De facto 16 team playoff...

...is what we should have right now, at least in theory. There are essentially several “octo final” games played throughout the season to get to the CCG which should serve as a “quarter final” for each conference.
So Bama lost its first playoff game in everything but name to LSU. LSU now advances to its “quarter final” game against UGA in the SECCG and the winner advances to the semi finals and then is in the playoffs “officially “.
If the committee would look at the Bama/LSU game as a first round playoff game and not try to give them a mulligan for some weaselly eye test criteria, then the system would be just about as good as possible.
Thought experiment: if we had played LSU instead of aTm and lost 46-41, would they still be talking about how we could still make the playoffs?

clemson2003

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Re: De facto 16 team playoff...

Nov 11, 2019, 11:37 AM

To your last point I'd say it would depend on our schedule of course. We'd probably still be in the conversation just as Alabama will be in it, but that doesn't mean we'd get in, just as it doesn't mean they will. I could even see Bama being #4 tomorrow night, but getting passed in the rankings at the end of the year by the winning of the Oregon-Utah game. I mean, we've gotten in twice in the past with a loss so it's not as if we haven't gotten in despite a loss before.

I sort of agree with your first point. I don't think a team should automatically eliminated with a loss, or by not winning their conference, but I do think it should take a lot for them to still get in. I personally didn't have a problem with Bama getting in 2 years ago because it was between them and a 2 loss Ohio State team that had been blown out twice with one of the blowouts coming from a 7-5 team. I don't think a one loss team that doesn't win their conference should get in over an unbeaten or 1 loss P5 conference champion though.

Where I would take your point and agree though is an example from the SEC Championship game last year. I don't think the loser of that game should get in regardless because that is a clear playoff game IMO. The game was on a neutral field, both teams knew they'd be in with a win, and both teams knew they would very possibly be left out with a loss. If you can't win that game on a neutral field against a team that makes the playoffs then why do you deserve a rematch with them on a different neutral field just a few weeks later?

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Re: De facto 16 team playoff...

Great point on "thought experiment"

Re: De facto 16 team playoff...

A 4 team playoff seemingly makes every regular season game

Re: De facto 16 team playoff...

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