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The Power Five => Big Ten => Topic started by: Hawkinole on July 08, 2023, 11:24:33 PM

Title: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Hawkinole on July 08, 2023, 11:24:33 PM

First Top 25 I have seen with Iowa in it, and he comments it is one of his surprise teams with a chance to win the Big Ten. My comment is that would be very dependent on Iowa finding an offensive line, and so far there is little evidence Iowa has one.

Now I see ESPN and Adam Rittenburg pegged Iowa at #20 in their "future power rankings."
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 09, 2023, 01:29:50 AM
  • Georgia
  • Clemson
  • Michigan
  • Alabama
  • Ohio St
  • Penn St
If this is correct (big if), then the B1G-E is a wicked tough division!

In the event that the three listed above all go 1-1 against each other and win the rest of their league games the relevant tiebreaker would be the cumulative record of their crossover opponents. Those are:
Michigan:
Ohio State:
Penn State:
I think that likely favors tOSU.

Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Hawkinole on July 09, 2023, 01:36:47 AM
Medina,
You think of things mortals don't think of -- but if the Top 3 Big Ten East teams go 1-1 against each other, I agree with your analysis.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 09, 2023, 03:19:01 AM
Medina,
You think of things mortals don't think of -- but if the Top 3 Big Ten East teams go 1-1 against each other, I agree with your analysis.
LoL, thanks.

Of course it isn't very likely that things actually will work out that way but it isn't an altogether outlandish possibility either.

Games between the five B1G teams ranked in Phil Steele's top-25:

Toughest schedules:

There is an argument that Iowa's schedule is tougher than Penn State's because the Hawkeyes have two road games against ranked teams while the Nittany Lions only have one.

Potential trap games:
For Ohio State I'd say at Purdue on 10/14 because it is immediately prior to back-to-back games against PSU/UW and also because Purdue has an uncanny history of upsetting Ohio State.

For Penn State I'd say at Maryland the week before hosting Michigan.

For Iowa I'd say the home game against Purdue the week before traveling to Madison.

For Michigan it is obvious, the trip to Maryland sandwiched between games against PSU and tOSU.

For Wisconsin it is obvious, the trip to Illinois sandwiched between games against Iowa and tOSU.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 09, 2023, 08:54:46 AM
I think the trio of PSU/OSU/UM could very well end up top ten, one might win it all obv.  These rankings always seem to find spots for NS/Texas/A&M (lately).  And we all know the final top 25 won't look a lot like that anyway once you get past about 5 or so.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on July 09, 2023, 08:59:18 AM
When did the Beavers get good? 
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 09, 2023, 09:12:43 AM
when Mike Riley left  :91:
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 09, 2023, 09:15:29 AM
TCU at #25?

I guess since Texas and Oklahoma are going to bounce back, there's no room for the defending Big 12 champs (KState) with their returning QB
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 09, 2023, 09:17:01 AM
KSU is a solid bet I think for a team to finish pretty well.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 09, 2023, 09:18:41 AM
perhaps the Cyclones will bounce back and upset the Kitties instead of the Horns or Sooners
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: utee94 on July 10, 2023, 11:56:44 AM
perhaps the Cyclones will bounce back and upset the Kitties instead of the Horns or Sooners
we should be so lucky

I think the trio of PSU/OSU/UM could very well end up top ten, one might win it all obv.  These rankings always seem to find spots for NS/Texas/A&M (lately).  And we all know the final top 25 won't look a lot like that anyway once you get past about 5 or so.
I don't disagree, our helmetosity usually gets us overranked in the preseason, but Texas DID finish in the Top 25 last year.  We return the QB, oline, and most skill positions, although we do lose a fantastic RB.  The defense should be same or better as well.  I don't think we're Top 12 material but somewhere between 20-25 sounds about right.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 10, 2023, 12:06:17 PM
Good points about Texas.  I haven't looked at their schedule, I know if they handle Alabama they could be on the road to a really good season.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 10, 2023, 12:10:43 PM
that could be said for any team with Bama on the sched
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 10, 2023, 12:12:59 PM
that could be said for any team with Bama on the sched
It could be, but I doubt it would be for some of their opponents.  An "Ole Miss" could upset them and still finish 8-5.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: longhorn320 on July 10, 2023, 12:18:51 PM
This year Texas has one of those teams that just might surprise some folks

We will have the best offensive line that weve had in years and a returning QB

We will also have 4 good receivers returning

winning the close games will be the difference
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 10, 2023, 01:04:01 PM
It could be, but I doubt it would be for some of their opponents.  An "Ole Miss" could upset them and still finish 8-5.
8-5 with a "W" over Bama would be a really good season for Ole Miss
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 10, 2023, 03:49:43 PM
8-5 with a "W" over Bama would be a really good season for Ole Miss
I think the distinction he is making, and I agree, is that of the first four teams on Bama's schedule, Texas I'd the only one that I would think was a NC Contender with a win over Bama. 

As a neutral fan, if MTSU, USF, or Ole Miss beats Bama I'll assume that it was a random upset. Essentially I'll think that it was a result of some combination of MTSU/USF/Ole Miss had a REALLY good game and/or Bama had a REALLY bad game znd that is that. 

Texas is a different story. I see them as a potential NC Contender so if they beat Bama (in Tuscaloosa no less), I will see them as a definite NC Contender. 
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 10, 2023, 03:53:35 PM
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Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 10, 2023, 04:07:31 PM
I think the distinction he is making, and I agree, is that of the first four teams on Bama's schedule, Texas I'd the only one that I would think was a NC Contender with a win over Bama.

Texas is a different story. I see them as a potential NC Contender so if they beat Bama (in Tuscaloosa no less), I will see them as a definite NC Contender.
I would agree with this
I also think that even with a single loss to Bama, the Horns could run through the rest of that slate and get in the playoff.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 10, 2023, 05:05:00 PM
I would agree with this
I also think that even with a single loss to Bama, the Horns could run through the rest of that slate and get in the playoff.
Definitely, but a win gives them some margin for error. 
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: utee94 on July 10, 2023, 05:09:44 PM
I like the way y'all are talking!

Personally I think we're probably more like a 3-4 loss team but hope springs eternal.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 10, 2023, 06:29:59 PM
I like the way y'all are talking!

Personally I think we're probably more like a 3-4 loss team but hope springs eternal.
If I had to guess, I'd say 9-3 but I'm counting the game in Tuscaloosa as one of the three losses and I'm viewing the Red River Shootout as a toss up. If Texas beats Bama that takes away one of my projected losses and gives me a higher opinion of Texas which would improve my view of the Oklahoma game from 50/50 to something like 70/30. 
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: CatsbyAZ on July 13, 2023, 11:52:28 AM
Washington at #14 seems high. Lindy's has the Huskies #7.

The Huskies won a lot of squeakers down the stretch, often in a shootout, while the defense gave up a lot of yardage. The defense doesn't look to be any better, though the pass rush is strong, and the offense comes down to Michael Penix remaining healthy. Penix had an outstanding showing last season, and he enters this season as a Heisman candidate. But after completing last season uninjured, after transferring from Indiana where he was constantly injured, dare I say Penix is due for an injury?

@ Michigan State on September 16 will confirm or correct expectations.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 13, 2023, 12:02:47 PM
just another case of the returning QB having too much weight

Utah and Oregon St. have the better returning O-lines in the PAC

https://247sports.com/longformarticle/college-football-rankings-michigan-georgia-texas-headline-top-10-211345965/#2180866 (https://247sports.com/longformarticle/college-football-rankings-michigan-georgia-texas-headline-top-10-211345965/#2180866)

Maybe Washington plays defense???
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: 847badgerfan on July 17, 2023, 07:53:48 AM
(https://i.imgur.com/7tN2PXj.png)
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 17, 2023, 07:58:00 AM
I think the close losses metric (or wins) is worth consideration (mean regression).  I see these QB rankings and pay relatively little attention, we often see some unknown come in and blow the dots off.  A team with a newbie QB might have four games with pastries and suddenly he's doing pretty well down the line.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 17, 2023, 08:06:27 AM
Phil's position group ranks would give me hope vs Minnesoota in the first game

I assumed the Goopher's O-line and D-line would be rated much better than the Huskers
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: 847badgerfan on July 17, 2023, 08:12:16 AM
If this rings true, Penn State is gonna have a helluva defense.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 17, 2023, 08:30:01 AM
This should be PSU's year, if they are to have a year.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 17, 2023, 08:34:04 AM
#54 QB

gotta give extra weight to that
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 17, 2023, 10:59:02 AM
If this rings true, Penn State is gonna have a helluva defense.

This should be PSU's year, if they are to have a year.
I was going to do a deeper dive on Penn State based on this so I looked at their schedule and the thing that jumped out at me was that they effectively have nearly a month to prepare for Ohio State. Their schedule leading up to their trip to Columbus:



Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 17, 2023, 11:53:57 AM
[img width=274.381 height=500]https://i.imgur.com/7tN2PXj.png[/img]
Deeper dive on Penn State, will this be their year?

First, at least per Steele's analysis, that Defense is just scary. He breaks defense into three components and Penn State is #1 in the league in each. Second place finishes are spread among three schools but they each have at least a relative weakness:
They should be scary good.

The offense:
I'm biased because Penn State's expected starting QB went to my High School but I watched him in High School and I think he'll be a great one.

QB, per Steele, is the relative weakness with RB's and Oline both third behind Michigan and Ohio State. WR's are fourth behind Ohio State, Maryland, and Minnesota.

If their new QB is as good as I think he'll be, this should be a Championship caliber Penn State team.

