College Football

[Carey]

Top 12 (From the 3rd TOP 25 Rankings)

Oregon
Ohio State
Texas
Penn State
Indiana
Notre Dame
Alabama
Miami
Ole Miss
Georgia
Tennessee
Boise State

 

The Third Non-Permanent Playoff Slotting (According to ESPN & Off of the Rankings)

Byes:

1. Oregon [B1G, Plays 8 vs 9 winner]
2. Texas [SEC, Plays 7 vs 10 winner]
3. Miami [ACC, Plays 6 vs 11 winner]
4. Boise State [GO5, Plays 5 vs 12 winner]

 

12/21/24

5. Ohio State vs BYU [05 vs AQ]
6. Penn State vs Georgia [06 vs AL]
7. Indiana vs Ole Miss [07 vs 10]
8. Notre Dame vs Alabama [08 vs 09]

AQ: Represents BYU, currently Number 14.  If things had ended over the weekend & they won their conference championship game, they'd get in over Tennessee.

AL: Represents Georgia currently Number 10.  If things had ended over the weekend, they'd get bumped down a spot.  That is because 2 conference champions, including Boise State from the Mountain West, are ranked below them. 

The Mountain West is a Group of Five conference (GO5 or G5), and per the rules, the highest ranked GO5 team gets into the CFB Playoff.  Given that one of the so-called Power 4 leaders are below them, based off of the rules that the 4 highest ranked conference winners get a first-round bye, they meet that criteria.  The byes into the second round is not limited to the Power conferences (fortunately).

Based off of most recent rankings, after wondering if the 11th ranked team can miss out due to the placements of the teams, it appears that my weekends thoughts were confirmed.  In fact, both teams ranked 11 & 12 can miss out, and they would if Boise State were ranked lower.  For example, if Boise State & SMU were flipped, so be it, as it changes absolutely nothing.  Unless SMU beat Miami in a conference title game.  That would mean Georgia is out, except not (Miami totally drops below Ole Miss & Georgia).

Until proven otherwise, while the rankings are a fun exercise IMO, it's totally moot.  Although it may be a stretch, the Big XII winner jumps Boise.  I do think that the winner of BYU and Colorado (assuming that's the matchup) would have to win out.  Plus they might not have to in the event Tulane beats Boise State

[DrSpaceman73]

Indiana Ohio state tomorrow. 

 

Literally the biggest indiana game in my lifetime. 

It will be closer than the 13 point spread. 

[Notabug]

On 11/22/2024 at 7:57 AM, DrSpaceman73 said:

Indiana Ohio state tomorrow. 

 

Literally the biggest indiana game in my lifetime. 

It will be closer than the 13 point spread. 

Or not. 😉  

[Mischievious]

Woohoo! Nebraska (my alma mater) is going bowling! 

[Salacious Kitty]

So is my alma mater, UC Berkeley. Yippee!!!

Crazy end to the ASU/BYU game. The goalpost had to be put back into place before play could resume (as well as clearing the field of a thousand drunk students). 😂

[AimingforYoko]

I hope the committee doesn't use this as an excuse to boot Indiana from the playoff.

1 hour ago, Salacious Kitty said:

as well as clearing the field of a thousand drunk students

Not at ASU!

 

[Carey]

Apparently Oklahoma actually doesn't suck. Instead, they spent 12 weeks looking ahead to Alabama, and that sucks for the latter. Not that BAMA has been great as of late, but it sure does suck when enough dead people come together to form a football team JUST to beat Alabama

[Salacious Kitty]

SEC Shorts gonna be LIT. 👀

[kathyk2]

11 minutes ago, Salacious Kitty said:

SEC Shorts gonna be LIT. 👀

The Finebaum show will be epic on Monday. 

[roamyn]

10 minutes ago, kathyk2 said:

The Finebaum show will be epic on Monday. 

You know he'll findsomeway to fit the narrative that AL belongs, even ith 3 losses, and IN and Army don't. 

Edited Yest. at 04:34 AM by roamyn

[Carey]

It probably helped that several teams that were in the mix lost as well.  Maybe more will do the same next week (Texas, Oregon, etc).  But man, just go back to the 80s to determine a National Champion if Alabama gets in over Indiana.  Heck, I'd argue BSU is a better team even if they lost to Tulane!

