Playoff Selection Thoughts

[cbrown]

The more I think about moving to the 9-game conference schedule, the more I think teams should be selected using a BCS-type formula. There will frequently be 8-4 SEC teams that are in the top 12-16 teams nationally. As much as we’ve been told SOS will be weighed more heavily moving forward, if left to a room of humans, an 11-1 team that is less deserving (2014 Indiana) will always be more appealing. I think the cleanest way to do it is with a formula that clearly states how much SOS counts - no room for interpretation. In the current setup, Ohio State should win more national titles than anyone else over time because you can pencil them in for the playoffs every year, especially when it goes to 16 teams. It will be much harder for any SEC team to do the same.

 

[vol94]

It will be interesting to see but I agree that Ohio state and others will benefit from a weaker schedule or the SEC playing a 9th game.


Part of me thinks NCAA should go the NFL route with division winners, etc. making the playoffs.

 

[Dadof2Vols]

Don’t forget the ole early losses are not as bad as losses later in year.

ND has figured this out. This year they lost the first two games of season which for some reason was the highest ranked teams they will play. The rest of the year they play no ranked teams and yet they are still ranked.

Talking heads already say that they are a great team in spite of beating anyone and they should be considered for a CFP spot. So now they will March up in the rankings each week as they beat an unranked teams.

If the computer rankings look at any of the human polls like the one the dumb woman writer that moved up a losing team, then it will also be flawed. The polls should really start throwing out each teams 10% highest votes and 10% lowest votes to find better rankings than what we have, at least that would get rid of some bias.

 

[allvols4life]

Every other conference benefits from the most dominating top to bottom conference (the SEC) moving to 9 conference games. The big least, the little 10 and rest of the weak tit conferences are drooling at the notion

 

[maxorange]

8-4 SEC teams don't belong in a playoff....regardless of the schedule strength

 

[TheVolsFrog]

While Big 12, SEC and ACC requires 10 power opponents in 2026, Big Ten has no plans to do the same

The Big Ten has no plans to require a tenth power conference opponent on its schedule like the ACC, Big 12 and SEC.

www.on3.com

 

[cbrown]

8-4 SEC teams don't belong in a playoff....regardless of the schedule strength

Let’s say an SEC team loses a difficult OOC game (like TX @ OSU this year), then goes 6-3 in-conference, they would be more deserving than most 10-2 teams in other conferences. Almost any team that goes 6-3 in an SEC schedule is going to be one of the best 16 teams in the country.

 

[driscokid]

8-4 SEC teams don't belong in a playoff....regardless of the schedule strength

Agree. You lose 4 games you ain’t gonna win it anyway so why bother

 

[njvols]

8-4 SEC teams don't belong in a playoff....regardless of the schedule strength

Historically absolutely but when they start football version of March madness with 16 teams then it becomes more important to get hot at the end of regular season more so than just good enough to make it in.

 

[Seattle Hillbilly]

Don’t forget the ole early losses are not as bad as losses later in year.

ND has figured this out. This year they lost the first two games of season which for some reason was the highest ranked teams they will play. The rest of the year they play no ranked teams and yet they are still ranked.

Talking heads already say that they are a great team in spite of beating anyone and they should be considered for a CFP spot. So now they will March up in the rankings each week as they beat an unranked teams.

If the computer rankings look at any of the human polls like the one the dumb woman writer that moved up a losing team, then it will also be flawed. The polls should really start throwing out each teams 10% highest votes and 10% lowest votes to find better rankings than what we have, at least that would get rid of some bias.

Interesting take. You’ve got my vote.

 

[JohnnyD123]

While Big 12, SEC and ACC requires 10 power opponents in 2026, Big Ten has no plans to do the same

The Big Ten has no plans to require a tenth power conference opponent on its schedule like the ACC, Big 12 and SEC.

www.on3.com

They should be forced to. Their conference has 3 good teams. 4 if one cheats

 

[KTrain]

Let’s say an SEC team loses a difficult OOC game (like TX @ OSU this year), then goes 6-3 in-conference, they would be more deserving than most 10-2 teams in other conferences. Almost any team that goes 6-3 in an SEC schedule is going to be one of the best 16 teams in the country.

I would agree with this if that team like TN had their best DB out and their highest rated O-Lineman and some other high end players. If these players were out when they got the losses. I'd hope the committee would take that into consideration and as the players come back the team looks dominant. Despite the early losses but the committee may just stick with 3 losses basically knocks you out.

 

[cbrown]

I would agree with this if that team like TN had their best DB out and their highest rated O-Lineman and some other high end players. If these players were out when they got the losses. I'd hope the committee would take that into consideration and as the players come back the team looks dominant. Despite the early losses but the committee may just stick with 3 losses basically knocks you out.

Or if a team loses an OOC game on the road like the aforementioned TX@OSU, then loses to say Bama, Georgia, and Oklahoma on the road (which we have in 2027). A team could be one of the five best teams in the country and end up 8-4 with a schedule like that, while a 2024 Indiana-type team could be 11-1 and not be one of the 16 best teams in the country.

 

[BearBryant]

The more I think about moving to the 9-game conference schedule, the more I think teams should be selected using a BCS-type formula. There will frequently be 8-4 SEC teams that are in the top 12-16 teams nationally. As much as we’ve been told SOS will be weighed more heavily moving forward, if left to a room of humans, an 11-1 team that is less deserving (2014 Indiana) will always be more appealing. I think the cleanest way to do it is with a formula that clearly states how much SOS counts - no room for interpretation. In the current setup, Ohio State should win more national titles than anyone else over time because you can pencil them in for the playoffs every year, especially when it goes to 16 teams. It will be much harder for any SEC team to do the same.

With money and an anti SEC selection committee, expect deserving SEC teams to be left out. Did you notice at beginning of this season, all 12 teams from last years playoff were ranked in the top 25? With Tenn 24 and Boise ST. 25. How did they justify Arizona ST., SMU, Clemson, Indiana ranked ahead of Tenn? Plus they added Illinois. ESPN and the selection committee will do whatever they can to make sure no more than 4 SEC teams in.