Official 2024 College Football Thread

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Looks like another shellacking

Top 8 CFP sounds good to me

Next round will be similar.

At least 2 of the 4 will look like round one, probably 3 of the 4.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

That's not the problem, let's be honest.

The problem is a 12 team playoff in a sport that doesn't have anywhere near 12 actually good teams.


Vols played two even reasonably okay teams all season. Got dogwalked (no pun intended) by one, beat the one that has an incredibly low floor for an okay'ish team.

I have always thought 8 was better than twelve. What I don't agree with is that less football is better. I would rather see teams play than a bunch of random dudes or a computer deciding a champion. In the end, we get more football, and some unusual match ups. I am fine with that.

[cuervo72]

I need a break from these bands. They are exhausting.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Next round will be similar.

At least 2 of the 4 will look like round one, probably 3 of the 4.

I'd still rather see it play out. Georgia- Notre Dame? Oregon- Ohio State? Yes please. Texas-Arizona State and Penn State- Boise State looks fun as well.

[JPhillips]

Great interception, but I don't know how the pass interference was missed.

[Ghost Econ]

It's so weird they can't review and obvious PI call on an INT that wouldn't happen if there wasn't PI.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I'd still rather see it play out. Georgia- Notre Dame? Oregon- Ohio State? Yes please. Texas-Arizona State and Penn State- Boise State looks fun as well.

Agree

Oregon-OSU should be fun. Dreading the GA-ND without Beck

[sovereignstar v2]

I don't mind giving a "tie" to the receiver or defender catching the ball, but it seems a bit obtuse using the first frame or two where there are fingers touching the ball. That isn't control.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Agree

Oregon-OSU should be fun. Dreading the GA-ND without Beck

I'm not. Beck gets a lot of crap because of his turn over issues, but I'm not saying this because of that. I think he is a better quarterback talent wise than Stockton. But I don't think having Stockton in there is really much of a drop off. It just changes the emphasis of the offense from pass heavy to run heavy, and Georgia finally has a healthy running back room. I think the offense will move the ball well against whoever they face.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I'd still rather see it play out. Georgia- Notre Dame? Oregon- Ohio State? Yes please. Texas-Arizona State and Penn State- Boise State looks fun as well.

Georgia will beat the living hell out of ND even with their backup QB. Penn State should cruise. Unless really bad Texas shows up they'll do the same.

Oregon-Ohio State could be good, or one could blow the other way the hell out.

[JPhillips]

Tennessee getting some good help from the officials.

[sovereignstar v2]

I give the Dawgs the edge over Notre Dame because of their large overtime experience against ACC teams

[HerRealName]

That was a 10 point swing by the officiating crew

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Georgia will beat the living hell out of ND even with their backup QB. Penn State should cruise. Unless really bad Texas shows up they'll do the same.

Oregon-Ohio State could be good, or one could blow the other way the hell out.

You know as well as I that Georgia can lose that game depending on which Dawg team gets off the bus. Same could be said of Texas. I can't believe anybody thinks Penn State is a sure thing in any big game as long as Franklin is the coach. Every one of those games could be blow outs with the favorite winning, or they could all be close games and the underdogs when half of them. That's why they play the games.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

I give the Dawgs the edge over Notre Dame because of their large overtime experience against ACC teams

Lol. Undefeated, baby. I will say I think Haynes King is a much better quarterback than Riley Leonard.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

You know as well as I that Georgia can lose that game depending on which Dawg team gets off the bus. Same could be said of Texas. I can't believe anybody thinks Penn State is a sure thing in any big game as long as Franklin is the coach. Every one of those games could be blow outs with the favorite winning, or they could all be close games and the underdogs when half of them. That's why they play the games.

Oh I loathe Franklin but I feel like even PSU has too much for a team that plays a HS schedule for 3 months.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Oh I loathe Franklin but I feel like even PSU has too much for a team that plays a HS schedule for 3 months.

The team that Oregon only beat by 3?

[bronconick]

James Franklin winning playoff games is a sign that there are too many playoff teams.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

The team that Oregon only beat by 3?

When Oregon was still trying to figure out how to even pull their head out of their own ass.

It's also the team that escaped 3-9 Wyoming with a 4 point win and 3-10 Nevada by 7.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

When Oregon was still trying to figure out how to even pull their head out of their own ass.

It's also the team that escaped 3-9 Wyoming with a 4 point win and 3-10 Nevada by 7.

I'm just saying, if Penn State is down ten in the fourth quarter, I very seriously doubt James Franklin can pull that out.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I'm just saying, if Penn State is down ten in the fourth quarter, I very seriously doubt James Franklin can pull that out.

I just don't see that being a problem in this case.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I just don't see that being a problem in this case.

You see, the good news is we are get to see it on the field instead of just talk about it online. You are among the certain segment of fans that only care about talk and never want to see things actually play out. Even if it is a blow out, it is better than people just talking about it.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

You see, the good news is we are get to see it on the field instead of just talk about it online. You are among the certain segment of fans that only care about talk and never want to see things actually play out. Even if it is a blow out, it is better than people just talking about it.

