NCAA Football 2024 (national discussion)

[duke2x]

Vanderbilt and Oklahoma are 10 win teams in the ACC.

I wouldn't go that far--more like 8-4. Vandy struggled more with VT than we did, needing their #1 QB to cramp up, and we made a ton of mistakes en route to 31-28.

 

[budwom]

I wouldn't go that far--more like 8-4. Vandy struggled more with VT than we did, needing their #1 QB to cramp up, and we made a ton of mistakes en route to 31-28.

ya, these days it's really hard to tell, some ACC schedules are easier than others...

 

[ClemmonsDevil]

The parking lot is in the basement.

You knew this was coming.

 

[AGDukesky]

All I know is there are definitely not 12 teams worthy of being called “national champs” - it’s probably around half that if I squint real hard…

 

[75Crazie]

As I slog my way through the overnight and morning conversations on this thread, I am struck by the fact that the college football world has evolved to the point that the very same types of conversations are now being held going into bowl season as have been held for many years now in early March in the basketball world. Not saying this is good or bad (although I have a position on that), just saying it is notable.

 

[camion]

I have a modest proposal for conferences worried that the results of their championship games might penalize one of their teams.

Hold the conference championship game after the bowl/playoff selections are announced.

 

[ClemmonsDevil]

As I slog my way through the overnight and morning conversations on this thread, I am struck by the fact that the college football world has evolved to the point that the very same types of conversations are now being held going into bowl season as have been held for many years now in early March in the basketball world. Not saying this is good or bad (although I have a position on that), just saying it is notable.

My position is that it's bad. I didn't want college football to mimic March Madness. I like the insanity of March Madness and that's the draw. But I already have one of those. What I loved about college football, especially in the 4 team playoff era, was that I felt fairly comfortable that we would know the best team. I think expanding to a 12 team playoff makes that less likely and not more likely. Injuries happen. And so the best team is less likely to flow from an expanded playoff. I know that doesn't sound intuitive, but in football I think it is. I wish we had gone to a six team playoff and not 12. Must have missed the call asking for my input though.

 

[OldPhiKap]

The discussion of who is in or out is actually what all of us love about college sports. We get to analyze the merits of our favorite teams. The powers that be in college sports also love the discussion/controversy.

Ultimately I see this resulting in a move to a 16 team playoff. With a 16 team playoff I would suggest that the teams in the Power 4 conference championships all get automatic bids with the winners getting a home playoff game. That puts 8 teams in the playoffs. For the 5 other conference champions (AAC, C-USA, MAC, MWC and Sunbelt), the champions that are ranked in the top 16 get in. That would leave between 4-8 at-large bids depending upon the ranking of these other champions. Notre Dame would fall into the group of 5 category and would also have to be ranked in the top 16 to get in.

On K’s satellite radio show, Manny was sorta pushing for what they have at the lower level — 24 teams, with the top 8 getting a bye.

 

[ClemmonsDevil]

I have a modest proposal for conferences worried that the results of their championship games might penalize one of their teams.

Hold the conference championship game after the bowl/playoff selections are announced.

Whew. The way this started I was afraid you were going to advocate eating babies.

 

[camion]

Whew. The way this started I was afraid you were going to advocate eating babies.

That's a different thread.

 

[Luke102452]

The ACC is not some cupcake league. Miami, SMU, Clemson, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, Louisville, and Duke were all quality teams. How some of these SEC teams would do in the ACC would depend on their league schedule. I believe the ACC was something like 3-8 vs the SEC this season, but without looking it up I know Georgia Tech should have beat Georgia, Va Tech went to OT with Vanderbilt, and the Clemson-South Carolina game could have gone either way. I think the difference between the 2 leagues is overstated with the media narrative being partly responsible

 

[75Crazie]

My position is that it's bad...

So I am not alone on my island, thanks. The injury factor is my top, but not only, gripe.

 

[YmoBeThere]

Vanderbilt and Oklahoma are 10 win teams in the ACC.

While I love what the Commodores did this season, they also lost to Sun Belt stalwart(7th) Georgia State, so I can't agree. On the other hand, Oklahoma didn't have any bad losses IMHO.

 

[YmoBeThere]

I think the difference between the 2 leagues is overstated with the media narrative being partly responsible

I would agree that this is not the SEC of the prior 15-20 years, where they rode the coattails of 'bama and more recently UGA and that halo elevated some SEC teams in the rankings. But the best of the SEC > best of the ACC.

I do think NIL is narrowing the gap between the best and the pack.

 

[CameronBornAndBred]

All I know is there are definitely not 12 teams worthy of being called “national champs” - it’s probably around half that if I squint real hard…

There are about 25 fan bases that 100% agree you, except that you left out their team.

 

[tommy]

I have a modest proposal for conferences worried that the results of their championship games might penalize one of their teams.

Hold the conference championship game after the bowl/playoff selections are announced.

Good idea except that conference championship game participants who have been selected to play in the playoff would sit a lot of good players to avoid injury or just rest them for the playoff. The conference championship games would suffer bigly.

 

[TheDevilMadeMeDoIt]

Vanderbilt and Oklahoma are 10 win teams in the ACC.

Oklahoma beat Maine, Houston and Temple for half its wins. They have been on the decline for several years under Venables. They would be lucky to finish in the top half of the ACC. Yes they beat Alabama but this was not Saban’s Alabama. We would beat Vandy 8 out of 10 games. Both Miami and SMU got screwed because Duke was underrated all year. I expect that to change with preseason conference rankings next year. With Duke and Ga Tech improving every year, the ACC is a lot closer to the SEC than the pundits think. If Stanford can get back its mojo the conference could really be good.

 

[tommy]

I said it earlier in the thread, a team cannot lose at home and on a neutral field to the same team and still deserve to be the national champ in football. Texas had its chance and blew it.

I understand the sentiment but should the same apply in basketball? Lose twice to a team in conference play make you ineligible for the big dance ?

 

[75Crazie]

Good idea except that conference championship game participants who have been selected to play in the playoff would sit a lot of good players to avoid injury or just rest them for the playoff. The conference championship games would suffer bigly.

They should suffer. The concept (at least in football) is atrocious. I do not understand why anyone is in favor of conference championship games, other than those raking in the dough.

 

[camion]

They should suffer. The concept (at least in football) is atrocious. I do not understand why anyone is in favor of conference championship games, other than those raking in the dough.

I hear that "raking in the dough" is very popular.