Bracket’s out

[95coug]

1. Oregon
2. Georgia
3. Boise State
4. ASU
5. Texas
6. Penn State
7. Notre Dame
8. Ohio State
9. Tennessee
10. Indiana
11. SMU
12. Clemson

I’m a little surprised they left SMU ahead of Clemson, but I’m glad to see Alabama got left out.

I think they need to reconsider how the byes are granted. Giving a bye to a weak conference champ clears a path for a good non-champ. We’ll probably see that this year when Texas blows past Clemson and ASU into the semifinal.

Georgia obviously earned a bye, but they’ve got a pretty clear path too. They play the winner of Indiana and Notre Dame, neither of which is as good as their record shows. Georgia should handle either of them easily.

Boise gets the winner of Penn State-SMU. I suspect that’ll be PSU (edited here, somehow I put the wrong team previously), and I further suspect that’s the end of the road for the donkeys.

Seems like Oregon actually has the tougher draw. Winner of Tennessee-Ohio state is going to be a really good team. If we get the rematch, I think Ohio state wins this time. Tennessee I think the ducks can handle, although I haven’t really seen much of the Vols.

Kind of feel like we may be looking at round 3 of Texas-Georgia when this all shakes out (and Texas will win). And then the SEC can start crowing about how great they are again.

Of course, the status of Georgia’s QB will be significant. They can probably beat Notre dame or Indiana with their backup, but there aren’t a lot of #2s that will get through a semifinal, and Frank Reich & Jeff Hostetler are out of eligibility.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

Still scratching my head over ASU doing so well this year. 2 Traitors are conference champs and get byes. Who would have figured that? Much as I hate them both and hate BSU as well, I guess I will root for all of them.

And glad to see Alabama get snubbed. F their "SOS". Yeah, Western Kentucky, USF and the mighty Mercer Bears. They did also play middling Wisconsin, the team we beat in 2022 and 2023.

On that note, they need a rule that FBS teams can no longer play FCS teams. Like every SEC and most other P4 schools do every year. G6 schools also. How about you can play them, but it eliminates you from playoff consideration? Much better for G6 schools too. Bigger paydays, more chances to exhibit team and league strength.

Overall, no complaints here about the bracket. Maybe Miami and FSU will shut up about how much they want out of the ACC, seeing as how the ACC got two berths, neither of which are FSU or Miami.

 

[CougPatrol]

3 West Coast teams earned BYEs.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

3 West Coast teams earned BYEs.

Not sure I would call BSU and ASU "West Coast" teams, but certainly all are West of the Rockies. Close enough.

 

[Coug90]

1. Oregon
2. Georgia
3. Boise State
4. ASU
5. Texas
6. Penn State
7. Notre Dame
8. Ohio State
9. Tennessee
10. Indiana
11. SMU
12. Clemson

I’m a little surprised they left SMU ahead of Clemson, but I’m glad to see Alabama got left out.

I think they need to reconsider how the byes are granted. Giving a bye to a weak conference champ clears a path for a good non-champ. We’ll probably see that this year when Texas blows past Clemson and ASU into the semifinal.

Georgia obviously earned a bye, but they’ve got a pretty clear path too. They play the winner of Indiana and Notre Dame, neither of which is as good as their record shows. Georgia should handle either of them easily.

Boise gets the winner of Penn State-SMU. I suspect that’ll be SMU, and I further suspect that’s the end of the road for the donkeys.

Seems like Oregon actually has the tougher draw. Winner of Tennessee-Ohio state is going to be a really good team. If we get the rematch, I think Ohio state wins this time. Tennessee I think the ducks can handle, although I haven’t really seen much of the Vols.

Kind of feel like we may be looking at round 3 of Texas-Georgia when this all shakes out (and Texas will win). And then the SEC can start crowing about how great they are again.

Of course, the status of Georgia’s QB will be significant. They can probably beat Notre dame or Indiana with their backup, but there aren’t a lot of #2s that will get through a semifinal, and Frank Reich & Jeff Hostetler are out of eligibility.

You’d take an SMU team that lost to a weak Clemson team over BSU? I’d expect BSU to be favored in that one. I also think PS has the edge over SMU, they played Oregon pretty tough.

Think these playoffs are pretty wide open and interesting. I don’t buy Indiana or ND, but no result would really surprise me.

 

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

1. Oregon
2. Georgia
3. Boise State
4. ASU
5. Texas
6. Penn State
7. Notre Dame
8. Ohio State
9. Tennessee
10. Indiana
11. SMU
12. Clemson

I’m a little surprised they left SMU ahead of Clemson, but I’m glad to see Alabama got left out.