We disagree.

It's an absurdity, and an insult to the intelligence.

[GrantDawg]

Back to the game. OSU dominates the half, and only ends up by 11. That could end up being a problem.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Back to the game. OSU dominates the half, and only ends up by 11. That could end up being a problem.

But without Sampson Vols have no running game aside from the QB. Eventually tOSU should figure that out.

Then again, it's Ryan Day

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

But without Sampson Vols have no running game aside from the QB. Eventually tOSU should figure that out.

Then again, it's Ryan Day

That's what I'm saying. Not predicting anything, but I have seen too many teams this year make enough adjustments at half that 11 points is not enough to feel comfortable.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

The team that Oregon only beat by 3?

That game doesn't count for reasons or something.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

How is Josh Heupel not named Bubba? He is the most Bubba looking person I have ever seen.

John Daly for me

[Edward64]

OSU is taking charge again.

Honestly, if you lose to the Hogs, you don’t deserve to be in the Top 8

[HerRealName]

This broadcast is absurd. I get that ESPN is going to protect their SEC partners so they can't talk about the game.

[cuervo72]

Also absurd that the game still has to be this long.

[Edward64]

Quarter

1. Texas > Arizona
2. OSU > Oregon
3. PSU > Boise
4. GA > Notre Dame

Semi

1. Texas > OSU
2. GA > PSU

National Championship

1. Texas > GA

I know some will groan at a 3rd rematch but kinda looking forward to it. If Texas gets to the NC, they've beaten former heavy weight Clemson and perennial heavy weight OSU, and they deserve another shot at GA.

If Texas wins, all will be forgiven. If Texas loses, they won't ever live it down being beat 3 times in one season by the Dawgs (... and that's something I'd love to happen).

[Lathum]

The one seed having to play Ohio state is ridiculous.

[miked]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Or it look like Tennessee-OSU looks right now. Or you saying Tennessee didn't deserve to get there either?

Or maybe having these playoff games at home is a pretty huge advantage. As predicted. It also makes for great atmosphere, but it gives the home team a really big edge.

I was not super high on Tennessee either. Their best win was over a borderline Alabama. Their OOC games were Kent State, UTEP, Chattanooga, and NCSU. I am in the camp of adding more conference games and doing away with these stupid D2 games. These teams have no business playing against each other, Tennessee beat Kent State 71-0, Chattanooga 69-3, and UTEP 56-0. What's the point? I see no problem with the top 8 teams making it in, and we probably have enough info to make it top 6.

As for playing it on the field vs. online, they played it on the field. Tennessee got worked by UGA and lost to Arkansas and were not good enough to make the SEC finals. Same with SMU, they lost the big game that counted, played nobody, and still got a shot.

[GrantDawg]

Under no system would Tennessee be left out of a 12 team playoff. None. Someone did the 12 team set up using the old BCS system, and the only team that was dropped was Clemson, who was replaced by Alabama. But no one with a straight face could have put Alabama in ahead of Tennessee. At that point, you should just vote at the beginning of the season who is in the playoffs. Of course, I think some of these arguments seem to be for not playing football at all.

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[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by miked

I was not super high on Tennessee either. Their best win was over a borderline Alabama. Their OOC games were Kent State, UTEP, Chattanooga, and NCSU. I am in the camp of adding more conference games and doing away with these stupid D2 games. These teams have no business playing against each other, Tennessee beat Kent State 71-0, Chattanooga 69-3, and UTEP 56-0. What's the point? I see no problem with the top 8 teams making it in, and we probably have enough info to make it top 6.

As for playing it on the field vs. online, they played it on the field. Tennessee got worked by UGA and lost to Arkansas and were not good enough to make the SEC finals. Same with SMU, they lost the big game that counted, played nobody, and still got a shot.

Hey, the Vols were my poster child for "if they're in the playoffs there's too many teams" ... but something like Ole Miss was even more comical. It only got worse after Tennessee so in they go.

There's too fucking many teams involved in this unneccessary bullshit system so we're gonna be stuck with blowouts, that's just how it is. The sport has been destroyed to the point where we're lucky if you can find 2-3 actually good teams, everybody else has a ceiling of pretty good but heavily flawed and there aren't but a precious few of those either.

[dubb93]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Hey, the Vols were my poster child for "if they're in the playoffs there's too many teams" ... but something like Ole Miss was even more comical. It only got worse after Tennessee so in they go.

There's too fucking many teams involved in this unneccessary bullshit system so we're gonna be stuck with blowouts, that's just how it is. The sport has been destroyed to the point where we're lucky if you can find 2-3 actually good teams, everybody else has a ceiling of pretty good but heavily flawed and there aren't but a precious few of those either.

