If there ever was a year where College football needed a playoff format, this could be that...

You know, I thought I'd be excited at the idea of a playoff in any form, but I actually am not that excited about a 4 team playoff.

Now, the past has shown that the chances of all 5 of those teams making it to the end undefeated are slim to none, but if they did, then it's a perfect example of how the 4 team playoff won't eliminate all of the questions/complaints because somebody is still getting left out.  The more likely scenario is 1 or 2, maybe 3 undefeated teams at most, and then you have 7 or 8 one loss teams griping about being that fourth.  (And, you are always going to have that one-loss SEC team that may or may not deserve it over the last couple of undefeateds)

Last year is another good example.  I'm obviously making assumptions here, but it appeared as though LSU and Alabama were well above everybody else last year, so presumably, even in a 4 team playoff they meet in that championship game, Alabama wins, and you still have a National Champion who didn't even win their own division and two teams that only had one loss all year, each to each other.

Gotta run ...

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Originally Posted by Beachcomber 

As of Week 11 of the BCS, there are 5 undefeated teams.  I understand that many of these teams still have another month of football to potentially lose a game... But... This is a great example of why the BCS needs to move to the playoff system.  I can't wait until that becomes a reality in 2014. 

 

Also, Ohio State is undefeated, but they are not bowl eligible this season... So that is 6 undefeated teams at the moment.  I'd like to see them expand it to an 8 team format eventually... At least a 4 team playoff is better than what they are currently doing. 

8 teams would be great but I can't imagine how it's feasible unless you take away 2 games from the regular schedule to accommodate the extra playoff games played. These are college kids after all and if the NCAA adds 2 extra playoff games on top of the regular schedule, it doesn't send the right message as to what the priority is - academics or football? - especially if games extend to a school's 2nd semester/3rd quarter 

Can't wait for the playoff system too. Too bad USC fell beyond their expectations this year. But life goes on. 

In most years, there are no more than 4 teams who deserve a shot at the National Championship. So I think a 4 team playoff is good enough. Although definitely not an Oregon fan (Phil Knight's money buying an athletic department) I would be intrigued to see whether Alabama or anyone else could stop their offense. It would be a shame if Oregon went undefeated and we didn't have the chance.  But there are tough games left for all the teams, so let's see how it plays out.

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Originally Posted by Beachcomber 

 

There is a significant chance that Notre Dame goes undefeated and doesn't play in the title game.  That would be criminal in most conversations... But it is a possibility this season.  Fun to think about considering I'm not a ND fan! 

ND received the benefit of a couple of homefield referee calls (no surprise there!) which allowed them to "win" a couple of games they shouldn't have.  They are not deserving to be in the National Championship conversation. Hopefully USC will send them away, since it's played in LA and they won't have their favorite refs to help out.

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Originally Posted by Harmonious 

Hopefully USC will send them away, since it's played in LA and they won't have their favorite refs to help out.

As a USC fan, I, too, hope they end ND's run. But it should have ended this past weekend against Pitt, who had multiple shots at claiming the win. But a late pass interference call and a missed field goal did them in. I think their defense rivals that of Alabama and perhaps maybe the best in the country, but their offense is pretty bad. Between ND and 'Bama, I see no contest and 'Bama winning big.

I would like to see Oregon than K State in the title game against Bama. Power offense vs. a power defense. Defense usually wins, but Oregon's offense looks much better than it did in their last title game. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harmonious 

In most years, there are no more than 4 teams who deserve a shot at the National Championship. So I think a 4 team playoff is good enough. Although definitely not an Oregon fan (Phil Knight's money buying an athletic department) I would be intrigued to see whether Alabama or anyone else could stop their offense. It would be a shame if Oregon went undefeated and we didn't have the chance.  But there are tough games left for all the teams, so let's see how it plays out.

I would also love to see Oregon play Alabama.  They should not have any trouble passing K-State and staying ahead of Notre Dame because the remainder of their schedule includes 2 teams ranked in the top 15 currently.  If UCLA (Go Bruins!) or USC wins out then you can add a third top 15 team to Oregon's resume in the Pac 12 title game.  Notre Dame has Wake Forest, BC and USC left, and that is it.  K-State only has #17 Texas left.

