# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/122 "2017-11-06T00:59:48Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > It makes sense to me. All those people crying and hollering to expand the playoff field - just consider conference championship games the first round, and bingo - instant expansion. But if you lose that game, no way should you get an invite to the top four. You had your chance, you lost. I think you need to go to an 8 team playoff. Power 5 conference champs get it, but no more than one per conference. Other 3 spots go to other FBS leagues and/or independents. OK, Georgia beat ND. Bully for them. But they also played Samford, Appalachian State, Vandy, Missouri, and Kentucky. Alabama plays Fresno State (at home, of course), and in the traditional ranking-padding SEC second to last week, takes on mighty Mercer. Face it, playoff spots are largely based on reputation. Poor Wisconsin beats all comers, including a road win at BYU. Not that BYU is all that, but fuck it, very few SEC teams play _any_ road non-conference games. Wisconsin had the good fortune to play three of the lesser sisters in the Big Ten cross-division games, but that isn’t their fault. So after week 8, they’re 5th in the AP poll at 6-0. Now at 9-0, they drop to 6th in the AP and they’re 9th in the playoff picture with 6 one-loss teams in front of them? This is a fix. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/123 "2017-11-06T12:45:09Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Rule 9-2-1-b-5: “Persons subject to the rules, including bands, shall not create any noise that prohibits a team from hearing its signals.” Shocked it doesn’t say anything about entering the field of play to stop a kickoff return for touchdown… :rolleyes: 😃 ---
**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:** [November 6, 2017, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/124 "2017-11-06T12:53:38Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > Here’s my hot take, for what it’s worth (present value, approximately nothing): Conference championship games should be a de facto play-in for the playoff. You lose the conference championship game, you don’t get to be in the playoff. > > Let’s face it, the SEC has been coasting on reputation for a few years now. Bama is always great, sure, and UGA is playing great this year, but … that’s supposed to mean an SEC runnerup is better than all but two other teams in all the land? A conference that includes such stalwart 2017 competition as Kentucky, Mizzou, Vanderbilt (they did okay this year, but come on) and Florida? This are the murderer’s row that Bama or UGA has to survive to get to the SEC championship and prove they’re one of the 4 best in all the land? Even though they just lost to a team that’s in the playoff? > > We don’t need conference rematches in our national championship games. I thought we learned that with Bama-LSU a few years back. But, oh, we’ve seen the CFP committee fall all over themselves to go after “name” programs (Ohio State over TCU was a travesty - I don’t care that OSU won the championship, two playoff wins doesn’t prove you’re the best, only that you played the best in those two games, but they never should have been there in the first place). > > It makes sense to me. All those people crying and hollering to expand the playoff field - just consider conference championship games the first round, and bingo - instant expansion. But if you lose that game, no way should you get an invite to the top four. You had your chance, you lost. The problem hasn’t been the SEC; it’s teams like Oklahoma and Ohio State who show up undefeated or with 1 loss and get murdered in bowl games or a playoff. And re: LSU-Bama, it was actually Bama that had one loss entering the title game. The debate was whether Ok St. was more deserving than Bama and I think the Tide answered that question emphatically. I’d rather see a rematch between Bama and UGA than watching Bama thrash Miami. That’s assuming that Bama doesn’t thrash UGA in the SEC title game, which I’m sure would be taken into consideration at selection time. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/125 "2017-11-06T13:00:08Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > What do you have against my Hawkeyes? I thought everyone loved the Hawks. [Herky the Hawk rules!](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/muscatinejournal.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/e9/7e9b340b-7534-5eb6-be0c-6de92daf476c/53851db108bd0.image.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/126 "2017-11-06T15:10:56Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > What do you have against my Hawkeyes? I thought everyone loved the Hawks. No, not everyone. Love, pulykamell Northwestern '98 ETA: But I will root for them in any Big10 vs out-of-conference game. Ohio State is the only Big Ten team I won’t root for, unless maybe it comes down to Ohio State vs Notre Dame. That’d be a tough one. I’d probably pull Ohio State there. So, yeah, actually, I guess I was rooting for Iowa in this particular game (Iowa vs tOSU). ---
**Author:** ![Nauplius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nauplius/32/51_2.png) [@Nauplius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nauplius)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/127 "2017-11-06T17:36:31Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > What do you have against my Hawkeyes? I thought everyone loved the Hawks. As a Cyclones fan let me just say … Fuck the Hawkeyes! 😃 good win this weekend though ---
**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:** [November 6, 2017, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/128 "2017-11-06T18:32:25Z")
**Uncle Jocko** makes sense. And screw these “independents”. Pick an conference and join in. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/129 "2017-11-06T19:17:06Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Shocked it doesn’t say anything about entering the field of play to stop a kickoff return for touchdown… :rolleyes: 😃 Rule 9-2-1-b-3: “No person or mascot subject to the rules, except players, officials and eligible substitutes, shall be on the field of play or end zones during any period without permission from the referee.” Band members are “persons subject to the rules.” Besides, that sort of rule has been in place for decades, and Cal was on the penalized end once - Mark Harmon’s father got tackled by a Cal fan when running for a touchdown in the 1940 Rose Bowl. ---
**Author:** ![Rudiger\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rudiger\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rudiger_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/130 "2017-11-07T18:21:25Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Mark Harmon’s father got tackled by a Cal fan when running for a touchdown in the 1940 Rose Bowl. Was he related to that Heisman Trophy winner, Tom Harmon? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/131 "2017-11-07T19:57:19Z")
> [@Rudiger\_Simpson](#): > > Was he related to that Heisman Trophy winner, Tom Harmon? 😉 Was that the same guy who was the grandfather of those fabulous rock and rollers, Matthew and Gunnar Nelson? ---
**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:** [November 12, 2017, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/132 "2017-11-12T02:55:59Z")
I’m lovin’ this! USC wins, clinches the Pac-12 South, Georgia lost, Alabama is losing and Notre Dame is getting the shit stomped out of them! I don’t even care if UCLA loses later tonight. I’m good! Good times! ---
**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:** [November 12, 2017, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/133 "2017-11-12T03:48:21Z")
I don’t care what anyone says, the Southeastern Conference should have a minimum of one team in the playoff and possibly two. The ACC is probably just as good as the ACC. The other conferences? Pfffff. Nope. And please, no more Notre Dame in the top 10. Notre Dame is a scam. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/134 "2017-11-12T04:08:44Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I don’t care what anyone says, the Southeastern Conference should have a minimum of one team in the playoff and possibly two. The ACC is probably just as good as the ACC. The other conferences? Pfffff. Nope. And please, no more Notre Dame in the top 10. Notre Dame is a scam. This post is quite confusing. Would you like to try again? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/135 "2017-11-12T04:19:32Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I don’t care what anyone says, the Southeastern Conference should have a minimum of one team in the playoff and possibly two. The ACC is probably just as good as the ACC. The other conferences? Pfffff. Nope. And please, no more Notre Dame in the top 10. Notre Dame is a scam. Agreed. The ACC is very, very similar to the ACC. I’d give the ACC a small advantage though. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2017, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/136 "2017-11-12T04:51:14Z")
You don’t have to be an asahi about it! He’s clearly talking about the ACC there! ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/137 "2017-11-12T04:52:22Z")
> [@Nauplius](#): > > As a Cyclones fan let me just say … Fuck the Hawkeyes! 😃 > > good win this weekend though I like you. Let’s be friends. > [@Jackmannii](#): > > [Herky the Hawk rules!](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/muscatinejournal.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/e9/7e9b340b-7534-5eb6-be0c-6de92daf476c/53851db108bd0.image.jpg) > [@Procrustus](#): > > What do you have against my Hawkeyes? I thought everyone loved the Hawks. Both of you are terrible people and nobody likes you. The only thing the Hawkeyes have done in the last…33 years is The Wave. It is by far the ugliest public campus in the state, and a dumping point for all the idiots from Illinois that can’t get into Champaign or Chicago. To be fair, Bjaysville Lane is a pretty awesomely named street, but you guys can’t even manage to riot properly. Come to Ames if you want to see how it’s done. The in-state rivalry among my family is pretty impressive, considering there’s two ISU alums, two derps that went to Iowa, and soon, two UNI grads. A house divided doesn’t even begin to describe us. Go Cyclones, and may the Iowa River flood Kinnick Stadium. > [@Mince](#): > > Agreed. The ACC is very, very similar to the ACC. I’d give the ACC a small advantage though. I dunno. The ACC has been strong for the last few years, but they’ve fallen off a bit while the ACC has come on strong this fall. It’s pretty much a tossup at this point, and I’ll have to go with the ACC. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/138 "2017-11-12T04:59:16Z")
The ACC is definitely overrated but the ACC doesn’t get the respect that they deserve. Baker Mayfield has won the Heisman. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2017, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/139 "2017-11-12T05:54:29Z")
Fucking Mississippi State played great for 59:35. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [November 12, 2017, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/140 "2017-11-12T12:27:55Z")
I actually kinda cracked up reading the rest of this thread. Tune in next week when I explain why the SEC is better than the SEC. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338/141 "2017-11-12T20:50:07Z")
I can’t wait to hear your lively discussion of how the Big-8, -10 and -12 stack up. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2017/795338.md?page=8)