GID College Football Playoff Committee

[23andCounting]

39 minutes ago, Irishman said:

What is a bit comical and disingenuous to me is the talk around conference championship games. One year, the talk is, well this team did not play in a conference championship game and should not be rewarded for that. This year we are hearing teams that lose a conference championship should not be punished for playing in that game. Should the conference championship games matter? Absolutely, every game should be taken into consideration. A friend was trying to stir the pot with me last night about the Irish not playing in a conference championship game. I said you know who else is not playing in a conference championship game? Oregon, Miami, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma. 
If the goal is to get the best 12 in, the Irish belong. But so does Miami. I will even say that those two are better than at least 3 teams in the 5-8 spots in the rankings. 
If those two get in, I am fine saying that Alabama is one of the best 12. Winning at Georgia really is a BFD. But damn, that FSU loss is there too. 
No question though is whoever the G5 team(s) is/are, no I do not think they are among the best 12 in the country. 

I think the Group of Five has to earn it just like everyone else. Maybe just get rid of the automatic qualifier together. Which begs the question. What's the point of the conference championship game?

Fans can gripe about Notre Dame all they want. They're in. Period. The Irish can beat anyone in the country, and most people know it. The debate becomes the final two teams. It can't be both Miami and Alabama, so somethings got to give. In my opinion, Alabama shot themselves in the foot by showing they are 21 points weaker than the presumed #3 team in the country. Bottom line, they showed up, but exposed themselves. They had a chance to impress the committee and flopped. No one's fault but their own. 

The case for Miami. They're two losses against SMU and Louisville suck, plain and simple. But they are playing pretty good right now, which should count for something. Clearly they are the best team in the ACC, everyone knows that. Do we really want to exclude this conference entirely for the sake of having five SEC teams in it, including a three loss Alabama team? Nah. Bama rolls out of the Top 12 making way for the Hurricanes. 

Tulane gets in over James Madison. 

[Bash Riprock]

My guess is the ND is in, but doesn’t help their case that the conference they play most of their games crowned a conference champion that entered the game with a 7-5 record. 

[Komets2727]

43 minutes ago, Bash Riprock said:

My guess is the ND is in, but doesn’t help their case that the conference they play most of their games crowned a conference champion that entered the game with a 7-5 record. 

How does the weakness of the ACC make the Irish look? Worst, by far, of the Power 4 conferences and it has been for years. I will keep saying, who did the Irish beat this year? USC, a team not even close to consideration for the CFP. Next best win, Navy. Uh, ok. Pittsburgh? Give me a break!! Beat somebody. Play somebody. You had two chances, one on your home field, to get a win and you didn’t against possible CFP teams. Now, to be fair, could Notre Dame win some games in the CFP? Absolutely. So could Vanderbilt, Miami, Alabama, Utah, BYU, etc… Any of the teams 1-10 in the CFP are capable of winning games in the CFP. Teams that could win the natty though is a smaller number. Maybe 5-6 teams

[23andCounting]

1 hour ago, Bash Riprock said:

My guess is the ND is in, but doesn’t help their case that the conference they play most of their games crowned a conference champion that entered the game with a 7-5 record. 

Honestly doesn't really matter. The only thing that matters are that media types across the country are calling Notre Dame a national title caliber team. They're in, there's no debate at this point. 

[temptation]

When they discussed this new format, I knew this was going to happen to teams that lost in their conference championship games.

The eye test shows Alabama is not a top 12 team but if I were them and I got left out today (which seems likely), I’d be pissed.

They beat Georgia in the regular season and by record were the top team in the SEC.

Ole Miss, Oklahoma and A&M sat on their asses yesterday and are comfortably in.

They should’ve just declined the invite to the SEC title game.

