College Playoff

[Lockup]

If our conference improves to the point where a play-off is the only way to have a championship, then I will go back to supporting a play-off.

That is precisely what I meant by "as long as the exigencies ... remain in effect". And while I see the Big Ten improving starting next season, I don't see our dominance of it ending soon. We have natural advantages over every other team in the conference, and we have a better coach. Barring unforeseen tragedy, that isn't going to change soon.

As far as I'm concerned, if we win crystal footballs, the system is irrelevant to me.

I don't see why we are not there now. Yes we have dominated but we have not domintaed to the point of winning all our games. The current system does not usually allow for a lose. We have only run the table twice in the last 7 or so years. Our conference is certainly good enough to hand us a lose every year. If we get back this year we will be lucky to do so considering where we loss.

A playoff system might actually increase our chances of having a shot when one loss does not crush your whole season.

I think this is a lot of the problem with instituting the playoff format: teams that are doing well and getting recognition won't support it. If we were to, by some miraculous chance, get leaped and missed out on the National Championship game I think people would change their tune. Every season there are teams that feel they deserved to be there and I'm sure many of us felt that way the year we pasted Ntre ame. Who here doesn't think we would have had a crystal ball that season the way we were hitting on all cylinders then?

I think either USC or Texas would have given us a good run that year, we were playing well but it certainly was no gimmie.

I did feel that way last year and look what happen.

 

[kn1f3party]

I think either USC or Texas would have given us a good run that year, we were playing well but it certainly was no gimmie.

I did feel that way last year and look what happen.

I was in the stadium when Ryan Hamby dropped that pass. I saw Sweed make the catch of his life. I also watched with despair as Troy Smith let a ball get away from him in Happy Valley. We were literally two plays away from perfection.

Hindsight is 20/20, but I didn't think we would be handed the championship last year, especially with Florida playing with a chip on its shoulder.

 

[Lockup]

I was in the stadium when Rory Nicol dropped that pass. I saw Sweed make the catch of his life. I also watched with despair as Troy Smith let a ball get away from him in Happy Valley. We were literally two plays away from perfection.

Hindsight is 20/20, but I didn't think we would be handed the championship last year, especially with Florida playing with a chip on its shoulder.

Oh I didn't think we would be handed the NC but I really did not see us loseing the game and certainly did not see coming what did happen.

Well I at least did not see Florida having the success they did in stopping our O. I wasn't sure what the D would do and thought we may end up in a shoot out.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

Our conference is certainly good enough to hand us a losS every year...

Not true

We've lost 2 conference games in 3 years. And I would be willing to vBet right now that we go undefeated in-conference next year.

And going back to 2003 and including this year, HALF of the teams that have made it to the NC game have had a loss. And the NC game has had at least one team with a loss for most of the year's the BCS has existed. To say that the BCS doesn't usually allow for a loss is a stretch.

While Tressel had a great run at YSU, a lot of that was because he flatly refused to leave there for anyone BUT Ohio State. He was a shark swimming with bluegill. He is close to that in the Big Ten, and nobody being considered by scUM would change that. Nationally though, there are other good coaches that would make navigating a play-off a lot more difficult than it was for him in I-AA.

But if Mizzou loses on Saturday, you can continue to believe that a play-off would be an easier way to play in 3 championship games in 6 years in I-A. You can believe anything you want. Just don't expect everyone to agree with you.

 

[kn1f3party]

Not true

We've lost 2 conference games in 3 years. And I would be willing to vBet right now that we go undefeated in-conference next year.

While next year's forecast may or may not be accurate, he did drop 9 in the previous four years. I think your argument about parity should apply at the conference level if it applies at the national level. We are in a premiere conference where we certainly can't expect to win every week. We have to prepare and play our asses off or teams like Wisconsin will pull the big upset in our house. We make enough mistakes and we let teams like Michigan State right back in the game. I've enjoyed the recent success as much as anyone has, but I don't think it holds much weight in an argument for or against a playoff in college football.

