ranking vs seeding

[VolJarhead]

Post after post I read someone thinking that if we are ranked 8 or better we get to host. Our rank has no bearing on playoff seeding outside of the top 4. As a matter of fact, ranking means nothing any longer if you aren't a conference champion. The top 4 spots go to the 4 highest ranked conference champions. After that the committee places the remaining teams in the order that they believe them to be regardless of ranking. Currently you are looking at Oregon (Big 10), Texas (SEC), SMU (ACC), Boise State (Mountain West) being the top 4. The conference winner of any other conference that gets in doesn't guarantee them the 5th spot. They could be the 12 seed. If you are looking at rankings, SMU is 7/8 in the major polls, Boise State is 10th in both major polls. Both of those teams represent being in the top 4. That would imply that teams currently ranked 3 through whatever number are fighting for seeded positions 5-12 with 5-8 being host schools. This means that you are hoping that the committee believes that UT is in the top 6 schools in the Nation because two teams behind that ranking are in the top 4. Just because the major polls have UT at 6 does not mean they are automatically going to be seeded 8th. The committee could submit us at 12th or not at all. The fact that we were in the middle of the pack before Vandy and we won leads everyone to believe that we are in the mix for that 8/9 spot. That is just conjecture. I thought this thread might be helpful to those that don't understand. Clear as mud?

 

[WillisWG]

PAIRINGS​

1. The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded 1, 2, 3 and 4 and will receive byes in the first round. The remaining eight teams, including the fifth conference champion, will be seeded 5 through 12 based on their final ranking. If the fifth conference champion is not ranked among the top 12 teams, it will be seeded at No. 12.
2. Teams seeded 5, 6, 7 and 8 will host first-round games against teams seeded 12, 11, 10 and 9, respectively.
3. In the Playoff Quarterfinals, the team seeded No. 1 will meet the winner of the game between seeds 8 and 9. No. 2 will meet the 7 vs. 10 winner; No. 3 will meet the 6 vs. 11 winner; No. 4 will meet the 5 vs. 12 winner.
4. In the Playoff Semifinals, the winner of the game between No. 1 vs. 8/9 will meet the winner of No. 4 vs. 5/12. The winner of the game between No. 2 vs. 7/10 will meet the winner of No. 3 vs. 6/11.
5. Traditional contract-bowl relationships will be the top priority when the committee assigns teams to Playoff Quarterfinal sites, but such priority cannot be guaranteed because of the bracket. For example, if the Big 12 Conference champion were ranked No. 1 and the Southeastern Conference champion were ranked No. 2, then the Big 12 champion would be assigned to the Sugar Bowl.
   
   The committee will use geographic proximity for the No. 1 seed when assigning the Playoff Semifinal sites.