Notre Dame shouldn’t be eligible for playoffs

#2
#2
As pitiful as it is, ND has a strength of schedule higher than Indiana, SMU, Boise State, and Arizona State.

Granted, none of those teams should probably be in the playoffs if you want "the best teams in the country" but it's hard to single out ND as crap with this playoff structure.
 
#3
#3
As pitiful as it is, ND has a strength of schedule higher than Indiana, SMU, Boise State, and Arizona State.

Granted, none of those teams should probably be in the playoffs if you want "the best teams in the country" but it's hard to single out ND as crap with this playoff structure.
I disagree. There is no objective vetting process for ND. They get slotted in because they are ND. There is no threat of a conference championship beatdown that might come with injuries to key players. If they insist on letting them in, they should never be higher than the #12 spot.
 
#4
#4
I have been saying this for weeks. Can't deny them but all teams not playing in a conference should be in the 11th or 12th. If you are going to give a conference winners byes you should penalize the non conference teams with the lower seeds and no home games.
 
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#5
#5
I disagree. There is no objective vetting process for ND. They get slotted in because they are ND. There is no threat of a conference championship beatdown that might come with injuries to key players. If they insist on letting them in, they should never be higher than the #12 spot.
People harp on strength of schedule and ND is by no means the worst offender this year. As Saban said, rewarding teams who play no one except one of two good teams every year isn't right. I agree, but it's not just ND.

Obviously Indiana and Penn State have headed in that direction also, despite being in the B1G.

This first expanded CFP year is like your first shots on a firing range. I expect to get close but I'm sure it's going to take a few clicks, getting myself settled in, etc before I really get it right.
 
#6
#6
People harp on strength of schedule and ND is by no means the worst offender this year. As Saban said, rewarding teams who play no one except one of two good teams every year isn't right. I agree, but it's not just ND.

Obviously Indiana and Penn State have headed in that direction also, despite being in the B1G.

This first expanded CFP year is like your first shots on a firing range. I expect to get close but I'm sure it's going to take a few clicks, getting myself settled in, etc before I really get it right.
That is an interesting problem to solve. Strength of schedule is a crap shoot.

Show of hands of all that had Indiana in the 2024 way too early summer CFP poll. Is that their fault that the B1G is a lame ass conference top to bottom? They can only play what's in front of them. Should they be penalized because of it? This is the problem of these super conferences. The only way I can see to solve it is to create one super duper conference, and go European relegation with "lesser" conferences. It would actually be an elegant solution for having too many teams. And... all you 'meaningless bowl' guys would be able to pat yourselves on the back because anything other than the CFP really would be meaningless. Then it will be just as interesting as the NFL
 
#7
#7
That is an interesting problem to solve. Strength of schedule is a crap shoot.

Show of hands of all that had Indiana in the 2024 way too early summer CFP poll. Is that their fault that the B1G is a lame ass conference top to bottom? They can only play what's in front of them. Should they be penalized because of it? This is the problem of these super conferences. The only way I can see to solve it is to create one super duper conference, and go European relegation with "lesser" conferences. It would actually be an elegant solution for having too many teams. And... all you 'meaningless bowl' guys would be able to pat yourselves on the back because anything other than the CFP really would be meaningless. Then it will be just as interesting as the NFL
As I have said, the SEC and B1G break away, prepare to create a new pro league, and have their own NFC/AFC style league.

It's money, both media deals and NIL, that will keep pushing the gap between conferences and it's the courts that will declare players are employees shortly after "revenue sharing" becomes a thing.

Leave the rest of college ball to be closer to traditional college and let the big money drive the rest of us where it drives us.
 
#8
#8
As I have said, the SEC and B1G break away, prepare to create a new pro league, and have their own NFC/AFC style league.

It's money, both media deals and NIL, that will keep pushing the gap between conferences and it's the courts that will declare players are employees shortly after "revenue sharing" becomes a thing.

Leave the rest of college ball to be closer to traditional college and let the big money drive the rest of us where it drives us.
I was actually pretty happy until I read this. You're right you know. College football will have all the majesty of the NFL after awhile. ugh.

Maybe they should do away with the whole 4 year eligibility thing while they are at it and really drive a dagger thru the heart.
 
#9
#9
I was actually pretty happy until I read this. You're right you know. College football will have all the majesty of the NFL after awhile. ugh.

Maybe they should do away with the whole 4 year eligibility thing while they are at it and really drive a dagger thru the heart.
They'll probably have no choice. If it's a job you're hired to do, how can you say someone is only employable for 4 or 5 years without getting sued with age discrimination. Mandatory retirement at 24? I'm not sure that flies in the court.
 
