Official 2022 College Football Thread

[Solecismic]

One benefit of 12 teams is that maybe we can get away from the notion that teams can't have a bad sequence to be considered worth a damn. I've written this a few times, but with 131 FBS schools and 50-60 more FCS opponents for those schools, schedules vary considerably and top teams rarely even play each other.

Maybe some people are right and the eye test in this limited competition is enough. But major college football is the only sport we have where a pre-playoff loss is treated like a disqualifying event. And then everything is determined.

Fun 10-point swing on a blocked field goal. An excellent illustration of how all of this works, even if it's the #1 team getting the 10 out of it.

[GrantDawg]

That was quite a mistake on LSU's part. That ball is alive after a block. You can't just give up in the play.

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[JPhillips]

If I'm GA, I want TCU at 4 rather than OSU.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Narcolepsy strikes 11 young athletes simultaneously, film at eleven.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I can only assume that Coastal Carolina is convinced that Chadwell is Liberty-bound.

[GrantDawg]

I wish Georgia had taken more time on that drive. Defense has been on the field wayvtoo much already.

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[GrantDawg]

Helmet interception. Just like it was drawn up.

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[Brian Swartz]

We're 2-for-2 in making this Carnage Week. Georgia not holding up their end so far though.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

We're 2-for-2 in making this Carnage Week. Georgia not holding up their end so far though.

Brian Kelly, big game. Not sure what you expected.

[Brian Swartz]

Originally Posted by Edward64

GA MI OSU TCU right now. I’m good with another The Game

Please no. It's bad enough the machinations that happened last year with Georgia and Alabama. If we want a rematch, Ohio State should have to win another game first to get there. I'm fine with it if they earn that, but just having them play Michigan again when they played them in their last game is just silly.

I also think TCU has an argument to be objectively at 3 ahead of Ohio State at 4. They have one more win against a tougher overall schedule. Ohio State's loss is better competition, but at the end of it a larger margin. Advanced metrics have Big 12 very close to the SEC this year (and way the heck ahead of the Big 10).

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

TCU will get absolutely boatraced by Georgia or Michigan.

Quite possibly. I don't think we know that though. Latest example is how ESPN was taking a lot of crap for favoring Utah against USC. And then ... oops. It actually happened.

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Brian Kelly, big game. Not sure what you expected.

Oh, I expected Georgia to win, but at the same time are we pretending LSU didn't just beat Alabama not that long ago?

[GrantDawg]

Bennet has just been surgical.

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[GrantDawg]

Good God. He just lifted him up with one arm and held him. That guy is going to be a beast in the NFL.

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[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

Quite possibly. I don't think we know that though.

Anybody with eyes and a working knowledge of football knows that's a solid 99% possibility afaic.

[Brian Swartz]

The thing is Jon, every time someone advocates the eye test I think back to games like the 2019 championship game with Alabama and Clemson. Where Alabama was favored by almost a touchdown and the predictions here, and most other places were that they would win easily.

Until they lost by four touchdowns. The best experts in such things, no matter how you measure it, are wrong far more than the cited 1%. Well over an order of magnitude more often. How many games just this year did teams that were 20+ point underdogs win? So no, we really don't know.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Good God. He just lifted him up with one arm and held him. That guy is going to be a beast in the NFL.

God once lifted me up with his arm.

And then he dropped me on my head.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

So no, we really don't know.

Lightning strikes happen, but you don't plan life around them.

The playoff has two teams too many as it is.

[Thomkal]

Coastal played like a team knowing it was losing its head coach. Even though their QB played, the defense totally shut down again. 31-7 at the half, 45-26 final

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'm not at all sure that back to back SEC titles with this QB isn't the most damning indictment of the decline of the conference possible.

[Edward64]

IMO nothing wrong with Bennett. I think he's a great QB with the X factor.

He was on my radar back in 2019 before he was a household name. AR was handling GA pretty well. QB1 Mathis was ineffective and was replaced by Stetson who turned things around.

[GrantDawg]

Jon, they didn't win the SEC last year.

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[Solecismic]

That was a rough first quarter to watch. And given another ten minutes of commercials coming, I think I'll tap out for an hour or two. Should be around the start of the third quarter by midnight.

Looks like we might well be down to one undefeated team entering the playoff.

