# College Football 2017 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 2, 2017, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338 "2017-09-02T18:11:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/262 "2017-12-04T04:03:44Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > This is just great. We should do this for other championships. > > If we think the second best team in the NFC is better than the best team in the AFC, then the two NFC teams should play in the Super Bowl. > > If we think that two NL teams are better than the AL pennant winner, then the two NL teams should play in the World Series. > > What a bunch of shit. This is just great. Every time this conversation comes around somebody has to bring up the pro leagues WHICH HAVE NO FUCKING COMPARISON AT ALL TO COLLEGE FOOTBALL. The pro teams (in every league) play a whole host of games with common opponents to decide their divisional ((or league) titles. They also allow a significantly larger percentage of their teams into an extended playoff schedule. Until the pro leagues go to a system where the number of playoff teams is one less than the number of divisions they have, IT"S NOT THE SAME AND QUIT BRINGING IT UP! ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/263 "2017-12-04T05:06:33Z")
The conference championship games were just “playoff lock loses the one game they can’t lose”, rinse, repeat, all day. It was just a game of “Screw the pundits” written on a national stage. Clemson and Oklahoma won, Georgia didn’t fuck around and thus showed they were worthy of consideration, and beyond that was just…nothing. I don’t like Alabama, I don’t like Alabama making the playoffs without playing a championship game, and I don’t like Alabama. But outside of them, who’s gonna make it? Ohio State? Not with the shitshow that was the Iowa shellacking. Wisconsin? Nope, you lost the championship game to a team that wasn’t going to make the playoffs. Auburn is the only one I could see an argument for, but when it comes down to it, they got outplayed by Georgia in a championship rematch of their game earlier in the season. Unless your championship game is two unbeatens slugging it out, I don’t see both contenders ever making a four team playoff. Why play a game you already played? This year isn’t exactly equivalent to the tOSU/PSU debacle, because Penn State WON their championship game. Ohio State made the playoffs over their OWN conference champion, not another conference’s. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/264 "2017-12-04T05:50:30Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > QUIT BRINGING IT UP! You are not the boss of me. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/265 "2017-12-04T15:46:29Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > The conference championship games were just “playoff lock loses the one game they can’t lose”, rinse, repeat, all day. It was just a game of “Screw the pundits” written on a national stage. Clemson and Oklahoma won, Georgia didn’t fuck around and thus showed they were worthy of consideration, and beyond that was just…nothing. I don’t like Alabama, I don’t like Alabama making the playoffs without playing a championship game, and I don’t like Alabama. But outside of them, who’s gonna make it? Ohio State? Not with the shitshow that was the Iowa shellacking. Wisconsin? Nope, you lost the championship game to a team that wasn’t going to make the playoffs. Auburn is the only one I could see an argument for, but when it comes down to it, they got outplayed by Georgia in a championship rematch of their game earlier in the season. Unless your championship game is two unbeatens slugging it out, I don’t see both contenders ever making a four team playoff. Why play a game you already played? > > This year isn’t exactly equivalent to the tOSU/PSU debacle, because Penn State WON their championship game. Ohio State made the playoffs over their OWN conference champion, not another conference’s. One COULD make the case for USC. Their strength of schedule was much higher than either Alabama or Ohio State; Bama went 3-1 against FPI Top 40 teams, OSU went 3-2 … USC was 5-2. They _beat_ as many Top 40 teams as OSU even _played_. And they won their conference. Yeah, the Trojans lost twice, badly to Notre Dame and also to Washington State, while Bama only lost once … but who’s the best team Bama beat? LSU? Mississippi State (and that by a whisker)? The top three teams this year were pretty clear. A lot of teams could lay claim to that fourth spot. Personally, I think a conference championship should hold more weight here … in this instance, the committee is slavering all over Bama’s tradition, reputation, and the thought of the “mighty SEC” to give them the nod. And yeah, it stunk last year, too, when OSU got in without winning the B1G. And it stunk in 2014 when a 1-loss TCU Big XII champ got left out and were told it was because they didn’t play a conference championship. So why didn’t that matter for OSU last year and Bama this year? Shifting goalposts, man … makes it real tough on the kickers. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/266 "2017-12-04T16:36:48Z")