While Tressel had a great run at YSU, a lot of that was because he flatly refused to leave there for anyone BUT Ohio State. He was a shark swimming with bluegill. He is close to that in the Big Ten, and nobody being considered by scUM would change that. Nationally though, there are other good coaches that would make navigating a play-off a lot more difficult than it was for him in I-AA.

I agree that Tressel is a tremendous coach. However, it wasn't easy for him at I-AA. He coached for fifteen years. In that span of time he did win 4 National Championships and several conference championships. He also lost 57 games in 15 years. That is nearly 4 games per season. In the years he won the National Championship, he only went once undefeated (he did have a tie that season). He had at least two losses in each of the other seasons he won. I don't think the statistics reinforce your theory that he was a world beater. He was a great coach, he lost games like all coaches do, but he managed to do just fine with a playoff format. It is arguable that if there were no playoffs in the FCS, he wouldn't have had the opportunity to win the National Championship but 1 time--considering only one of those seasons were they ranked in the top 2 entering the playoff.

But if Mizzou loses on Saturday, you can continue to believe that a play-off would be an easier way to play in 3 championship games in 6 years in I-A. You can believe anything you want. Just don't expect everyone to agree with you.

I don't expect everyone to agree with me and I'm certainly not here to irritate anyone. I just think this issue isn't going to bed anytime soon and debating it might get us somewhere. I hope everything works out well for Ohio State, I just don't think a playoff hurts us.

 

[scooter1369]

I just think this issue isn't going to bed anytime soon and debating it might get us somewhere.

This is exactly why we won't see a playoff anytime soon. The controversy and debate about who is truly #1 keeps college football on the mind all year long. We debate it, hash it, rehash it, regurgitate it, bicker and fight over it so much for 12 months a year, the sport can't possibly get better advertising and publicity than what we fans and sports talking heads give it.

A playoff would take all of that away.

No one wants to hear teams arguing over who should have lost to USC in the first round of last years playoffs. Arguing over 8th place is pathetic and boring.

But having 5 teams with justification for a spot to play in the title game? That is drama. And that sells advertising.

 

[kn1f3party]

No one wants to hear teams arguing over who should have lost to USC in the first round of last years playoffs. Arguing over 8th place is pathetic and boring.

But having 5 teams with justification for a spot to play in the title game? That is drama. And that sells advertising.

I support a +1 because I see it as a step in the right direction and it promotes this idea. However, don't you think naturally we're heading to the plus 1 and once that arrives and enough of us bicker about how we would have faired better in the playoffs we'll evolve to the playoff format? I think it is coming, it isn't a matter of if anymore it is a matter of when. A plus one would make that transition easier. One thing I know for sure, the adjustment will be brutal and hard so they will need some way to ease it in.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

...I don't think it holds much weight in an argument for or against a playoff in college football...

Fine, because that's not what this is. It's a reason that I don't want a play-off right now. But whether or not there SHOULD be a play-off... overall I'm in favor of it.

As for whether we'd have a better chance with a playoff or without, we'll never agree with each other on that. Let's just say that I gave BB73 a GPA for a reason, and it wasn't because I agree with him.

And don't worry, you haven't irritated me. If your statement was a way of saying that I've irritated you (not saying it was, it's not clear to me) then I apologize. That wasn't my intention.

As for whether debating the issue will get us closer to a playoff: believe as you wish on that. I engage in discussion here for the sake of discussion. I don't for a moment think it goes beyond that.

If the powers that be were truly motivated by other people's opinions, which no one believes; or by money, which some believe; we'd have a play-off by now. The only thing that will get us a play-off is to offer the college presidents and trustees a system that allows them to engage in an orgy of self-congratulations. That is what truly motivates these people. What you and I have to say on the matter is less than meaningless to them.

 

[kn1f3party]

don't worry, you haven't irritated me. If your statement was a way of saying that I've irritated you (not saying it was, it's not clear to me) then I apologize. That wasn't my intention.

No offense taken. I've just been around here and other boards long enough to know that when people firmly believe what they do things can get more heated than they really should.

As for whether debating the issue will get us closer to a playoff: believe as you wish on that. I engage in discussion here for the sake of discussion. I don't for a moment think it goes beyond that.

