College football

Just one question here: what’s even the point? Why on earth are they using polls to pick which teams get to play in the championship game?

dustypanther6 said:I mean, what’s even the point there? Why are they using polls to pick the teams that actually get to play in the championship game?

Man, it’s just nonsensical.

On one hand, you can't exactly run a massive 64-team bracket like they do in college basketball, but on the other hand, it feels totally wrong when those undefeated teams aren't even given the shot at the title.
Ever since 2015, they've been running this four-team setup, though honestly, I think it would be way better if they expanded it to eight.

dustypanther6 said:The question is, what's the point? Why use polls to pick teams for a championship game?

It might seem obvious to you, but it's actually quite complex and serves as a necessary compromise given the current landscape. Look at the current situation. You have 120 teams playing 12 or 13 games, leaving so many variables unresolved. It’s logical to want to crown a champion, but the inherent nature and physical demands of this sport make a massive tournament with more teams and games impossible.
However, since the playoff concept is the very essence of American sports, I don't understand how it took this long to happen in college football, even in this limited form we are about to see soon.

Johnny Manziel 🙏 🙏 🙏

Alabama 👋

That kid absolutely shredded them. Respect...

Edit: Dammit, I thought it was over🙂

Interception. Ugh, what a hell of a game🙏 🙏

Way to go Texas A&M!!!

Texas A&M 🙏

I honestly thought Alabama was going to pull this one off, but man, what an Interception on 4th and goal 🙏

Alabama :O And I already marked this week as a total wash...

Scott Collins30 said:Alabama 👋>

Don't count them out just yet.

The University of Oregon has a gauntlet ahead, playing at home against Stanford University, traveling to face Oregon State University, and most likely heading to Los Angeles for a home matchup against UCLA. Those aren't just games; those are three heavy hitters on the schedule.

Looking at Kansas State University, they have a relatively easy trip away to play Baylor University next week, but then comes the home game against the University of Texas, which is anything but a cakewalk. Since the Big 12 Conference only has ten teams and doesn't run a conference championship game, if they can manage to take down Texas, they’re almost certainly punching their ticket to a BCS bowl.

Then you've got Notre Dame, who has a bit of a breather next week against Wake Forest University, but after that, they're headed straight to Los Angeles to deal with USC. Now, USC might not be the juggernaut they used to be this year, but let's be honest, they still have enough teeth to bite you if you aren't careful.

If any two of these three teams stumble just once before the season wraps up, then Alabama—or maybe University of Georgia if they end up winning the SEC Conference title—will be the ones standing there fighting for the national championship.

jadeskipper74 said:It’s far from over.

University of Oregon plays Stanford University at home, goes to Oregon State University on the road, and most likely faces UCLA at home. That’s three heavy hitters right there.

Kansas State has a relatively easy trip to Baylor University next week, but then they host the University of Texas, which is anything but a cakewalk. Since the Big 12 Conference only has ten teams, there's no conference championship game, so if they beat Texas, they're almost certainly headed to a BCS bowl.

Notre Dame also has a soft matchup against Wake Forest University next week, but then they head to Los Angeles to face USC. They aren't exactly elite this year, but they can still pull an upset.

If two out of these three teams drop a game before the season ends, then Alabama (or University of Georgia if they win the SEC Conference) will be playing for the title.

Yeah, I know it isn't, but I was just so happy to see them lose. I can't stand teams that act like they're untouchable and invincible. And Nick Saban irritates me—I know he's a great coach, but I can't stand his attitude and that same old expression on his face...😁

Anyway, we have some interesting weeks ahead. Looking at the schedule, I think University of Oregon might go undefeated, and probably Kansas State too. As for Notre Dame, I'm pretty sure 😁 they'll slip up in Los Angeles against Matt Barkley. I've watched them enough this season to think their defense won't be able to stop the USC offense. 🤷

Then again, looking at how everything shakes out, I wouldn't mind seeing an Oregon vs Alabama final... 😬

Here’s some more food for thought regarding how they rank teams in College football.

Undefeated Notre Dame is stuck at No. 3 and needs a hand because those old preseason polls and the BCS system are outdated.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--...polls-bcs.html

quietfox38 said:Here’s some more fuel for the fire regarding how they rank teams in College football.

Undefeated Notre Dame stuck at No. 3 and in need of help thanks to archaic preseason polls, BCS

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--...polls-bcs.html

Great read. Honestly, if I had my way, rooting for Notre Dame would be outlawed by an international treaty, but even then, it feels like they’re still going to miss out on the championship game they actually deserve this year.

