So which team/teams get left out of the playoffs?

[Dadof2Vols]

Not according to the BCS committee. They are supposed to pick the BEST four teams, period. At this point in the college football season, who are the four best teams?

Technically, resumes, have nothing to do with it. Arguments can be made on many sides.

I wanted Alabama to beat Georgia for one reason yesterday. I wanted this whole discussion to blow up this year about is it the best or most resume deserving.

Last year they put TCU in which clearly was not one of the best 4 and the game was terrible.

The reason I wanted the discussion is because next year it will be even more important to get the best 12. Think about it. If next year you pick the 12 with the best resume, then the SEC will probably never get more than 3. Why, because 4-6 teams will all have at least 2 loses even though they will probably be better than then teams who have better resumes. If Oklahoma and Texas were part of the SEC this year as of the last rankings 6 of the 12 teams would be from SEC. No one is going to stand for that.

So I want to see people come out and say moving forward we are looking at best 12 teams and your SOR is part of it but having 0 or 1 loses does not make you part of best 12. Otherwise, Tulane, Liberty and JMU would knock 3 SEC teams out.

Sankey needs to come out and say if we are no longer going by best teams, than the SEC will stay with 8 conference game schedule and we will play no hard out of conference games and we will play as many cupcakes as Michigan and Ohio State play every year to pad our resume.

This debate is even more important to Tennessee fans come next year then it is this year. It is going to become almost impossible to have 0 and probably even 1 loss in the SEC schedule moving forward especially in a 9-conference game schedule.

It must be best 12 teams moving forward or the SEC just screwed themselves with expansion.

 

[volfan102455]

Those of you who are arguing for Bama, how would you feel if the tables were turned, and Tennessee was sitting at 13-0 having just won with a 3rd string QB with one of the most incredible defensive efforts ever, but the committee said - you are not worthy even though you beat Bama and UGA early because your Heisman candidate QB is hurt and can't play. So we are talking this other 1 loss team instead?

You would be whining to everyone that listened that it wasn't fair that Tennessee should be judged on their entire body of work so those other wins NOT PERSONNEL should matter. Had we been able to come back and beat South Carolina after Hooker was injured, the argument against us would be the same as the argument you are putting out there against FSU.

The only argument against FSU is the QB injury. They have a signature win over LSU.

 

[volfan102455]

Oh so Wake beat Vandy ? Did they beat the better teams or the weak ones ? Sure Fsu beat a struggling LSU team late. That's 1 win. Where is the substance UNC over SC ? Lol let me say that Kentucky beat Divisional Champ in that conference soundly. You can not be serious about the ACC being better than the SEC

FSU manhandled LSU in the first game of the season with both teams at full strength.

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

If the objective is to pick the best 4 teams, I think you go with Michigan, Washington, Texas, and Alabama in that order. If your objective is to pick the 4 teams with the best resumes, it’s likely Michigan, Washington, FSU, and Texas.

2 of the 4 best teams played last night in the SEC championship

 

[BigALWiLson]

Those of you who are arguing for Bama, how would you feel if the tables were turned, and Tennessee was sitting at 13-0 having just won with a 3rd string QB with one of the most incredible defensive efforts ever, but the committee said - you are not worthy even though you beat Bama and UGA early because your Heisman candidate QB is hurt and can't play. So we are talking this other 1 loss team instead?

You would be whining to everyone that listened that it wasn't fair that Tennessee should be judged on their entire body of work so those other wins NOT PERSONNEL should matter. Had we been able to come back and beat South Carolina after Hooker was injured, the argument against us would be the same as the argument you are putting out there against FSU.

The only argument against FSU is the QB injury. They have a signature win over LSU.

LSU is a signature win ?

 

[BigALWiLson]

FSU manhandled LSU in the first game of the season with both teams at full strength.

They manhandled them in the 4th qtr when lsu coukd do nothing right.

 

[BigALWiLson]

Again FSU doesn't have an impressive win or schedule. They would be left out in my playoff

 

[DuckInAPen]

While I think leaving the SEC Champion out is wrong simply because the SEC Champion will be a favorite to win it all, this may be a good exercise. Will the Southeast outside of Tallahassee watch the CFP? Or would the country rejoice the SEC has no chance and flock to their TVs? Inquiring minds want to know.

I suspect the committee this morning is cursing Georgia.

For my part, I'd be more interested in watching playoff games that didn't entail our rivals racking up more accolades and hardware.