Edited December 7, 2025 by temptation

[23andCounting]

19 minutes ago, Komets2727 said:

How does the weakness of the ACC make the Irish look? Worst, by far, of the Power 4 conferences and it has been for years. I will keep saying, who did the Irish beat this year? USC, a team not even close to consideration for the CFP. Next best win, Navy. Uh, ok. Pittsburgh? Give me a break!! Beat somebody. Play somebody. You had two chances, one on your home field, to get a win and you didn’t against possible CFP teams. Now, to be fair, could Notre Dame win some games in the CFP? Absolutely. So could Vanderbilt, Miami, Alabama, Utah, BYU, etc… Any of the teams 1-10 in the CFP are capable of winning games in the CFP. Teams that could win the natty though is a smaller number. Maybe 5-6 teams

Again, doesn't matter. It's no longer a question as to whether they'll be in. Let's discuss something worth debating. With Notre Dame coming in at #9 (fact), who'll be the final three teams. We have Alabama, Miami, Tulane, and James Madison. I like Miami and Tulane for sure. I'm just not sure about that #12 spot. Do we want Alabama, a three loss team that just got curb stomped? Or do we give James Madison an opportunity? I can go either way on this. 

[Irishman]

15 minutes ago, Komets2727 said:

How does the weakness of the ACC make the Irish look? Worst, by far, of the Power 4 conferences and it has been for years. I will keep saying, who did the Irish beat this year? USC, a team not even close to consideration for the CFP. Next best win, Navy. Uh, ok. Pittsburgh? Give me a break!! Beat somebody. Play somebody. You had two chances, one on your home field, to get a win and you didn’t against possible CFP teams. Now, to be fair, could Notre Dame win some games in the CFP? Absolutely. So could Vanderbilt, Miami, Alabama, Utah, BYU, etc… Any of the teams 1-10 in the CFP are capable of winning games in the CFP. Teams that could win the natty though is a smaller number. Maybe 5-6 teams

I think while the Notre Dame schedule can be scrutinized, name a team whose schedule cannot be. The saying that has followed IU for two years was not only play somebody, but beat somebody good. The bar was raised every step of the way. ACC was not very good, I grant you that. But I also think the SEC is overrated and has been. Outside of maybe two teams, the rest is just meh. While people can say Notre Dame did not beat anyone of value, their two losses were by a combined 4 points….to two teams in the playoffs. 

[23andCounting]

6 minutes ago, temptation said:

When they discussed this new format, I knew this was going to happen to teams that lost in their conference championship games.

The eye test shows Alabama is not a top 12 team but if I were them and I got left out today (which seems likely), I’d be pissed.

They beat Georgia in the regular season and by record were the top team in the SEC.

Ole Miss, Oklahoma and A&M sat on their asses yesterday and are comfortably in.

They should’ve just declined the invite to the SEC title game.

So, if the eye test shows they are not Top 12, then why bother? They've had an entire season to show the country who they are. They kind of blew it. So................who's #12 then if it's not Alabama? A James Madison team that lost to Louisville by two touchdowns?

[Irishman]

9 minutes ago, temptation said:

When they discussed this new format, I knew this was going to happen to teams that lost in their conference championship games.

The eye test shows Alabama is not a top 12 team but if I were them and I got left out today (which seems likely), I’d be pissed.

They beat Georgia in the regular season and by record were the top team in the SEC.

Ole Miss, Oklahoma and A&M sat on their asses yesterday and are comfortably in.

They should’ve just declined the invite to the SEC title game.

I think this all goes back to a point @Bobref made recently. As big as the conference championship games are, especially financially, this very well may be the last time we see them being played. Willing to bet the ACC will be the first to announce it. 

[temptation]

7 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

So, if the eye test shows they are not Top 12, then why bother? They've had an entire season to show the country who they are. They kind of blew it. So................who's #12 then if it's not Alabama? A James Madison team that lost to Louisville by two touchdowns?

Still something backwards about a system that punishes a team for playing an extra game that they EARNED via 12 weeks of play.