The schedule:


I've added the 2023 ESPN FPI ranking for each of PSU's opponents. I realize that is far from an exact science and some here will argue with some of the rankings but they do #1 all the way to #133 and even though the rankings will not be exactly accurate, the general idea is reasonably close.

Penn State went 11-2 last year with losses to Ohio State and Michigan and it is worse than that. The Nittany Lions haven't beaten either the Buckeyes or the Wolverines since before the pandemic and they haven't beaten both in the same season since 2008 when Michigan was struggling through their 3-9 debacle, Jim Tressel was the HC at Ohio State, and Joe Paterno was still in charge in Happy Valley. If they can't get those monkeys off their back, they can't take the next step.

Thus, THE critical games on Penn State's schedule are the visit to Columbus on October 21 and the home game against Michigan three weeks later.

After that, I think Penn State's next toughest game is at Illinois on September 16. There are arguments for:
All those teams are ranked higher in ESPN's FPI than Illinois (#45) and the Maryland game could be a "trap game" as it is one week before Michigan but I think that the Illinois game is the bigger threat because it will be Allar's first road game as starting QB.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 17, 2023, 11:56:22 AM
Might we see three 11-1 teams in the B1G?
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 17, 2023, 12:04:49 PM
Penn State's most likely losses, IMHO:

The rest aren't worth spending much time thinking about. The remaining league games are home games against Rutgers and Indiana and a road game against cratering Northwestern. The remaining OOC games are an FCS opponent and literally the worst team in the FBS.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Temp430 on July 17, 2023, 12:24:43 PM
Might we see three 11-1 teams in the B1G?
I don't think so.  I think Penn State will be good but not THAT good.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 17, 2023, 02:39:15 PM
I don't think so.  I think Penn State will be good but not THAT good.
Even if @Temp430 (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=131) is wrong and PSU is good enough to split with the Buckeyes and Wolverines and they both also split, you'd still only see three 11-1 teams if all three of them each win all 10 other games. Granted, a loss in any individual one of those is reasonably unlikely and most would be at least somewhat surprising upsets, but upsets do happen.

If we assume that tOSU/PSU/M each have a 98% chance to win each of their "other" 10 games, the chance that they actually will go a collective 30-0 in those games is only about 50/50*.

*If there is a stats geek to check me, I think the math is .98^30 which works out to about a 54.5% chance.

I'm not saying it is impossible or even implausible, just that there is a LOT of football to be played before we consider that a serious possibility.

FWIW: If it DOES happen the first potentially decisive tiebreaker is the record of each team's cross-divisional opponents. In this case those are:
My early hunch is that would eliminate Michigan because so long as Wisconsin has a better record than Nebraska, the Buckeyes' B1G-W opponents will have a better record than the Wolverines' B1G-W opponents.

That would leave it between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions. If I had to guess, I'd guess that Ohio State would win on the theory that:

Note also that B1G rules stipulate that if only two teams are left after any tiebreaker step, the winner of the game between those two goes to Indianapolis. Thus, assuming that the home team wins the games amongst the top-three (ie, tOSU>PSU>M>tOSU) then the Buckeyes wouldn't actually need to win this step, they'd just need to eliminate Michigan (which UW>UNL accomplishes) and then at least tie PSU.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 17, 2023, 02:46:33 PM
It's unlikely for reasons noted, upsets happen, and there is a solid chance one of the three gets upset, at least one of them.  And another might get injuries, or just not be as good as expected.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 17, 2023, 03:53:37 PM
FWIW: If it DOES happen the first potentially decisive tiebreaker is the record of each team's cross-divisional opponents. In this case those are:
  • PSU: Illinois, Iowa, Northwestern
  • M: Nebraska, Minnesota, Purdue
  • tOSU: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Purdue
More final weekend fun:
Penn State plays Michigan State at Ford Field on Friday night (Black Friday) so they'll be done early. Also on Friday, Iowa (PSU opponent) plays Nebraska (M opponent).

On Saturday of course Ohio State will be looking for revenge in Ann Arbor but also:
The bottom line is that if the Buckeyes, Wolverines, and Nittany Lions head into the final weekend with the possibility of all going 11-1, there could be a slew of games potentially relevant to determining which one goes to Indianapolis. The potentially relevant games would be:


I think it would be hilarious if the B1G-E representative to the B1GCG was determined by either the Old Oaken Bucket or Paul Bunyan's Axe 🪓 games or better yet both.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: 847badgerfan on July 17, 2023, 04:04:26 PM
It's very possible for UW to finish 11-1 too. I'm starting to feel pretty good about that team.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 17, 2023, 04:17:17 PM
I miss fat RBs.
With everyone in a shotgun set, there are fewer and fewer of them.
It's sad.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 17, 2023, 04:22:37 PM
apparently the fullback is coming back to Lincoln

I'm a fan
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 17, 2023, 04:24:45 PM
That step would be determinitive in a three-way tie between tOSU, PSU, and M at 8-1 unless:

In the event that this step was all tied up, the remaining B1G tiebreakers are:
The rules stipulate that when comparing records against the best team(s) in the other division, % prevails even if the number of games is unequal so 1-0 IS better that 0-0.


If we somehow got to overall winning percentage, Michigan would win. This is because:
Thus:

Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 17, 2023, 04:40:51 PM
It's very possible for UW to finish 11-1 too. I'm starting to feel pretty good about that team.
Imagine this crazy scenario:
Traditionally early losses were better than late losses so the rankings order would be the above.


The committee seems to value SoS which I think would be:

Then the most likely B1GCG would be yet another tOSU/UW tilt but with interesting stakes. The winner would be a lock for the CFP but what about the loser?

If Wisconsin loses they are out. They'd be 0-2 against the other three.

If Ohio State loses it gets interesting. All four teams would be exactly .500 against each other:
Ohio State probably loses due to having two losses, but they'd also have a LOT better wins than any of the others.

Wisconsin probably gets a CFP berth as league Champion but what if there is one more slot available? Does it go to Ohio State who played but lost the CG? Maybe Michigan who beat Ohio State but lost to Penn State, or Penn State who beat Michigan but lost to Ohio State?
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Temp430 on July 18, 2023, 07:00:41 AM
I would go to Michigan because Ohio/Penn State suck.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 18, 2023, 07:11:53 AM
I'd guess it goes to Michigan for merits of last season
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 18, 2023, 09:04:22 AM
I would go to Michigan because Ohio/Penn State suck.
I'd guess it goes to Michigan for merits of last season
IMHO, it would depend at least in part on two things:

SoS:
Just how good/bad are Notre Dame and West Virginia. I'm thinking that ND will be pretty solid, say 9-3 and that WVU will be around .500. However, ND/WVU being better/worse would help/hurt tOSU/PSU.

MOV:
How close were the two tOSU/UW games, how close were tOSU/PSU, PSU/M, tOSU/M?

Best case argument for tOSU:
Best case argument for Penn State:
Best case argument for Michigan:

Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Temp430 on July 18, 2023, 09:06:42 AM
The Buckeyes better not sleep walk into South Bend.  Notre Dame is no push over.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: MrNubbz on July 18, 2023, 12:32:43 PM
Wouldn't be surprised at all if the Irish won,tOSU could lose to them,UW/UM/PSU. Hell maybe even sparty  But 3 losses isn't out of the realm IMHO unless some one establishes themselves under center
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: utee94 on July 18, 2023, 12:49:10 PM
Sandbags are plentiful this year, I see.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 18, 2023, 06:27:27 PM
If, IF the first year of the 12-team playoff gave us our first-ever 3-loss NC, do you think everyone freaks out and tries to change things up?
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 18, 2023, 06:29:03 PM
some might freak out, but it's gonna stay at 12 cause there's more money with 12 than 4
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: utee94 on July 18, 2023, 06:30:13 PM
If, IF the first year of the 12-team playoff gave us our first-ever 3-loss NC, do you think everyone freaks out and tries to change things up?
I'd laugh and then I'd say that all those other chump teams shouldn't have let themselves get beat by a 3-loss suckbutt. 
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on July 18, 2023, 06:33:08 PM

If, IF the first year of the 12-team playoff gave us our first-ever 3-loss NC, do you think everyone freaks out and tries to change things up?
Depends.

If the team in question is a helmet, it'll be a case of "we all knew they were REALLY good and deserving, it just took some time for the team to reach its potential."

If the team in question is not a helmet, who perhaps just gets in by virtue of backdooring their way into the CFP by winning their division via tiebreaker, winning their CCG by a whisker, and then looks JUST BARELY competent enough to squeak by their CFP opponents... Yeah, the CFB world will be apoplectic. 
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 18, 2023, 06:35:06 PM
some might freak out, but it's gonna stay at 12 cause there's more money with 12 than 4
Yeah, I assume there's some kind of decade-long contract, but if they'd start massaging the language on it, a la the BCS alterations that became an annual thing.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 18, 2023, 06:47:25 PM
I'd laugh and then I'd say that all those other chump teams shouldn't have let themselves get beat by a 3-loss suckbutt. 
yup, just like getting beat by TCU!!!
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: utee94 on July 18, 2023, 06:52:43 PM
yup, just like getting beat by TCU!!!

Exactly!  Believe me, I was rooting for Michigan in that game bigtime, because I know two absolute insufferable TCU fans.  But when Michigan lost I just had to laugh at the Wolverines.

Wanna prove you're the better team?  Win the damn game.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: utee94 on July 18, 2023, 06:56:15 PM
Depends.

If the team in question is a helmet, it'll be a case of "we all knew they were REALLY good and deserving, it just took some time for the team to reach its potential."

