The expanded College Football Playoff off to a rough start

[UCFBfan]

I will say this, that last offensive possession by PSU was straight out of my College Football '25 playbook. Run a running play deep in your own territory with the intent of possibly running out the clock. Have it pick up a good chunk. Decide to throw and see where I can push it only to have a crossing route picked off. Then on D can't get a stop to hold to a long FG and eventually lose on a game winning FG. It was seriously like watching how some of my games end because I'm too aggressive. However, it's just a game and I can shut off my XBox and try again if I want!

 

[UCFBfan]

A 9pm start for this game? Way too late for me to stay up. Especially for two unlikable teams.

 

[HCCForever]

Tough momentum shift for Texas. They tie it up only to let OSU score on long screen play in waning seconds of first half.

 

[giddyup]

Tough momentum shift for Texas. They tie it up only to let OSU score on long screen play in waning seconds of first half.

OSU appears to be dominating but Texas seems to be hanging in

 

[uconnfan68]

Between ND, OSU, and Texas… can all 3 lose?

 

[storrsroars]

I don't care how good tOSU's goal line D is, 2nd and 1 you run it up the gut or off-tackle or throw over it... you don't pitch wide.

Game over on the sack and fumble return. Ewers had to know he didn't have all day to throw.

Too bad, was expecting OT.

 

[B1GEast]

Ohio St Notre Dame championship game.

Go Buckeyes

 

[HCCForever]

I don't care how good tOSU's goal line D is, 2nd and 1 you run it up the gut or off-tackle or throw over it... you don't pitch wide.

Game over on the sack and fumble return. Ewers had to know he didn't have all day to throw.

Too bad, was expecting OT.

Tough luck for Ewers by getting sacked by his ex-roommate on the scoop and score. Good game until the turnovers at the end.

 

[giddyup]

I don't care how good tOSU's goal line D is, 2nd and 1 you run it up the gut or off-tackle or throw over it... you don't pitch wide.

Game over on the sack and fumble return. Ewers had to know he didn't have all day to throw.

Too bad, was expecting OT.

Always amazes me how OCs consistently choose to go horizontal instead of vertical on short yardage. If youre within 5ft (less than average height of a male), you can take literally take a half step and fall forward to gain the line, or… you can run 30 feet sideways .

 

[Purple Stein]

I don't care how good tOSU's goal line D is, 2nd and 1 you run it up the gut or off-tackle or throw over it... you don't pitch wide.

Game over on the sack and fumble return. Ewers had to know he didn't have all day to throw.

Too bad, was expecting OT.

I was shaking my head after that stretch run play call. You've got Manning on the bench, too. And why have Ewers in the shotgun at the one yard line?

Felt like the moment got a little too big for Sark there.

 

[SubbaBub]

The haters never understood. In the poll era, Oregon would have been the unanimous #1. In the BCS era the title game would have been Oregon and Georgia. In the four team playoff, the 4 would have been Oregon, Georgia, Texas and either OSU or Notre Dame. Penn State' loss to Oregon in the Big Ten Championship would have knocked them out in favor of OSU. The debate would have been ND's weak schedule, loss to NIU, vs OSU's two loses. My guess the committee would have picked, Oregon vs Texas and Georgia vs Ohio State and you would have heard screaming from all sides for too many or too few SEC/BIG teams. You may have seen SMU bump Texas and it's unlikely Clemson would have won the ACC if there wasn't an autobid. The polls would have reflected this as well.

This is the perfect system. It has two jobs. 1. make a ton of money - check. The second job is not to figure out the fairest way to construction bracket, it's to see that the teams that have a realistic shot at winning are in. This year there were 6 (maybe 8 if you believe in champions getting a shot), mission accomplished. If your team fell short, it's no one's fault but their own. That includes Alabama.

Anyone advocating for a change is just shilling for the P2 to have an easier path to the final four. Change nothing.

 

[B1GEast]

Probably the best one yet. Lol

 

[Excalibur]

The quality of the games in the later rounds vs. earlier shows us that 12 was too many.

 

[Scoe]

So Ewers to UGA now? Arch takes over the job.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

The quality of the games in the later rounds vs. earlier shows us that 12 was too many.

EH…you could say the same thing about the basketball tournament.

As a fan..I like more games. I like seeing different teams with a fighter’s chance. They need to tweak the seeding…but to me more is good.

 

[Scoe]

Maybe the top 4 teams with byes get an on campus games my only gripe. People are gonna bitch no matter what the format is though.

 

[UConnDan97]

The quality of the games in the later rounds vs. earlier shows us that 12 was too many.

The top 4 seeded teams were beaten by the teams that dominated the first round, so there's a better argument to be made that we had too few. If #1 couldn't beat #8 and #2 couldn't beat #7, could they also have been beaten by a #13 or a #14?? (Alabama, South Carolina). The answer of course is "yes they could have"...

 

[Scoe]

Im gonna run probably a 40 team tournament in a little bit, we'll see how my simulation goes.

 

[storrsroars]

The top 4 seeded teams were beaten by the teams that dominated the first round, so there's a better argument to be made that we had too few. If #1 couldn't beat #8 and #2 couldn't beat #7, could they also have been beaten by a #13 or a #14?? (Alabama, South Carolina). The answer of course is "yes they could have"...

Alternatively, it could also be argued that teams with the bye were at a disadvantage, therefore eight was the proper number, eliminating byes.

 

[UConnDan97]

Alternatively, it could also be argued that teams with the bye were at a disadvantage, therefore eight was the proper number, eliminating byes.

We're all really good at arguing...

 

[Patman]

Alternatively, it could also be argued that teams with the bye were at a disadvantage, therefore eight was the proper number, eliminating byes.

Just as mathematical principle I've never thought teams on byes are at a true disadvantage over having to play a consequence game and risk losing but 3 weeks or so may be too long

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

 

[MilliniumPrince]

The only thing that matters are the ratings numbers. That is what this is all about.

 

[SubbaBub]

The quality of the games in the later rounds vs. earlier shows us that 12 was too many.

!2 is too many if you only want teams that can win. it's perfect if you want to be sure all the teams that can win it are in.

There are six bowl games available to whittle the field down to the final two. That means 2 semis and 4 quarterfinal games at minimum. Why 6, because the 6 bowls control the playoff so it isn't changing. That means the playoff will be 8, 10, or 12 teams. 10 is out because there is no way the conferences will allow 2 teams (Big champ and SEC champ) a free pass to the semi-final and the P2 would never allow a team like ND or an undefeated ACC team to claim a free pass either. SO, its 8 or 12.

With 8, you only get 3 at larges (2 if you allow ND access), that wasn't worth expanding from 4. The P2 wanted the ability to win at least 3 spots each. To do that you need more at large bids, so 12 it was. 16 would mean more first round blowouts, so again 12.

The first round games and a good number of the quarter finals will be blowouts until the talent and NIL money consolidate to the top 12-15 programs. Until then, the home games will keep the interest very high for those games,

The problem will be the quarter and semi finals, Having traveled to 2 this year I can tell you it was an effort. Last minute flights, accommodations, is tough to do in terms of schedule even if you can afford it. Other commitments prevented us from going to the semis and final. I can't imagine the regular programs being able to sell those mid-round games for an extended number of consecutive years.

 

[Husky25]

Home teams have won through 4 games of Wildcard Weekend by a 17.5 point average. No one is calling for revamping the playoff?

Although WSH is up 7-3 on the road in the mid 2nd qtr.