Edited December 7, 2025 by temptation

[23andCounting]

9 minutes ago, temptation said:

Still something backwards about a system that punishes a team for playing an extra game that they EARNED via 12 weeks of play.

Agree. They look much better by sitting out. I really don't want James Madison in this thing. Give me Miami, Alabama, and Tulane at 10-12. 

[Komets2727]

Conference championship games will be gone within 2 years. No advantage to playing them other than financial and the reason they were played in the first place was financial. They will increase to 16 teams soon and potentially to 24 teams within 5 years for the CFP

Edited December 7, 2025 by Komets2727

[Komets2727]

22 minutes ago, Irishman said:

I think while the Notre Dame schedule can be scrutinized, name a team whose schedule cannot be. The saying that has followed IU for two years was not only play somebody, but beat somebody good. The bar was raised every step of the way. ACC was not very good, I grant you that. But I also think the SEC is overrated and has been. Outside of maybe two teams, the rest is just meh. While people can say Notre Dame did not beat anyone of value, their two losses were by a combined 4 points….to two teams in the playoffs. 

Again, who did they beat?

[Irishman]

5 minutes ago, Komets2727 said:

Conference championship games will be gone within 2 years. No advantage to playing them other than financial and the reason they were played in the first place was financial. They will increase to 16 teams soon and potentially to 24 teams within 5 years for the CFP

I think it maxes out at 16. The big takeaway last year…I remember Kirby Smart being on set during the first round, he wants a playoff home game. 
Football is a different animal than any other sport. A legitimate look at teams 12-16 now, and there is not a team that has a shot at making the championship game. That said, more than any other year ever, there are more teams who could make the championship game; not necessarily win it, but could make it. 
My issue is when you get beyond 16 teams, the health of teams playing becomes a greater factor. 

8 minutes ago, Komets2727 said:

Again, who did they beat?

I hear you, but again every ranked team’s schedule can be criticized. 

[Footballking16]

1 hour ago, 23andCounting said:

I think the Group of Five has to earn it just like everyone else. Maybe just get rid of the automatic qualifier together. Which begs the question. What's the point of the conference championship game?

Fans can gripe about Notre Dame all they want. They're in. Period. The Irish can beat anyone in the country, and most people know it. The debate becomes the final two teams. It can't be both Miami and Alabama, so somethings got to give. In my opinion, Alabama shot themselves in the foot by showing they are 21 points weaker than the presumed #3 team in the country. Bottom line, they showed up, but exposed themselves. They had a chance to impress the committee and flopped. No one's fault but their own. 

The case for Miami. They're two losses against SMU and Louisville suck, plain and simple. But they are playing pretty good right now, which should count for something. Clearly they are the best team in the ACC, everyone knows that. Do we really want to exclude this conference entirely for the sake of having five SEC teams in it, including a three loss Alabama team? Nah. Bama rolls out of the Top 12 making way for the Hurricanes. 

Tulane gets in over James Madison. 

Tulane and James Madison are both getting in.

Your refusal to acknowledge Miami’s head to head win over ND is comical.

[temptation]

6 minutes ago, Irishman said:

I think it maxes out at 16. The big takeaway last year…I remember Kirby Smart being on set during the first round, he wants a playoff home game. 
Football is a different animal than any other sport. A legitimate look at teams 12-16 now, and there is not a team that has a shot at making the championship game. That said, more than any other year ever, there are more teams who could make the championship game; not necessarily win it, but could make it. 
My issue is when you get beyond 16 teams, the health of teams playing becomes a greater factor. 

I hear you, but again every ranked team’s schedule can be criticized. 

Rarely if ever will you see me defending the SEC, specifically their scheduling practices but you think that Texas and Bama are sitting here wishing they’d scheduled “Directional U” in week 1 instead of OSU/FSU?

Now, I know FSU turned out to be below average but the point still stands.

