What If - Playoff Scenarios From Yesteryear - 1983 (Vote)

[OrangeAfroMan]

Starting this in '83 because the 5th-ranked team in the final regular season poll ended up the National Champion (Miami).  Impossible to do in a 4-team playoff now.  So this should be fun.  (Blurbs are as if the bowls havent been played yet)

1.  Nebraska - Big 8
Most everybody knows they are the big favorite to with the NC.  Blew out #4 Penn State the start the year, but didn't play another ranked team in the regular season.  Scored 60+ points six times.  Averaged over 400 yds rushing per game.  Option QB Turner Gill had 14 TD passes to only 4 INT.  Main RB Rozier averaged 7.8 ypc.



2.  Texas - SWC
Defense, Defense, Defense.  The Horns held six opponents to under 10 points.  They were the only team to beat Auburn and also had wins over #8 OU and #9 SMU.  The offense wasn't special, but the defense was.  And their FG kicker made 15 out of 16 on the year.



3.  Auburn - SEC
Only loss was to Texas in 2nd game.  Beat #17 FSU and ended the season on a tear - defeating 4 straight ranked foes (#5 Florida, #7 Maryland, #4 Georgia, #19 Alabama).  Offense didn't pass much, nor should they, with Bo Jackson carrying the ball to the tune of 7.7 ypc.  




4.  Illinois - Big Ten
Lost first game of the season, then reeled off 10 straight wins.  Beat #4 Iowa 33-0.  Also beat #6 Ohio St and #8 Michigan.  Closed out the year with 3 blowout victories to finish undefeated in Big Ten play.  QB Jack Trudeau led the offense with a strong passing attack and the defense pilfered 21 balls for interceptions.




All-Americans involved:
RB - Bo Jackson, Auburn
RB - Mike Rozier, Nebraska
WR - Irving Fryar, Nebraska
OL - Doug Dawson, Texas
OL - Dean Steinkuhler, Nebraska
LB - Jeff Leiding, Texas
DB - Jerry Gray, Texas

[OrangeAfroMan]

Voting open for 1 week.  BUT you can't see the results until the poll closes.  This one will probably be obvious, but other seasons will not be.  



Yes, 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3.  Look at the matchups and determine who would have won it all.

[utee94]

And of course, a rematch in our very first CFP ever. Yippee!!!!

Texas beats Auburn again, obviously.  Goes on to beat Nebraska in the Final.

I'll be looking for that 1983 crystal football in the mail any day now.   

[OrangeAfroMan]

Well Auburn didn't score until late in the game, down 20-0 in their first meeting.  But they stuffed the UT run game.  The difference was the Horns hitting 2 big passes, having one big punt return, and picking off 2 Tiger passes.  

[utee94]

Well Auburn didn't score until late in the game, down 20-0 in their first meeting.  But they stuffed the UT run game.  The difference was the Horns hitting 2 big passes, having one big punt return, and picking off 2 Tiger passes.  

Exactly.  The difference was Texas kicking their ass.  

[medinabuckeye1]

FYI, Illinois had an incredibly favorable schedule that year.  They played all nine of the other league teams but they got all the good ones at home.  By final conference standings:

• 8-1 Michigan, Illinois beat the Wolverines in Champaign by 10
• 7-2 Iowa, Illinois beat the Hawkeyes in Champaign by 33
• 6-3 Ohio State, Illinois beat the Buckeyes in Champaign by 4
• 5-4 Wisconsin, Illinois beat the Badgers in Madison by 12
• 3-5-1 Purdue, Illinois beat the Boilermakers in West Lafayette by 14
• 2-6-1 Michigan State, Illinois beat the Spartans in East Lansing by 10
• 2-7 Indiana, Illinois beat the Hoosiers in Champaign by 28
• 2-7 Northwestern, Illinois beat the Wildcats in Evanston by 32
• 0-9 Minnesota, Illinois beat the Gophers in Minneapolis by 33

Even though they played five conference road games and only four at home they miraculously managed to get their three best conference opponents at home.  IMHO there is almost zero chance that the Illini would have gone 3-0 in Ann Arbor, Iowa City, and Columbus.  

The reason I know this:
Ohio State had the misfortune of having the opposite of Illinois' schedule that year.  The Buckeyes traveled to Champaign, Ann Arbor, and Iowa City where they lost by 4, 3, and 6 points respectively.  

Among the five teams that finished >.500 in the conference:

• Illinois was 4-0 with three of the four at home (M, IA, tOSU).  
• Michigan was 3-1 two of the four at home (tOSU, IA)
• Iowa was 2-2 with one of the four at home (tOSU)
• Ohio State was 1-3 with one of the four at home (UW)
• Wisconsin was 0-4 with three of the four at home (IL, M, IA)

[Cincydawg]

I would pick whoever beat Texas ...

[MarqHusker]

Where are we playing these games?  

[Anonymous Coward]

Never really knew. Was 8mos. old.

[Brutus Buckeye]

Where are we playing these games?  

The Metrodome

[utee94]

I would pick whoever beat Texas ...

Nobody beat Texas.  Cotton Bowl never happened.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

[OrangeAfroMan]

Where are we playing these games?  

Tampa, New Orleans, Dallas, Miami, Phoenix, Atlanta, Pasadena, Santa Clara

[ELA]

Where are we playing these games?  

Probably in the south.

[ELA]

Nebraska over Auburn.  Rozier vs. Bo