Is a 10-2 SEC champion good enough for playoffs?

#26
#26
The more interesting question is does a 1 or 2 loss West SEC team that doesn't make it to the SECCG vault a 2-loss East SEC Champ?

Lots of variables yet, but I see that is almost a given if a certain team is in that slot.
 
#27
#27
It would be very difficult for a two loss team to get in...unless we see a lot of upsets down the stretch...

Michigan or OSU (and I pick OSU) will probably be undefeated and in...if the loser of the OSU vs UM game only has one loss, there will be plenty of folks campaigning to get a second Big 10 team in...

Clemson could also be undefeated and you could have a one loss Louisville in the mix as well...

Washington will likely be undefeated and in the final 4...

So would a 2 loss SEC champ get in over say a one loss Michigan when UM would have lost to #1 or #2 OSU? If it was a close game, it would be hard to not select them ahead of any 2 loss team...

Would a 2 loss SEC team be selected over a 1 loss Louisville team? They lost by one score on the road to the #1 or #2 team?
 
#28
#28
I think only one team in the SEC would make it with 2 losses--Alabama.

I don't think the committee would vote us in if we were 11-2 and SEC champs....I'm not saying that I would agree with it....but just can't see it.....

I see an undefeated Clemson, and an undefeated Ohio State or Michigan as B1G champ....probably Ohio State....

Big 12 champ won't be undefeated, and I think it will be OK with 2 losses.....so count them out....

Pac-12 champs looking like Washington right now....they're in if they win out....

So--in my opinion....you would have Clemson, OSU, and Washington....

And that leaves 1 vacancy in the final four....

If Houston wins out.....I believe they would make the playoff with a 2 loss SEC champ....and they just might make the playoff with a 1 loss SEC champ....if it was US....

If Louisville wins out...I believe they would make the playoff over a 2 loss SEC champ....but not over a 1 loss SEC champ....

The only way I can see the SEC champ making it to the final 4 is with 1 loss at the most....and an undefeated Houston would have people SCREAMING all over the place for their inclusion in the play-off....

But, a lot of football to play.....GO VOLS!
 
#29
#29
If the two loss SEC champ had wins over multiple top 5 opponents? Maybe. Otherwise. No way. And no team currently has a chance to beat two top 5 teams in the SEC as even if we beat A&M and Bama and lose to KY and Mizzou or someone they still have to play each other and can't win out.
 
#30
#30
This is exactly why the playoffs should be 8 teams.

A 4-team playoff is basically a slap in the face to anyone who ever wanted a college football playoff.
 
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#31
#31
It is out of our hands, but I think we would be. Would we get in at 11-2 over beating an undefeated Bama or Texas A&M in the SECg? A few knock out games for other teams that will help us in this case Clemson still has to play Florida st and possible UNC in the ACC championship. Do we get in over a one loss Louisville team if they run the table?

I'd rather take care of business and at least split the next two weeks. Question is, if we run the table and lose in Sec championship, do we sneak in into the playoffs?
 
#32
#32
Also all Vols fans should be rooting for Va Tech against North Carolina this weekend. That win could end up looking much better than it seemed at the time
 
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#33
#33
limsol45 said:
It is out of our hands, but I think we would be. Would we get in at 11-2 over beating an undefeated Bama or Texas A&M in the SECg?
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My guess is a no on Bama, and a maybe on TAM.

Its hard to envision this if the Vols don't win the SECCG though, but you can't rule it out completely.
 
#34
#34
Nationdom said:
yes SEC champ is in. they will not leave out the SEC
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Well... a 3 loss team probably doesn't make the playoff regardless of conference. That said, I would think it wholly depends on the nature of the losses; If we drop the next two, I'm not so sure that, with the schedule we have after Bama, we can gain enough ground ahead of the SEC championship. I think it would take a monumental performance against a team like Bama in the SEC title game to maybe sneak in.
 
#35
#35
I say because it's TN no they wouldn't let us in, if it were FL ya maybe, and even b4 the play offs if u lose at home and don't play for the sec championship and the team that beat u wins the sec then that team can play the big game, i'm still mad about that, on a side note we beat a&m and bummer at home
 
#36
#36
chatt-townVOL said:
This is exactly why the playoffs should be 8 teams.

A 4-team playoff is basically a slap in the face to anyone who ever wanted a college football playoff.
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I am going to have to disagree with you there. I would put the playoff teams at 6. Rewarding the top 2 teams with BYEs and 3-6 play till 2 remain. And from there you see where I am going... I think 8 is too many, but that is just my personal opinion.
 
