Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

I've watched Bama, OSU, and Clemson.  I think you could throw a hat over them.  Bama's D has looked better of late.  Fields gives OSU an edge that can be critical in games at this level, but so does Lawrence.  I would probably give a slight edge to Clemson.  Very slight.

A&M has solid lines and a decent QB.  They might be the best of the rest.  UGA with JT Daniels at the helm is a different animal, now.  

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

If they'd eliminate Bama/Bucks/Tiges I'd be all for it.Or maybe 2 of the 3

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." 

Because I think it's a bad case. 

Their best wins are shootout win vs. an 8-2 Florida team with a real suspect defense.
Their second-best win is 6-4 Auburn that probably isn't much stronger than their record.

They've not really dominated anyone outside South Carolina, and even in that game, they needed a really nice drive just to get to 21 points at halftime vs an abysmal defense. Neither their offense nor their defense is special. 

The case is basically one win, a nice close one against a good team, and going 8-1 in a conference that's usually good. That might well be enough. But they've not at any point really played like a really good team. I just don't see much there there. And without much there, give me someone at least interesting who got shelled. 

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 think this is were we mostly agree. They are good. I don't think just good but great at nothing gets you in, especially if your main chip is depreciating. 

I think this is were we mostly agree. They are good. I don't think just good but great at nothing gets you in, especially if your main chip is depreciating.

But "greatness" isn't going to be required for the CFP.  In "the rest" who do you think is "great?"

Notre Dame looks "solid" as well, but not great by any stretch.  I don't think they'll stay within 2 TDs of a full-strength Clemson.

Are USC or Cincy or any of the other potential #4 teams "great?"  I don't see it.

ND beat Clemson of course and UNC, and that's about it for them as well.

I'd like to see Cincy get a shot.

For sure I'd like to see that, too.  I don't think it'll happen but it would be interesting.

It is funny, I think all of this tOSU vs aTm discussion is missing the point.  IMHO, if tOSU beats NU, they are in.  Assuming favorites win the ACC, B1G, and SEC CG's, the top three will be:

• Bama
• Clemson
• tOSU

Further, as far as tOSU is concerned the B1GCG is win or go home.  If they lose, they are out.  In a normal, full year if the Buckeyes were undefeated at this point at 12-0 and had looked generally like a CFP team in doing so, the Buckeyes would have at least a modicum of a chance with a close loss in the CG.  THEN we'd debate 1-loss tOSU vs 1-loss aTm.  

In this case with the Buckeyes at 5-0 heading to the CG, it is win = in, lose = out.  

Assuming the top three laid out above, the real debate is going to be at #4 between:

• 8-1 aTm (assuming they beat TN)
• 10-1 Notre Dame
• 9-0 Cincy (assuming they beat Tulsa)

You could make a case for one of the other P5 Champs if it is:

• 9-2 ISU with a win over OU, or
• 8-2 OU with a win over ISU, or
• 6-0 USC with a win over UW

However, I think the two losses would knock out ISU/OU and USC is pretty far back with a whole bunch of closer-than-they-should-have-been wins.  I just don't think they'll get in.  

Finally, I think this whole debate is academic because, as I said upthread, I would take Bama against an all-star team made up of the best players from aTm, ND, and Cincy.  Thus, the debate is simply over which team gets to get drilled by Bama in the Sugar Bowl.