[Note:  I say the above with confidence as if I have the slightest idea how the BCS computers work.   Psssst ... I don't.]

     Quote:

Originally Posted by Beachcomber 

There is a significant chance that Notre Dame goes undefeated and doesn't play in the title game.  That would be criminal in most conversations... But it is a possibility this season.  Fun to think about considering I'm not a ND fan! 

USC could clean up a lot of this mess by beating ND, and simultaneously bumping up Oregon's resume in the process.

And nobody's even talking about Louisville yet.

If USC wins out, we get to play Oregon again in the Pac-12 title game. Normally, I don't like rematches (last year's title game), but even with the loss, I liked watching the game this past weekend and even last year's win between USC and Oregon and wouldn't mind seeing it again. 

It's too bad Louisville isn't in the discussion being undefeated, but you can only blame their schedule being very weak.

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Originally Posted by RPMPIRE 

 

If USC wins out, we get to play Oregon again in the Pac-12 title game.

Are you going to put enough air in the balls the next time?

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Originally Posted by Harmonious 

Are you going to put enough air in the balls the next time?

Haha!  I just read that too!

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Originally Posted by Harmonious 

Are you going to put enough air in the balls the next time?

Maybe Kiffin can use the air in his head...

Don't get me wrong. I think Kiffin is a great recruiter and offensive coordinator, but I not sure about his head coaching. I'm sure his track record speaks for itself. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPMPIRE 

Maybe Kiffin can use the air in his head...

 

Don't get me wrong. I think Kiffin is a great recruiter and offensive coordinator, but I not sure about his head coaching. I'm sure his track record speaks for itself. 

I found it "interesting" that USC's official statement said that the student manager did this without the knowledge of any player, coach, or athletic department personnel. Somehow I doubt that the manager just took it upon himself to underinflate 5 footballs. Given USC's recent track record with the NCAA, I don't believe them.

But underinflated footballs don't help you play defense any better, which seemed to be USC's problem all night long.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPMPIRE 

Maybe Kiffin can use the air in his head...

 

Don't get me wrong. I think Kiffin is a great recruiter and offensive coordinator, but I not sure about his head coaching. I'm sure his track record speaks for itself. 

I'm not a USC guy, but my dad is a huge SC fan ... and he totally agrees with you.  My opinion of Kiffin has changed a jillion times.  Thought it was odd that the Raiders hired him, then was appalled at how they treated him, then was appalled at how he treated Tennessee and shocked that SC would hire a guy like that, then lately he's seemed to say and do all the right things so I thought he was alright.  Now, I don't know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harmonious 

I found it "interesting" that USC's official statement said that the student manager did this without the knowledge of any player, coach, or athletic department personnel. Somehow I doubt that the manager just took it upon himself to underinflate 5 footballs. Given USC's recent track record with the NCAA, I don't believe them.

 

But underinflated footballs don't help you play defense any better, which seemed to be USC's problem all night long.

Well, everybody's defense has problems against Oregon so that's no surprise.  (For the record, the LEAST amount of points Oregon has scored all year has been 42 ... against MY Fresno State Bulldogs!  ... which, coincidentally happens to be Lane Kiffin's alma mater as well)

It dawned on me late in the game against Oregon that if I was an opposing coach I would go a little unorthodox.  They basically score EVERY time they have the ball anyway, and it takes them 90 seconds to do it ... so, don't give them the ball.  I know it might sound crazy, but I firmly believe that you have to do everything in your power to keep the ball away from them.  Which means ... no punting and no kick-offs.  Go for it on EVERY fourth down (save for really close to your own end zone and/or 4th and long) and onside kick every time you score.  Couldn't hurt to try.  If they didn't recover any of the 8 onside kicks they would have attempted, the only probably difference would have been a little more total time, so the final would have 72-61 instead.