But look, it doesn't really matter who we're talking about or which specific fanbases are crying about it; the whole system is just fundamentally broken, and this article lays out some pretty solid arguments as to why that is.

jadeskipper74 said:Great read. Honestly, even if cheering for Notre Dame should be banned by international law, they could easily make it to the championship game this year. They deserve it.

What kind of metrics are we using to decide if they actually earned a spot over Oregon State or Kansas State? 😉

Personally, I'd love to see a title game between two schools that haven't won it all before.

quietfox38 said:What kind of metrics are we even using here to decide if they actually earned a spot in the championship over the University of Oregon or Kansas State University?😉

Personally, I think it would be absolutely fantastic if the title game featured two schools that, if my memory serves me right, have never actually hoisted the trophy before.

At the end of the day, I don't see three undefeated D-I programs surviving the season, so someone's streak has to snap. I’d honestly love to see the University of Oregon take it all, mostly because I just live for those high-octane hurry-up offenses—there's something about watching that style of play that just hits different, and frankly, I've always had a soft spot for Oregon as part of the USA. Plus, Ducks are pretty cool creatures, aren't they?😁

If we were sitting around picking today's bowl matchups, I honestly think we'd end up looking at something like this:

BCS National Championship: Kansas State University vs University of Oregon
Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs University of Georgia
Rose Bowl: Stanford University vs Nebraska
Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs Clemson or maybe University of Texas
Orange Bowl: Florida State University vs Rutgers University

Can someone please explain why Ohio State isn't bowl eligible? And honestly, what makes this team so much better than, say, Notre Dame or Oregon in your eyes?

Wake up, check the scores 😲 😲

Scott Collins30 said:Can someone who actually follows this stuff explain why Ohio State isn't bowl eligible? And honestly, what makes this team strong enough to be ranked higher than teams like Notre Dame or Oregon?

A few seasons back, players were out there selling signed jerseys just to trade them for free tattoos. Under NCAA rules, they can't do that because they're supposed to be amateurs. The coach at the time found out, but he tried to sweep it under the rug.

But colleges raking in millions from TV rights and coaches signing massive contracts? That doesn't break the amateurism rule. 🙄

Would Ohio State be in the playoff hunt if they weren't penalized? Absolutely.

quietfox38 said:I wake up, check the scores, and 😲 😲

Same here. So, looks like we're watching Alabama (or maybe University of Georgia) in the championship again.

A few seasons back, players were selling signed jerseys and swapping them for free tattoos. Under NCAA rules, they aren't allowed to do that because they're supposed to be amateurs. The coach at the time found out but tried to sweep it under the rug.

Yet the colleges rake in millions from TV rights and coaches sign massive contracts, and somehow that doesn't violate amateurism rules 🙄

Would Ohio State be in the hunt for the title without the penalty? Absolutely.

What a joke. These NCAA rules make zero sense to me. Just like you said, the schools are swimming in cash while the players get nickel-and-dimed over every little thing. Sure, the penalty probably landed harder because the coach tried to cover it up, but still...

And here we go again, just another season where it feels completely impossible to actually root for anyone.

It’s either Notre Dame, who seem to get lucky with some questionable officiating calls every other week, or you’ve got that massive media machine driving the SEC, which will probably just shove two more teams into the championship game if Notre Dame manages to pull off a win against USC—assuming they can even do that without Matt Barkley on the field, which honestly sounds like a stretch.

It’s all just a mess.

Alabama moves on to the championship. The matchup against University of Georgia was decent enough, featuring solid rushing attacks from both sides, though the clock management from both coaching staffs was absolutely abysmal.

The absolute game of the year!

Catch all the live action through the end of the year on ESPN America:
27 Dec - 01:30 Little Caesars Bowl - Western Kentucky vs Central Michigan
27 Dec - 21:00 Military Bowl - San Jose State vs Bowling Green
28 Dec - 00:30 Belk Bowl - Cincinnati vs Duke
28 Dec - 03:45 Holiday Bowl - Baylor vs UCLA
28 Dec - 20:00 Independence Bowl - Ohio vs Louisiana-Monroe
28 Dec - 23:30 Russell Athletic Bowl - Rutgers vs Virginia Tech
29 Dec - 03:00 Texas Bowl - Minnesota vs Texas Tech
29 Dec - 17:45 Armed Forces Bowl - Rice vs Air Force
29 Dec - 21:15 Pinstripe Bowl - West Virginia vs Syracuse
30 Dec - 00:45 Alamo Bowl - Texas vs Oregon State
30 Dec - 04:15 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl - TCU vs Michigan State
31 Dec - 18:00 Music City Bowl - NC State vs Vanderbilt
31 Dec - 21:30 Liberty Bowl - Iowa State vs Tulsa