I think they need to reconsider how the byes are granted. Giving a bye to a weak conference champ clears a path for a good non-champ. We’ll probably see that this year when Texas blows past Clemson and ASU into the semifinal.

Georgia obviously earned a bye, but they’ve got a pretty clear path too. They play the winner of Indiana and Notre Dame, neither of which is as good as their record shows. Georgia should handle either of them easily.

Boise gets the winner of Penn State-SMU. I suspect that’ll be SMU, and I further suspect that’s the end of the road for the donkeys.

Seems like Oregon actually has the tougher draw. Winner of Tennessee-Ohio state is going to be a really good team. If we get the rematch, I think Ohio state wins this time. Tennessee I think the ducks can handle, although I haven’t really seen much of the Vols.

Kind of feel like we may be looking at round 3 of Texas-Georgia when this all shakes out (and Texas will win). And then the SEC can start crowing about how great they are again.

Of course, the status of Georgia’s QB will be significant. They can probably beat Notre dame or Indiana with their backup, but there aren’t a lot of #2s that will get through a semifinal, and Frank Reich & Jeff Hostetler are out of eligibility.

Texas ain't blowing past shit. That offense is anemic to say the least. Of all the teams that played yesterday they are the least likely IMHO to get past their first game, regardless the opponent.

 

[KRUSTYtheCOUG]

The bracket thing emulating the ncaab model is bad. As 95 laid out with future 2nd round games giving teams like Oregon a tougher road is...idiotic.

They should use the NFL model where you basically re-seed. The highest seeded team then plays the lowest remaining seed. If Clemson beats Texas, THEY should play Oregon, and if they lose and SMU beats PSU, then SMU should play Oregon.

Looks like BSU has the easiest potential path to the semis. Dumb. That's all I have to say about that

 

[Flatlandcoug]

Not sure I would call BSU and ASU "West Coast" teams, but certainly all are West of the Rockies. Close enough.

Trust me......300 million people in the US think that ASU and BSU are "west coast" teams.

 

[Cougini5591]

Not sure I would call BSU and ASU "West Coast" teams, but certainly all are West of the Rockies. Close enough.

Absolutely. They're "kinda" West Coast

 

[Loyal Coug1]

Trust me......300 million people in the US think that ASU and BSU are "west coast" teams.

Absolutely. They're "kinda" West Coast

Kinda like how everything West of Snoqualmie Pass is "The Coast" or "Seattle".

 

[95coug]

You’d take an SMU team that lost to a weak Clemson team over BSU? I’d expect BSU to be favored in that one. I also think PS has the edge over SMU, they played Oregon pretty tough.

Think these playoffs are pretty wide open and interesting. I don’t buy Indiana or ND, but no result would really surprise me.

No, my mistake here. I expect Penn state to beat SMU, and then I think PSU beats Boise.

The bracket thing emulating the ncaab model is bad. As 95 laid out with future 2nd round games giving teams like Oregon a tougher road is...idiotic.

They should use the NFL model where you basically re-seed. The highest seeded team then plays the lowest remaining seed. If Clemson beats Texas, THEY should play Oregon, and if they lose and SMU beats PSU, then SMU should play Oregon.

Looks like BSU has the easiest potential path to the semis. Dumb. That's all I have to say about that

Disagree here. Boise is probably going to get Penn State on the way to the semis. Georgia is going to get either Indiana or Notre Dame, neither of which has anything on their resume that says they belong in the CFP. Notre Dame has only one top 25 win (Army, #25). Indiana doesn’t even have that. The only ranked team they played (Ohio state) beat them handily.

Schedule strength is really only a consideration for bubble teams.

 

[Coug90]

No, my mistake here. I expect Penn state to beat SMU, and then I think PSU beats Boise.



Disagree here. Boise is probably going to get Penn State on the way to the semis. Georgia is going to get either Indiana or Notre Dame, neither of which has anything on their resume that says they belong in the CFP. Notre Dame has only one top 25 win (Army, #25). Indiana doesn’t even have that. The only ranked team they played (Ohio state) beat them handily.

Schedule strength is really only a consideration for bubble teams.

It’s F’ing Stupid they arent reseeded each round. It’s not that hard the NFL has it figured out.

 

[95coug]

It’s F’ing Stupid they arent reseeded each round. It’s not that hard the NFL has it figured out.

