CFP Chaos

[RWS]

Two main reasons in favor of the CFP was to make sure there were no rematches, and that teams that hadn't won their conference wouldn't have a chance at a NC.  Here we are, just a few years in, and we are on track for at least one of those.  Maybe both, depending on how crazy the committee gets.

#2 OSU beats #3 Michigan, but neither are going to be conference champions.  It's hard to justify lowering OSU's rank to #5 for beating the #3 team when you didn't lower the rank of the #3 team for losing to an unranked team.  On the other hand, the committee may only lower Michigan one spot for losing to OSU.  Which would cause a rematch.  If Penn State wins the B1G, how do you leave them out but include OSU?  If you drop Michigan out of the playoffs, and put Washington in, how do you justify that to Penn State if they win their conference and beat OSU?

When everyone was calling for a playoff system in 2011, I told you that it would only ensure rematches and teams that hadn't won their conference getting into the playoffs.  It didn't take long.

[Townhallsavoy]

Worst part of the playoff is the backroom conversations between rich powerful people in college football (or other big business).

They don't have to justify anything hence Michigan not dropping for losing to Iowa. They could drop Ohio State wherever they wanted and say whatever they want, and there's no real accountability.

[RWS]

Worst part of the playoff is the backroom conversations between rich powerful people in college football (or other big business).

They don't have to justify anything hence Michigan not dropping for losing to Iowa. They could drop Ohio State wherever they wanted and say whatever they want, and there's no real accountability.

I knew that you were smart enough to pick up on this.  It's all about money, and that is a lot of why I feared a total human influence in the CFP.  Comparing what the old selection process would have given us to the new process will be interesting this year.  Michigan should have been dropped when they lost to Iowa.  The committee exposed what they were when Michigan was kept at #3.  I think that they just assumed that Michigan would win the OSU game and the ends would justify the means, OSU would drop out, Michigan #2, Clemson #3, and Washington #4.  They have painted themselves into a corner. 

[RWS]

Here's another scenario:  If Alabama loses to Florida in the SECCG, how can you leave them out of the CFP if you include Ohio State and/or a Michigan team with a loss to an unranked Iowa (2 losses total)?  That would make half of the playoff field not conference champions. 

[The Prowler]

I wanted the playoff, but I still don't understand why we couldn't use the BCS's computer system to get the 4 best teams. Because if something isn't done...it's probably going to be the same 2-3 teams every year, regardless if they win their conference or have one more loss than the teams below them.

[The Prowler]

Here's another scenario:  If Alabama loses to Florida in the SECCG, how can you leave them out of the CFP if you include Ohio State and/or a Michigan team with a loss to an unranked Iowa (2 losses total)?  That would make half of the playoff field not conference champions.

Alabama would still be in it, maybe as a #2 or #3.

[RWS]

I wanted the playoff, but I still don't understand why we couldn't use the BCS's computer system to get the 4 best teams. Because if something isn't done...it's probably going to be the same 2-3 teams every year, regardless if they win their conference or have one more loss than the teams below them.

Who is to say those 2-3 teams aren't the best every year?  You still have the same argument as 2011; just because a team didn't win their conference doesn't mean they can't be the second, third, or fourth best team in the country.

[The Six]

I hate the playoff as much as I hated the BCS. Go back to the polls and make the bowl games matter again.

[RWS]

I hate the playoff as much as I hated the BCS. Go back to the polls and make the bowl games matter again.

And then some shit would happen that angered people just like The Rematch and everyone would complain that another change is needed.  Then, oh, we need to include more teams.  And so on, and so on. 

[GH2001]

And then some shit would happen that angered people just like The Rematch and everyone would complain that another change is needed.  Then, oh, we need to include more teams.  And so on, and so on.

8 team playoff. Decided by the computers.

Done.

[Snaggletiger]

8 team playoff. Decided by the computers.

Done.

Use the BCS ranking system.  Yep.  Done!

[GH2001]

Use the BCS ranking system.  Yep.  Done!

No issue there with me. The only issue to me with the bcs system is that it was only two teams. All they had to do was expand it out.

[The Prowler]

No issue there with me. The only issue to me with the bcs system is that it was only two teams. All they had to do was expand it out.

Exactly.

I never understood why they decided to scrap that whole thing. They utilized the main polls and took nearly everything into consideration in their algorithms.

[wesfau2]

I never understood why they decided to scrap that whole thing.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Now it's completely up to the committee to manipulate.  Take out those pesky objective computers, we've got history, tradition and ratings to cater to.

[Kaos]

What happens if Florida beats Alabama.  Yeah, no chance, I know.  But what if? 

They'd still be in.  Alabama and Ohio State, neither of which even won their conference both in the playoffs while the teams that DID win the conference are outside looking in.   Then Washington loses to Colorado.  Clemson loses to Virginia Tech.  They left Michigan at 5 so you're probably looking at Ohio State and Michigan BOTH in. 

It's horseshit.

[wesfau2]

What happens if Florida beats Alabama.  Yeah, no chance, I know.  But what if? 

They'd still be in.  Alabama and Ohio State, neither of which even won their conference both in the playoffs while the teams that DID win the conference are outside looking in.   Then Washington loses to Colorado.  Clemson loses to Virginia Tech.  They left Michigan at 5 so you're probably looking at Ohio State and Michigan BOTH in. 

It's horseshit.

I agree, but that was ostensibly the reason for the playoff: to get the best teams, not the teams that won at the most opportune time.

[Kaos]

I agree, but that was ostensibly the reason for the playoff: to get the best teams, not the teams that won at the most opportune time.

How can you be "the best" if you don't win your conference and the team that beat you to make the championship game actually does win the conference?

[wesfau2]

How can you be "the best" if you don't win your conference and the team that beat you to make the championship game actually does win the conference?

The argument is their bread and butter.  Black and white criteria don't make for good drama/broadcast-fodder.

[GH2001]

How can you be "the best" if you don't win your conference and the team that beat you to make the championship game actually does win the conference?

All other things being equal, winner of penn state and wisky will get that slot. Regardless. Which is a seperate travesty in itself. Clemson has the only real shot of beating bammer. They have the qb and they have the horses. And they came close last year. I do not like dabo but his players love him and play hard for him. Washington will nut up like most coaches do against saban and get away from what got them there and get creamed. Wisc is well coached. Lacks the horses to run with saban. Same with penn state.