[Edward64]

That would be crazy if 3 of the Top-4 lost.

[cuervo72]

Why is Fox giving Saban time for a free campaign speech here?

[Brian Swartz]

Because the SEC is just super-awesome dontchaknow?

I will say I feel sorry for the committee. They had a chance at a playoff with very minimal controversy. Four conference champions, three undefeated. Hard to argue with. And the sport just wouldn't cooperate.

[SirFozzie]

wouldn't it be the death knell for "championship week" if the #2, #3, #4 teams all lose, and only one drop out of the playoffs?

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

wouldn't it be the death knell for "championship week" if the #2, #3, #4 teams all lose, and only one drop out of the playoffs?

No. But it would be kind of funny for a system designed to settle the question of who the best team is by giving us a “championship” game to itself ignore other “championship” games when deciding who the best teams are.

[cuervo72]

Easy to say after giving up a quick TD, but happy to see Purdue hang for a half though I expect things could get ugly in the second.

[Brian Swartz]

Second-half switch has been flipped. But major credit to Purdue. They weren't content to show up. They came to play.

[Lathum]

Jesus Christ, can these kids hold not drop the ball before crossing the goal line?

[Ryche]

Sanders to Colorado is official. Definitely shocked.

[Butter]

Nice that Dabo wasted 2 seasons with this QB and losing to SCAR needlessly this year before fully giving the backup this year a shot at the job.

Could've made the playoff this year, not that Clemson would've been good enough to do anything in it. But it's just Dabo being Dabo and in this case it was bad

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Jon, they didn't win the SEC last year.

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You'e right I phrased it incorrectly. Back to back appearances with a very mediocre Bennett on most weeks in year two, and a defense that isn't as good in year two, says a lot about how the conference is coming back toward the rest of the field.

It's not turning into the ACC any time soon but it's not what it was.

[Solecismic]

The score doesn't reflect it. Purdue outgained Michigan overall, and there was a lot of bending without breaking (5 field goals for Purdue). That was a frustrating ride. It will be interesting to see how the matchup with TCU lines up. Michigan has not faced a competent quarterback who can make you pay a lot with his feet.

If the committee jumps OSU ahead of TCU, that would be unfortunate.

[Edward64]

And the Heisman goes to?

There doesn't seem to be a real standout this year (and FWIW, Darren McFadden was robbed twice)

DraftKings Sportsbook

Caleb Williams -2500
Max Duggan +2000
Stetson Bennett +3000
CJ Stroud +6000

[Honolulu_Blue]

Hopefully the CFP Rankings will be:

Georgia
Michigan
TCU
OSU

Should provide the most interesting matchups.

I have no desire to see a UofM/OSU rematch unless necessary.

[Edward64]

I don't like a team not dropping after a loss. But yeah, that would make the best matchup.

Now if you really want most entertaining/hyped matchup, I'd say GA, MI, OSU, AL

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Edward64

I don't like a team not dropping after a loss. But yeah, that would make the best matchup.

Now if you really want most entertaining/hyped matchup, I'd say GA, MI, OSU, AL

Those would only be the most entertaining/hyped matchups if it were Opposite Day or some such.

No thanks! Absolute snooze fest.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

Coastal played like a team knowing it was losing its head coach. Even though their QB played, the defense totally shut down again. 31-7 at the half, 45-26 final

Sadly its true. Chadwell to Liberty. I know Chadwell is very religious, though not sure if he's a Baptist. That would be a good reason to move to Liberty if so. It also probably has something to do with the $3 million dollar raise he got too...


Coastal Carolina's Chadwell heading to Liberty after turning Chants into national power | Myrtle Beach Sports | postandcourier.com


Interestingly enough Coastal might play Liberty in the Myrtle Beach Bowl and has them scheduled to play several times over the next few years.

[HerRealName]

Hearing whispers that Jaxon Smith-Njigba is going to be back for Ohio State in the playoffs.

[miked]

I don't understand the Deion thing. There are definitely going to be better openings coming up soon other than Colorado and USF, why not wait and see what happens? I have to imagine if he waited another season he could probably have the Miami job, maybe Michigan State or Virginia. Choosing between a pair of 1-win teams seems silly.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by miked

I don't understand the Deion thing. There are definitely going to be better openings coming up soon other than Colorado and USF, why not wait and see what happens? I have to imagine if he waited another season he could probably have the Miami job, maybe Michigan State or Virginia. Choosing between a pair of 1-win teams seems silly.