[kathyk2]

2 hours ago, roamyn said:

You know he'll findsomeway to fit the narrative that AL belongs, even ith 3 losses, and IN and Army don't. 

I don't think he will Alabama fans will twist themselves into pretzels trying to put them in.

[Carey]

Man, it's going to be quite the chore trying to do a Ranking recap.  Might just link and make a very brief mention.  Plus, NFL football is happening (and I'm more focused on that as mentioned with November/December & January/February action happening).

As kathyk2 mentioned, the guy is probably going to lean toward saying Alabama is done.  I agree there.  He might see a way for Bama to be in over Army, but not Indiana

[Chit Chat]

11 hours ago, kathyk2 said:

I don't think he will Alabama fans will twist themselves into pretzels trying to put them in.

I know that I won't!  The team is too inconsistent.  We're still trying to figure out how they beat Georgia!!  Oh well, it's been an exciting season of college football with all of the changes.  We're watching more games with teams that we didn't watch in seasons past.  I'll almost always root for an SEC team, but seeing the other conference teams has been interesting. 

[Stats Queen]

As a Georgia Bulldog I was hoping that we wouldn’t go to the SEC Championship Game as well need to get healthy.

An improbable series of events had to happen for us to go the game. Bama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M - did an impressive job of losing their games.

What a wild season of football.

[Carey]

The Top 4 spots hold in both rankings following Week 13 Action.  Oregon & Ohio State should be fine against Washington & Michigan, respectively.  I can't say the same against Texas, but I'd be shocked if Penn State lost outright.  After all this time, Penn State will finally be playing for a title, if they win their game next weekend.  Of course, they'll have to win 4 games before losing one starting next month.

Notre Dame and Georgia moving up to 5 & 6 is pretty good news.  Notre Dame should be okay regardless, but winning leaves no doubt.  Probably would've been best if they were 11-0.  Other than perfection, there's nothing to play for.  They'll host a game (unless they don't), but they will have to play on the weekend before Christmas.  Personally, I'd bet someone would change the rules to allow for Notre Dame to get a first round bye before betting that they'd join the ACC or some other conference.  Just feels off that the Big 12 champion or the highest ranking Group Of Five winner gets that final spot instead of them.

I meant to post this before seeing the following while watching football all day: Arizona State vs Iowa State (for the Big XII title) if the records are identical (along with Colorado and BYU) this time next week.

I haven't checked the Big 10 criteria, but I think things will work themselves out as it relates to Indiana, Penn State, and Ohio State.  Probably need OSU to beat Michigan for the first time in half a decade & the first time in half a dozen years at the horseshoe.  I'll bank on that happening in lieu of figuring out the possibilities as it relates to Oregon's opponent one week from Saturday.

Simply put, SMU, Clemson, and Miami should focus on their next game, period.  However, good news for Clemson if SMU and/or Miami lose again before the month ends.

Then there's the SEC.  Looks like things worked out for Georgia after all.  I always thought they needed a little help just-in-case, but they needed carnage to be able to control its own destiny.  Didn't think the latter was going the happen, but, and IMO, it's the new era

[roamyn]

5 hours ago, Carey said:

After all this time, Penn State will finally be playing for a title, if they win their game next weekend.

Not the Big Ten title.  Barring any upsets that will be a rematch of OR & tOSU.

[Carey]

4 hours ago, roamyn said:

9 hours ago, Carey said:

After all this time, Penn State will finally be playing for a title, if they win their game next weekend.

Not the Big Ten title.  Barring any upsets that will be a rematch of OR & tOSU.

Oh no!  Not the B1G title; I totally meant the National Title!  Penn State already played for & won a conference title 8 years ago.

Of course the 2016 Big 10 champions can only play for a conference title if they win their game and Ohio State doesn't win their game.

Meanwhile, Indiana, who I think will win their final game of the regular season, need losses from Penn State and Ohio State.  Unfortunately, knowing that the chances of playing for the Big Ten title are done (unless they aren't), they can't punt either.  Despite the upsets, someone might show up to take the final spots within the Top 12.  By the way, I think we have a chance at the College Football version of bid stealing.  The Big 12 champion possibly could be ranked outside but I think the committee might rise Arizona State (if they win out) to a point where they jump Boise State.  Speaking of BSU, if they somehow & someway lose to Tulane, that would definitely be a problem for 2 of the 3 teams ranked 10-12 (if the Big XII champion is 13th or lower).