4 teams 1-4 and give them the byes things likely would have been more competitive. ASU and Boise should have been playing first rd.

Also Ohio St is probably the most complete team out of all of them. However because Chip Kelly called too conservatively against Oregon and Michigan they are a top four seed playing as an 8 seed. Last night the nation got to see Ohio St running things wide open.

Oregon vs OSU should be a semifinal or finals game. Feel bad for Oregon. They are a 1 seed and get probably the toughest draw out of all the top 4 seeds. It's all because of the dumb seeding system currently being used. It's messed up a lot of these games.

 

[yrunvs]

Do we want to be a national fake ID, make an expanded playoff field and get matched up with OSU, Oregon etc and get smoked in prime time?

Don't forget it would be a home game for the blue blood.

 

[ISUBryce]

Well if you are trying to establish the best team there should be no special advantages for any of them. Level playing field for all. No home games no byes.

I think we should reward a great regular season with home games just like the NFL and I think college neutral site games suck.

 

[83Hawk]

I think the playoff games so far have shown us that it probably should be only eight teams. SMU didn’t belong. Indiana didn’t belong. Tennessee didn’t belong. The only somewhat competitive game was Clemson-Texas, and that was at least a two score difference for most of it.

You can’t really make a statement that there should only be 8 teams based on the results of the first couple of games in the first year of the playoffs. Not a large enough sample size.

 

[yrunvs]

I think we should reward a great regular season with home games just like the NFL and I think college neutral site games suck.

That's fine but college home games are way more intimidating with their rabid fanatical base than NFL home games are. Imagine the Hawkeye's finally after years and years getting into the playoff only to have to go to Happy Valley to play Penn State in a night game white out.

 

[swagsurfer02]

FCS has had playoffs for almost 50 years. The teams who will play for the national title will be in their 15th game. Somehow, those fellas have survived for nearly half a century.

And you know this how? Because Bama lost to 6-6 Oklahoma 24-3? Or because Alabama gave up 40 points in its loss to Vanderbilt?

Well they did beat Georgia (like one of the few teams within the past several years.

 

[SolarHawk]

Well they did beat Georgia (like one of the few teams within the past several years.

Doesn’t change the fact they lost to some shit teams.

 

[ISUBryce]

That's fine but college home games are way more intimidating with their rabid fanatical base than NFL home games are. Imagine the Hawkeye's finally after years and years getting into the playoff only to have to go to Happy Valley to play Penn State in a night game white out.

Have you been to an NFL playoff game? I think you’re 100% incorrect.

 

[Greenway4Prez]

As someone who has spent way too much time over the last two weeks arguing with SEC fans on Twitter about:

1. Their 3-loss teams not deserving a spot in the playoffs

2. No, they don’t have any clue what winter is like in the Midwest simply because they get snow or coldish weather on occasion

Yesterday was simply incredible. Seeing the SEC and all these talking heads (Herbstreit, Finebaum, Kiffing, too many to list) being called out and roasted is amazing.

 

[swagsurfer02]

Doesn’t change the fact they lost to some shit teams.

They can lose to Vanderbilt or this years Oklahoma team, they just couldn’t lose to both AND another game. Them having 3 L’s is what cost them. When you look at who they beat compared to many of the other teams that got in, it isn’t close.

 

[herkhatescy2]

The semi final games were rarely competitive when we had a 4 team playoff (go back and check the scores). I’m not sure why we thought a 12 team playoff would be competitive. Just let the two best teams (it’s pretty obvious every year) play a championship game like we used to do.

If they didn't give ASU and Boisie State byes the games would have been more competitive.

 

[danny14]

OSU for the title.

 

[blubberhawk]

I think we should reward a great regular season with home games just like the NFL and I think college neutral site games suck.

Just think, without the stupid ass playoff system, ISU and Miami would be playing in a New Years Six Bowl game with all kinds of hoopla surrounding the game. Their reward for a great regular season? A trip to the "who gives a shit" Pop Tart Bowl.

And there should be no comparison to the NFL. The NFL has rules that at least level the playing field a bit with salary caps and the draft.
College football is an unregulated mess that is only going to get worse, and the gap between the top few teams and the rest of college football will continue to grow.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

Post first round observation.

Lot's of talk about Indiana and SMU being "pretenders" by the "experts".

Conversely, very little talk about Tennessee being a "pretender" when they took the biggest ass whoopin and quit half way through the third quarter.

I detect some SEC bias amongst the "experts".

 

[SCHawkeye99]

FCS has had playoffs for years.
Does the FCS have the selection controversy of the CFP?

FCS Playoff Selection Criteria​

Based on the provided search results, here is a summary of the FCS playoff selection criteria:

1. Automatic Bids: 10 conferences with automatic bids for their champions, including:
   • Big Sky Conference
   • Colonial Athletic Association (CAA)
   • Ivy League
   • Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)
   • Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC)
   • Northeast Conference (NEC)
   • Ohio Valley Conference (OVC)
   • Patriot League
   • Pioneer Football League (PFL)
   • Southern Conference
2. At-Large Bids: 14 teams selected by the FCS Playoff Selection Committee, based on: * Win-loss record
   • Strength of schedule
   • Conference championships
   • Head-to-head results
   • Margin of victory
3. Selection Committee: Comprised of 13 members, including:
   • Directors of Athletics (ADs) from each conference with an automatic bid
   • Football experts and administrators
   • The committee meets in person on Mondays and Tuesdays for six consecutive weeks, beginning in early November
4. Interim Rankings: The committee issues interim rankings on November 5, 12, 19, 26, and December 3, providing transparency and enabling teams and fans to understand the current state of play
5. Final Rankings and Playoff Matchups: The final rankings and playoff matchups are set on Sunday, December 8
6. Bracket Selection: The 24-team bracket is announced on Sunday, November 24, featuring the top 16 teams seeded and the top 8 seeds receiving automatic byes to the second round
7. Tournament Format: The FCS playoffs consist of:
   • First round (8 games): Saturday, November 30
   • Second round (8 games): Saturday, December 7
   • Quarterfinals (4 games): Friday-Saturday, December 13-14
   • Semifinals (2 games): Saturday, December 21
   • National Championship Game: Monday, January 6, 2025, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas

 

[ISUBryce]

Just think, without the stupid ass playoff system, ISU and Miami would be playing in a New Years Six Bowl game with all kinds of hoopla surrounding the game. Their reward for a great regular season? A trip to the "who gives a shit" Pop Tart Bowl.

And there should be no comparison to the NFL. The NFL has rules that at least level the playing field a bit with salary caps and the draft.
College football is an unregulated mess that is only going to get worse, and the gap between the top few teams and the rest of college football will continue to grow.

Would you honestly care about a Cotton Bowl between Iowa State/Miami? I highly doubt it.

Starting about 7 months from now Iowa is going to be one of the haves compared to most other programs.

 

[blubberhawk]

Would you honestly care about a Cotton Bowl between Iowa State/Miami? I highly doubt it.

Starting about 7 months from now Iowa is going to be one of the haves compared to most other programs.

Bet ISU fans would. Jan 1 used to be the greatest day in College Football. How many people will be tuning in to the Pop Tart game on Dec. 28th?
And given a choice, I would pick a New Years six bowl game in a warm weather destination over a first round playoff game at OSU or Alabama any day. A week in the sun with other Hawk fans and topped off by a football game against a name opponent beats the hell out of sitting in the 3rd deck at the Horseshoe in 25 degree weather.
The playoff system is good for a handful of teams but will be a total disaster for the other 100+ teams.