Yeah, they really should, and this year is a good argument for it. Ohio state and Tennessee are 8/9, but are probably in the top 5 best teams in the playoff. Meanwhile, notre Dame and Indiana - who are probably the worst two in the playoff - get 7/10 seeds and will meet Georgia.

The obvious counter argument is that this is how the basketball tournament is done. But…football ain’t basketball, and it’s a hell of a lot easier to be Cinderella in hoops that in football.

 

[Coug90]

Yeah, they really should, and this year is a good argument for it. Ohio state and Tennessee are 8/9, but are probably in the top 5 best teams in the playoff. Meanwhile, notre Dame and Indiana - who are probably the worst two in the playoff - get 7/10 seeds and will meet Georgia.

The obvious counter argument is that this is how the basketball tournament is done. But…football ain’t basketball, and it’s a hell of a lot easier to be Cinderella in hoops that in football.

They can’t really reseed in bball because they play regional games with a day of rest in between. You’re pretty much locked in to your next opponent with that format,

Football is easy when you are playing once a week.

 

[CougPatrol]

Trust me......300 million people in the US think that ASU and BSU are "west coast" teams.

They're "West Coast" in terms of athletic regionality.

Arizona State played in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and Pacific 10/12 Conference since 1962. Boise State has been a member of the Big West, Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Mountain West, and Pacific-12 (2026) since 1996.

The Arizona Cardinals (NFC West), Phoenix Suns (Pacific Division/Western Conference), and Arizona Diamondbacks (National League West) are additional datapoints here.

 

[CougSinceBirth]

Texas ain't blowing past shit. That offense is anemic to say the least. Of all the teams that played yesterday they are the least likely IMHO to get past their first game, regardless the opponent.

Texas will play Oregon in the semi-final.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

I will say that it's hilarious for Oregon to be bitching about their second round opponent. 120 other schools would love to just be there (including Alabama) and they are whining like the entitled little f#cks that they are. If they're worried about beating those teams in the semi-finals, how do they expect to win a championship?

 

[Loyal Coug1]

I will say that it's hilarious for Oregon to be bitching about their second round opponent. 120 other schools would love to just be there (including Alabama) and they are whining like the entitled little f#cks that they are. If they're worried about beating those teams in the semi-finals, how do they expect to win a championship?

Concur. Cry baby cry all over. Alabama is outraged. Shit they lost to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma (and Tennessee). They finished in a 6-way tie for 4th in the SEC. 3 of those 5 teams also had 9-3 overall records. Shut your f-ing grit holes.

No other left out teams seem to be bitching (South Carolina and Ole Miss may be whimpering a bit), but this bitching from some of the teams about seeding. STFU already.

 

[Coug90]

I will say that it's hilarious for Oregon to be bitching about their second round opponent. 120 other schools would love to just be there (including Alabama) and they are whining like the entitled little f#cks that they are. If they're worried about beating those teams in the semi-finals, how do they expect to win a championship?

This isn’t just an Oregon thing. Everyone’s whining. Kirby was whining about georgias schedule when they had 4 road games. Sabans bitching today about Bama getting left out and what incentive do they have to schedule tough games. Meanwhile bamas non conf schedule was a joke this year.

Indianas coach was bitching about not getting a home playoff game. All of these guys are whiny entitled bitches. The only one that’s not acting that way is Sark. Perhaps having lost everything and have to grind to get it back grounded him a bit.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

This isn’t just an Oregon thing. Everyone’s whining. Kirby was whining about georgias schedule when they had 4 road games. Sabans bitching today about Bama getting left out and what incentive do they have to schedule tough games. Meanwhile bamas non conf schedule was a joke this year.

Indianas coach was bitching about not getting a home playoff game. All of these guys are whiny entitled bitches. The only one that’s not acting that way is Sark. Perhaps having lost everything and have to grind to get it back grounded him a bit.

Not really sure what Alabama's AD's bitch about non-con games is all about. While they did/do have Wisconsin and Florida state this/next year, the rest of their non-con has always been and is BS and they almost always win them all already. The Mercer Bears? So they will water down their schedule and SOS further so they look even weaker when they lose 3 SEC games? Or is he saying they need to ramp up the non-con slate and play some P4 teams to show how tough the SEC is? That would make more sense.

 

[Coug90]

Not really sure what Alabama's AD's bitch about non-con games is all about. While they did/do have Wisconsin and Florida state this/next year, the rest of their non-con has always been and is BS and they almost always win them all already. The Mercer Bears? So they will water down their schedule and SOS further so they look even weaker when they lose 3 SEC games? Or is he saying they need to ramp up the non-con slate and play some P4 teams to show how tough the SEC is? That would make more sense.