#37
#37
Why are we settling for 2 losses? Let's play the games first.

The playoff selection is a long way away - and to be honest it is going to depend on how many teams have no losses, how many have 1 loss etc.
 
#38
#38
chatt-townVOL said:
This is exactly why the playoffs should be 8 teams.

A 4-team playoff is basically a slap in the face to anyone who ever wanted a college football playoff.
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THIS is ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!!

There is no GOOD reason to defend the FAILURE of having an 8-team Playoff!!

:hi::salute:
 
#39
#39
chatt-townVOL said:
This is exactly why the playoffs should be 8 teams.

A 4-team playoff is basically a slap in the face to anyone who ever wanted a college football playoff.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't go that far. It was at least a step in the right direction. We finally got the old guard to admit we needed a playoff and it's an improvement over the BCS, just like the BCS was an improvement over the Bowl Coalition, etc.

It will get to 8 teams eventually, I'm almost 100% sure of that. It may take 15 years but it will happen.
 
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#40
#40
VolsSportsFan said:
I wouldn't go that far. It was at least a step in the right direction. We finally got the old guard to admit we needed a playoff and it's an improvement over the BCS, just like the BCS was an improvement over the Bowl Coalition, etc.

It will get to 8 teams eventually, I'm almost 100% sure of that. It may take 15 years but it will happen.
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I think 6 is the magic number. 1 and 2 would have a bye week and wate to play the winners of 3- 4, 5- 6.
 
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#41
#41
To the OP, depends on what the Big 12 and Pac 12 champions do, and Houston.

Big 10 champ will likely have 1 loss at most, ACC champ will have 1 loss or less. If Houston wins out they'll get in.

Big 12 is probably SOL because I can't see any team going less than 10-2. A 1 loss Pac 12 champ probably gets in over us, and definitely a 13-0 Washington.

Also if the Michigan/OSU winner goes undefeated and the loser has just 1 loss, then if we are 11-2 and Houston didn't win out, they could take a 1 loss Michigan/OSU over us.
 
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#42
#42
LittleVol said:
I think 6 is the magic number. 1 and 2 would have a bye week and wate to play the winners of 3- 4, 5- 6.
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It will be 8.

5 spots for the Power 5 conference champs and 3 at-large, which will take care of Notre Dame, an at-large for a non-P5 school that is undefeated, and leaves a spot for a non-champion P5 school that only has 1 loss and is considered better than other P5 champions.

And I have no problem with making the round 1 games hosted by the higher seed. More incentive to finish in the Top 4.
 
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#43
#43
Boston Vol said:
I think they'd select Houston.
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They will take winner of Louisville v. Houston, assume neither loses any further games. Michigan or Ohio State or even both will take a spot. We'd have to beat Bama in the title game to go ahead of an undefeated UW or a one loss Clemson.
 
#45
#45
RockyMtnsVol said:
So just hypotheticals here but if we go 10-2 but win the SEC is that good enough for playoffs? What if there were multiple other 0 loss and 1 loss teams that are conference champs?

I think in any other conference no but in SEC possibly yes depending on how hyped you are and how far back you're ranked...
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i think this. there's a lot f considerations...a 2 loss TN team, maybe top 10, beating an undefeated, #1 Alabama team could get in, if a few other things happen along the way.

you'd need the Big 12 to keep imploding on itself, specifically Baylor and OU and TX. you'd need WASH to to maybe lose a reg season game, and the pac 12 title game. you'd need Clemson and Louisville to not looks so impressive, and you probably need OSU and/or Mich to lose before the Mich/OSU game.

there's going to be good cases for Clem and L'vill to get in if both win out, and good cases for maybe Mich and OSU to get in, if they both win out, save the game they play.

bottom line, we have a shot, but i don't think a 2 loss TN team gets in w/out a lot of help
 
#46
#46
Catbone said:
No.The reasonable goal this year was getting to ATL. That's all I'm concerned about. Anything more is icing.
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Can't believe I'm saying this but I agree with you.

Nobody had us making the playoffs this year so if it doesn't happen, whoever gets their panties in a wad is their own fault.
 
#47
#47
I haven't read the whole thread, but it's unlikely that 11-2 (assuming a victory in the SECc) gets us into the playoffs.

