Initial College Football Playoff Rankings Released

[Gunnerclone]

I am not 100% sure I agree, but this would be a very reasonable argument based on the facts.

Unfortunately, the committee is not really about facts. It's about branding. Brand Notre Dame >> Brand Iowa.

Not a slight against Iowa, just the NCAA protects the OSUs, Bamas, and other blue bloods. Teams like TCU, Baylor, Iowa... well, we can always find an excuse to drop them.

It depends on who ends up where, but a 1-loss Bama will absolutely get in before an undefeated TCU. You can argue the merits either way, but it doesn't really matter. You might think this is a cynical view, but can one ever be too cynical about how the NCAA operates?

This is why the "13-0 hoks are 100% in" thinking is crazy.

On a side note. I'm really losing the last vestiges of respect I had for hok fans. It would be fine if they stuck with their "we don't care" "it's all going to play out" line but they have gone FULL BUTTHURT. Trent Condom is the latest "I DON'T CARE/I CARE SO MUCH" victim. Go get-em Pantherhok.

 

[Judoka]

Trolling Iowa is fun and all but there's already a thread for that. I haven't seen any non fringe Iowa fan ***** about their placement in these rankings. Oklahoma State was the undefeated P5 team that got shafted.

 

[Gunnerclone]

I wonder if the committee looks at Iowa's lack of fan support this season as part of their "Eye test".

 

[tm3308]

As has been repeated many times, are hok fans the only ones that can't see the remaining schedule?

I find it hard to believe that hok fan would be okay with being rated say #4 right now and then sliding down the chain even while winning because of the NAIA schedule they play.

1. I'm well aware of the remaining schedule. It's awful until MSU/OSU in the B1G title game. That's SUPPOSED to be irrelevant to the committee. They claim that they don't predict the future, but rather base their rankings on what teams have done so far. If that were the case, Iowa would be ranked higher than #9 right now.

2. I'd be perfectly okay sliding from the top 4/5/6 for the next month despite winning. I know these rankings don't work the same way as the traditional polls, and other teams (particularly teams in the Big 12 and SEC) will have ample opportunities to get wins strong enough to leap Iowa.

I won't have a problem with Iowa being outside the top 4 at 12-0, because by then the overall resume won't be as strong as those of other teams in contention. Hell, I don't even have a problem with Iowa being out of the top 4 right now. But the reasons being given for not ranking Iowa higher don't make sense, based on the data available. What I have a problem with is ESPN acting like the resume to date is just as weak, relative to the other contenders', as it will be in a few weeks. Because that's not even close to true. And if the committee wants to base its rankings on future projections, then it needs to say that's what it's doing, instead of confusing everyone with answers that would make even the best politicians proud. I just can't stand the moving targets when it comes to how they determine which teams are better than others. And to be honest, while Iowa has a legitimate gripe, Florida's is much more so. No way is the disparity between Florida an Alabama's resumes large enough to warrant such a large gap in the rankings.

I do believe Iowa will get in if they go 13-0. Teams in front of them are going to lose, and a win over the East winner (especially if it were a 12-0 OSU) will very likely be enough to jump whoever's left standing between them and the final four.

 

[NickTheGreat]

I just hope all this bullcrap brings on the 8 team playoff.

 

[hawkfan]

This is why the "13-0 hoks are 100% in" thinking is crazy.

No, it's not crazy at all.

A 13-0 conference champion that defeated a previously undefeated defending national champion in their last game of the season (tOSU) would never get left out. If there were five undefeated conference champs to send, I could see the logic. With the PAC not having an undefeated, and ND having a loss, there is a 0% chance a 13-0 Iowa would get left out.

Any other line of thought is sheer idiocy. If Iowa went to the Rose Bowl at 13-0 and beat Stanford (or whoever else the PAC sends) to go 14-0, the entire playoff system would be a joke after year two - the committee would be forced to protect the system and put Iowa in the top four.

