The SEC stranglehold on the hearts and minds

[Schnauzer]

There has been much discussion on 9 vs 8 conference games. Valid arguments and more stuff to consider on how it shapes polls and opinions as a four team playoff is scratched out among people trying to weigh the impossible: how good are teams that don't play each other, and ebb and flow throughout the season.

Again, my broken record... Nearly all this speculating and unfair politically motivated propping up of one conference over another can be wiped away by simply making it a playoff requirement to win one's conference.

A team goes 9-4 but wins its conference championship game? I'd much rather see that team in the playoff than a team that is 11-1 and didn't win its conference.

Never ever should a 2 loss non champ Georgia be ranked higher in the playoff rankings than a 1 loss conference champ Ohio State. Because when opinions dictate they deserve it after playing "unbeatable" Alabama closer than anyone else, and they then go out and lose their bowl game for their third loss and Alabama gets routed in the championship game - it is far too late to make it right.

 

[Gophers_4life]

TV will never allow conf champs only at 4 team bracket. Takes away potentially too many high ranked teams and potentially could destroy viewership. Not a risk they’re willing to take. And debatable if they’ll take it at 6 team bracket either. Could demand something like 3 or 4 highest ranked conf champs and then 3 or 2 highest ranked non-champs. Will be interesting to see if any deal can survive all the competing agendas, which includes college presidents as well. Might just kick the can and sign in for another round of what we have.

 

[Goldmember]

Among those 5 SEC teams that make up half of the Top 10 OOC are:
Alabama: Duke, New Mexico State, Southern Miss, Western Carolina
Georgia: Arkansas State, Murray State, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech.
Florida: Miami (FL), UT-Martin, Towson, FL State
Texas A&M: Texas State, Clemson, Lamar, UTSA
LSU: Texas, GA State, Northwestern State, Utah State

With Alabama playing nobody OOC next year, I don’t see much opportunity for ESPN’s narrative to be derailed. AL will likely be ranked #1 most of the year, with 3 of the other 4 in or around the Top 10, and a lot of CFP buzz for 2 SEC teams again based on their apparent “SOS”.

 

[BeerFueledFF]

Among those 5 SEC teams that make up half of the Top 10 OOC are:
Alabama: Duke, New Mexico State, Southern Miss, Western Carolina
Georgia: Arkansas State, Murray State, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech.
Florida: Miami (FL), UT-Martin, Towson, FL State
Texas A&M: Texas State, Clemson, Lamar, UTSA
LSU: Texas, GA State, Northwestern State, Utah State

With Alabama playing nobody OOC next year, I don’t see much opportunity for ESPN’s narrative to be derailed. AL will likely be ranked #1 most of the year, with 3 of the other 4 in or around the Top 10, and a lot of CFP buzz for 2 SEC teams again based on their apparent “SOS”.

Alabama and Florida should both be able to take care of their OOC schedule, as their only real opposition are questionable ACC teams

Georgia will actually have a tough game against Notre Dame, but might get a "Quality Loss" if they lose a close one to em. Same with Texas A&M against Clemson

LSU is the only one who could see a loss that actually hurts them a bit in Texas, as Texas is usually good for a let up game or two which depresses how they are viewed in the rankings.

 

[Gophers_4life]

Among those 5 SEC teams that make up half of the Top 10 OOC are:
Alabama: Duke, New Mexico State, Southern Miss, Western Carolina
Georgia: Arkansas State, Murray State, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech.
Florida: Miami (FL), UT-Martin, Towson, FL State
Texas A&M: Texas State, Clemson, Lamar, UTSA
LSU: Texas, GA State, Northwestern State, Utah State

With Alabama playing nobody OOC next year, I don’t see much opportunity for ESPN’s narrative to be derailed. AL will likely be ranked #1 most of the year, with 3 of the other 4 in or around the Top 10, and a lot of CFP buzz for 2 SEC teams again based on their apparent “SOS”.

Well, at least they're all playing 9 P5 teams at a minimum (10 for Georgia and Florida). LSU playing Texas is strong. But Alabama playing Duke is pretty weak, although Duke now is stronger than they have been historically.