Cunningham: If Iowa wins BTT, they are in
- Thread starter OnceAhawk
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Is there any doubt that an undefeated BiG champion would make the Final Four? I've not seen anybody suggesting that it wouldn't. I can't imagine the justification for it, including SOS. If Iowa wins out, Iowa will be one of the playoff teams, and will deserve it.
Have you not been following this board the last couple weeks? Every post had been about the lack of respect and worry we'll be left out. Not very much fun
I guess when I said "anybody" I meant "anybody who should be taken seriously." But even with that qualifier, have there been many posters here doubting that a 13-0 Iowa team would be one of the four invitees?
i actually think every television pundit has said the exact same thing.
i really haven't cared about the 'disrespect' - hell, this team has to continue to prove it to ME! the record will speak for itself. who cares what jessie palmer thinks.
i really haven't cared about the 'disrespect' - hell, this team has to continue to prove it to ME! the record will speak for itself. who cares what jessie palmer thinks.
Conventional wisdom is hurting Iowa. Kevin Carter and Jason Sehorn both agreed that if Iowa needs an undefeated OSU to get in because Iowa plays in the weaker B1G West. Never mind that the West is one game better than the East at this point. Iowa hasn't played anyone. Except they beat Northwestern and Wisconsin on the road. It's also cause for concern among Iowa fans that one-loss Notre Dame (whose best win was either against Temple or at home against USC) and TCU, Baylor, and tOSU (who had played nobody) were above Iowa in the first rankings. Clemson has a couple of very good wins, but those were both at home. Alabama gets a pass on losing to Ole Miss cuz Bama. Iowa shows up to play EVERY week, and the same people people that make excuses for teams that have lost invent reasons to disregard them.
Personally, I don't think the committee would dare to leave out undefeated Iowa. But there is a significant number of talking heads (especially SEC homers) who disagree.
Imagine a scenario where the Big 12 has an undefeated team, Clemson is undefeated, Alabama wins out, and Notre Dame wins out. As of now, those are all teams ranked ahead of Iowa. I still think Iowa would get in over a 1-loss Notre Dame team in that situation, but I think there's a reasonable argument to be made that Iowa would be left out.
The obvious irony of this situation is that it would likely pit #1 Clemson against #4 Notre Dame. Notre Dame already had their shot at Clemson.
Breaking news: Cunningham has been suspended for comments detrimental to ESPN.
Ok, just kidding...
Ok, just kidding...
I just have a real problem -- in fact, I can't do it -- imagining an undefeated champion of any of the P5 conferences being shut out. Hell, look at last year: Everybody and his brother knew Florida State didn't belong in the group of 4, but there they were. And they leapfrogged one-loss teams in the final poll to get there.
I don't think your scenario is going to come into play because I don't think the Big XII champion is going to be unbeaten. I think we're going to see another tie at 1 loss. But you raise an interesting point. But I think a 1-loss Oklahoma team would be hard to keep out of the mix, in light of what a strong finish that would take by the Boomers. They'd have to go 3-0 in the last three games against teams that are currently ranked #3, #5 and #12 in the coach's poll, with two of those games on the road.
I think FSU was in the top 4 every week. fOSU never made the final 4 until the last one when they jumped the 1 loss teams. I could be wrong about that though.
Iowa simply cannot be left out of the CFP at 13-0. Even if the committee thinks that 1 or more 1-loss teams are a lot better/more deserving than Iowa, their hands will be forced. Here's why:
Say the rankings end 1) undefeated Clemson, 2) 1-loss Alabama, 3) undefeated Baylor, 4) 1-loss Notre Dame, 5) undefeated Iowa
Then the following happens:
Iowa wins Rose Bowl and goes 14-0.
Alabama wins CFP over Notre Dame.
Therefore, Iowa is the only remaining undefeated Power-5 team at the end of the year, and is not even recognized as national champ. (it would be even worse if Notre Dame were to win).
That's a scenario that the Committee would not want to have to answer for, and would cause the entire system to implode.
Say the rankings end 1) undefeated Clemson, 2) 1-loss Alabama, 3) undefeated Baylor, 4) 1-loss Notre Dame, 5) undefeated Iowa
Then the following happens:
Iowa wins Rose Bowl and goes 14-0.
Alabama wins CFP over Notre Dame.
Therefore, Iowa is the only remaining undefeated Power-5 team at the end of the year, and is not even recognized as national champ. (it would be even worse if Notre Dame were to win).
That's a scenario that the Committee would not want to have to answer for, and would cause the entire system to implode.
^Amusingly, the whole BCS/playoff system was created so that there would no longer be a 'divided' champion of college football. In this situation, I'd almost guarantee the AP would vote the undefeated P5 team left out of the playoffs as NC.
You're probably right. For some reason, as an ISU fan, I wasn't all that interested in the subject
I really think Notre Dame is going to feel the pressure later this season to join a conference. They could be sitting at #4 or so the week of the conference championship games and be in real danger of being jumped by someone (including Iowa) if they win out while Notre Dame is idle sitting at home. It would mean that sitting at home means more than winning a conference title. That just can't happen. The way I see it, Notre Dame needs help right now.
I don't think anyone is arguing that we won't get in if we beat an undefeated OSU. However, its not unfathomable that OSU could lose to Michigan or MSU. Would beating a two-loss Michigan team or MSU be enough to jump Notre Dame? Unclear. Notre Dame means big television money. But leaving an undefeated Big Ten team out could bring the whole system down. However, this is a moot point if no one in the Big 12 goes undefeated. In that case, we get in over a 1-loss Big 12 team for sure.
At this point, I'd say cheer for MSU and Michigan against OSU. We have a much better shot against either of those teams in the championship game and the likelihood of us being left out at 13-0 is very slim. Also, cheer for OSU and Baylor to lose at least one game as well as Notre Dame to lose against Stanford.
At this point, I'd say cheer for MSU and Michigan against OSU. We have a much better shot against either of those teams in the championship game and the likelihood of us being left out at 13-0 is very slim. Also, cheer for OSU and Baylor to lose at least one game as well as Notre Dame to lose against Stanford.
Key word=SEEN. He's actually watched Iowa play instead of looking at the name. All the other talking heads are idiots, if they think this isn't a good team.
I think the key word in that sentence is "can." He didn't say "would" or "should." He was saying that Iowa should be considered competitive with those teams.
Ed Cunningham also wanted Indiana to go for it in the first half at there own 49 yardline. Remember they call him "never punt ED"
This is a really, really, really dumb question, but does the CFP committee really care about money when they are picking the 4 teams?
Aren't most people watching no matter what? It's 2 national semi-final games? I wouldn't care who played in them.
Aren't most people watching no matter what? It's 2 national semi-final games? I wouldn't care who played in them.
That's a great quote, but to be fair it was during an Iowa game. It's not like he's going to blast the teams being played. But I tend to believe we COULD beat them all, however tOSU and Clemson would be a very tall order.
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