Again, going 13-0 with your last win being against the previously unbeaten defending national champion guarantees you a spot - there's no way that isn't accurate if you're a P5 conference champ.

With CJB likely to be unhealthy the rest of the year and Drew Ott being out, Iowa won't likely beat tOSU anyway, so this is a moot point, but if I proposed the above scenario to you using "Team A" and "Team B" 100% of people would agree that the undefeated P5 champion gets in, especially with their last win being impressive like that and there only being a maximum of four P5 undefeated conference champions.

 

[rosebowliowa]

The ranking doesn't bother me whatsoever. They have us higher than the AP, coaches, and even ESPN's own self-serving FPI. And I love being in the discussion. We all thought we were toast as a program, just waiting for Kirk to finally ride off into the sunset. Less than a season later we're in the playoff discussion.

The issue Iowa fans have is the double talk and the flat out lies. Like Pollard saying we have the worst SOS among P5 unbeatens (it's third). Or Long saying they value offense/defense balance, then saying that Baylor and TCU are above Iowa because they have flashy offense. Whatever conference you're in, Iowa's average scoreline of 32.6 - 15.3 speaks to being effective on both sides of the ball. So, which is it, Mr. Long?

There are all kinds of theories about what happens to a 13-0 Iowa. There's enough football left they all sound reasonable. But think about it this way "The committee leaves out an undefeated P5 champion, in a year where there are not four other undefeated P5 champions." I simply don't think that will happen. But I would love to test it.

 

[cyhiphopp]

No, it's not crazy at all.

A 13-0 conference champion that defeated a previously undefeated defending national champion in their last game of the season (tOSU) would never get left out. If there were five undefeated conference champs to send, I could see the logic. With the PAC not having an undefeated, and ND having a loss, there is a 0% chance a 13-0 Iowa would get left out.

Any other line of thought is sheer idiocy. If Iowa went to the Rose Bowl at 13-0 and beat Stanford (or whoever else the PAC sends) to go 14-0, the entire playoff system would be a joke after year two - the committee would be forced to protect the system and put Iowa in the top four.

Again, going 13-0 with your last win being against the previously unbeaten defending national champion guarantees you a spot - there's no way that isn't accurate if you're a P5 conference champ.

With CJB likely to be unhealthy the rest of the year and Drew Ott being out, Iowa won't likely beat tOSU anyway, so this is a moot point, but if I proposed the above scenario to you using "Team A" and "Team B" 100% of people would agree that the undefeated P5 champion gets in, especially with their last win being impressive like that and there only being a maximum of four P5 undefeated conference champions.

0%?


What if MSU loses to tOSU and tOSU loses to Michigan. Then Iowa would beat a 1 loss team in the Big10 Championship.

They weigh that against a 1 loss Bama team and Iowa might get left out because all of a sudden the B1G isn't that great anymore.

 

[Gunnerclone]

0%?


What if MSU loses to tOSU and tOSU loses to Michigan. Then Iowa would beat a 1 loss team in the Big10 Championship.

They weigh that against a 1 loss Bama team and Iowa might get left out because all of a sudden the B1G isn't that great anymore.

BINGO.

 

[CyTwins]

You're misinterpreting. I'm the guy who predicted a disastrous 5 or 6 win season for Iowa this year. I'm not hurting over anything. AP has us #10 for several weeks. CF playoff poll has us #9, obviously a lot of stock in the beatdown we gave the #21 team in their house. Great season so far.

I don't think you know what the word several means

sev·er·al
ˈsev(ə)rəl/
determiner & pronoun
[COLOR=#878787 !important][/COLOR]

• 1.
  more than two but not many.
  
  
  

[h=3]adj(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many[/h]

 

[cyhiphopp]

I mean honestly, even if Iowa did beat an undefeated tOSU, the committee could write it off as a fluke win. A lot of other undefeated and one loss teams would have multiple better wins on their record.

I give credit to Iowa though. They are doing their job and winning. That's the only thing they can do. But they do not control their own destiny for the CFB playoffs.