I would hazard a guess that taking Bama this year instead of OSU is a makeup call for last year. It might have been inspired by the Bucks’ humiliation against Clemson last year, too. None of which would be necessary if the field were adequately sized - 8, with the Big 5 champs plus 3 committee selections seems about right to me. In the meanwhile, the secret seems to be scheduling Mercer. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/267 "2017-12-04T16:53:37Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > Point being, the Committee clearly looks at the overall body of work and places a high value how the teams actually look on the field and not just W-L record or winning divisions or SoS or whatever other metric you might use to argue for or against a particular team. And then ignore all that and give the nod to the SEC. :rolleyes: 😃 If teams are being judged _by how they look on the field, over W-L records_, A) Why play at all, and B) clearly Oregon should be crowned perpetual Champs! ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/268 "2017-12-04T18:23:26Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > And then ignore all that and give the nod to the SEC. :rolleyes: > > 😃 > > If teams are being judged _by how they look on the field, over W-L records_, A) Why play at all, and B) clearly Oregon should be crowned perpetual Champs! I realize you’re being a bit tongue in cheek here, but you play the games so you can demonstrate how good your team is. Also, most teams don’t have aspirations of making the CFP and just want to beat some dudes on Saturday and maybe make a bowl game. ---
**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/269 "2017-12-04T18:38:38Z")
I don’t know if anyone has watched [this](https://www.facebook.com/CFBonFOX/videos/792955124221943/) video yet, but if you have time watch it and tell us what you think. I think the video is dead on. It’s not so much who they put in the 4th spot, but the fact they ignored all the supposed important criteria from previous years and just put in Alabama because… reasons. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/270 "2017-12-04T19:24:42Z")
I can’t watch the video right now but what criteria did they ignore this year that they didn’t ignore last year in picking OSU ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/271 "2017-12-04T19:56:09Z")
> [@Fugazi](#): > > I don’t know if anyone has watched [this](https://www.facebook.com/CFBonFOX/videos/792955124221943/) video yet, but if you have time watch it and tell us what you think. It’s pretty right on, but if he stayed on point, could have made it 10 min. instead of 20. And please note where he talks about USC. 12 Power 5 games _in a row_. No bye-week. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/272 "2017-12-04T19:58:55Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > I realize you’re being a bit tongue in cheek here, but you play the games so you can demonstrate how good your team is. > Also, most teams don’t have aspirations of making the CFP and just want to beat some dudes on Saturday and maybe make a bowl game. Right but the committee is often not internally consistent. As an example, Ohio State is above Wisconsin so beating a team head to head matters. Except, Alabama is ahead of Auburn so in that case, the 3 losses trump the head to head. Another good example is Miami moving ahead of Clemson from week 12 to week 13. It’s hard to puzzle out a justification for that except that someone woke up that day and figured Miami was now the better team. > [@USCDiver](#): > > I can’t watch the video right now but what criteria did they ignore this year that they didn’t ignore last year in picking OSU OSU last year and Alabama this year are worlds apart. OSU had wins over the (according to the committee) 6th, 7th, and 8th best teams in the country. Their lone loss was to PSU in a game which they controlled most of the game and lost after a big comeback on a flukish play. They were pretty clearly the best team in the best conference that year. The only commonality between Alabama and OSU last year is a single loss keeping them out of the conference championship game. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/273 "2017-12-04T20:05:17Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > The committee is at least consistent in putting Alabama in this year under circumstances substantially similar to last year’s Ohio St. or Penn St. situation. And Ohio St. lost badly to Iowa, so they really have no reason to complain; that loss shows they have the ability to be a poor team. And they lost twice, NOT including the conference championship, which means that, conference championship games aside, they weren’t one of the top four teams in the nation, by their record. > > So the question is: does beating Wisconsin demonstrate they are better than Alabama, which only lost one game all year, a relatively close contest with their in-state rival? > > Me, I’m satisfied with the fact that there are no two-loss teams in the playoffs. Seems to me a decent result. We will, of course, wait to see how UCF handles their bowl game against Auburn. If UCF blows out Auburn, then they can complain about being left out as an undefeated team. But their schedule to date doesn’t justify being automatically included. I’ll also submit that bowls are not always indicative of how good a team is. I’ve seen good teams in all conferences show up flat for a bowl game. Maybe it’s the long layoff or something else, but a lot of bowl games are exhibitions. Add to that the fact that, as in the case of UCF, coaches can leave before the game is played. And even if they don’t leave, the possibility of leaving can be distracting. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/274 "2017-12-04T20:17:51Z")
> [@Fugazi](#): > > I don’t know if anyone has watched [this](https://www.facebook.com/CFBonFOX/videos/792955124221943/) video yet, but if you have time watch it and tell us what you think. > > I think the video is dead on. It’s not so much who they put in the 4th spot, but the fact they ignored all the supposed important criteria from previous years and just put in Alabama because… reasons. One thing I noticed is that, somewhat predictably, the major networks tried to make the case for the teams that are part of their conference contracts. Gary Danielson was plugging for Alabama and the guys at Fox were trying to argue that it should have been Ohio State. Oh, what a coincidence: CBS has the contract for the SEC and Fox has the contract for some of the Big 10 games. I’m not saying that there isn’t a case for Ohio State - there is a case, just not an open and shut one. There’s a case for Alabama, too. Neither team is demonstrably better than the other this year. Clemson and OU have arguably had the best seasons to date. It remains to be seen how well the SEC can stand up to either team. I’m sure there will be a lot of ridicule if both Georgia and Bama go down in the first round, but the committee probably also felt that they would have an even harder time living down another Clemson thrashing of the Buckeyes. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/275 "2017-12-04T20:18:51Z")
