Official 2021 College Football thread

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

It's not a glorified high school schedule, there's simply no comparison between 18 year olds and 20-22 year olds in terms of physical maturity, experience, etc.

Those are glorified high school TEAMS a lot of these so-called D1 programs are fielding, ergo the schedule comment.

I stand by what I said for the large part.

The expansion of D1 has watered it down to the point of being almost a meaningless designation. A reset of the system -- which I've said for quite a number of years now -- is overdue. Let the de facto pro teams pay their players, treat them like the marketing department employees they are, put the rest back under student-athlete rules, put them in a division of their own.

[Ksyrup]

I would have no problem with that. But until then, they should have a seat at the table.

[Brian Swartz]

Gonna be a real 'fun' weekend for the CFP if Washington manages to beat Oregon.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I would have no problem with that. But until then, they should have a seat at the table.

They shouldn't even be in the restaurant afaic.

[GrantDawg]

LSU is hanging with Alabama. Coach O maybe be leaving, but he didn't quit.

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[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

Gonna be a real 'fun' weekend for the CFP if Washington manages to beat Oregon.

Love how it is going so far.

[Brian Swartz]

Getting away with it I think, but Michigan continues to have fieldgoalitis.

[GrantDawg]

I am watching the LSU-Bama game on my phone without sound. Can someone tell me why LSU didn't kick to make this a 3 point game?

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[Ksyrup]

I don't know but they just forced a fumble.

[Ksyrup]

4th and 7 was too much to go for with 6 minutes to go, IMO.

[GrantDawg]

Bama's D has ratchet up.

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[Brian Swartz]

I think they were assuming field goals aren't going to beat Alabama. I don't think they were wrong.

[GrantDawg]

Bama going to survive, but they still aren't very impressive.

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[JonInMiddleGA]

Another where even a two team playoff looks like it's one too many.

NOTHING could possibly grieve me more than to have that be the case this year but that looks more and more like where we're at.

[Ksyrup]

Refs are so bad but damn did Stoops just blew the game for UK. Refs missed a clear face mask and Stoops blew up.

[Ksyrup]

OK, Tennessee what was that?!

[GrantDawg]

An Alabama-Georgia SEC Championship game might end up being a 9-6 game, where neither team can move the ball on the other.

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[Brian Swartz]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Those are glorified high school TEAMS a lot of these so-called D1 programs are fielding, ergo the schedule comment.

I don't think that's true at all. Compared to HS, the talent at the D1 level is incredibly concentrated - not as concentrated as it used to be for sure, but only a small percentage of HS players are good enough to play anywhere in college, let alone D1. There's a reason why we don't see lower-division schools that are successful just jumping up to D1 and not miss a beat. The gaps are still massive.

[Ksyrup]

What the hell just happened in the Oregon game? Bizarre sequence.

[Brian Swartz]

Michigan wins easily although they don't look particularly great doing it. Happy Valley should be an adventure with Clifford on the mend. I think they need to win there for this to be a successful season. Could easily be a 17-13 kind of game.

[Edward64]

Good game by LSU, it shows how they can really play. Hogs have them next week so that's a little scary.

DC Barry Odom plays a 3-2-6 defense scheme. I don't like it. Doesn't seem like a fit for the Hogs talent level right now or against our conference opposition.

[Edward64]

Brutal for kickers.

Mississippi State went 0-for-3 on field goal attempts Saturday during the No. 17 Bulldogs' 31-28 loss at Arkansas. Second-year head coach Mike Leach didn't mince his words either after special team shortcomings made the difference in the contest that dropped the Bulldogs to 5-4 on the year.

"There's an open tryout on our campus for Kickers," Leach said bluntly to reporters postgame. The loss featured two missed attempts from Brandon Ruiz and one from Nolan McCord.

The miss from McCord — a 40-yard attempt — was particularly brutal. After Arkansas went ahead by three points in the final minute of regulation, Leach went with McCord in favor of Ruiz for the aforementioned attempt as Mississippi State looked to send the contest in overtime. McCord's attempt went wide left, however, sealing the deal as the Razorbacks escaped with the victory.

[Ksyrup]

The ACC blowing any chance of a playoff spot with its last remaining undefeated team losing to an in-state conference rival in a non-conference game seems pretty on-brand.

[tarcone]

Watched the replay of the Iowa game.

2 TD drives in a row when we out in our 2nd string QB. Then the team went ultra conservative.

Defense was good again. 3 more INTs. We have 19 on the season.

Still another ugly win, I do not know how we have 7 wins with our inept OC.

[tarcone]

Forgot to mention the protestors that went on the field with 34 seconds left in the 2nd quarter that read "ABOLISH NUPD INVEST IN BLACK LIVES," "STOP FUNDING THE WAR ON PALESTINE," "DIVEST FROM DEATH,".

Apparently a fan dressed in Iowa gear ran on the field and through a couple signs.

It held up the game for some minutes.

[GrantDawg]

Todd Grantham and the Florida O-line coach were both fired. I don't know if that is going to be enough to save Mullins after this weekend. You can't totally suck at recruiting and survive very long.