 

[Volhoops]

The issue with the current conference championship games is conferences refuse to have the two best teams in their conferences play in their championship game. Texas, Michigan and Florida State all played teams with double digit rankings and then everyone is supposed to be impressed when they win. Texas and Michigan played mediocre teams that did not deserve to be in the championship game based upon their record and final rankings. That is where more of the arguments now come from. Could Michigan have beaten Ohio St if they had met again ? Texas would have had to face Oklahoma instead of the lesser Ok St. There's nothing you can do about the ACC as there seems to be one team that is good and then some so so if not worse teams in that league. From watching the game I do not think Florida St deserves to be in. The loss of their QB is significant. I'm not sure they can score in the playoffs unless they get a pick 6. They do have a great defense but I don't give them team greatness because of a win over a 3-lose LSU when they had their QB.

 

[utvolpj]

The issue with the current conference championship games is conferences refuse to have the two best teams in their conferences play in their championship game. Texas, Michigan and Florida State all played teams with double digit rankings and then everyone is supposed to be impressed when they win. Texas and Michigan played mediocre teams that did not deserve to be in the championship game based upon their record and final rankings. That is where more of the arguments now come from. Could Michigan have beaten Ohio St if they had met again ? Texas would have had to face Oklahoma instead of the lesser Ok St. There's nothing you can do about the ACC as there seems to be one team that is good and then some so so if not worse teams in that league. From watching the game I do not think Florida St deserves to be in. The loss of their QB is significant. I'm not sure they can score in the playoffs unless they get a pick 6. They do have a great defense but I don't give them team greatness because of a win over a 3-lose LSU when they had their QB.

Oklahoma St beat OU head to head. How are they the lesser opponent?

 

[volfan102455]

I wanted Alabama to beat Georgia for one reason yesterday. I wanted this whole discussion to blow up this year about is it the best or most resume deserving.

Last year they put TCU in which clearly was not one of the best 4 and the game was terrible.

The reason I wanted the discussion is because next year it will be even more important to get the best 12. Think about it. If next year you pick the 12 with the best resume, then the SEC will probably never get more than 3. Why, because 4-6 teams will all have at least 2 loses even though they will probably be better than then teams who have better resumes. If Oklahoma and Texas were part of the SEC this year as of the last rankings 6 of the 12 teams would be from SEC. No one is going to stand for that.

So I want to see people come out and say moving forward we are looking at best 12 teams and your SOR is part of it but having 0 or 1 loses does not make you part of best 12. Otherwise, Tulane, Liberty and JMU would knock 3 SEC teams out.

Sankey needs to come out and say if we are no longer going by best teams, than the SEC will stay with 8 conference game schedule and we will play no hard out of conference games and we will play as many cupcakes as Michigan and Ohio State play every year to pad our resume.

This debate is even more important to Tennessee fans come next year then it is this year. It is going to become almost impossible to have 0 and probably even 1 loss in the SEC schedule moving forward especially in a 9-conference game schedule.

It must be best 12 teams moving forward or the SEC just screwed themselves with expansion.

I believe the 12 format criteria has already said the 4 highest ranking P5 conference champs are in and get the byes. And I believe there will only be 4 "P5" conferences next year, so the conference champs are in.

The problem with the current format is that there are just 4 spots and 5 P5 conferences. A conference (or two) has always been left out. It has never been the SEC. Now that it may be the SEC, all the SEC homers are complaining. I suspect the other conferences are saying "about time you all see how we feel".

My personal opinion is that a team should have to win a championship to play for the next level of championship. Otherwise, why even play for the first championship.

The 12 game playoff will not be a mini SEC tournament - it that happens we'll go to 16 then 32 then 64 because teams are not given the chance to prove themselves against the mighty SEC.

 

[DuckInAPen]

FSU 2023 = TCU 2022

It would turn out exactly the same.

You mean with FSU making the championship game?

 

[MountainDooley]

My personal top 4 would be as follows:
( Michigan is out. They plays no one other than Ohio State, plus they got caught cheating. I would vacate half their wins.)

1. Washington
2. Texas
3. Bama
4. Ga

First two out:

Ohio State
Oregon - has only lost to Washington by 1 possession (twice)

I think all 6 teams above would beat Michigan head to head.

Florida State - despite a great season, without Jordan Travis they are not one of the four best teams. Currently, I doubt they could beat anyone inside the top 12.

I know this ain’t going to happen but I feel like it gets the best 4 teams in the playoffs.

 

[vegasvolfan]

I see the seeding going like this,
1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. Texas/Georgia/Alabama
4. Florida State

I’m aware I may catch grief over Fla St due to QB injuries, but how do you leave an undefeated P5 out over 1 loss P5? The arguments can be made in all directions. Glad it’s not up to me to decide. This scenario further proves the need for the expanded playoff.

It’s probably going to be FSU. Not sure it should be. I must say, I was a fan of Norvell coming to TN and many scoffed. I was right about him yet again. I like Heupel and I am not sure Norvell would have done a better job or not, but kudos to him.

 

[volfan102455]

To be clear I am not an FSU fan, but I do not like seeing a team that was able to overcome the adversity they overcome in the last few games to go 13-0 be bullied by the SEC just because their BEST team (Georgia) couldn't win a game they should have won.