Pat Mcafee ,and presumably ESPN, have been advocating for a 14 team playoff all week. Higher chance of some competitive games to be honest if you get Clemson @ Boise in the first round or something similar even if it’s competely irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by dubb93

Pat Mcafee ,and presumably ESPN, have been advocating for a 14 team playoff all week. Higher chance of some competitive games to be honest if you get Clemson @ Boise in the first round or something similar even if it’s competely irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

Well hell, Kennesaw State & FIU was pretty competitive.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by dubb93

Pat Mcafee ,and presumably ESPN, have been advocating for a 14 team playoff all week. Higher chance of some competitive games to be honest if you get Clemson @ Boise in the first round or something similar even if it’s competely irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

More content to replace the Around The Horns of the world. Also this...

The financial distribution for the expected 14-team playoff will look radically different. On an annual basis, for example, Big Ten and SEC schools will each be making more than $21 million, up from the nearly $5.5 million that schools in Power 5 conferences are currently being paid.

In the ACC, the schools will get more than $13 million annually, and Big 12 schools will get more than $12 million each. Notre Dame is expected to get more than $12 million as well, and sources told ESPN there will be a financial incentive for any independent team that reaches the CFP. There will no longer be a participation bonus for any of the other leagues -- a detail that was frustrating to some leaders in the Group of 5.

[RainMaker]

The sport has been destroyed by having the top teams actually play each other.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

The sport has been destroyed by having the top teams actually play each other.

It is awful. We need to stop it right now so sports writer can tell us who the best teams are. No need for any of these team to actually play.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

The sport has been destroyed by having the top teams actually play each other.

When the top two teams aren't very good, yeah.

The current model trends toward parity ... which is an alternate spelling for mediocrity.

[dubb93]

It would be a lot more interesting with 10 good teams than it is with 4. I count four teams that I think have a legit shot in this and two of them play next week.

[RainMaker]

It's a pretty small sample size of games. I'll still take football games with top teams over no football games.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by dubb93

It would be a lot more interesting with 10 good teams than it is with 4. I count four teams that I think have a legit shot in this and two of them play next week.

I've counted the same 6 Vegas has since the bracket was revealed, but even as an ND fan that's giving ND and Penn State some benefit of the doubt due to their path after Beck's injury. Either way I'm ecstatic to have these games and have the arguments focus on how many teams shouldn't be in vs leaving deserving teams out. I agree with Jim there will never be close to 12 deserving teams - and the current NIL system only exacerbates it - but I'll take the expected blowouts for the rare cases where an underdog can make a run, like GD says give me more games and I'll watch em.

Format doesn't seem super hard to fix. Simply guaranteeing conference champs 3 and 4 a top 8 spot and a home game but not top 4 ones would have given us Clemson@ 5 ND, SMU@ 6 Ohio State, Indiana@ 7 Boise and UT@ 8 Arizona State. SMU would still get dogwalked but looks like 2-3 good games with 1 Oregon and 2 Georgia getting rewarded with a weaker team next week instead of facing the top 2 teams in the country according to the computers while Texas and PSU are massive favorites.

[Lathum]

Steven Beilchick leaving UW to join his dad. I get it as could be a coach in waiting situation but man, it really sucks to have all this constant transition.

[Thomkal]

Home field advantage didn't help Coastal in its bowl game. Didn't recognize the starting QB and looks like most of the team didn't recognize the sport either.



UTSA 44-15 winners

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

...Simply guaranteeing conference champs 3 and 4 a top 8 spot and a home game but not top 4 ones...

This speaks to what I see as the core of the "issue" here beyond the "12 teams is too many" piece: the system was set up assuming that--as you usually could up until 2024--you'd get four top 10ish teams as champs from the SEC/Big10/Pac10/Big12/ACC group. IIRC, the massive falling of the realignment dominoes happened mostly (fully?) after the new format was in place. In the previous conference setup, you'd have Oregon/UGA/Texas, plus either Ohio State or Penn State as your top four, and you don't end up with this weird thing where on paper the #2 seed has a wayyyyyy easier path to the title game than the #1. Continued NIL ramifications and the transfer portal need to be sorted out before a long-term playoff format fix makes sense. For example, Alabama's AD is out there basically begging donors for NIL money on the interwebs, an action which tracks with my general perception: of the current top SEC programs, Bama is probably a couple of steps behind the others in terms of donors with deep pockets. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they simply can't keep up financially with the top 12ish programs in the country in the current environment. Saban ain't no dummy.

[GrantDawg]

You are right, and there is going to need to be a full-scale reorganization done. Start with the NIL and transfer rules, and then a sorting of conferences. All if this has been done in a reactionary way instead of having a true vision for what needs to be done and how to accomplish it.

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[dubb93]

The NIL stuff is mostly figured out. There will be a salary cap per school around 24 million per year and it will be administered by the schools rather than third parties. The schools can contribute directly. This should start next season. A judge already preliminarily approved it. Players will be able to be signed to multi year deals under the new format.

I have less faith that the transfer portal will be moved. Mcafee interviewed the NCAA president and he didn’t seem like he thought it was any sort of problem at all but did concede it could be moved if it was.