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[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Todd Grantham and the Florida O-line coach were both fired. I don't know if that is going to be enough to save Mullins after this weekend. You can't totally suck at recruiting and survive very long.

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I'd be amazed if ANYTHING saved Mullen at this point. This might be more about trying to salvage bowl eligibility

They're 4-5 right now, assuming they beat Samford next they still have to beat either Missouri or FSU to get to six wins. After yesterday's performance, neither of those last two feel like a given.

[tarcone]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I'd be amazed if ANYTHING saved Mullen at this point. This might be more about trying to salvage bowl eligibility

They're 4-5 right now, assuming they beat Samford next they still have to beat either Missouri or FSU to get to six wins. After yesterday's performance, neither of those last two feel like a given.

Well, Missouri doesnt play a lick of defense and their FCS coach is coaching like an FCS coach.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by tarcone

Well, Missouri doesnt play a lick of defense and their FCS coach is coaching like an FCS coach.

UF just got run over by South Carolina with their 4th string QB.

After that I'm not sure anybody is an absolute certainty for UF.
Not even Mizzou.

[HerRealName]

These silly rankings are still meaningless but I'm trying to understand the logic that goes into ranking Auburn at 17 and not ranking Penn State at all.

[spleen1015]

Michigan moves above MSU....

[Brian Swartz]

I think the committee needs to allow themselves a 'tie' or 'too close to call' prior to the final ranking.

[tarcone]

That just guaranteed Cinci is in. No way Alabama beats Georgia unless we the biggest choke job in a while.

[Brian Swartz]

Why is it a guarantee that an Alabama loss to Georgia would move them below Cincinatti? I'm not at all convinced a 2-loss Bama doesn't get in over them (or others). Not saying they *should*, but I wouldn't find it more than mildly surprising at the most.

[bronconick]

Oklahoma will blow by Cincy at some point

[Swaggs]

I’m having a tough time wrapping my head around the fact that Oklahoma could win out, be the Big 12 champion (which has been in the top 2-3 of conference rankings this year) and finish behind 3 1-loss (heck, maybe 4 if Georgia loses somewhere along the way) teams.

[tarcone]

I think Oklahoma pissed in some ones cheer-os.

Maybe the committee is thinking Oklahoma is a SEC team playing a watered down Big 12 conference. And they dont want 3 SEC schools in the tourney.

[HomerSimpson98]

OU hasnt played anyone worth a shit all season. And barely squeaked by those. They finish with Baylor, ISU, and OSU so they'll easily blow by Cincy provided they win.

[tarcone]

Best trophy is sports up for grabs Saturday. Floyd of Rosedale should stay in Iowa City

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by tarcone

Best trophy is sports up for grabs Saturday. Floyd of Rosedale should stay in Iowa City

While there is something to be said for a bronze pig, they aren't playing for the Stanley Cup on Saturday

SI

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by HomerSimpson98

OU hasnt played anyone worth a shit all season. And barely squeaked by those. They finish with Baylor, ISU, and OSU so they'll easily blow by Cincy provided they win.

I'm far from an Oklahoma fan and am not trying to down Ohio State, but I don't see what Ohio State has on their resume that Oklahoma doesn't or understand how Ohio State is that far ahead of them. I think Ohio State is one of the three most talented teams in the country and will deserve to be in if they finish up with 1-loss, given their remaining schedule. But they have a loss, have beat poor teams badly, and had close wins against anyone else that is half decent. To me, Ohio State's best current resume builder is a loss to the #3 team. Oklahoma is at least undefeated.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by HomerSimpson98

OU hasnt played anyone worth a shit all season. And barely squeaked by those. They finish with Baylor, ISU, and OSU so they'll easily blow by Cincy provided they win.

It doesn't seem to be consistent. OU has had a tougher schedule than Cincy but is behind them. And if we're treating "close wins against bad teams" as a negative, how is Oregon so high? Not only do they have the worst loss out of any of these top-10 schools, but they've also squeaked by some paltry competition. Almost an identical strength of schedule to Oklahoma who doesn't have a bad loss on their resume.

And the defense has been "well they beat Ohio State!". But why is Ohio State considered good? They haven't beaten anyone this year. The only good school they played is Oregon who beat them on the road without their best player.

My rankings would be:

1) Georgia
2) Oklahoma
3) Alabama
4) Cinicinnati
5) Ohio State
5) Michigan
6) Notre Dame
7) Michigan State
8) Oklahoma State
9) Oregon
10) Oklahoma State

Most of it doesn't matter since a lot of these schools will play each other or teams of importance down the stretch. And Cincy is not really eligible for the playoff regardless of what they do.

Just seems like they should not bother with rankings till the end of the season. Makes the committee look out of touch.

[bob]

If will never ever ever happen, but it would be hilarious if:

- Oregon loses again
- Oklahoma loses
- Oklahoma St loses some
- Big 10 cannibalizes itself
- Bama beats UGA by less than 7

Then you get UGA, Bama, Cincy, ND, with the other 4 conferences sitting out.

