# 2023/4 NCAA Football playoffs **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [October 22, 2023, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907 "2023-10-22T03:16:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2023, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/121 "2023-12-08T22:13:04Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > So while the WS might not have showcased the two best teams in the game, it certainly had the best team. Exactly. Baseball had the advantage of having only two leagues, so no one had to pick and choose which league (or conference) champions got to move on. I don’t actually follow college football all that closely, but I do find the mathematical permutations to be interesting. Just based on the results I know of, Oregon could be the second-best team this year. But they’ve lost to the same team twice, so we know they aren’t the best. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2023, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/122 "2023-12-08T22:40:06Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > nitpick: ‘independent’ is the correct spelling. Or… Is it “inde-pedant”? …I’ll see my way out. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/123 "2023-12-09T01:04:46Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Vegas is telling us they are not. If you think the CFP is smarter than Vegas, you can make that case, Which I have a few times. Or are you claiming Oregon is a better team than Washington? ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/124 "2023-12-09T03:49:24Z")
I like the idea of splitting things up into two levels of competition, especially now that the Pac-12 is gone. Have a four team playoff consisting of the champions of the SEC, Big 10, Big 12, and ACC, and a separate championship for the other I-A conference champions. Most likely this would require mergers to go down to four rather than five conferences to avoid the argument of who gets a bye among the five conference champions, but if we’re already getting rid of one conference, why not get rid of another? ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/125 "2023-12-09T04:48:10Z")
The split will be the SEC and Big Ten expanding and forming their own league. They will play a post season tournament between themselves to determine as champion. The other conferences will split back into regional conferences again. They’ll play for a championship between themselves. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/126 "2023-12-09T07:21:28Z")
They should do like European Soccer and have promotion and relegation between conferences. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/127 "2023-12-09T13:41:46Z")
> [@Chingon](#): > > The split will be the SEC and Big Ten expanding and forming their own league. They will play a post season tournament between themselves to determine as champion. > > The other conferences will split back into regional conferences again. They’ll play for a championship between themselves. That could work as well. What won’t work, IMHO, is the 12 team playoff where we will end up with games where teams from the weaker conferences are clearly outmatched. Does it mean those teams from the Sun Belt, Mountain West, or Conference USA will never win? No. But it does mean that when they do win, it will almost certainly be because an odd set of circumstances led to several lucky breaks going their way, not because they were the best team. It would be like a AAA minor league baseball team having a good day beating an MLB team having a bad day. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/128 "2023-12-09T14:50:15Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > Does it mean those teams from the Sun Belt, Mountain West, or Conference USA will never win? No. But it does mean that when they do win, it will almost certainly be because an odd set of circumstances led to several lucky breaks going their way, not because they were the best team. Indeed, the oddsmakers would agree with you, as Oregon is a 16.5 favorite over Liberty of CUSA in this year’s Fiesta Bowl. And just two years ago, Alabama spanked Cincinnati 27-6 in the CFP, when Cincy was still a member of the AAC. But…in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl, UCF, then also still a member of the AAC, beat Baylor of the Big 12 52-42, after Baylor had entered as 16.5 point favorites. In the 2011 Rose Bowl, TCU, then a member of the Mountain West, beat Wisconsin of the Big 10, 21-19. In the 2009 Rose Bowl, Utah of the Mountain West beat Alabama 31-17. And most every college football fan remembers the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, when Boise State, champions of the WAC, beat Big 12 champ Oklahoma 43-42. Upsets can and do happen in the postseason, and it’s not always due to lucky breaks or odd circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/129 "2023-12-09T15:43:43Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Upsets can and do happen in the postseason, and it’s not always due to lucky breaks or odd circumstances. Almost like we should play the games and not depend on football odds, eye tests and “what should happen” when deciding who will win a game. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/130 "2023-12-11T19:30:46Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > \*_has the CFB actually said they based it on best team, or is that everyone else saying it must be?_ This is from Section 1 of the [CFP Selection Committee Protocol](https://collegefootballplayoff.com/sports/2016/10/24/selection-committee-protocol): “The selection committee’s task will be to **select the best teams** , rank the teams for inclusion in the playoff and selected other bowl games and then assign the teams to sites.” Whether or not that means that the top four ranked teams are the four best teams is up to interpretation. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/131 "2024-01-01T22:34:05Z")
And so it begins ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/132 "2024-01-01T22:36:05Z")
I haven’t ventured into the thread before, but I’m a Texas-Ex and I’m excited about tonight. I’m also currently trapped away from the TV and was in a little bit of a panic about watching the game, but it turns out it’s streaming on ESPN plus. Hook 'em! ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/133 "2024-01-01T23:11:00Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > but I’m a Texas-Ex and I’m excited about tonight UW Grad here. Sorry about your loss later. :-p ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/134 "2024-01-01T23:50:54Z")
Hahaha this will be a good one. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/135 "2024-01-02T00:36:25Z")
Alabama machine slowly wearing Michigan down. Michigan is about to discover the price you pay for repeated 4-and-outs. Against the Tide, every drive has to result in a field goal at the minimum. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/136 "2024-01-02T00:38:02Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Against the Tide, every drive has to result in a field goal at the minimum. At least decent field position to pin them deep. That missed PAT may end up huge. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/137 "2024-01-02T00:49:34Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > If FSU goes undefeated and ends up left out of the playoffs, that may push them over the edge into suing their way out of the ACC. Winner of the Predictor Award ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/138 "2024-01-02T01:14:07Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Agreed. The conference champs aren’t necessarily the best team in the conference. What does “best” mean? Washington is picked to lose against every other team in the playoff. If the end up winning it all, are they still not the best team? Should they not be the National Champions? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/139 "2024-01-02T01:41:02Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > but it turns out it’s streaming on ESPN plus. Hook 'em! Oops, only on regular ESPN. I can’t believe I’m going to miss this because of fucking Covid. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907/140 "2024-01-02T01:43:24Z")
Super nervous here…anyone but Bama, stop these Elephants here [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-4-ncaa-football-playoffs/991907.md?page=8)