If the team in question is not a helmet, who perhaps just gets in by virtue of backdooring their way into the CFP by winning their division via tiebreaker, winning their CCG by a whisker, and then looks JUST BARELY competent enough to squeak by their CFP opponents... Yeah, the CFB world will be apoplectic.
I mean, in a 12-team playoff, the 3-loss suckbutt is going to be seeded lowest.  So they're going to have to win 3 games in a row against "better" teams.  What MORE should they need to do, to prove themselves?

Chances are in a situation like that, it's probably because that team had injuries or just simple inexperience early, that resolved itself later in the season.  Nobody's just going to stumble-luck their way into 9 regular season wins, a CCG win, and then 3 CFP wins in a row.  



Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 18, 2023, 07:04:08 PM
yup, just like getting beat by TCU!!!
The TCU thing hopefully revealed how a 4-team playoff could easily yield a paper champion.  A team can play out of it's mind and get to the championship game.  Instead of getting blown out like they did, say UGA was a QB-reliant team and he gets hurt on the 2nd play of the game....
But what was revealed was a non-elite team having to play consecutive elite teams and how hard that is.  Something elite programs routinely do at the end of the season didn't work out so well for the underdog.
.
If nothing else, the requirement to overcome 3 hurdles (inside the top 4) makes it more legit for the winner.  However, every major upset yields an easier path for Cinderella's opponent(s).
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on July 18, 2023, 07:11:52 PM
I mean, in a 12-team playoff, the 3-loss suckbutt is going to be seeded lowest.  So they're going to have to win 3 games in a row against "better" teams.  What MORE should they need to do, to prove themselves?

Chances are in a situation like that, it's probably because that team had injuries or just simple inexperience early, that resolved itself later in the season.  Nobody's just going to stumble-luck their way into 9 regular season wins, a CCG win, and then 3 CFP wins in a row. 
Oh, I don't think it's actually going to happen. It would probably require those CFP wins to be very fluky, broken bracket, every chance bounce coming their way.  

But c'mon. If Iowa or K State pulled off something like that? People would call it a fluke and say they never should have been there in the first place. 
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 18, 2023, 07:15:36 PM
It would be like the 8-seed winning March Madness.  Celebrate the moment!  Remember these iconic plays!  Ignore that the best team(s) didn't win.
.
It would complete the paradigm shift we've seen in college football, starting 30 years ago.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Mdot21 on July 18, 2023, 07:35:37 PM
don't get the Clemson love to be honest....
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 18, 2023, 07:48:57 PM
check the sched

FSU at home
ND at home
UNC at home
Canes on the road

not much else
South Carolina?
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: utee94 on July 18, 2023, 07:51:51 PM
check the sched

FSU at home
ND at home
UNC at home
Canes on the road

not much else
South Carolina?
Yeah the ACC is terribad and the only SEC team on the schedule is... South Carolina...
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 18, 2023, 07:57:54 PM
(https://scontent.ffod1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/359772916_805544574333957_6677213992909348266_n.jpg?stp=cp6_dst-jpg&_nc_cat=1&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=dEnVD9oEr0MAX9a3KuI&_nc_ht=scontent.ffod1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAivGnf1IK2JTAlmcB8t3iNyvCNiDC5vhfPO3H1Fn1Mpw&oe=64BB2EA7)
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 19, 2023, 08:16:22 AM
Oh, I don't think it's actually going to happen. It would probably require those CFP wins to be very fluky, broken bracket, every chance bounce coming their way. 

But c'mon. If Iowa or K State pulled off something like that? People would call it a fluke and say they never should have been there in the first place.
TCU famously made the finals last year of course.  Imagine a "TCU" is a 12 seed and has a 5% chance of winning the first game, 3% the second, and 1% the third, I'm saying there is a chance ....
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 19, 2023, 09:36:47 AM
If, IF the first year of the 12-team playoff gave us our first-ever 3-loss NC, do you think everyone freaks out and tries to change things up?
There are two separate issues here:

A champion with three losses is obviously MUCH more likely because if a team like Georgia, Alabama, or Ohio State loses two or three games they'd still likely finish high enough to get in. Then they'd probably be a road favorite in the first round against a weak league champion and have two more games against relatively equal teams at neutral sites.

The expanded playoff makes a weak NC like BYU in 1984 or a team like TCU last year less likely.

That BYU team beat Michigan in their bowl. Sounds impressive, right? Well based on the program it is, but that particular Michigan team was 6-6. BYU beat them by seven but:

In the BCS era they'd have had to play Oklahoma in the BCSNCG and they'd have been embarrassed.

In the CFP era they'd have had to play #5 Nebraska in the semi-final then the winner of #2 OU or #4 Washington (#3 UF was under suspension) in the CG. Nebraska would have crushed them.

Consider TCU last year but applied to the BCS or pre-BCS era:
In the BCS era they'd have only been two very plausible game changes from an NC:
In that case the final 1/2 are 13-0 undefeated TCU and M teams and we saw TCU take out M.

In the pre-BCS era it might even be easier. If they win the B12, they go to the Orange Bowl at 13-0. They'd be behind 13-0 Georgia and Michigan teams but Georgia would be in the Sugar Bowl and Michigan would be in the Rose Bowl. They'd just need to beat a weak ACC Champion in the Orange Bowl and have other teams take out UGA and M.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on July 19, 2023, 09:42:30 AM
BTW people are missing that there are (4) rounds of playoffs here. 12 teams. Top 4 seeds (top 4 ranked conference champs) get a first round bye, which means round 1 drops from 12 to 8. Then quarterfinals, then semifinals, then MNC game. 

The top 4 seeds only play 3 games, but anyone 5 or higher could conceivably play 4. A 3-loss conference champ would have a hard time being ranked as one of the top 4 conference champs, so they'd most likely be in that 5-12 seed range. A 3-loss participant otherwise included is unlikely a conference champ, and so would be excluded from the top 4 seeds by format. 
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 19, 2023, 09:43:44 AM
Yeah, a Helmet team with three losses may well get in as a 10th seed or so.  It's probable in fact.  I think usually a G5 team is the 12th seed.  The G5s have been raided by the B12 already.  Let's imagine Alabama loses to Tenn and LSU, both of whom are top ten, and then loses in the CG to a top ranked UGA.  They are a respectable 10-3 and would be a 10 or 11 seed I think with a very solid team.  They then play at the 5 or 6 seed, say it's USC, and win.  They'd be very dangerous at that point.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: utee94 on July 19, 2023, 10:00:39 AM
BTW people are missing that there are (4) rounds of playoffs here. 12 teams. Top 4 seeds (top 4 ranked conference champs) get a first round bye, which means round 1 drops from 12 to 8. Then quarterfinals, then semifinals, then MNC game.

The top 4 seeds only play 3 games, but anyone 5 or higher could conceivably play 4. A 3-loss conference champ would have a hard time being ranked as one of the top 4 conference champs, so they'd most likely be in that 5-12 seed range. A 3-loss participant otherwise included is unlikely a conference champ, and so would be excluded from the top 4 seeds by format.
Good point.  And it makes my point even stronger.  It's highly unlikely for an "unworthy" team to negotiate that burden, and if they did, then they've made a strong case that they're not actually "unworthy."

Envisioning how this would play out, really the most logical scenario, is a high quality team experiences a lot of injuries early in the season that costs them some wins, and then recovers later in the season and finishes at the level they should have.  I see no reason to doubt or punish that team in an era of a 12-team playoff.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 19, 2023, 10:12:04 AM
Good point.  And it makes my point even stronger.  It's highly unlikely for an "unworthy" team to negotiate that burden, and if they did, then they've made a strong case that they're not actually "unworthy."

Envisioning how this would play out, really the most logical scenario, is a high quality team experiences a lot of injuries early in the season that costs them some wins, and then recovers later in the season and finishes at the level they should have.  I see no reason to doubt or punish that team in an era of a 12-team playoff.
Agreed, and what I don't like about it is that it takes away the "every game matters" feel that our sport had in the past, for example:
Let's imagine Alabama loses to Tenn and LSU, both of whom are top ten, and then loses in the CG to a top ranked UGA.  They are a respectable 10-3 and would be a 10 or 11 seed I think with a very solid team.  They then play at the 5 or 6 seed, say it's USC, and win.  They'd be very dangerous at that point.
In the 4-team CFP era, the BCS era, or the pre-BCS era that 10-3 Alabama team is not in the NC conversation. In a 12-team format they have a solid chance to win. Just so @rolltidefan (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=12) knows, that isn't to pick on Bama, it is the same for all the helmets.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: utee94 on July 19, 2023, 10:17:32 AM
Agreed, and what I don't like about it is that it takes away the "every game matters" feel that our sport had in the past, for example:In the 4-team CFP era, the BCS era, or the pre-BCS era that 10-3 Alabama team is not in the NC conversation. In a 12-team format they have a solid chance to win. Just so @rolltidefan (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=12) knows, that isn't to pick on Bama, it is the same for all the helmets.
Oh yeah, I'm not disputing that it changes the feel of college football. College football fans have long valued the ideal of the undefeated national champion.

But for me, that ideal was shattered years ago.  We've already traversed the "bridge too far" and this is nothing more than just a little bit further incrementalism. 
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 19, 2023, 10:27:59 AM
Just so @rolltidefan (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=12) knows, that isn't to pick on Bama, it is the same for all the helmets.
no worries

Georgia is the new Bama
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 19, 2023, 11:28:04 AM
Oh yeah, I'm not disputing that it changes the feel of college football. College football fans have long valued the ideal of the undefeated national champion.

But for me, that ideal was shattered years ago.  We've already traversed the "bridge too far" and this is nothing more than just a little bit further incrementalism.
It has but it keeps getting worse.