Or….just create an algorithm and let computers decide it then there’s nothing to bitch about. You wanna schedule cupcakes for your non conf? Better go undefeated. Robo umps in baseball, computer rankings in football. It’s not that hard to remove the human element. And all humans are biased. Hell one of our “own” here wants us to lose to validate his coaching “expertise”. People are F’ing stupid.

 

[95coug]

Or….just create an algorithm and let computers decide it then there’s nothing to bitch about. You wanna schedule cupcakes for your non conf? Better go undefeated. Robo umps in baseball, computer rankings in football. It’s not that hard to remove the human element. And all humans are biased. Hell one of our “own” here wants us to lose to validate his coaching “expertise”. People are F’ing stupid.

I'll take that idea one step further: let the computers pick the non-conference schedules.

Move everyone to the same number of conference games - let's say 8 - and then make the computers randomize a non-conference schedule with 2 road games and 2 home games. Factor in travel distance and estimate strength of schedule using a weighted average of each team's previous 5 years of performance, and make the computer create a schedule for every team that's as close as possible to every other team. FCS teams can only be scheduled if there are no other matchups available - which should be rare - and only by teams who finished below .500 last season.

Seriously, Alabama talking about strength of schedule is ridiculous. They've built their program on playing cupcakes, and this year was no different. Western Kentucky, USF, and Mercer?

 

[Coug90]

I'll take that idea one step further: let the computers pick the non-conference schedules.

Move everyone to the same number of conference games - let's say 8 - and then make the computers randomize a non-conference schedule with 2 road games and 2 home games. Factor in travel distance and estimate strength of schedule using a weighted average of each team's previous 5 years of performance, and make the computer create a schedule for every team that's as close as possible to every other team. FCS teams can only be scheduled if there are no other matchups available - which should be rare - and only by teams who finished below .500 last season.

Seriously, Alabama talking about strength of schedule is ridiculous. They've built their program on playing cupcakes, and this year was no different. Western Kentucky, USF, and Mercer?

Don’t forget the juggernaut 5-7 Wisconsin!

 

[Flatlandcoug]

If I were King, they would go to a 16 team playoff with two representatives from the Big 10, Big 12, SEC and ACC and one rep each from the AAC, CUSA, MAC, MWC, Pac-12 and Sun Belt. The next two spots are filled by the highest rated teams in the AP Poll that are otherwise left out. No byes and ND has to hope to be in the Top 10 to even have a remote shot at the playoff (or forced into a conference).

This year, it would lead to:

#1 Oregon vs #16 Jacksonville State
#8 Ohio State vs #9 SMU
#5 Texas vs #12 Army
#4 ASU vs #13 WSU (or OSU at 5-7?)
#6 Penn State vs #11 Iowa State
#3 Boise State vs #14 Ohio
#7 Notre Dame vs #10 Clemson
#2 Georgia vs #15 Marshall

If you aren't in the Top 2 in your Power 4 conference...quit bitching and be better next year. The SEC and B1G will obviously never support this but that's also the reason that college football sucks and frankly, deserves to die. Indiana and Tennessee are two teams that I feel sorrow for.

Now, I would say that it might be better to take 18 teams and have the bottom four play a week early to weed out a couple of the scrubs and not punish Indiana and Tennessee as much. That would lead to:

#15 WSU vs #18 Jacksonville State
#16 Ohio vs #17 Marshall

then.....

#1 Oregon vs WSU/JSU winner
#8 Ohio State vs #9 SMU
#5 Texas vs #12 Army
#4 ASU vs #13 Tennessee
#6 Penn State vs #11 Iowa State
#3 Boise State vs #14 Indiana
#7 Notre Dame vs #10 Clemson
#2 Georgia vs Marshall/Ohio winner

We all know that the bottom 4-5 seeds have no shot at winning it all...but that also goes for the NCAA tournament. And frankly, no offense to schools like Alabama or Miami, it's blatantly obvious that neither of them are running the table and winning it all either. It's about love of the sport and providing some sense of balance and fairness to small schools. Of course, we know that nobody cares about that though.

 

[Coug90]

If I were King, they would go to a 16 team playoff with two representatives from the Big 10, Big 12, SEC and ACC and one rep each from the AAC, CUSA, MAC, MWC, Pac-12 and Sun Belt. The next two spots are filled by the highest rated teams in the AP Poll that are otherwise left out. No byes and ND has to hope to be in the Top 10 to even have a remote shot at the playoff (or forced into a conference).