 

[Clark]

0%?


What if MSU loses to tOSU and tOSU loses to Michigan. Then Iowa would beat a 1 loss team in the Big10 Championship.

They weigh that against a 1 loss Bama team and Iowa might get left out because all of a sudden the B1G isn't that great anymore.

well it's never happened in the history of college football has it? There's a first time for everything but you're going pretty far out on a limb to think they'd pick a 1 loss team over an undefeated power 5 team. It's easy to do the first week of November, it's a completely different ballgame to do it on the one that counts. If they weren't going to do drop FSU last year, you really think they'll do it this year?

 

[Gonzo]

I don't think you know what the word several means

sev·er·al
ˈsev(ə)rəl/
determiner & pronoun
[COLOR=#878787 !important][/COLOR]

• 1.
  more than two but not many.
  
  
  

adj(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

I was drunk.

 

[tm3308]

0%?


What if MSU loses to tOSU and tOSU loses to Michigan. Then Iowa would beat a 1 loss team in the Big10 Championship.

They weigh that against a 1 loss Bama team and Iowa might get left out because all of a sudden the B1G isn't that great anymore.

You missed where he said if Iowa were to be 13-0 and beat an undefeated OSU in the B1G title game. If the conference title game opponent isn't undefeated going in, then I can absolutely see a scenario where Iowa gets left out even if they won the game. But if it's 12-0 vs. 12-0 and Iowa wins, they're in.

 

[Gunnerclone]

well it's never happened in the history of college football has it? There's a first time for everything but you're going pretty far out on a limb to think they'd pick a 1 loss team over an undefeated power 5 team. It's easy to do the first week of November, it's a completely different ballgame to do it on the one that counts. If they weren't going to do drop FSU last year, you really think they'll do it this year?

Iowa's schedule is THAT bad. You must not have been paying attention last night. By the time Iowa gets to the B10 title game they could be down in the 12-14 range and no way they are beaming them up to #4 at that point.

 

[cyhiphopp]

well it's never happened in the history of college football has it? There's a first time for everything but you're going pretty far out on a limb to think they'd pick a 1 loss team over an undefeated power 5 team. It's easy to do the first week of November, it's a completely different ballgame to do it on the one that counts. If they weren't going to do drop FSU last year, you really think they'll do it this year?

FSU was the reigning National Champion. That kind of helped their resume.

I'm not guaranteeing that Iowa gets left out for a one loss team. I'm just saying there's a greater than 0% chance it could happen.

 

[CyTwins]

I was drunk.

I thought you didn't drink anymore JM?

 

[cyhiphopp]

You missed where he said if Iowa were to be 13-0 and beat an undefeated OSU in the B1G title game. If the conference title game opponent isn't undefeated going in, then I can absolutely see a scenario where Iowa gets left out even if they won the game. But if it's 12-0 vs. 12-0 and Iowa wins, they're in.

I did see where he said if blah blah blah. That's why I asked the counter question. I still think it's better than a 0% chance that an Iowa win over undefeated tOSU gets written off as a fluke though.

 

[Gunnerclone]

You missed where he said if Iowa were to be 13-0 and beat an undefeated OSU in the B1G title game. If the conference title game opponent isn't undefeated going in, then I can absolutely see a scenario where Iowa gets left out even if they won the game. But if it's 12-0 vs. 12-0 and Iowa wins, they're in.

I haven't heard any of the Iowa "talking heads" making this distinction. I just heard Trent Condom unequivocally state a 13-0 Iowa will be in the playoff. No qualifiers. That is false. Now they are perpetuating the same things they are railing ESPN for.

 

[canker2323]

Iowa's schedule is THAT bad. You must not have been paying attention last night. By the time Iowa gets to the B10 title game they could be down in the 12-14 range and no way they are beaming them up to #4 at that point.

Iowa won't drop that far if they are undefeated going into the Big Ten title game. There are too many teams ahead of them that will lose.