Back during the BCS era my Buckeyes and your Longhorns played two great early OOC games. I left the 2005 game knowing that tOSU's NC chances were practically nil. You left the 2006 game knowing that UT's NC chances were practically nil.

It was only one game but the impact was still humongous. Consider the final 2005 regular season AP Poll:
If Texas had lost in Columbus, the Nittany Lions probably would have played the Trojans in the BCSCG.


With four teams a single loss still might wreck your chances and at least so far two losses has always been too many.

With 12 teams, well (final regular season AP Polls)
My supposition is that for Helmets and for teams highly ranked in the preseason, two losses will be a lock and three will probably be roughly a coin-flip depending on other factors such as SoS and MOV/MOL.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 19, 2023, 12:08:33 PM
Georgia is the new Bama
I disagree, at this point, for obvious reasons.  Longevity and consistency I think aare relevant.  
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 19, 2023, 12:44:50 PM
yup, I'd guess more folks around the CFB nation are rooting against Bama than Georgia, but don't be winning 3 in a row.

It would change in a hurry
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 19, 2023, 12:58:33 PM
A Threepeat would start to shift the convo pretty dramatically.  Even making the CFP and losing would be some confirmation, but a not yet.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: utee94 on July 19, 2023, 02:30:46 PM
It has but it keeps getting worse.

Back during the BCS era my Buckeyes and your Longhorns played two great early OOC games. I left the 2005 game knowing that tOSU's NC chances were practically nil. You left the 2006 game knowing that UT's NC chances were practically nil.

It was only one game but the impact was still humongous. Consider the final 2005 regular season AP Poll:
  • 12-0 USC
  • 12-0 Texas
  • 10-1 Penn State (lost to #20 Michigan, won Big11Ten on tiebreaker over tOSU)
  • 9-2 Ohio State (lost to #2 TX and #3 PSU).
If Texas had lost in Columbus, the Nittany Lions probably would have played the Trojans in the BCSCG.


With four teams a single loss still might wreck your chances and at least so far two losses has always been too many.

With 12 teams, well (final regular season AP Polls)
  • 2022: Utah and KSU were top-12 with three losses
  • 2021: Utah was top-12 with three losses
  • 2020: Florida and ISU were top-12 with three losses
  • 2019: Auburn and Wisconsin were top-12 with three losses
  • 2018: Washington, Florida, and LSU were top-12 with three losses
My supposition is that for Helmets and for teams highly ranked in the preseason, two losses will be a lock and three will probably be roughly a coin-flip depending on other factors such as SoS and MOV/MOL.


Sure but we haven't had anything like the 2005 season in a long time.  We're way past that.  I don't view a 3-loss team winning a 12-team playoff as significantly worse than 2-loss LSU winning the championship in 2007.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 19, 2023, 03:27:37 PM
Sure but we haven't had anything like the 2005 season in a long time.  We're way past that.  I don't view a 3-loss team winning a 12-team playoff as significantly worse than 2-loss LSU winning the championship in 2007.
The issue to me is more about the perceived importance of games when they are played than it is about the actual importance in retrospect.

There was always a chance to win an NC with two losses but everyone knew that it was a remote chance. You used LSU as your example because there is no other example in the modern era. In the 50-odd years since the AP moved their final poll to after the bowls there has been one NC with more than one loss, I'm not aware of any others.

A lot of EXTREMELY good one-loss teams never got the chance to play for it. One loss frequently eliminated a team and two almost always did.

Even in the 4-team CFP era a second loss has always been fatal (at least so far).

Even for you and I, as fans of Helmet teams, we knew that even just one bad afternoon drastically reduced our teams' chances of winning it all and with a second loss we needed miracles.

When we go to twelve I think that you and I will more-or-less be able to assume that our teams have at least two and possibly three mulligans available.

Since the poll moved, these are all the years in which an Ohio State team won all but one of their games and didn't win the NC:

To be fair, the 70, 75, 79, 06, 19, and 20 losses were all in postseason games that were effectively playoff or CG equivalents at least for the Buckeyes but that still leaves seven seasons (69, 73, 96, 98, 10, 15, 18) in the last 54 in which a single regular season loss cost tOSU a NC (or at least a shot at it).

One loss frequently was enough to crush a team's NC dreams. With a 12-team CFP that will only be true in the CFP.


To me, that was a part of what made CFB so intense. Your NC dreams could die on any random Saturday.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: utee94 on July 19, 2023, 03:41:19 PM
I get your concerns, and I would have shared them two decades ago.  But watching a 2-loss LSU team win the NC, and watching SEC rematches in the championship game, has pretty much disabused me of any such notion at this point.

That's just my opinion and my point of view, others obviously view it differently, but for me the concerns you raise aren't pertinent, because we already blasted past them in the past two decades.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 19, 2023, 03:56:15 PM
So an OSU-KU title game in 07 and LSU-OKST in 2011 would have staved off the cheapening of the regular season?
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 19, 2023, 04:00:16 PM
I get your concerns, and I would have shared them two decades ago.  But watching a 2-loss LSU team win the NC, and watching SEC rematches in the championship game, has pretty much disabused me of any such notion at this point.

That's just my opinion and my point of view, others obviously view it differently, but for me the concerns you raise aren't pertinent, because we already blasted past them in the past two decades.
You are right, it has been a progression:
Still I see the jump from needing all but three cleared to needing all but 11 cleared as significant. 

Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 19, 2023, 04:05:12 PM
Do you think it will be harder to win an NC with the 12 than it is now?
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 19, 2023, 04:16:10 PM
The most unique aspect about college football has always been the high-stakes regular season game.  Every game mattered.  
That didn't end with the BCS system.
That didn't end in 2007 or 2011.  
It ended in 2001 when Nebraska lost 62-36 to Colorado  AND IT DIDN'T MATTER.
Yes, it was during the BCS, but it was tweaked each year by people who didn't know what the hell they were doing.
.
So we can blame a compromised BCS for the initial slip down this slope of ever-meaningless regular season outcomes.

Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 19, 2023, 04:18:03 PM
Do you think it will be harder to win an NC with the 12 than it is now?
Of course.

3 hurdles is harder to clear than 2.  And for seeds 5-12, it will be 4 hurdles.

No individual team, however strong it is, is LIKELY going to win a 12-team playoff.  
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 19, 2023, 04:20:47 PM
Do you think it will be harder to win an NC with the 12 than it is now?
not if you're in the top 4
might even be easier than last season because your get a week off to heal up and scout the opponent
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 19, 2023, 04:22:28 PM
It's an extra game!  Versus someone who can beat you!
(https://i.imgur.com/9BN0Txd.jpg)
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 19, 2023, 04:23:50 PM
Yeah, that's an important distinction.  You would have one additional game to win of course.  I was thinking more of the folks who would otherwise not make the CFP because they are not in the top 4.  So, in general, for a solid program, more likely to win an NC or less?

I lean to less likely overall, but then I think of some good Dawg teams who fell just short of getting into a playoff of any kind.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 19, 2023, 04:24:20 PM
It's an extra game!  Versus someone who can beat you!
Yes, and it's also an extra chance for 5-12.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 19, 2023, 04:32:25 PM
It affords 7 more teams with a chance, today their chance would be zero.  It also means you have to win more games.  I THINK for teams that generally end up 5-12 season after season, it's obviously a better shot, even if not by much.  But then, the might also have a good year and be a conference champ (think PSU).

Consider a team that hypothetically ends up ranked 8 year after year after year, their chances obviously are better, maybe it's only 1%.  They have to beat 10 each time and then beat 4 then 2 then 1.  For them, it's a better chance, low though it really is.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on July 19, 2023, 04:36:38 PM
It's an extra game!  Versus someone who can beat you!
(https://i.imgur.com/9BN0Txd.jpg)
Umm, that's a facepalm, not shaking one's head. 
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 19, 2023, 04:38:14 PM
It's an extra game!  Versus someone who can beat you!

sorry, it's an extra game
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 19, 2023, 04:47:54 PM
Umm, that's a facepalm, not shaking one's head.
Smack my head?
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 19, 2023, 04:48:34 PM
(https://gifdb.com/images/high/head-slap-oscars-academy-awards-naked-gun-sw3hh0jgbycygypv.gif)
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 19, 2023, 04:50:02 PM
With the margin of victory removed from the computer rankings in the BCS, Colorado could have beaten Nebraska 82-6 and the Huskers would have still been ranked #2.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 19, 2023, 04:51:51 PM
So an OSU-KU title game in 07 and LSU-OKST in 2011 would have staved off the cheapening of the regular season?
I think everyone just needs to understand and accept that 2007 was just a weird year. All year it felt like teams were trying to avoid high rankings:
Then the fun really got started.

Heading into the bowls Ohio State and Kansas were the only two major conference teams with less than two losses. From that information it would seem that Kansas should have played Ohio State in the CG but there were issues with Kansas:


Ohio State was obvious and LSU was the best of the horde of 2-loss teams.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 19, 2023, 04:52:29 PM
So, imagine a good program, think maybe Clemson or Penn State,  over a decade they finish the regular season ranked as follows:

8  9  6  3  11  5  15  2  8 10

Do they have a better shot with 12 or with 4?  Tough to compute, I think.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 19, 2023, 04:55:02 PM
My favorite part of this year was TCU losing the CCG to K-State and not moving down one spot!  To avoid a rematch!  
At that point, they're no longer rankings!
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on July 19, 2023, 04:55:09 PM
Smack my head?
I've always heard SMH is "shaking my head". 

Although sometimes a facepalm can be accompanied by an SMH...


