A good morning to reflect on college football

[Hajo]

 

Penn State is also a very young football team.  And a very good one!  They can only improve.  Looking forward to next years' BIG conference games.

The East appears to be loaded.  Coach did a great job at PSU considering the sanctions.  He with no doubt should be elected Coach of the year at least in the BIG!

It isn't close in that regard.  Hands down need nothing more be said.  Well done Coach Francis!  He is the front runner imho as Coach of the Year in FBS football.

[Brooke]

One of the things that is difficult with respect to strength of schedule is that, when the schedules are made, folks don't really know what the strength will be.  Some teams schedule what, prior to the season, seems like would be a tough schedule, but then the teams that were supposed to be highly ranked end up not being highly ranked -- or vice versa.

For example, by mid season, Washington had played Oregon and Stanford.  Pre-season, that looked pretty tough.  By mid season, that didn't look tough, and the media was complaining that Washington had a weak schedule.  Yet by the end of the season, Stanford was back up some, and Washington had also played Utah, USC, Washington State, and Colorado, all of which ended up being pretty good.

Fortunately, it's only the final CFP ranking that matters, and by then, how good or bad various teams are is fully known.

The four teams in the playoff all played some pretty good teams.  Judging by final rankings, Washington played 4 ranked teams (Stanford 18, Utah 19, USC 9, Colorado 10); Ohio State played 4 (Oklahoma 7, Wisconsin 8, Penn State 5, Michigan 6); Clemson played 3 (Louisville 13, Florida State 11, Virginia Tech 22); Alabama played 5 (USC 9, Tennessee 21, LSU 20, Auburn 14, Florida 17).  Then there were a bunch of teams not ranked but still good teams, or teams that could play very tough for a rivalry game or on a given day.

[Hajo]

One of the things that is difficult with respect to strength of schedule is that, when the schedules are made, folks don't really know what the strength will be.  Some teams schedule what, prior to the season, seems like would be a tough schedule, but then the teams that were supposed to be highly ranked end up not being highly ranked -- or vice versa.

For example, by mid season, Washington had played Oregon and Stanford.  Pre-season, that looked pretty tough.  By mid season, that didn't look tough, and the media was complaining that Washington had a weak schedule.  Yet by the end of the season, Stanford was back up some, and Washington had also played Utah, USC, Washington State, and Colorado, all of which ended up being pretty good.

Fortunately, it's only the final CFP ranking that matters, and by then, how good or bad various teams are is fully known.

The four teams in the playoff all played some pretty good teams.  Judging by final rankings, Washington played 4 ranked teams (Stanford 18, Utah 19, USC 9, Colorado 10); Ohio State played 4 (Oklahoma 7, Wisconsin 8, Penn State 5, Michigan 6); Clemson played 3 (Louisville 13, Florida State 11, Virginia Tech 22); Alabama played 5 (USC 9, Tennessee 21, LSU 20, Auburn 14, Florida 17).  Then there were a bunch of teams not ranked but still good teams, or teams that could play very tough for a rivalry game or on a given day.

Brooke, one thing the BIG did as a conference is decide to not schedule FCS teams.

Now in that instance it does make some schedules look stronger.  No longer scheduling the cupcakes is a considered to be a major plus.  Many teams still do schedule FCS teams early.  Some mid season.

BCS committee said they do consider this.  Not a major point but in a few instances that could keep some teams out of the playoffs.  Many variables in their decision who to put in and who to leave out.

Best thing to do is win all your games like Alabama.  Not to much thought had to be applied to rank them #1.  At this point I can not see anyone beating them.  It may happen but as of now they are my #1.

[Brooke]

At this point I can not see anyone beating them.

You are probably right.  But . . . there was January 2015.   

[NatCigg]

If we can break the mold they established for a minute.  This selection committee picks the best team concept.  A true playoff system does not look for the best team.  It is decided by results not opinion.  The influence of opinion leaves question and introduces bias.  A true playoff would let western Michigan win a title.  Not because they were the best, but because they won. 

[-ammo-]

If we can break the mold they established for a minute.  This selection committee picks the best team concept.  A true playoff system does not look for the best team.  It is decided by results not opinion.  The influence of opinion leaves question and introduces bias.  A true playoff would let western Michigan win a title.  Not because they were the best, but because they won. 

Not ever gonna happen.  This isn't a professional league that drafts players (thank God).  An 8 team playoff is conceptionally achievable but the conferences would need to universally agree - and some teams just don't have the bank roll to fund what it would take.  I would guess Western Mich tickets cost a lot less than OSU, Bama, LSU, etc. 


Do you want forced parity between all FBS schools as well? 

[NatCigg]

Not ever gonna happen.  This isn't a professional league that drafts players (thank God).  An 8 team playoff is conceptionally achievable but the conferences would need to universally agree - and some teams just don't have the bank roll to fund what it would take.  I would guess Western Mich tickets cost a lot less than OSU, Bama, LSU, etc. 