In proud of UCLA. We have scheduled LSU and Georgia, Oklahoma, Michigan and Wisconsin in the coming ten years. And no Div 1AA like the cowards at Alabama. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/276 "2017-12-04T21:05:26Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Neither team is demonstrably better than the other this year. Except that whole “Conference Champion” thing. ---
**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 4, 2017, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/277 "2017-12-04T21:15:26Z")
There is a thread specific to the CFL Playoffs in this forum. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/278 "2017-12-04T21:33:25Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > One COULD make the case for USC. Their strength of schedule was much higher than either Alabama or Ohio State; Bama went 3-1 against FPI Top 40 teams, OSU went 3-2 … USC was 5-2. They _beat_ as many Top 40 teams as OSU even _played_. And they won their conference. > > Yeah, the Trojans lost twice, badly to Notre Dame and also to Washington State, while Bama only lost once … but who’s the best team Bama beat? LSU? Mississippi State (and that by a whisker)? > > The top three teams this year were pretty clear. A lot of teams could lay claim to that fourth spot. Personally, I think a conference championship should hold more weight here … in this instance, the committee is slavering all over Bama’s tradition, reputation, and the thought of the “mighty SEC” to give them the nod. > > And yeah, it stunk last year, too, when OSU got in without winning the B1G. And it stunk in 2014 when a 1-loss TCU Big XII champ got left out and were told it was because they didn’t play a conference championship. So why didn’t that matter for OSU last year and Bama this year? Shifting goalposts, man … makes it real tough on the kickers. That bad loss to a team they should have beaten handily is why Ohio State will be watching from the couches, as well. Without the 55-24 asskicking in Iowa City (coincidentally, almost a third of the total points tOSU gave up in conference play), the winner of the Big “Ten” would have been guaranteed a playoff berth, and nobody gives a shit about Alabama. Same with USC - win one of those games, and you get to beat up on all the East Coast/Midwest teams you want. We’ll get to see which is the stronger team in the Cotton Bowl, however, so that’s a bowl I’m looking forward to, as well as watching ISU redeem the ending of their season in the Liberty. As for the best team Alabama beat, that’s all on the SEC. Annually, the SEC is a combination of 2-4 top 10 teams and a bunch of “We’d only win championships in FCS football”. I’d take Michigan over Missouri and Texas over A&M every day. Bama/Auburn/LSU have 4-5 guaranteed wins just in conference play every year, coupled with games against powerhouses like Mercer, Colorado State, Georgia Southern, and Mercer again. Of course you’re going to win at least nine games a year when you only play three good teams. This whole “the entire SEC is a man’s conference playing in a boy’s league” is a joke that needed to die years ago. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/279 "2017-12-04T22:18:50Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > That bad loss to a team they should have beaten handily is why Ohio State will be watching from the couches, as well. Without the 55-24 asskicking in Iowa City (coincidentally, almost a third of the total points tOSU gave up in conference play), the winner of the Big “Ten” would have been guaranteed a playoff berth, and nobody gives a shit about Alabama. Same with USC - win one of those games, and you get to beat up on all the East Coast/Midwest teams you want. We’ll get to see which is the stronger team in the Cotton Bowl, however, so that’s a bowl I’m looking forward to, as well as watching ISU redeem the ending of their season in the Liberty. I don’t think any USC or OSU fans are really that bent out of shape about being out of the playoffs. I haven’t seen that much USC this year, but I’m relatively certain OSU gets stomped by Clemson. I’m not broken up about not seeing that happen. I’m more concerned about the committee hopping on a sled and sliding down the slippery slope they started last year with OSU. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/280 "2017-12-05T01:34:56Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > There is a thread specific to the CFL Playoffs in this forum. Sorry. We weren’t chosen. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/281 "2017-12-05T01:42:12Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > There is a thread specific to the CFL Playoffs in this forum. > [@treis](#): > > I don’t think any USC or OSU fans are really that bent out of shape about being out of the playoffs. Yeah, I’m a USC guy. I didn’t realistically think we would make it with 2 losses. What I’m pissed about is Alabama _getting in._ Complete Bullshit. The third best team in the fucking SEC, over multiple conference champions. The National Championship is meaningless. I intend to boycott the whole thing, and watch re-runs of _Law & Order._ You know they’re on some channel. I’ll probably just get drunk and go to bed early. That’s SOP. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338.md?page=15)