(https://media.tenor.com/F8HSEDfUsWgAAAAC/face-palm-smh.gif)
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 19, 2023, 04:56:07 PM
So, imagine a good program, think maybe Clemson or Penn State,  over a decade they finish the regular season ranked as follows:

8  9  6  3  11  5  15  2  8 10

Do they have a better shot with 12 or with 4?  Tough to compute, I think.
Well, with 4, that team has eight zeroes, so it's pretty easy to compute.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 19, 2023, 04:59:39 PM
Sure, that's my point, 8 zeros today, 8 slight chances tomorrow.  On the other hand, the two shots today in the 12 scenarios have a lower probability of winning out.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 19, 2023, 05:04:30 PM
My favorite part of this year was TCU losing the CCG to K-State and not moving down one spot!  To avoid a rematch! 
At that point, they're no longer rankings!
Honestly, that was unfair to Georgia. 

The Bulldogs had the most impressive regular season and should have gotten the easiest Semi-final. Everyone knew that was TCU but nobody wanted a tOSU/M rematch in the other Semi-final so UGA got screwed. Didn't matter, they won anyway. 
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 19, 2023, 05:09:24 PM
Things would be okay, if not for these higher-ups wanting to diddle with everything.  
Let's use computers in the BCS....but let's drastically alter their formulas!
Let's have a playoff.....but let's avoid rematches at all costs!
They'll screw up something else in the 12-team playoff, guaranteed.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 19, 2023, 05:12:10 PM
They will get second guessed yes
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 19, 2023, 05:22:43 PM
My favorite part of this year was TCU losing the CCG to K-State and not moving down one spot!  To avoid a rematch! 
At that point, they're no longer rankings!
this has been going on forever

I don't like it

Ohio St. didn't play michigan either
why does everyone hate rematches?
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 19, 2023, 05:24:50 PM
With the margin of victory removed from the computer rankings in the BCS, Colorado could have beaten Nebraska 82-6 and the Huskers would have still been ranked #2.
yup, not the Husker's fault

wasn't another more worthy team that season

wouldn't have mattered, that Cane team would have beaten any of them
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: utee94 on July 19, 2023, 06:29:32 PM

why does everyone hate rematches?
Because we've already seen those two teams play and it's a lot more fun to see different teams play?

Just spitballin' here.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 19, 2023, 06:46:22 PM
Plus, rematches only leave things settled when one team wins both games.  If they split, then they're on even ground.  Except that in college football, WHEN you lost was of extreme importance.  So the winner of the rematch benefits the most.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on July 19, 2023, 07:12:40 PM
why does everyone hate rematches?
Depends on the circumstances.

For example, the BCS was by nature VERY exclusionary. 2 teams get a shot. Which likely means that a worthy team is being excluded.

Think of 2011. 

LSU was 13-0. Of course they get into the BCSCG. 

Behind LSU, you had three teams knotted at 11-1. Alabama (who had already lost to LSU on the field, in Tuscaloosa), Oklahoma State, and Stanford. 

Now, you can make the argument that Alabama had the strongest loss of the 11-1 teams. But you can also make the argument that having lost to LSU on their home field in Tuscaloosa, we already "knew" that LSU was better. So why not give one of the other 11-1 teams a shot? We *don't* know if either of those teams is better than LSU. 

In that case I didn't like a rematch. 

In a 12-team playoff? Rematches will be inevitable. But that's okay, because you can make the argument that all worthy teams (and a few unworthy teams) are in the field, so regardless of who plays who, and when, the cream should rise to the top. 
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 19, 2023, 09:33:26 PM
That 9-6 game was an overtime game, so they basically played to a tie.  
Both of 2007 LSU's losses were in overtime as well.  
I think that mattered in the eyes of the voters.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 20, 2023, 05:12:54 AM
That 9-6 game was an overtime game, so they basically played to a tie. 
Both of 2007 LSU's losses were in overtime as well. 
I think that mattered in the eyes of the voters.
In addition to the two losses being in OT, that LSU had EASILY the best SoS of the 2-loss teams:


Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: 847badgerfan on July 20, 2023, 07:59:42 AM
I would have liked to see Washington play Oklahoma in 2000.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 20, 2023, 08:44:40 AM
rematches in basketball
multiple games in baseball

I think two Ohio St./ Michigan games last year would have been grand

they earned it
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 20, 2023, 09:35:08 AM
Ohio State didn't play when TCU lost.  I don't think they got the rankings wrong at the time.  It can be second guessed, but TCU did beat UM.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 20, 2023, 02:30:35 PM
I would have liked to see Washington play Oklahoma in 2000.
Not Miami? 
Not Oregon St?
Not VA Tech?
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 20, 2023, 02:31:39 PM
Ohio State didn't play when TCU lost.  I don't think they got the rankings wrong at the time.  It can be second guessed, but TCU did beat UM.
If TCU can lose to KSU in its last game of the regular season and it not matter at all, then why play the game?
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: 847badgerfan on July 20, 2023, 02:32:38 PM
Not Miami?
Not Oregon St?
Not VA Tech?
Washington beat Miami already that year.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 20, 2023, 02:34:48 PM
Washington beat Miami already that year.
But Miami beat FSU....
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: 847badgerfan on July 20, 2023, 02:41:30 PM
And Washington beat 11-1 Oregon State.

Miami smashed Virginia Tech at home. Barely beat FSU at home. 

I think Washington had the better resume than FSU, but FSU had the "oh shucks" HC.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 20, 2023, 03:28:55 PM
UW had 7 one-score wins.  They simply didn't impress anyone.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: 847badgerfan on July 20, 2023, 03:33:39 PM
They played a lot of good teams. FSU waltzed through the ACC. Best win was over 10-3 Florida (10-2 before the bowl game against Miami - and Miami smashed the Gators).
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 20, 2023, 03:36:09 PM
Beat 3-8 CU by 3.
Beat 6-6 ASU by 6.
Beat 5-6 Stanford by 3.
Beat 5-6 Arizona by 3.
Beat 6-6 UCLA by 7.

What are you talking about???
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: 847badgerfan on July 20, 2023, 03:38:10 PM
PAC was tougher than the ACC is what I'm talking about.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: rolltidefan on July 20, 2023, 03:48:04 PM
Agreed, and what I don't like about it is that it takes away the "every game matters" feel that our sport had in the past, for example:In the 4-team CFP era, the BCS era, or the pre-BCS era that 10-3 Alabama team is not in the NC conversation. In a 12-team format they have a solid chance to win. Just so @rolltidefan (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=12) knows, that isn't to pick on Bama, it is the same for all the helmets.
this is twice now this week that you've presented unrealistic and unfathomably horrible "scenarios".

(agreed)
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 20, 2023, 04:43:08 PM
this is twice now this week that you've presented unrealistic and unfathomably horrible "scenarios".

(agreed)
That wasn't my scenario, it was @Cincydawg (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=870) .

Anyway, what I really don't like about it is that for a lot of our teams, if they lose three games against their best three opponents, who did they beat?

Looking at last year:
Ohio State:
Their best three opponents were Michigan, Penn State, and Notre Dame who finished 13-1, 11-2, and 9-4. If they lose those three and go 9-3 their best wins are over 8-5 Iowa and Maryland teams. That is a decent season but nowhere close to great and, in my view, not close to NC worthy.

Alabama:
Their best three opponents were Tennessee, LSU, and MissSt who finished 11-2, 10-4, and 9-4. If they lose those three and go 9-3 their best wins are over 8-5 Ole Miss and Texas teams. That is a decent season but nowhere close to great and, in my view, not close to NC worthy.

Michigan:
Their best two opponents were tOSU and PSU who each finished 11-2. After that it is either Purdue (finished 8-6) or an 8-5 pick-em of Iowa, Illinois, or Maryland. Same as tOSU/Bama.

Georgia:
Their best three opponents were Tennessee, Oregon, and MissSt who finished 11-2, 10-3, and 9-4. If they lose those three and finish 9-3 their best win is over 8-5 USCe. Same as tOSU/Bama/M.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 20, 2023, 04:54:31 PM
I think all of us here agree that there are not 12 NC worthy teams any given season

“Deserves got nothing to do with it.”

https://youtu.be/10XXtoCjk5c
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 20, 2023, 04:57:01 PM
PAC was tougher than the ACC is what I'm talking about.
Beat 3-8 CU by 3.
Beat 6-6 ASU by 6.
Beat 5-6 Stanford by 3.
Beat 5-6 Arizona by 3.
Beat 6-6 UCLA by 7.

What are you talking about???

FSU beat the shit out of 6-6 UNC.
Beat the shit out of 6-6 UL.
Beat the shit out of 6-6 UVA.
Beat the shit out of ranked NCST.
Beat the shit out of #10 Clemson.
.
Miami beat the shit out of 7-5 WV.
Beat the shit out of #2 VT.
Beat the shit out of 7-5 Pitt.
Beat the shit out of 6-5 SU.
Beat the shit out of 7-5 BC.
.
FSU, Miami, and Warshington played a lot of average teams.  FSU and Miami beat the hell out of them and UW barely scraped by.
That matters.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 20, 2023, 04:57:52 PM
I think all of us here agree that there are not 12 NC worthy teams any given season

“Deserves got nothing to do with it.”

https://youtu.be/10XXtoCjk5c
Yup.
12 = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 20, 2023, 05:10:20 PM
I think the case of the BCS forcing the nerds to eliminate MOV was a classic example of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. 

As I saw it, the BCS leaders concerns with including MOV were mostly:

My proposal was to include MOV but with a cap and also with some consideration of how close the game was. 

