What if We Lose (Updated 11/19/2024)

[DaddyChad]

I “think” best case scenario is you’ve got the Big Ten and SEC splitting 8 spots in this playoff. You don’t want to be betting on the SEC to get five of those bc in most scenarios we get left out.

Georgia would get in; they beat Texas and would’ve beat us in this scenario, those are the two best wins. Bama would get in; it’s BS but they’re going to get in. They stomped LSU’s brains in at night in Death Valley. Then you’ve got Texas and Texas A&M; Texas is probably in, if A&M beats them you have an absolute cluster. Not even mentioning Ole Miss that just beat Georgia.

 

[Daniel_Lincolns_Foot]

None of Indiana's opponents have a record above .500

 

[Volbrando]

I would not want to play Indiana in the playoffs.

I would. I'd take them tomorrow if we could

 

[mrmax86]

None of Indiana's opponents have a record above .500

I think their super weak schedule puts them at the back of the line (probably ahead of Boise) in the event they lose to OSU.

 

[EZE]

I would not want to play Indiana in the playoffs.

Goodness, BVS at it’s worst.

This ain’t the Butch Jones Vols.

 

[mrmax86]

I would not want to play Indiana in the playoffs.

 

[IndianaVol]

Didn't we have to vacate that win thanks to Mr. Pruitt ???

 

[a vol n tears]

Boise is not in a P4 conference. Those would be BIG/SEC/ACC/Big 12

Not positive but I think the rule is the 4 conference champions get auto bids. I don’t think they auto get the top 4 seeds. Big ten might get 2 of 4 bye seeds and ACC no byes. SEC could possibly get 2 of top 4 seeds. May be incorrect but that’s how I saw it.

 

[deatojl]

The format is “top 4 ranked conference champions” get the bye and the 5th highest ranked conference champion gets an automatic bid, just not a first round bye. If Miami finishes behind BYU and Boise State then BYU and Boise will be the 3 and 4.

Here is another potential scenario that I haven't seen anyone mention. Nowhere in the format does it guarantee a G5 champ getting in. Like you said, it is the top 4 ranked conference champions who get the bye and the fifth highest ranked conference champion gets an automatic bid. What happens if Boise St. drops a game and Washington St wins out? Technically, the Pac 12 is still a recognized conference(at least for this year) with two members. Washington St would be the Pac 12 champion. They were ranked 21st in the first playoff rankings. If they were to finish ranked above Boise St., they would be the fifth highest ranked conference champion.

 

[VolPack22]

Here is another potential scenario that I haven't seen anyone mention. Nowhere in the format does it guarantee a G5 champ getting in. Like you said, it is the top 4 ranked conference champions who get the bye and the fifth highest ranked conference champion gets an automatic bid. What happens if Boise St. drops a game and Washington St wins out? Technically, the Pac 12 is still a recognized conference(at least for this year) with two members. Washington St would be the Pac 12 champion. They were ranked 21st in the first playoff rankings. If they were to finish ranked above Boise St., they would be the fifth highest ranked conference champion.

They are still in play, as well as Army…

 

[Flipdaddy]

If Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee end up with only two losses, they all three should get in

 

[Nico ee-ah-MAH-LAY-ah-va]

I would not want to play Indiana in the playoffs.

"They ain't played nobody, Paaaawl!"

They are a feel good story about a program best season, but you cannot name a team they have played to date that is even considered good. This weekend shows us who they really are.

 

[deatojl]

They are still in play, as well as Army…

Army is definitely still in play, particularly if they were to beat Notre Dame. My point with highlighting Wazzu specifically is that there might not be a G5 team in the playoff, at all. All year, everyone I have seen predictions from has been making the assumption that a G5 champ is guaranteed a spot. Can you imagine the hand wringing if their assumed spot goes to the winner of a two team Pac 12?

 

[Nico ee-ah-MAH-LAY-ah-va]

If Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee end up with only two losses, they all three should get in

Unfortunately this circle of suck will leave us out of the CFP. Even with a win over Bama, if UGA beats us then we would have the weakest common opponent score between the three.

 

[mrmax86]

Not positive but I think the rule is the 4 conference champions get auto bids. I don’t think they auto get the top 4 seeds. Big ten might get 2 of 4 bye seeds and ACC no byes. SEC could possibly get 2 of top 4 seeds. May be incorrect but that’s how I saw it.

Check out this post

 

[BigALWiLson]

I would not want to play Indiana in the playoffs.