And I'm not sure that $5M moves him in the way that it moves a career college football coach. Between the NFL and MLB, he made about $50M.

Though it could also be one of those cases where he knows his best players are leaving and has to jump before his star falls.

SI

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

Sadly its true. Chadwell to Liberty. I know Chadwell is very religious, though not sure if he's a Baptist. That would be a good reason to move to Liberty if so. It also probably has something to do with the $3 million dollar raise he got too...

Coastal Carolina's Chadwell heading to Liberty after turning Chants into national power | Myrtle Beach Sports | postandcourier.com

Interestingly enough Coastal might play Liberty in the Myrtle Beach Bowl and has them scheduled to play several times over the next few years.

That stinks because it was fun watching the Chants make noise. And it's not like Liberty is some nascent football power or something. Their stadiums are about the same size and Liberty is an independent going to CUSA while Coastal is Sun Belt. It feels more like a lateral step and a pay raise when I thought he could get something better.

SI

[Ksyrup]

I was thinking Sanders took that job to showcase his son at the P5 level.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

It feels more like a lateral step and a pay raise when I thought he could get something better.

A 4X pay raise is kinda ... substantial.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by miked

I don't understand the Deion thing. There are definitely going to be better openings coming up soon other than Colorado and USF, why not wait and see what happens? I have to imagine if he waited another season he could probably have the Miami job, maybe Michigan State or Virginia. Choosing between a pair of 1-win teams seems silly.

I saw an article that pointed out something I hadn't really considered in isolation but it does make sense once I thought about it

Colorado is SO bad that "progress" will be a pretty low bar to clear. For at least two seasons if not more. And doing so in a weakened conference makes it even easier to attain.

Gotta keep the hype train rollin', probably not an easier P5 job to do that at right now. It takes very little to look like an improvement.

[thealmighty]

Riff, Ram, Bah, Zoo
Lickety, Lickety, Zoo Zoo
Who, Wah, Wah, Who
Give 'em Hell, TCU!


With that out of the way, I wish I could honestly slam all the "TCU gonna get trucked" talk, but I can't. Wouldn't shock me if they lost by 20 or more.


However, they deserve to be in. Always get a blowout- often two- in the semifinal games anyway. There just aren't usually 4 great teams in a year.


I grew up in Ft. Worth and I'm old. From 1960-1997 (Pre Dennis Franchione/Gary Patterson) We were in a total of 3 bowl games (lost all 3). Had a grand total of 7 winning seasons (four with 6 wins, only one with as many as 8, never two years in a row). That's a lot of shitty teams, and I was at many, many of the games (when I was a little kid, we didn't even watch the game. Kids would throw a ball around on a hill outside the stadium.)



So, I'm just really psyched (not to mention shocked) that this team, mostly the same that was 5-7 last year and lost a number of our best players to the portal, is in this position. So it's awesome for me to be in the playoffs knowing we are the first Texas school ever in it.



Fear the Frog... at least until Dec 31!!

[thealmighty]

Dola... all that extra space wasn't shown in my message box. Ooops.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by thealmighty

However, they deserve to be in. Always get a blowout- often two- in the semifinal games anyway. There just aren't usually 4 great teams in a year.

A realistic take that I really can't find any issue with.

The playoff is already carrying two teams more than warranted, somebody is gonna get rolled and afaic they're the most deserving of the opportunity.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

That stinks because it was fun watching the Chants make noise. And it's not like Liberty is some nascent football power or something. Their stadiums are about the same size and Liberty is an independent going to CUSA while Coastal is Sun Belt. It feels more like a lateral step and a pay raise when I thought he could get something better.

SI

And Liberty has been Coastal's main rival since their Big South days. So kinda stinks that he went to them. But like Jon said, money talks.

[Edward64]

Hogs play Kansas in the Liberty Bowl.

Coulda, shoulda & woulda done better but happy with a Bowl game

QB Jefferson has said he will return so that’s great news (QB2 went to the portal). We do much better when he is healthy.