Specifically, I would have taken the sum of the point differential at halftime, the point differential at the end of the third quarter, and the final MOV with the following limits:

Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 20, 2023, 05:33:30 PM
We formed a computer poll here years back and took the square root of MOV.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 20, 2023, 07:07:51 PM
I think the case of the BCS forcing the nerds to eliminate MOV was a classic example of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

As I saw it, the BCS leaders concerns with including MOV were mostly:

  • It would give NC Contending coaches a motivation to run up scores on hapless opponents.
  • It would permit teams with relatively weak SoS to overcome that by putting up Playstation #'s.
  • It can be misleading.
My proposal was to include MOV but with a cap and also with some consideration of how close the game was.

Specifically, I would have taken the sum of the point differential at halftime, the point differential at the end of the third quarter, and the final MOV with the following limits:
  • Any OT game is scored as a 1 point win.
  • The differential is capped at 21 at each point so the maximum is 63.
  • If the winning team has a negative total, the totals are adjusted to +1 for the winner and -1 for the loser.


Anything requiring any amount of nuance just wasn't an option then or now. 

Yet at the same time, they wound up constructing a Frankenstein monster of computers, polls, simple SOS, bonus wins, etc.

Ugh.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 20, 2023, 07:17:00 PM
I blame Michigan for the BCS
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 21, 2023, 09:53:16 AM
Anything requiring any amount of nuance just wasn't an option then or now.
I think the nuance would have been ok because most people don't understand the computer rankings anyway so changing from one formula they don't understand to another formula they don't understand wouldn't be a big deal.

I kinda like the square root idea posited above by @Cincydawg (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=870) but I think that might be too nuanced. With a cap of 21 you could just say "It is capped at 21 to disincentivise piling points on hapless opponents." The square root thing more-or-less accomplishes the same thing but it is too complicated for a lot of people.

I don't know if the computers already do this but I think it is very important to look not just at final score but at what the committee has called "game control".

The examples I always use are two Ohio State games that I attended:
In the mid-90's the Buckeyes had a game against Iowa in which Ohio State just obliterated the Hawkeyes. At one point Ohio State led 56-0 and the game was never in doubt. However, Ohio State's backups, third stringers, waterboys, cheerleaders, and mascots got outscored 35-0 such that the final score was "only" a three-TD, 56-35 win.

About a decade later the Buckeyes beat Penn State in a tough and very competitive defensive slugfest. In the first ~55 minutes of the game the only difference was that Ohio State had done better in goal line situations such that the Buckeyes had a 14-6 lead on two scores for each team. With time running out Paterno was compelled to let his QB sling it around and Ohio State promptly scored 14 points on back-to-back pick-6's for an impressive looking final score of 28-6.

I use those two examples to illustrate the point that the final score can be misleading. In the tOSU/Iowa game the Buckeyes could have won by 100 if they had wanted to and the 21 point MOV severely understates Ohio State's level of dominance. In the tOSU/PSU game it was a hard fought game and the 22 point MOV severely overstates Ohio State's level of dominance.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on July 21, 2023, 10:14:53 AM
I think the nuance would have been ok because most people don't understand the computer rankings anyway so changing from one formula they don't understand to another formula they don't understand wouldn't be a big deal.
The problem with the computer rankings had nothing to do with the model and whether it needs to be "tweaked".

The problem with the computer rankings was that it was an objective model, and every time it differed from the subjective human "eye test", we assumed that meant the computers must be wrong. 

If the computers always basically agreed with the flawed and subjective gray matter of fleshy "experts", then we would accept them. When they didn't, we blamed the computers, not the "experts". 
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 21, 2023, 10:20:27 AM
tweaking the formula each season to try to fix the result from the previous season was silly

each season is different

Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on July 21, 2023, 10:39:58 AM
tweaking the formula each season to try to fix the result from the previous season was silly

each season is different
Yeah, but it all stems from the same idea: "The computers disagreed with our polls, so the computers are wrong. We have to fix the model to make it right."

In some cases, that's true. I think it's CD who always says "all models are wrong; some of them are useful". I think this goes beyond that concept. It was the idea that the models weren't wrong because of flawed ideas, it was that they were wrong because they disagreed with human polls. And they needed to be "tweaked" to come in line.

Which made them ultimately superfluous. We would only accept them if they agreed with us, and if they agreed with us, we had no need for them. 
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 21, 2023, 10:42:18 AM
That is what I think "we" learned when we did our own computer poll back when.  If it generated something odd, we "fixed" it, to the point it basically aligned with the human polls, more or less.  

This is a problem with climate modeling as well, they all have to align with past records (hoping they are accurate).  If they don't, they get adjusted.

Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 21, 2023, 11:14:31 AM
wasn't there other stupid tweaks that didn't include the computers?

I can't remember the exact deal, but wasn't there a clause regarding being ranked in the top 4 or something, maybe the "Iowa Rule"?

While the determining of Nos. 1 and 2 was easy, there was some controversy over the at-large selections. USC became the first school to automatically qualify under the "Kansas State" rule, which was unfortunate. Since there was no nearby bowl for them to play in (the Fiesta had the title game, and the Rose didn't want an all-Pac-10 game), the Trojans ended up in Miami. The other at-large spot was considered to be between Iowa and Notre Dame until Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said a week before selections that Iowa would be the choice. We're not sure if that had been decided by the committee or if Delany was simply exerting influence, but it did end up being Iowa. Iowa was third in the polls but only fifth in the BCS rankings. The Irish were outside the top 10 of the polls but ninth in the BCS. That would be the only time an eligible Notre Dame team was passed over.

If the soon-to-be-launched four-team playoff were in place: The fourth seed is a tough call. Iowa was third in the polls. The next highest-rated conference champion was Pac-10 co-champ USC, which was fifth in the polls but played the best schedule. USC did not play in the Rose Bowl because it lost a tiebreaker to Washington State, but I don’t believe that would matter to a selection committee. If Iowa’s only loss had come to Ohio State instead of to Iowa State, the Hawkeyes might have gotten the nod, anyway, but they didn’t play the Buckeyes.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: utee94 on July 21, 2023, 11:40:55 AM
Why do people refer to them as "computer polls?" 

Who are the computers polling, to determine their rankings?

Also why do people refer to the poll voters as "pollsters?"  Pollsters are the people who administer a poll, not the people who vote in a poll.  Those are just "voters."

So we have computer rankings, and voters.  Let's get this vocabulary straight, folks.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: rolltidefan on July 21, 2023, 12:51:47 PM
That wasn't my scenario, it was @Cincydawg (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=870) .

Anyway, what I really don't like about it is that for a lot of our teams, if they lose three games against their best three opponents, who did they beat?

Looking at last year:
Ohio State:
Their best three opponents were Michigan, Penn State, and Notre Dame who finished 13-1, 11-2, and 9-4. If they lose those three and go 9-3 their best wins are over 8-5 Iowa and Maryland teams. That is a decent season but nowhere close to great and, in my view, not close to NC worthy.

Alabama:
Their best three opponents were Tennessee, LSU, and MissSt who finished 11-2, 10-4, and 9-4. If they lose those three and go 9-3 their best wins are over 8-5 Ole Miss and Texas teams. That is a decent season but nowhere close to great and, in my view, not close to NC worthy.

Michigan:
Their best two opponents were tOSU and PSU who each finished 11-2. After that it is either Purdue (finished 8-6) or an 8-5 pick-em of Iowa, Illinois, or Maryland. Same as tOSU/Bama.

Georgia:
Their best three opponents were Tennessee, Oregon, and MissSt who finished 11-2, 10-3, and 9-4. If they lose those three and finish 9-3 their best win is over 8-5 USCe. Same as tOSU/Bama/M.
agreed.

i guess 'those that be' have decided that the risk of having an "unworthy" playoff participant is more desirable than the risk of having a "worthy" participant not able to participate.

there's not a 'clean' answer that removes unworthy while assuring all worthy are included. i don't have an issue either way, tbh. i guess i fall under inclusion more than exclusion. what i don't like, i guess, is even among the 'unworthy', there are levels. and i don't want one of the inclusion automatics to be something that allows a borderline bowl team into the playoffs over someone that was a borderline bcs team (but otherwise clear high-bowl team). neither might be 'worthy' of the cfp, but one is wholly unworthy while the other is at least questionable.

i guess we could go through and say 'this year it's 5, this year it's 2, this year it's 9' etc. but that won't ever happen and would be a logistics nightmare.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 21, 2023, 01:29:33 PM
I suspect most 3 loss teams would have lost in at least one upset.  Take last season, say UGA loses to Mizzou, Tenn, and Georgia Tech, but win the SEC and is 10-3.  They'd make a 12 team playoff, they might even be a top 4 seed (depending).
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 21, 2023, 01:36:49 PM
Def not a top 4 seed.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 21, 2023, 01:38:25 PM
I suspect most 3 loss teams would have lost in at least one upset.  Take last season, say UGA loses to Mizzou, Tenn, and Georgia Tech, but win the SEC and is 10-3.  They'd make a 12 team playoff, they might even be a top 4 seed (depending).
You are probably right but I don't think it changes much.  Looking at my examples from above:
Ohio State:
Ok, if they beat one of Michigan/Penn State/Notre Dame but then lose to a lesser team they have a good win but they also have a bad loss.  That is a wash to me.  Same applies to Bama, Michigan, and Georgia.  
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 21, 2023, 01:40:56 PM
2 things:
a - who was afraid of teams running up the score?  As if these longtime successful HCs were suddenly going to change their ways to appeal to a computer they didn't understand, lol.  It was stupid to worry about that.
b - if voters are too lazy to understand a blowout turned into a closer game with late, meaningless scores, then they shouldn't be a voter.  Like half of the coaches had someone else do it, right?  if the voter can't be bothered to even watch a highlight show, find someone else who will.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 21, 2023, 01:47:00 PM
You are probably right but I don't think it changes much.  Looking at my examples from above:
Ohio State:
Ok, if they beat one of Michigan/Penn State/Notre Dame but then lose to a lesser team they have a good win but they also have a bad loss.  That is a wash to me.  Same applies to Bama, Michigan, and Georgia. 
It doesn't change anything in terms of rankings, I'd agree, but it's a more likely scenario than presuming a team loses only to the best 2 teams it faced.  And I think voters could be more willing to forgive an upset loss and then credit a big win, but that is debateable.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 21, 2023, 02:22:35 PM
i guess we could go through and say 'this year it's 5, this year it's 2, this year it's 9' etc. but that won't ever happen and would be a logistics nightmare.
I think it was @ELA (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=55) who first said years ago that the ideal would be a flexible playoff where we include the number of teams needed.  Looking at past years:
2022:  Georgia and Michigan were undefeated league champions.  No need to include Ohio State (lost to M) nor TCU (didn't win their league) so just have UGA and M play in a NCG.  