[HomerSimpson98]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

I'm far from an Oklahoma fan and am not trying to down Ohio State, but I don't see what Ohio State has on their resume that Oklahoma doesn't or understand how Ohio State is that far ahead of them. I think Ohio State is one of the three most talented teams in the country and will deserve to be in if they finish up with 1-loss, given their remaining schedule. But they have a loss, have beat poor teams badly, and had close wins against anyone else that is half decent. To me, Ohio State's best current resume builder is a loss to the #3 team. Oklahoma is at least undefeated.

Right. I'm just saying that OU has gotten through the easiest part of their schedule by the skin of their teeth (Hello KU!). My point was with the 3 best Big 12 teams left to play, even if they win each game by 1 point, that would be enough to vault them past Cincy.


Also agree on tOSU but (similarly) they have Sparty and Skunk left. Those should be resume-boosting wins - provided that they do.



Cincy has basically SMU left - who has inconveniently fallen out of the Top 25. Stupid Ponies.

[RainMaker]

Cincy is not eligible and it is silly for the committee to rank them.

My thinking is Alabama (assuming they beat Georgia), Georgia, Big 10 champ, and then either a 1-loss Oregon team or undefeated Oklahoma squad gets the final spot. Guessing the committee is praying Oregon or Oklahoma loses a game to make that decision easier.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

I'm far from an Oklahoma fan and am not trying to down Ohio State, but I don't see what Ohio State has on their resume that Oklahoma doesn't or understand how Ohio State is that far ahead of them. I think Ohio State is one of the three most talented teams in the country and will deserve to be in if they finish up with 1-loss, given their remaining schedule. But they have a loss, have beat poor teams badly, and had close wins against anyone else that is half decent. To me, Ohio State's best current resume builder is a loss to the #3 team. Oklahoma is at least undefeated.

I agree where Ohio State is concerned. They've simply not lost to teams they shouldn't lose to. Which I guess isn't always that simple, but they climbed the ranks by beating that murderers row of Tulsa, Akron, Rutgers, Maryland, then Indiana. Yeah, now there's been a diminished Penn State and Nebraska. And Minnesota is not such a bad team, I guess. But they're basically only that -- not such a bad team.

If they beat MSU and UM, then they look better. (Purdue, in all likelihood, is just another "not such a bad team." At least I hope that's how they look in three weeks.)

[HerRealName]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

I agree where Ohio State is concerned. They've simply not lost to teams they shouldn't lose to. Which I guess isn't always that simple, but they climbed the ranks by beating that murderers row of Tulsa, Akron, Rutgers, Maryland, then Indiana. Yeah, now there's been a diminished Penn State and Nebraska. And Minnesota is not such a bad team, I guess. But they're basically only that -- not such a bad team.

If they beat MSU and UM, then they look better. (Purdue, in all likelihood, is just another "not such a bad team." At least I hope that's how they look in three weeks.)

I don't disagree with you (except for Purdue - I think they're a good team) but you can say the same thing for Alabama and Georgia. Ole Miss is the best win for either team and I don't think they're any better than Purdue. It's not really Georgia's fault with Clemson's collapse but their best win is Auburn - who is worse than Penn State.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

My rankings would be

This made me curious about something. Since I stopped doing my weekly top 25 a couple years ago (after a decade of doing them pretty religiously) I really don't spend much time thinking about that. When I stopped, I stopped.

But for some reason I got curious so I took a look. I'll say that my REAL answer would be to insert an open spot at #2, #3, and #5 but that feels like cheating for the purpose of this exercise so I won't. Think of it as where I think my rankings would be if I'd been doing them all season like I used to.

1. Georgia
2. Alabama
3. Oregon (solely on the h2h basis vs #4)
4. Ohio State
5. Michigan State (mostly on the h2h basis vs #6)
6. Michigan
7. Oklahoma
8. Cincinnati
9. Notre Dame
10. Oklahoma State
11. Texas A&M

And where I'm not really comfortable with my own list is 8,9,10 because my gut is that OSU probably belongs ahead of both of those but I would have likely punished them hard for their loss and they'd still be stuck behind because of it.

[RainMaker]

It's tough. I think Michigan is better than Michigan State but that H2H is tough to pass up.

My only issue right now is Oregon who I think is getting way too much leeway because of the Ohio State win. They lost to Stanford. A Stanford team that just lost at home to Utah 52-7. Some losses should be disqualifying.

If Notre Dame wins out and beats Stanford, I don't know how it could be justified to have Oregon ahead of them.

[Brian Swartz]

I've never understood why the H2H is such a big deal. I don't think it should be. It implies the transitive property which we have ample evidence constantly is just not the way college football works.

That's not because I'm a Michigan guy - I'll leave them and MSU completely alone and say I think Ohio State should be ranked ahead of Oregon at this point. I don't see any argument against the idea that Oregon's loss is worse, and it's also clear that there's a big difference between the way those teams play now and the way they played when they met. Thought the same thing some years back when Clemson beat Lousville (Lamar Jackson version) literally by a yard at the start of the year, and there was a lot of people saying that meant Clemson had to be ranked ahead of Louisville no matter what happened to both teams the rest of the year unless one of them lost three games in a row or something. Just no. It's more nuanced than that.