With these mega conferences, often the schedule inbalance plays as much of a role when producing a team’s record in December as does their actual performance.

 

[Footballking16]

34 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

Again, doesn't matter. It's no longer a question as to whether they'll be in. Let's discuss something worth debating. With Notre Dame coming in at #9 (fact), who'll be the final three teams. We have Alabama, Miami, Tulane, and James Madison. I like Miami and Tulane for sure. I'm just not sure about that #12 spot. Do we want Alabama, a three loss team that just got curb stomped? Or do we give James Madison an opportunity? I can go either way on this. 

James Madison won their conference championship and will be ranked ahead of Duke. The 5 highest rated conference champions get automatic bids, which includes James Madison. How do you still not understand how the process works?

[23andCounting]

13 minutes ago, Komets2727 said:

Again, who did they beat?

Again, doesn't matter. The consensus around the country, minus most SEC fans, is that Notre Dame is one of the best teams in the country and has a legitimate shot at this thing. Can't leave a team like that out. 

[Irishman]

5 minutes ago, temptation said:

Rarely if ever will you see me defending the SEC, specifically their scheduling practices but you think that Texas and Bama are sitting here wishing they’d scheduled “Directional U” in week 1 instead of OSU/FSU?

Now, I know FSU turned out to be below average but the point still stands.

With these mega conferences, often the schedule inbalance plays as much of a role when producing a team’s record in December as does their actual performance.

 

Fair point, but Texas also scheduled UTEP, Sam Houston, and San Jose State. Alabama scheduled Eastern Illinois and Louisiana Monroe 🙂

[Bobref]

30 minutes ago, temptation said:

Still something backwards about a system that punishes a team for playing an extra game that they EARNED via 12 weeks of play.

If Alabama gets “punished” it won’t be because they played. It will be because they did not look like one of the 12 best teams in the country … and haven’t for some time now.

[temptation]

Temp’s solution.

Max out the mega conferences at 20 teams.

Create four divisions of 5 teams each.

You play each team in your division once.

You have a protected rival in each of the other divisions and play them annually.

That’s eight games.

You then take the four division winners and create conference semi finals and finals.

Matchup teams 2-5 in each division also.

Do that in the four major conferences and expand your field to 16.

Let the little guys enjoy all of the cute bowl games against non playoff qualifying P4 teams.

Edited December 7, 2025 by temptation

[Irishman]

11 minutes ago, Footballking16 said:

Tulane and James Madison are both getting in.

Your refusal to acknowledge Miami’s head to head win over ND is comical.

If it was a 2 or 3 score game, you would have a point. But it was week 1, and it was a late FG to win. Miami hurt themselves far more than Notre Dame did with the games they lost. 

[temptation]

5 minutes ago, Bobref said:

If Alabama gets “punished” it won’t be because they played. It will be because they did not look like one of the 12 best teams in the country … and haven’t for some time now.

And how did Notre Dame look yesterday?

 

[Irishman]

4 minutes ago, temptation said:

Temp’s solution.

Max out the mega conferences at 20 teams.

Create four divisions of 5 teams each.

You play each team in your division once.

You have a protected rival in each of the other divisions and play them annually.

That’s eight games.

You then take the four division winners and create conference semi finals and finals.

Do that in the four major conferences and expand your field to 16.

Let the little guys enjoy all of the cute bowl games against non playoff qualifying P4 teams.

I really felt like that was the direction the B1G was heading by going west. Maybe they still are? 

4 minutes ago, temptation said:

And how did Notre Dame look yesterday?

 

As good as Miami, Texas A&M, Oregon, and Oklahoma did. 🙂

[temptation]

4 minutes ago, Irishman said:

I really felt like that was the direction the B1G was heading by going west. Maybe they still are? 

As good as Miami, Texas A&M, Oregon, and Oklahoma did. 🙂

So “looking bad” in a game that your 9 game conference schedule rewarded you with is worse than sitting on your ass?