This year, it would lead to:

#1 Oregon vs #16 Jacksonville State
#8 Ohio State vs #9 SMU
#5 Texas vs #12 Army
#4 ASU vs #13 WSU (or OSU at 5-7?)
#6 Penn State vs #11 Iowa State
#3 Boise State vs #14 Ohio
#7 Notre Dame vs #10 Clemson
#2 Georgia vs #15 Marshall

If you aren't in the Top 2 in your Power 4 conference...quit bitching and be better next year. The SEC and B1G will obviously never support this but that's also the reason that college football sucks and frankly, deserves to die. Indiana and Tennessee are two teams that I feel sorrow for.

Now, I would say that it might be better to take 18 teams and have the bottom four play a week early to weed out a couple of the scrubs and not punish Indiana and Tennessee as much. That would lead to:

#15 WSU vs #18 Jacksonville State
#16 Ohio vs #17 Marshall

then.....

#1 Oregon vs WSU/JSU winner
#8 Ohio State vs #9 SMU
#5 Texas vs #12 Army
#4 ASU vs #13 Tennessee
#6 Penn State vs #11 Iowa State
#3 Boise State vs #14 Indiana
#7 Notre Dame vs #10 Clemson
#2 Georgia vs Marshall/Ohio winner

We all know that the bottom 4-5 seeds have no shot at winning it all...but that also goes for the NCAA tournament. And frankly, no offense to schools like Alabama or Miami, it's blatantly obvious that neither of them are running the table and winning it all either. It's about love of the sport and providing some sense of balance and fairness to small schools. Of course, we know that nobody cares about that though.

Naw. There’s some unwatchable games in there. I’m sure CFB will expand but then you end up with a watered down playoff along with a regular season that means less. I like the current format the first round bye provides some additional incentive for the teams already in along with meaning in the conference championship games. Two things they need to fix. Reseed, and don’t air games at the same time NFL is on.

That said we will be at 32 teams in no time I’m sure.

 

[KRUSTYtheCOUG]

Not really sure what Alabama's AD's bitch about non-con games is all about. While they did/do have Wisconsin and Florida state this/next year, the rest of their non-con has always been and is BS and they almost always win them all already. The Mercer Bears? So they will water down their schedule and SOS further so they look even weaker when they lose 3 SEC games? Or is he saying they need to ramp up the non-con slate and play some P4 teams to show how tough the SEC is? That would make more sense.

Yus, it's lunacy. 'Specially considering none of their 3 losses were non-conference games. Fck 'bama. Taihtsat

 

[Loyal Coug1]

If I were King, they would go to a 16 team playoff with two representatives from the Big 10, Big 12, SEC and ACC and one rep each from the AAC, CUSA, MAC, MWC, Pac-12 and Sun Belt. The next two spots are filled by the highest rated teams in the AP Poll that are otherwise left out. No byes and ND has to hope to be in the Top 10 to even have a remote shot at the playoff (or forced into a conference).

I don't hate your idea, but IMHO conferences like the MAC, CUSA and Sun Belt don't deserve automatic bids. Now if you were to suggest a play-in round with those six playing each other for 3 berths, maybe. What could possibly fly is 3,3,2 and 2 P4 bids, 2 G5's and 4 wild cards. Not saying I like that, but your idea is not gonna pass muster with the P2.

Now let's hope the B1G and especially the SEC get beat in their playoff games.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

I don't hate your idea, but IMHO conferences like the MAC, CUSA and Sun Belt don't deserve automatic bids. Now if you were to suggest a play-in round with those six playing each other for 3 berths, maybe. What could possibly fly is 3,3,2 and 2 P4 bids, 2 G5's and 4 wild cards. Not saying I like that, but your idea is not gonna pass muster with the P2.

Now let's hope the B1G and especially the SEC get beat in their playoff games.

2nd part of my post had a play-in round.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

2nd part of my post had a play-in round.

Oh, now I see it. Nodded off before I go to it on my first read.

But too many teams in your scenario. I kind of like the 12-team scenario. SEC got 3 teams, quit your bitching. If they went to 16, it really needs to be "no byes" to be feasible IMHO. And two guaranteed G5's, however those get determined. And this Alabama, etc. crybaby shit. First of all, play 9 conference games (you too ACC). Then, play other P4 teams in non-con and sure as shit no FCS teams. SEC is so good? Fine, prove it by playing other P4 conference teams.