#10
#10
They'll probably have no choice. If it's a job you're hired to do, how can you say someone is only employable for 4 or 5 years without getting sued with age discrimination. Mandatory retirement at 24? I'm not sure that flies in the court.
I'm out at 65, and it is perfectly legal. There is age precedent. They are starting with a blank sheet of paper, and the NCAA can make the rules no matter how stupid or crappy they are.

Regardless, I really think college football is a dead man walking except for a small segment of it
 
#11
#11
I'm out at 65, and it is perfectly legal. There is age precedent. They are starting with a blank sheet of paper, and the NCAA can make the rules no matter how stupid or crappy they are.

Regardless, I really think college football is a dead man walking except for a small segment of it
I just think it's hard to prove you need it in a pro league when a similar pro league has no "you aged out" rules.

I'm hoping that somehow smaller schools can be separated so athletes have a chance to work hard to have skills, trade an education for their skills, and have some semblance of a college team being a college team.

Politically, I thought an Antitrust Exemption might happen but I'd prefer a much smaller govt than giving them something else they can get their paws on, so I'm not all in there at all.

It's a mess, but we're in the hunt this year, as messy as the hunt is, so I'm all in on thinking the Vols have a puncher's chance at the trophy.
 
#12
#12
As pitiful as it is, ND has a strength of schedule higher than Indiana, SMU, Boise State, and Arizona State.

Granted, none of those teams should probably be in the playoffs if you want "the best teams in the country" but it's hard to single out ND as crap with this playoff structure.
Yea SOS may be higher but when you cherry pick your schedule you can negotiate when you play games. Certain games after byes or not difficult games back to back. In conferences they may slot you 2 straight difficult games in middle of a road trips back to back and as independent you can make it as comfortable as you like. Not even the same argument.
 
#13
#13
I just think it's hard to prove you need it in a pro league when a similar pro league has no "you aged out" rules.

I'm hoping that somehow smaller schools can be separated so athletes have a chance to work hard to have skills, trade an education for their skills, and have some semblance of a college team being a college team.

Politically, I thought an Antitrust Exemption might happen but I'd prefer a much smaller govt than giving them something else they can get their paws on, so I'm not all in there at all.

It's a mess, but we're in the hunt this year, as messy as the hunt is, so I'm all in on thinking the Vols have a puncher's chance at the trophy.
SPHL (Knoxville Ice Bears) does...I'm guessing the players' union agreed to it...not sure though.
 
#14
#14
I had posted it in another thread. there just needs to be a threshold.

The higher your strength of schedule the lower your record can be to make the playoffs.

as an example:
you can go 12-0, or be top 5 conference champ, against top 64 SOS
you can go 11-1 against top 48 SOS
you can go 10-2 against top 32 SOS
you can go 9-3, against top 16 SOS.

this year ND, IU, Bama, BYU, Miami, SMU, Army would be out
 
#15
#15
ND gets hated on (oftentimes for good reason) but let's be honest - any school who could go independent and function like ND does would do that.
 
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#16
#16
I was actually pretty happy until I read this. You're right you know. College football will have all the majesty of the NFL after awhile. ugh.

Maybe they should do away with the whole 4 year eligibility thing while they are at it and really drive a dagger thru the heart.
4 years? That hasn't been a thing for quite a while. Where have you been?
 
#17
#17
They have changed the names to all the non-playoff games to the Opt Out Bowls🤣, go watch next year's players and walk-ons as the Seniors Opt out. I just cannot see Milroe playing in the Reali Quist Bowl with chance of getting hurt.

I had posted it in another thread. there just needs to be a threshold.

The higher your strength of schedule the lower your record can be to make the playoffs.

as an example:
you can go 12-0, or be top 5 conference champ, against top 64 SOS
you can go 11-1 against top 48 SOS
you can go 10-2 against top 32 SOS
you can go 9-3, against top 16 SOS.

this year ND, IU, Bama, BYU, Miami, SMU, Army would be out
Not picking on you but I hear strength of schedule all the time and that is to simplified. Just saying 10-2 doesn’t factor in how weak those 2 opponents were. I prefer “strength of opponent“.
I may be alone in this thinking but if you beat a top 10 opponent you should get a big bump, a loss would be a minor negative bump or no negative bump at all. Beat a top 25 opponent, a nice bump, a loss would be an average negative bump.
If you beat a bad team like Kent State, no bump or extremely low bump. A loss would be a big negative bump.
Also factor in about 3 points for home field advantage and point spread up to about 14 points. The rankings (strength of opponent) probably should be based on a combination of ranking systems at seasons end.
Beat a Georgia but a loss to Kent State would be a wash. Beat a team like Georgia in SECCG and you get a very nice bump, lose and a get a very minor negative bump.
I guess we are both trying to reward teams for playing tough competition but going about it slightly differently.
And the CFP committee should be replaced with a computer program so everyone will know why they were or were not selected!!!
 