 

[Dadof2Vols]

I believe the 12 format criteria has already said the 4 highest ranking P5 conference champs are in and get the byes. And I believe there will only be 4 "P5" conferences next year, so the conference champs are in.

The problem with the current format is that there are just 4 spots and 5 P5 conferences. A conference (or two) has always been left out. It has never been the SEC. Now that it may be the SEC, all the SEC homers are complaining. I suspect the other conferences are saying "about time you all see how we feel".

My personal opinion is that a team should have to win a championship to play for the next level of championship. Otherwise, why even play for the first championship.

The 12 game playoff will not be a mini SEC tournament - it that happens we'll go to 16 then 32 then 64 because teams are not given the chance to prove themselves against the mighty SEC.

My point was that for spots 5-12, is it going to be a beauty pageant based on record or best teams.

If it is beauty pageant, SEC just screwed themselves by adding harder teams instead of more cupcakes like other conferences did and the SEC would be stupid to go to a 9 game conference schedule.

 

[TENNESSEESLIM]

This whole scenario proves 4 isn't enough. Bama and GA should be left out, due to the current structure, but both are top 4 teams imop.

 

[BigOrangeFanatic]

4 best teams in no order: Michigan, UGA, Bama and Texas

4 teams that will make it: Michigan, Washington, FSU, Alabama

4 teams I wish would make it: Michigan, Washington, FSU and Texas

They're not leaving Bama out of the playoff. Sit back and watch. Could also see them putting Texas in there over FSU, but Bama is In. Will be shocked if they're not.

 

[volfan102455]

My point was that for spots 5-12, is it going to be a beauty pageant based on record or best teams.

If it is beauty pageant, SEC just screwed themselves by adding harder teams instead of more cupcakes like other conferences did and the SEC would be stupid to go to a 9 game conference schedule.

If the conferences want to maximum their participation - they will first ensure the conference championship has the two best teams. Moving away from the east / west divisions will ensure that with the SEC just like it ensured that with other conferences.

Typically, you have well less than 12 teams with 0 or 1 loss, so the discussion is going to be around teams with 2 losses and the non P5 top teams. The committee has already said the "BEST" of the non P5 conference champs is in. That is 5 out of 12 - so it is 6 - 12 that will be the discussion. That is 7 slots - I think each of the P5 conference teams will typically have 2 teams. With 4 major conferences next year, that is 9 taken - so we are left with 3.

Folks that think we are going to see 4+ SEC teams in the top 12 are dreaming. It may happen some years, but it will not be the norm.

 

[volfan102455]

4 best teams in no order: Michigan, UGA, Bama and Texas

4 teams that will make it: Michigan, Washington, FSU, Alabama

4 teams I wish would make it: Michigan, Washington, FSU and Texas

They're not leaving Bama out of the playoff. Sit back and watch. Could also see them putting Texas in there over FSU, but Bama is In. Will be shocked if they're not.

Money is probably changing hands right now to help Bama. Sad but true. If they are in, hope whomever they play makes them look like trash. I love SEC football but am tired of the arrogance and strong armed nature of the conference.

 

[Sudden Impact]

There really should be no debate. IMO, this is easy.

The three undefeated conference champs have to be in…period.

And Texas beat Alabama head-to-head, convincingly, in Tuscaloosa. Texas has to be the fourth.

If Alabama gets in over any of those teams, it will further confirm what we all know…Alabama has an unfair standing in the game. We know it’s true in the conference. This would just confirm it nationally.

I agree, if you don't put the Undefeated Conference Champions in the playoffs then you might as well not have a Playoff. Back to the reason why we went from BCS to Playoff.

This is the NFL concept gone awry and there division champion makes the playoff no matter what the record is.

This is the last year with 4 teams and this would not be an issue with the exception of seeding.

Michigan Cheaters
Washington - Weak conference
FSU - injuries.
GA, AL, TX - The winner of the game of who beat who should be in but wait Strength of Schedule, Head to Head.

The fact that they are having the discussion is ridiculous. SEC has probably sent lobbyist, but all in all things are not equal. I am glad GA loss, but mad that it was AL that beat them. TX has earned it beating AL at home.

 

[OrangeVolMan]

FSU looks horrible. Letting them into the playoff with that garbage QB would be a travesty

He will not be the QB in the playoffs.

 

[Volhoops]

FSU manhandled LSU in the first game of the season with both teams at full strength.

Committee is supposed to take into account the now not the past. The now is great defense but no offense. Also LSU ended up a 3-loss team so not a block buster win.

 

[Vol524]

1) Michigan
2) Washington
3) Texas
4) Alabama
Flordia State gets left out due to the strength of schedule and poor performance in the Championship game. JMHO

 

[luthervol]

Michigan
Washington
FL State
Texas