2021:  Bama and Michigan were 1-loss league champions.  No need to include UGA (lost to Bama in SECCG) nor Cincy (laughable SoS) so just have Bama and M play in a NCG.  

2019 (skipped 2020 due to pandemic altered season):  LSU, tOSU, and Clemson were undefeated league champs but you need a fourth to balance the schedule so do what we did with LSU v OU, tOSU v Clemson.  

2018:  Bama and Clemson were undefeated league champs so they are obviously in.  Notre Dame was 12-0 so you pretty much have to give them a shot.  Oklahoma and Ohio State were both 1-loss league champions so one (or both) of them would be next.  The sixth and seventh strongest arguments belonged to UGA (lost SECCG to Bama) and UCF (12-0 but laughable SoS).  The eighth would be either 10-2 Michigan or 10-3 P12 Champ Washington depending on how heavily you weight league titles.  If it were up to me I'd do a six-team field with ND/UCF and OU/tOSU playing for spots against Bama and Clemson.  That excludes UGA and Michigan but they both had two losses and didn't win their respective leagues and it forces undefeated ND to play in the first round but tough luck, you didn't win a league title game like Bama and Clemson did.  

2017:  Clemson, Oklahoma, and Georgia were all 12-1 league champions so they are obviously in.  After that it gets tricky.  The other two league champs were 11-2 tOSU (lost to OU and Iowa) and 11-2 USC (lost to WSU and ND).  Also in consideration would be a 12-1 Wisconsin team whose only loss was in the B1GCG and an 11-1 Bama team.  Auburn was a really odd duck that year.  They had wins over both Bama and Georgia and both were big wins (12 and 13 points) but they also had three losses to Clemson, LSU, and UGA.  I'd go with an eight-team field of:
Fun match-ups:
Then in the next round:

2016:  Bama was an undefeated league champion so you could just give them the title and call it a day.  If we have to have at least one postseason game then I'd take a three-team field of Bama (bye), Clemson, and Washington as those two were the only two 12-1 league champions.  

2015:  Clemson was an undefeated league champion so you could just give them the title and call it a day.  If we have to have at least one postseason game then I'd take a three-team field of Clemson (bye), Bama, and MSU but that excludes 11-1 Oklahoma.  

2014:  Florida State was an undefeated league champion so you could just give them the title and call it a day.  The problem is that FSU looked shaky all year even in a pretty weak ACC.  Bama, Oregon, and Ohio State were all 12-1 league champions while Baylor and TCU were 11-1 co-champions of the B12.  I'd go with a six team field giving byes to FSU (undefeated) and Bama (highest ranked of the 1-loss teams).  Thus, Oregon/TCU and Baylor/tOSU would play for spots against FSU and Bama.  

This is a fun thought experiment and it is theoretically ideal but you are right, the logistics would be a nightmare and it would never actually be adopted.  
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: utee94 on July 21, 2023, 02:42:30 PM
Shiner and Hooky advocated for a flexible postseason many, many years ago.  AAA might have as well.

It's a fine idea, that will never happen because of money.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 21, 2023, 03:04:55 PM
i guess 'those that be' have decided that the risk of having an "unworthy" playoff participant is more desirable than the risk of having a "worthy" participant not able to participate.

there's not a 'clean' answer that removes unworthy while assuring all worthy are included. i don't have an issue either way, tbh. i guess i fall under inclusion more than exclusion. what i don't like, i guess, is even among the 'unworthy', there are levels. and i don't want one of the inclusion automatics to be something that allows a borderline bowl team into the playoffs over someone that was a borderline bcs team (but otherwise clear high-bowl team). neither might be 'worthy' of the cfp, but one is wholly unworthy while the other is at least questionable.
My concern isn't so much the idea of an "unworthy" champion for several reasons:

My issue is that it degrades the importance of regular season games and I think that ultimately might end up killing the golden goose.  With no playoff, a two-team playoff, or a 4-team playoff there are 1-loss teams that miss the NC.  As an Ohio State fan I know this well because it happened to my team in 2015 (MSU) and 2018 (Purdue).  A second loss has ended the NC hope of EVERY team that has ever had a second loss except LSU in 2007.  


I care a LOT about my teams' games, even the random mid-season games because I've seen losses in random mid-season games derail potential NC teams.  I also care about YOUR teams' random mid-season games because they matter to my team in terms of spots available.  Ie, if Bama beats either Tennessee (lost by 3) or LSU (lost by 1) last year, my team misses the playoff.  Thus, it gives us a motivation to watch each others' teams' games.  

Once we expand to 12 and give guaranteed berths to the league champions, I don't think that fans like you and I will be counting spots anymore because there are too many moving parts and too many games that are effectively a wash.  Ie, Ohio State/Michigan is a wash if they are both in regardless or if they have the same record.  Same for Bama/Auburn so you no longer have a reason to care about THE GAME and I no longer have a reason to care about the Iron Bowl.  

I think that once the 12-team playoff is force, I'll care less about non-tOSU games and just figure that if Ohio State is at least decent (9-3), they'll probably get in.  I'll also care less about individual tOSU games because if they lose a random mid-season game to Purdue or MSU there will no longer be any chance of that individual loss knocking them out.  
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 21, 2023, 03:06:45 PM
Shiner and Hooky advocated for a flexible postseason many, many years ago.  AAA might have as well.

It's a fine idea, that will never happen because of money.
To be fair, even if money weren't the deciding factor, I don't think it would ever happen for two reasons:

Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 21, 2023, 03:46:00 PM
Logistics would be easy with a "+1 as needed" method.  
Play your bowls and if 2 undefeateds are left standing (a la 2004), you have the +1 game.  You schedule it as if it's needed and if not, a venue stands empty for a day.  No big deal.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 21, 2023, 04:15:02 PM
I will be somewhat "amused"? if Ohio State has to go to UGA some year in the first round and the weather is awful.  The Peach Bowl was famous for horrid weather back in the day.  UGA seriously might opt for the dome ... (???????) ...

We could go back in time and see who might have made the 12, but 11-2 would do it for a P5, and 10-3 would at times.


December 7, 2008 AP Football Poll

This year had a bunch of G5s in the top 12.  Would you include both Utah and BSU?  The top 4 would be UF/OU/USC/PSU.

December 7, 2008 Football Polls | College Poll Archive (http://www.collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=988)




Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on July 21, 2023, 04:38:36 PM
I will be somewhat "amused"? if Ohio State has to go to UGA some year in the first round and the weather is awful.  The Peach Bowl was famous for horrid weather back in the day.  UGA seriously might opt for the dome ... (???????) ...

We could go back in time and see who might have made the 12, but 11-2 would do it for a P5, and 10-3 would at times.


December 7, 2008 AP Football Poll
That copy/paste was a nightmare so here it is simplified:
So, as I understand it, the match-ups would be:
First Round:
Then, assuming no reseeding, the second round (neutral site) games would be:
Then the Semi-Finals would be:

Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 21, 2023, 04:51:00 PM
The selection of course won't be off the AP poll.  It would be similar probably, but I'd guess they would pick someone other than Cincy.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: utee94 on July 21, 2023, 05:20:39 PM
Logistics would be easy with a "+1 as needed" method. 
Play your bowls and if 2 undefeateds are left standing (a la 2004), you have the +1 game.  You schedule it as if it's needed and if not, a venue stands empty for a day.  No big deal.


It's the uncertainty that's the problem.  Playing, or not playing, a game, with only a few weeks' notice, doesn't give the various venues, hotels, and other needed support infrastructure, enough time to prepare and respond.  Especially considering that some or all of these games will be played around the holidays. 

An 80,000-100,000 seat venue can't just line up all of the necessary employee resources for an event, from parking to concessions to security to administrative staff, and then a week before, say "sorry just kidding, go home, no pay."

That's actually a particularly asinine idea.

Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 21, 2023, 05:23:43 PM
Oh, I can't wait for the semis to be 2 rematches!  

The more alike cfb is to the NFL, the more it simply becomes a worse brand of football.  Cfb is being turned into the USFL.  
For money.
FML
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 21, 2023, 05:26:06 PM
It's the uncertainty that's the problem.  Playing, or not playing, a game, with only a few weeks' notice, doesn't give the various venues, hotels, and other needed support infrastructure, enough time to prepare and respond.  Especially considering that some or all of these games will be played around the holidays.

