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Texas A&M had the chance to play fewer games and not lose to Bama

all they had to do was call COVID

Yup, they shoulda called-in COVID for that TAMU-Alabama game, and actually played Ole Miss or some other scrub.  In typical aggie fashion, they couldn't even get THAT bit right.

I don't know what this means, but I'll take it as another chance to insult A&M's case.

Not sure why you feel the need to insult their case?  They're not as the same level as Alabama, obviously, and they're most likely not at the same level as a full-strength Clemson or Ohio State. 

Beyond that, I think they have a reasonable case for "best of the rest." 

I think aTm is going to make it based on this:

• I think that #1 Bama is going to throttle UF in the SECCG.  
• I think that Clemson is going to throttle ND in the ACCCG.  
• I think that tOSU is going to throttle NU in the B1GCG.  
• I think aTm is going to throttle TN (provided that they spend the week preparing for TN rather than bellyaching about not being #4).  

Thus, I think the CFP match-ups could be:

• #4 aTm vs #1 Bama in the Sugar Bowl
• #3 tOSU vs #2 Clemson in the Rose Bowl

The committee might jump aTm over tOSU just to avoid a rematch in the semi-final but I doubt it because it would look weird to leapfrog aTm over tOSU in a week when tOSU plays a higher ranked opponent AND wins a league title.  The committee might also decide to stick ND or Cincinnati at #4.  Frankly, I don't think it matters.  Bama would beat an all-star team of aTm's, ND's, and Cincinnati's best players with ease.  NC is Bama vs tOSU/Clemson winner and Bama will have a significant built-in advantage in coming off of a MUCH easier semi-final.  

I don't know what this means, but I'll take it as another chance to insult A&M's case.

I'm not insulting A&M's case, I'm merely showing that OSU played the games they were able.

Should OSU be penalized for the conference leadership that limited the opportunity to play more games?

If so, then the SEC should have given the Aggies or their programs the opportunity to cancel games to enhance their chances of making the playoff.

I don't want to come off as a simple tOSU homer so I'll preface this by saying that I think that aTm has a valid case and I think there is a decent chance that they will get in. 

That said, it isn't JUST their 4TD loss to Bama that is holding them back.  They also have:

• A five point win over winless Vandy
• An 11 point win over 3-7 Arkansas
• A 13 point win over an LSU team that looked pathetic until they suddenly beat UF
• A 14 point win over 2-8 MissSt

aTm has played eight games.  IMHO, they looked like a CFP team in:

• Their win over UF (doesn't matter that it was close, UF is a high-end team)
• Their 45 point win over USCe (USCe is terrible but this is a blowout)

It is debatable in:

• Their 11 point win over Arky.  In aTm's favor they led 42-17 entering the 4th quarter and gave up two late TD's to make it an 11 point game.  OTOH, they gave up 460 yards and 31 points to the Razorbacks who, in their very next game, were held to 188 yards and 3 points by an actual CFP team. 
• Their 13 point win over LSU.  In aTm's favor this is a lot better than UF did but it is also nowhere near as good as Auburn and Bama did against the Tigers. 
• Their 11 point win over Auburn.  This is a decent win but not nearly what Bama and UGA did to Auburn and only slightly better than a horrible USCe did against Auburn.  Auburn is a team that just fired their coach. 

They looked like clearly NOT a CFP team in:

• Their 28 point loss to Bama (Bama is great but this is a blowout)
• Their 5 point win over winless Vandy
• Their 14 point win over MissSt, this was a fairly competitive game against a BAD team

The same lists for Ohio State?  All except the 13 point win over PSU look CFP and even that is debatable. 

Neither conference played any OOC games so there's just no way to compare their wins, losses, or MOV.  What if the B1G is just really, really crappy this year?  What if Ohio State is beating the snot out of B1G teams because they're so very, very bad?

Anyway, I'm not saying the ags should get in over Ohio State.  I am saying it's possible they should be the #4 team ahead of Notre Dame, or USC, or Cincy, or whoever else is in that slot.  I am saying it's reasonable to make an argument for them in that slot.

Sheeh, and now I just feel dirty for defending my own school's hated rival.


Anyway, I have no idea whether or not they'll get selected.  They always find some way to tank their season, so it's entirely possible they'll lose to the Vols this weekend and that will be the end of that.

I think the 3 as usual will be Bama, Clemson, Ohio St.

it's the 4th that is the question

A&M probably gets in over ND - because SEC

I suppose most of us would love to see some carnage / some true 2020 stuff, like NW upset OSU.  Gators upset Bama.  Notre Dame upset Clemson.

some new blood in there

For sure, that could make for some fun!

you're slipping or just plain losing it.  2020 has been rough on everyone

Nah, I've just watched them a lot this season.  They're actually, legitimately good. Not great by any stretch, but a good, solid team, all the way around, for the first time in a long time.  Even their 2012 team with Johnny Football was more of a gunslinging, gambling team, than a solid football team. 

I don't really want to see two teams from ANY conference in the 4-team playoff, and I certainly don't want to see the ags get blasted by Alabama again which is exactly what would happen. Additionally, the ags going to the CFP would be directly, measurably, immediately bad for my own school, since we recruit head-to-head against them so often.  But all that said, I just don't think they can be dismissed so easily from that final slot.