Do you want forced parity between all FBS schools as well?

True, it would be a big threat to the establishment.   

I think the conferences would benefit by being the first round of the playoffs. Small schools would get better recruits because they have a chance.  Schools will still schedule big non conference games for money especially when a loss will not cost millions.  Media can have their rankings.

[Hajo]

I wish to see the best 4 college teams in the playoffs.  I remember watching Cincinnati play Florida, and Michigan State play Alabama.  Who wants to spend thousands of dollars to watch games like that?

[NatCigg]

MSU was 12-1 with wins over OSU, Iowa, Oregon, Michigan.  Ohio obviously had a better team but could not finagle their way in like this year.  Tough break. MSU earned the spot in the game.  They even played well for 1.75 quarters. 
I feel we've been duped by a system that has opened up pandoras box.  Of course, if all subserve like this year we have no problem.

[-ammo-]

"If you don't win your conference you shouldn't be playing for a national championship"


Urban Meyer, 2006

[Ripsnort]

Our huskies are a 14 pt underdog. I know most of you are too young to remember 1978 but that's when I moved to WA state.

Going into the 1978 Rose Bowl, the Huskies were 20 point underdogs against Michigan, the largest spread of any Bowl game that year. After all, the UW had started the season 1-3, and third year coach Don James was rumored to be fired at the end of the year. UW lost to UCLA, and a few weeks later watched on TV as USC came from behind and beat UCLA with a field goal to end their game, putting the Dawgs in the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1964.

Some guy named Warren Moon was the UW quarterback. (at 18:15, sideline video of Moon when he had hair, and lots of it) Moon was very inconsistent early in the season and in the previous year.

Sportswriters for the Seattle Times and P-I said it was time to bench him as the season went on. Back then, some still had problems with a black qb. James stayed with his guy and ignored the criticism. Spider Gaines (what a great name for a wideout) and Chris Roland (who replaced an injured sophomore sensation local TB "the Real" Joe Steele) were on the offense; Michael Jackson, Nesby Glascow, and Bruce Harrell led the defense.

Curt Gowdy and Charlie Jones on the call for NBC. This was apparently recorded on the Portland NBC affiliate.

America watched and was stunned as Dawg fans went nuts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhTTSyqIuZA

I wonder what ever happened to that Moon guy?

This 2016 team reminds me A LOT of that 1978 team. If I were a betting man, I'd take that 14 pts and the Huskies!

[-ammo-]

Our huskies are a 14 pt underdog. I know most of you are too young to remember 1978 but that's when I moved to WA state.

Going into the 1978 Rose Bowl, the Huskies were 20 point underdogs against Michigan, the largest spread of any Bowl game that year. After all, the UW had started the season 1-3, and third year coach Don James was rumored to be fired at the end of the year. UW lost to UCLA, and a few weeks later watched on TV as USC came from behind and beat UCLA with a field goal to end their game, putting the Dawgs in the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1964.

Some guy named Warren Moon was the UW quarterback. (at 18:15, sideline video of Moon when he had hair, and lots of it) Moon was very inconsistent early in the season and in the previous year.

Sportswriters for the Seattle Times and P-I said it was time to bench him as the season went on. Back then, some still had problems with a black qb. James stayed with his guy and ignored the criticism. Spider Gaines (what a great name for a wideout) and Chris Roland (who replaced an injured sophomore sensation local TB "the Real" Joe Steele) were on the offense; Michael Jackson, Nesby Glascow, and Bruce Harrell led the defense.

Curt Gowdy and Charlie Jones on the call for NBC. This was apparently recorded on the Portland NBC affiliate.

America watched and was stunned as Dawg fans went nuts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhTTSyqIuZA

I wonder what ever happened to that Moon guy?

This 2016 team reminds me A LOT of that 1978 team. If I were a betting man, I'd take that 14 pts and the Huskies!

No rational Bama fan isn't taking UW seriously, least of all Coach Saban. 

That's why the game must be played, and I am looking forward to 31 December.

[Ripsnort]

My concern is the 3rd and 4th Q. What Bama does is wear ya down.
We'll see if the Dawgs will hang with them.

[Masherbrum]

MSU was 12-1 with wins over OSU, Iowa, Oregon, Michigan.  Ohio obviously had a better team but could not finagle their way in like this year.  Tough break. MSU earned the spot in the game.  They even played well for 1.75 quarters. 
I feel we've been duped by a system that has opened up pandoras box.  Of course, if all subserve like this year we have no problem.

OSU beat Michigan.    No finagling was required.    0-2 so far against OSU.

[Masherbrum]

"If you don't win your conference you shouldn't be playing for a national championship"


Urban Meyer, 2006

I agree with that, regardless of Conference.