Scenarios for Final CFP Playoff Rankings

[BB73]

With all of the concern about who's number 1, let's review the playoff results:

2014 Champ: #4 Buckeyes
2015 Champ: #2 Bama
2016 Champ: #2 Clemson
2017 Champ: #4 Bama
2018 Champ: #2 Clemson

No top seed has won it yet.

 

[LordJeffBuck]

If "narrative" means anything, then the rankings should be:

1. Clemson
2. Louisiana State
3. Ohio State
4. Oklahoma

The Joe Burrow vs Ohio State storyline is just too good to pass up. That game has to happen. As an extra bonus, both OSU and LSU get to avoid Clemson in Round 1, which seems to be a concern for some reason.

The Committee can justify Clemson #1 based on their strong finish, plus defending national champ, 28-game win streak, etc.

 

[LordJeffBuck]

With all of the concern about who's number 1, let's review the playoff results:

2014 Champ: #4 Buckeyes
2015 Champ: #2 Bama
2016 Champ: #2 Clemson
2017 Champ: #4 Bama
2018 Champ: #2 Clemson

No top seed has won it yet.

If the pattern holds, then #2 (Ohio State?) will be your 2019 CFB champion.

 

[Ryan36_1]

If the pattern holds, then #2 (Ohio State?) will be your 2019 CFB champion.

Even seed? check
Named OSU, Bama or Clemson? check

I ran the numbers - your math checks out.

 

[buckeyebri]

This is the sEcSPiN playoffs after all, so I. would be shocked if anyone but LSU is No. 1

 

[sflbuck]

In 2014, we eliminated the previous years champion (Alabama), then beat a talented offensive team that questions on defense (Oregon)

If that is the path, I an good with it.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

I'll go with the conventional wisdom:

1. LSU
2. Ohio State
3. Clemson
4. Oklahoma

And if the committee goes so far out of their way to hopefully grease LSU into the final and they turn around and lose to Okie, I'll giggle my ass off.

 

[Gizmo]

LSU: beat teams "ranked at the time"
OSU: beat unranked at the time, but conference/division champions

 

[Onebuckfan]

I’m not going here any more..it’s a vote of people with biases and agenda. All the facts stated have nothing to do with the vote. It’s what they use to justify their vote after the fact.

 

[Telekinesis]

Here’s the thing. It’s owed. Whether it’s Clemson or Oklahoma or LSU, it’s owed.

From planted flags, to 31-0, to crushed National Title dreams and SEC bias... it’s owed.

That chip on the shoulder is there, no matter how you slice it. Line ‘em up however you see fit, committee. There’s a score to settle, regardless.

 

[NorthCoastKid]

It should also be factored in that the Buckeyes had to play a top ranked team twice. It is hard as hell, ask Oklahoma, to beat a team twice in one season.

Hopefully the former coaches on the committee put in their two cents on this. They have to know the degree of difficulty in prepping for a team the second time around.

 

[ScriptOhio]

 

[mendensa]

F'n Vilma has OSU #3 on Championship Drive. WTF?

His argument is they are showing holes in their run defense and have not looked as good the last 3 weeks. No shit, Vilma. Opponent may have something to do with it. They have played 3 top 12 teams in consecutive weeks and had to beat a gritty Wisc team twice in the same year. At the same time, compare who LSU and Clemson have played: Miss, Ark, and A&M. Wake, SC, UVA. Not even a comparison.

 

[Zander42]

I don't understand... Are you saying the teams choose what bowl we go to for the semis?

I thought it rotated so a specific bowl was pre selected to the host 1/4 seed and the other the 2/3? I thought I saw early brackets (not projections) with Fiesta slotted for the 1/4. Or does the priority slotted bowl get to decide who they want to host, or is there more to it?

That's a good question. Not 100% sure. I've heard the top seed gets to choose, or the committee chooses for them, based on what is the best situation for the higher seed, i.e. if we're #2 vs. Clemson, they would not have us in Atlanta.

Hard to say though. This is the NCAA/Bowl system, so logic is in short supply.

 

[Gatorubet]

Given the reality and unpredictability of injuries as an issue in a Championship run, it might be optimal to play your best playoff opponent in the first game. I'm not sure that the ranking matters as much as maximizing your chance of the best performance against your best opponent.