Lol

 

[Dadof2Vols]

Dumbest part of college football. No other professional or semi professional sport has a glorified beauty and popularity contest. I can't take this sport seriously at all as long as things are decided by a committee that is also influenced by ESPN for ratings.

The Big 12 is a bush league conference and has no metric to support being in the conversation (talent, money, etc. are WAY lower). BYU gets to skirt by Truck Stop State each week and rewarded with a playoff spot.

The ACC, also known as the All Cupcake Conference, is just as bad. They would be nothing without Clempson winning a few natties in recent history.

Hell, even the B1G is suspect. Do you really think Indiana and Penn State are powerhouses? How many ranked wins do they have? Hint: the answer is the same as the number of victories Bama has over P4 schools in the state of Tennessee this season.

If not for first sentence I would have thought the first paragraph was about Nascar and their officiating.

 

[lukeneyland]

This where I have an issue with the OPs prognostication.
He has IU losing to tOSU, which is the most likely scenario, but then they drop 6 SPOTS...I just don't see that unless it is a big time blow out by OhSt.

IF we had to play IU in the 1st round, I would definitely want to host.
Cignetti has this fan base up here in Bloomington fired up for sure and playing them at their house especially in December would not be good.

We’d run all over them. They struggled with Michigan

 

[SonOfGodVolforlife]

They remember what you do in November....

No doubt, to bad ole miss beat us to the Georgia win; because now the storyline is gonna be about how bad Georgia is instead of how good Tn is.

 

[mrmax86]

This where I have an issue with the OPs prognostication.
He has IU losing to tOSU, which is the most likely scenario, but then they drop 6 SPOTS...I just don't see that unless it is a big time blow out by OhSt.

IF we had to play IU in the 1st round, I would definitely want to host.
Cignetti has this fan base up here in Bloomington fired up for sure and playing them at their house especially in December would not be good.

IU has no quality wins and a really bad SOS (like Miami), so if they actually collect a loss, they'll drop like Miami did/will.

 

[KTrain]

The one they already took should count as 2

Yep, the worst loss of teams vying for the playoff spots

 

[mrmax86]

No doubt, to bad ole miss beat us to the Georgia win; because now the storyline is gonna be about how bad Georgia is instead of how good Tn is.

That happens regardless after we play someone.

 

[aRmo]

Unfortunately, it will come down to 10-2 TN or 10-2 Alabama. They will choose Alabama because they will have better wins, LSU, UGA vs ours which is just Bama. Im sure the Bama bias will come into play aswell. Just expect us not to get in at 10-2 if we lose.

 

[KTrain]

No doubt, to bad ole miss beat us to the Georgia win; because now the storyline is gonna be about how bad Georgia is instead of how good Tn is.

Yep, I can see Heather Dinnich in a back and forth.
Caller- but UT has 2 great wins,,,, Bama & UGA with only 1 loss
Heather- well, remember UGA is a 3 loss team now I'm not sure we can call that a top tier win anymore and Bama is a 2 loss team.

 

[sami]

Dumbest part of college football. No other professional or semi professional sport has a glorified beauty and popularity contest. I can't take this sport seriously at all as long as things are decided by a committee that is also influenced by ESPN for ratings.

The Big 12 is a bush league conference and has no metric to support being in the conversation (talent, money, etc. are WAY lower). BYU gets to skirt by Truck Stop State each week and rewarded with a playoff spot.

The ACC, also known as the All Cupcake Conference, is just as bad. They would be nothing without Clempson winning a few natties in recent history.

Hell, even the B1G is suspect. Do you really think Indiana and Penn State are powerhouses? How many ranked wins do they have? Hint: the answer is the same as the number of victories Bama has over P4 schools in the state of Tennessee this season.

I've been screaming about this all season. Aside from Oregon and Ohio State, the Big 10 is as much a cupcake conference as the ACC and not far removed from the Big 12. From teams 5 through 18, the Big 10 is a joke, and we really don't know if Indiana is for real while Penn State has been a bully program ever since Franklin got there, beating up on bad Big 10 teams and losing to anyone ranked.

And yet, to the powers that be in the national media and the "committee", the Big 10 is on the same level as the SEC. A playoff will never be the answer as long as bureaucratic committees are deciding who gets to participate. I'll take any 2 or 3-loss SEC team against Indiana, Penn State, BYU, Miami, SMU, or Notre Dame every day of the week, but those schools are going to be in this silly playoff while 3-4 teams that would kick their asses will be left at home.