#18
#18
I have been saying this for weeks. Can't deny them but all teams not playing in a conference should be in the 11th or 12th. If you are going to give a conference winners byes you should penalize the non conference teams with the lower seeds and no home games.
9-12 seeding is what should be available to ND. If they go undefeated then they get the 9th spot.
 
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#20
#20
Yep. BYU tried to do it for a decade but couldn't pull it off.

Not sure what you mean, but I think BYU "pulled it off." I believe it was great for $, but it was the old system, and they didn't have the horses (because of the honor code, few dudes want to play there). They had basically no chance at a playoff berth, and with no conference title to play for, the whole season felt like an exhibition. BYU liked being independent more than it liked being in a group of 5 conference, and it likes being in a power 4 conference more than being independent.

Now with NIL money (which helps BYU a ton in recruitment) and a 12-team playoff, they could go back to independence and be in the mix, but it's better for the fans to be part of a conference. I can't imagine Notre Dame fans like having 0 natty's, 0 Heismans, and 0 conference titles in 38 years, or whatever. They're just out there getting cardio.
 
#21
#21
Now with NIL money (which helps BYU a ton in recruitment) and a 12-team playoff, they could go back to independence and be in the mix, but it's better for the fans to be part of a conference. I can't imagine Notre Dame fans like having 0 natty's, 0 Heismans, and 0 conference titles in 38 years, or whatever. They're just out there getting cardio.

And just moments after I type this, BYU lands the #1 basketball prospect in the country
 
#22
#22
Not sure what you mean, but I think BYU "pulled it off." I believe it was great for $, but it was the old system, and they didn't have the horses (because of the honor code, few dudes want to play there). They had basically no chance at a playoff berth, and with no conference title to play for, the whole season felt like an exhibition. BYU liked being independent more than it liked being in a group of 5 conference, and it likes being in a power 4 conference more than being independent.

Now with NIL money (which helps BYU a ton in recruitment) and a 12-team playoff, they could go back to independence and be in the mix, but it's better for the fans to be part of a conference. I can't imagine Notre Dame fans like having 0 natty's, 0 Heismans, and 0 conference titles in 38 years, or whatever. They're just out there getting cardio.

I don't think we're talking about the same "pull it off". I meant pull it off like Notre Dame, ND stays independent because they have a major TV contract for themselves and get their own special treatment basically because if they go at least 10-2 they are in the playoff talk. They can do it. BYU never got close to that in their 10 years as an independent and for all intents and purposes were kinda invisible. I don't think for a second if they went back to independent they'd really be in the mix for a playoff spot, I think they'd be right back where they were even with 12 teams. BYU as an independent loses to a Northern Illinois and that's it.
 
#23
#23
Yep. BYU tried to do it for a decade but couldn't pull it off.
Alot of BYUS issues are independent to them. Their unwillingness to play on Sundays makes conference scheduling difficult. They also chose a conference that their Conference basketball tournament does not end on Sundays like Big 10 and SEC. being independent they definitely can regulate in football and basketball but yes their other sports is very difficult with not having a conference to get enough matches and games in without offering Sunday play.
 
#24
#24
I don't think we're talking about the same "pull it off". I meant pull it off like Notre Dame, ND stays independent because they have a major TV contract for themselves and get their own special treatment basically because if they go at least 10-2 they are in the playoff talk. They can do it. BYU never got close to that in their 10 years as an independent and for all intents and purposes were kinda invisible. I don't think for a second if they went back to independent they'd really be in the mix for a playoff spot, I think they'd be right back where they were even with 12 teams. BYU as an independent loses to a Northern Illinois and that's it.

Yeah, maybe they don't have the same cache as Notre Dame, but if they go 11-1 against the 42nd SOS, they're almost definitely in the 12-team playoff. This wasn't a possible scenario for BYU before the NIL in a 4-team playoff. SMU went 11-2, didn't win a conference, and played the 54th SOS and is in, so BYU could definitely get away without being in a conference, but they make more $ this way and it's great for the fans.

According to ChatGPT, Notre Dame apparently makes $50m/yr on their TV contract, and ACC teams make $45m. SEC = $50m. Big 10 teams make $61m. Just join a conference.
 

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