An 80,000-100,000 seat venue can't just line up all of the necessary employee resources for an event, from parking to concessions to security to administrative staff, and then a week before, say "sorry just kidding, go home, no pay."

That's actually a particularly asinine idea.


A +1 as needed would be mid-late January and it's always treated as if it's going to be played.
Hotel cancelations, food stuffs, parking attendants, etc would know 2 weeks out if it's cancelled.
I don't see the problem.  Maybe there's a 25% payout to everyone for the trouble, which is factored into the financials.  But it's completely doable.  
The years in which it's not needed simply means everyone has more time on their hands.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on July 21, 2023, 05:28:52 PM
It's the uncertainty that's the problem.  Playing, or not playing, a game, with only a few weeks' notice, doesn't give the various venues, hotels, and other needed support infrastructure, enough time to prepare and respond.  Especially considering that some or all of these games will be played around the holidays.

An 80,000-100,000 seat venue can't just line up all of the necessary employee resources for an event, from parking to concessions to security to administrative staff, and then a week before, say "sorry just kidding, go home, no pay."

That's actually a particularly asinine idea.
Exactly right. It's a logistical nightmare to have that many resources built into a "maybe". 

"Amateurs talk strategy and professionals talk logistics." - US Army General Omar Bradley
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: Cincydawg on July 21, 2023, 07:34:21 PM
https://quotefancy.com/quote/870186/Napoleon-The-amateurs-discuss-tactics-the-professionals-discuss-logistics
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 21, 2023, 11:09:07 PM
Actually.. (https://kslsports.com/447509/byu-football-coastal-carolina-announced/)
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: 847badgerfan on July 22, 2023, 09:37:57 AM
It's the uncertainty that's the problem.  Playing, or not playing, a game, with only a few weeks' notice, doesn't give the various venues, hotels, and other needed support infrastructure, enough time to prepare and respond.  Especially considering that some or all of these games will be played around the holidays.

An 80,000-100,000 seat venue can't just line up all of the necessary employee resources for an event, from parking to concessions to security to administrative staff, and then a week before, say "sorry just kidding, go home, no pay."

That's actually a particularly asinine idea.


This.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 22, 2023, 03:34:07 PM
UNL would be OK with it or OK with telling them there's going to be an event in 5 days
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: rolltidefan on July 24, 2023, 04:52:27 PM
My concern isn't so much the idea of an "unworthy" champion for several reasons:
  • In a 12-team playoff the champion will have won three or four games against high-end opposition.  Prior to a few years ago doing that in an entire season was somewhat rare.  The winner will be "worthy" once they've completed that gauntlet. 
  • I don't think it is going to happen anyway.  Expanding the playoff to two and then four has already REDUCED the chances of a weakling like BYU winning the NC and expanding it to 12 will just further reduce those chances. 
  • I'm not sure how much I care anyway. 

My issue is that it degrades the importance of regular season games and I think that ultimately might end up killing the golden goose.  With no playoff, a two-team playoff, or a 4-team playoff there are 1-loss teams that miss the NC.  As an Ohio State fan I know this well because it happened to my team in 2015 (MSU) and 2018 (Purdue).  A second loss has ended the NC hope of EVERY team that has ever had a second loss except LSU in 2007. 


I care a LOT about my teams' games, even the random mid-season games because I've seen losses in random mid-season games derail potential NC teams.  I also care about YOUR teams' random mid-season games because they matter to my team in terms of spots available.  Ie, if Bama beats either Tennessee (lost by 3) or LSU (lost by 1) last year, my team misses the playoff.  Thus, it gives us a motivation to watch each others' teams' games. 

Once we expand to 12 and give guaranteed berths to the league champions, I don't think that fans like you and I will be counting spots anymore because there are too many moving parts and too many games that are effectively a wash.  Ie, Ohio State/Michigan is a wash if they are both in regardless or if they have the same record.  Same for Bama/Auburn so you no longer have a reason to care about THE GAME and I no longer have a reason to care about the Iron Bowl. 

I think that once the 12-team playoff is force, I'll care less about non-tOSU games and just figure that if Ohio State is at least decent (9-3), they'll probably get in.  I'll also care less about individual tOSU games because if they lose a random mid-season game to Purdue or MSU there will no longer be any chance of that individual loss knocking them out. 
1 - we're not talking about a worthy title winner, we're taking about worthy playoff participants. anyone that wins the playoff will have won it fair, i'm sure. but getting that chance should be difficult.
2 - i'm not talking about a weak but good record BYU. i'm talking about a 6-6/7-5 ga tech or ole miss sec title winner. it hasn't happened yet, but it's come eerily close  a few times. and with some (most/all?) conferences moving to a non-division format, this become almost moot. but i don't want a lucked up conference winner getting in.

agree fully on degrading reg season.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on July 24, 2023, 05:07:05 PM
2 - i'm not talking about a weak but good record BYU. i'm talking about a 6-6/7-5 ga tech or ole miss sec title winner. it hasn't happened yet, but it's come eerily close  a few times. and with some (most/all?) conferences moving to a non-division format, this become almost moot. but i don't want a lucked up conference winner getting in.
I actually think a lucked up conference championship winner getting in is a good thing. If anything, the CFP as it stands today devalues conference championships.

Because you can win your conference at say 10-3 and you get what? A meaningless bowl game. While a team that perhaps didn't even make it to their conference championship and finished at 11-1 might get into the CFP, and DEFINITELY will get into the 12-team playoff.

Or worse---you get into your conference championship at 9-3. The other division team gets in at 12-0. You win in a nailbiter to get to 10-3 and then you watch as you're excluded from the CFP while the 12-1 team that you just beat gets included.

I think the first goal of any team is winning your conference. This means you'll get a real reward for doing it. 

----------

For me, I think the advantage of a 12-team playoff is that you have enough teams that you're really not leaving anyone "worthy" out. The cost of that is the chance that your inclusion criteria means that you might have an "unworthy" team in the playoff. But if that team is truly unworthy, they'll lose over the course of four games. And if they win 4 straight games against that level of competition, maybe they're more worthy than you thought?
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: utee94 on July 24, 2023, 05:31:41 PM
A +1 as needed would be mid-late January and it's always treated as if it's going to be played.
Hotel cancelations, food stuffs, parking attendants, etc would know 2 weeks out if it's cancelled.
I don't see the problem.  Maybe there's a 25% payout to everyone for the trouble, which is factored into the financials.  But it's completely doable. 
The years in which it's not needed simply means everyone has more time on their hands.
That'sNotHowAnyOfThisWorks.jpg
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: bayareabadger on July 24, 2023, 07:38:37 PM
The problem with the computer rankings had nothing to do with the model and whether it needs to be "tweaked".

The problem with the computer rankings was that it was an objective model, and every time it differed from the subjective human "eye test", we assumed that meant the computers must be wrong.

If the computers always basically agreed with the flawed and subjective gray matter of fleshy "experts", then we would accept them. When they didn't, we blamed the computers, not the "experts".
Also worth nothing, there’s often no consensus right answer. So someone was always gonna be mad, thus, a less fleshy system to resolve things.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: bayareabadger on July 24, 2023, 07:45:50 PM
It's the uncertainty that's the problem.  Playing, or not playing, a game, with only a few weeks' notice, doesn't give the various venues, hotels, and other needed support infrastructure, enough time to prepare and respond.  Especially considering that some or all of these games will be played around the holidays.

An 80,000-100,000 seat venue can't just line up all of the necessary employee resources for an event, from parking to concessions to security to administrative staff, and then a week before, say "sorry just kidding, go home, no pay."

That's actually a particularly asinine idea.


I don’t care for the “+1” because when push comes to shove, we’ll just change what we need to argue about to if we need it this year.

But it feels like the NFL does rally all that stuff and then drop it a week later, right? The home element is a bit different, but not impossible.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: MaximumSam on July 24, 2023, 07:47:22 PM
Exactly right. It's a logistical nightmare to have that many resources built into a "maybe".

"Amateurs talk strategy and professionals talk logistics." - US Army General Omar Bradley

Somehow every professional league can accomplish this task but colleges can't? Must not be taking our best and brightest.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 24, 2023, 10:46:25 PM
the NFL doesn't tweak their system every other season to try to "fix" it
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 24, 2023, 11:01:15 PM
That'sNotHowAnyOfThisWorks.jpg

Like would there be any shortage of money? 
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 24, 2023, 11:01:46 PM
the NFL doesn't tweak their system every other season to try to "fix" it
That's how they end up with 9-7 teams becoming legendary Super Bowl champions.  Fuck that.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 24, 2023, 11:04:09 PM
well, we'll just wait for all the tweaking in college football to finally come up with the same system
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: utee94 on July 24, 2023, 11:06:48 PM
Like would there be any shortage of money?

But that's exactly it.  There will never be an optional +1, because why would you only accept the money in some years, when you could just build into the system that you get it every year?

From the standpoint of competition, I get it.  I've supported the Shiner and Hooky Flexible Postseason Format for a couple of decades now.

But in reality, you'd be leaving money on the table in any year when you didn't have the +1 game.  Which is why that format was never going to be an option.
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: FearlessF on July 24, 2023, 11:07:33 PM
follow the $$$
Title: Re: Phil Steele's Top 25
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on July 24, 2023, 11:08:20 PM
But that's exactly it.  There will never be an optional +1, because why would you only accept the money in some years, when you could just build into the system that you get it every year?

From the standpoint of competition, I get it.  I've supported the Shiner and Hooky Flexible Postseason Format for a couple of decades now.

But in reality, you'd be leaving money on the table in any year when you didn't have the +1 game.  Which is why that format was never going to be an option.
Gotcha, thanks.