If the powers that be were truly motivated by other people's opinions, which no one believes; or by money, which some believe; we'd have a play-off by now. The only thing that will get us a play-off is to offer the college presidents and trustees a system that allows them to engage in an orgy of self-congratulations. That is what truly motivates these people. What you and I have to say on the matter is less than meaningless to them.

I'm in this debate for the same reason. When these conversations first started on BP I was vehemently against the playoff. Things have changed for me after pondering this and watching a few seasons pan out. I'm certainly not naive enough to believe our discourse in and of itself will make a change, but I do think that it can influence--even if to a small degree--change.

We'll agree to disagree in principle that it effects us either way right now, but in the big picture you see the necessity and that doesn't put us on opposite sides of this argument.

 

[Lockup]

Not true

We've lost 2 conference games in 3 years. And I would be willing to vBet right now that we go undefeated in-conference next year.

And going back to 2003 and including this year, HALF of the teams that have made it to the NC game have had a loss. And the NC game has had at least one team with a loss for most of the year's the BCS has existed. To say that the BCS doesn't usually allow for a loss is a stretch.

While Tressel had a great run at YSU, a lot of that was because he flatly refused to leave there for anyone BUT Ohio State. He was a shark swimming with bluegill. He is close to that in the Big Ten, and nobody being considered by scUM would change that. Nationally though, there are other good coaches that would make navigating a play-off a lot more difficult than it was for him in I-AA.

But if Mizzou loses on Saturday, you can continue to believe that a play-off would be an easier way to play in 3 championship games in 6 years in I-A. You can believe anything you want. Just don't expect everyone to agree with you.

I am not sure what you are trying to say here. Yes we have been dominate and only loss 2 in 3 years. You compared it to Miami and FSU and I say we have had a good run but you cannot expect the Big 10 to last much longer like this for us.

Miami and FSU were head and shoulders above everybody else in their conferences because they had weak competition.

We might be the stronger team right now but we are not head and shoulders above the rest of the Big 10. TSUN, PSU and Wisky can field teams nearly every year that could knock us off. That is not to say they would but they have a pretty good chance. Now throw in ILL and you got some real good competition in the Big 10. I am just trying to point out this is not the same as Miami and FSU back in their day.

I don't think a playoff system is an easier way to play for a NC but it is an easier way to get a shot. Simple numbers tells you that. I don't care if you have a 16, 8 or 4 team playoff. right now you have to be #1 or #2 to even think about a NC. A playoff adds more teams to the possible teams that can win a NC. Will it be easier? Hell no it will likely be harder but it gives you a better chance to attempt to play for one though.

OSU has had some very good teams over the years. But until 2002 we had not won a champonship since 68. Now tell me with a playoff system you don't think we might have had 1 or 2 more NC with some of the teams we had.

Your right about the one loss but it all depends on where that loss happens. Lose early you still have a shot. Lose late and you almost never get another shot.

 

[scrawford]

Wetzel follows up his article

Wetzel just published a follow up article on Yahoo sports. Looks like his previous article on the playoffs got a lot of attention. Check it out.

The People's Voice: College football playoffs - NCAA Football - Yahoo! Sports

 

[Zurp]

If people quit watching the 10-15 "WTF?" bowl games, would that make a playoff more likely?

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

If people quit watching the 10-15 "WTF?" bowl games, would that make a playoff more likely?

How can they quit something they've never...

nevermind

 

[BB73]

Well, Dennis Dodd has now decided to be a fan of the BCS.

Of course, this happened the same week that Mizzou (where he went) became #1.

sportsline

 

[Lockup]

Well, Dennis Dodd has now decided to be a fan of the BCS.

Of course, this happened the same week that Mizzou (where he went) became #1.

sportsline

Whoa!!! Hang on Dodd said this in his article...

If we had even a modest four-team playoff, current Nos. 3 and 4 (Ohio State and Georgia) would be all but in. Where exactly would be the drama? Go back to 2002 when Ohio State upset Miami in the Fiesta Bowl. How fair would that be for the Buckeyes, at 13-0, to play another game (or two, or three) to prove their worth?

My god is that some props from Dodd to The Ohio state University. Well it is at least close.