Possible scenario that would allow it (one of several I'm sure, but just laying one out):

- Clemson runs the table and grabs 1 bid
- Ohio State or Michigan runs the table and grabs another bid
- Big12 champion has 2 losses
- Pac12 champion has 2 losses
- The winner of Air Force - Boise State loses at least once (they might not get considered since they don't play anyone of note except for each other, but let's just dispose of that possibility anyway)
- Houston loses to Louisville (and/or someone else)

So with 2 bids taken, the committee will be choosing between a 2-loss champion from 3 P5 conferences as well as any 1-loss non-champion teams (i.e. Louisville) for 2 spots. If the last thing they saw was us beating Alabama, we very well could be the recipient of a bid. I just wouldn't count on all those things happening.

Like Catbone said, the goal this year is making the SEC Championship game and putting forth a valiant effort. Anything else is gravy, or icing, or whatever you prefer to go on top.
 
#48
#48
It would take complete and utter CFB chaos to get a 11-2 SEC Champion in. That is my opinion.

Everyone wants to claim that the SEC is just so much better and there is no way they leave the SEC champion out, but I just don't see that being true.

There are a lot of teams right now, unless craziness ensues, that will finish with 0-1 loss. I just don't see a 2-loss SEC team jumping them this year when a good portion of the conference has looked week.

Can you imagine the backlash and noise that would ensue if 11-2 Tennessee got in over 13-0 Houston? Personally, I believe G5 teams need to schedule more OOC games to be strongly considered, but most would scream SEC bias and claim how unfair it was to Houston.

TL;DR No. I see virtually no way the 2-loss SEC champion gets in.
 
#49
#49
Thanks for humoring me with the discussion everybody. I tried to phrase my question in a way to not involve any devil's advocates in here and it seemed to work...

Do y'all think that this is just a small window in time where we have a rare shot at a NC or is this the beginning of sustained success that we will see in years to come?
 
#50
#50
VolsSportsFan said:
It will be 8.

5 spots for the Power 5 conference champs and 3 at-large, which will take care of Notre Dame, an at-large for a non-P5 school that is undefeated, and leaves a spot for a non-champion P5 school that only has 1 loss and is considered better than other P5 champions.

And I have no problem with making the round 1 games hosted by the higher seed. More incentive to finish in the Top 4.
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Wholeheartedly agree. I want all 5 of the P5 champions guaranteed a spot. I also want a spot reserved for the highest rated independent or lower conference team. That leaves the final two spots to the best at-large teams. I also agree with the first round being hosted at the home stadium of the higher-seeded team. This looks like the best balance of rewarding excellence (P5 champs assured a spot, home field advantage in round one for the best) , not leaving out deserving teams that took a loss because of various unavoidable factors (star player(s) injured, strange game because of rescheduling for whatever reason, early season mental lapse, etc). It also assures the lower conference teams that they have a real shot at the title (even if they are routinely the 8 seed).

Side note: I believe that you have to work in a few basic rules to clean up the selection. I would be in favor of saying that no conference can occupy more than 2 of the 8 spots.

I would also be in favor of setting a clause on the 6th playoff spot. If an independent or smaller conference team isn't in the top 15 (top 10?) then that spot could go to a P5 at-large.

How would this have shaken out over the past few years?

Here you go:

2015

1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Michigan State
4. Oklahoma
5. Stanford
6. Notre Dame (or Houston depending on if you count ND as an independent or ACC)
7. Iowa
8. Ohio State (or Notre Dame/FSU if you limit each conference to a max of two participants)

Notes: My guess would be that the committee would've gone ND at the 6 spot and FSU at the 8. Houston was ranked 14th overall in the AP poll after the conference championships, and I believe that the committee would've chosen ND.

2014

1. Alabama
2. Florida State
3. Oregon
4. Ohio State
5. Baylor
6. Boise State (or Mississippi State)
7. TCU
8. Michigan State

Notes: An argument can be made in years like this to use that 6th spot for an at-large instead of the best small conference/independent. If that were the case (since Boise was ranked 21), then Mississippi State would occupy the final at-large spot.

It should also be mentioned that this system would've fixed all of the Baylor & TCU debate of this season.

2013

1.Florida State
2. Auburn
3. Michigan State
4. Stanford
5. Baylor
6. UCF (or South Carolina, or Oregon)
7. Alabama
8. Ohio State

Notes: UCF was ranked 15th in the AP Poll after the conference championships. If the rule says they would have to be top 10, then we get South Carolina. If the rules also state no more than 2 per conference, then we would've had Oregon (Missouri was also ranked above Oregon, but we already have two SEC squads).
 
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