The [American] Football Thread

[scooter]

Go blue. Not even close to the biggest Michigan win I've ever seen, but by far the funniest.

[T-hawk]

Penn State fan here, so I'm riding high on that one too

[scooter]

Hottie toddy!  I went to Ga. Tech so unfortunately I have to follow the crappy ACC.

Damn close. It would’ve been awesome.

This game was incredible. The fumble late in regulation as well as the OT failed 2-pt attempt from the 1 were haunting though.

Penn State fan here, so I'm riding high on that one too

Oh yeah, that got them into the conference title game! Playoff bye up for grabs there.

[darrelljs]

We haven't beaten Georgia in the 21st century. I really thought we had it this time. College football can be cold hearted monster.

Darrell

[T-hawk]

So who deserves the 12th spot? 11 are in: four from the Big Ten, three from the SEC, three other conf champs (B12/ACC/MWC), Notre Dame. Who gets that out of the ACC loser, Miami, Alabama, SCar, Ole Miss?

If SMU loses the ACC, they should probably be in anyway - their only losses are that and to a very good BYU.

If SMU does win the ACC, then I think SCar actually has the best credentials - no bad losses like any of the others, and the LSU loss was in significant part from questionable penalty calls. But then you've got the complication that Bama and Ole Miss both beat SCar head-to-head.

[scooter]

Yeah I honestly have no idea. I think you are right that the thing that feels most correct is SMU if they lose, South Carolina if they win. But the honest truth is the playoff field tripling at the same time as the top of the sport being a bit down has made this messy in a way that will push a couple undeserving teams in, and we're just going to have to live with it. I think Alabama getting in would annoy me a bit only because that is a program that consistently gets the benefit of the doubt in a way they would not if they weren't Alabama. But the truth is it cuts both ways - their resume isn't meaningfully worse than other "contenders" for the 12th spot. All the other teams keep losing too. I am definitely looking forward to watching the playoff either way.

[darrelljs]

I suspect both South Carolina and Alabama finish ahead of Miami (and SMU, if they lose to Clemson). SMU will only have two wins against ranked opponents, none in the top 15. Alabama's got two bad losses...but they beat Georgia. South Carolina to your point has a superior resume to either, all their losses are to ranked opponents and they beat 3 of their own. Unfortunately one of those losses was to Alabama, so...suspect they will be ranked below them.

TL:DR

12. Alabama
13. South Carolina
14. SMU or Miami

Darrell

[darrelljs]

Isn't it nice to be arguing over who gets the 12th spot and not the 4th?

Darrell

[scooter]

Isn't it nice to be arguing over who gets the 12th spot and not the 4th?

Darrell

Pretty much. I simply cannot summon any outrage at all for a multiple loss team getting left out like I could a 13-0 P5 team getting left out. The truth is 12 teams is probably too many, but an undeserving team getting in will never be as contentious as a deserving team getting left out.

[scooter]

Enjoyed this crossover.