CFP thread

[atlantacowboy]

Exactly. I dislike the SEC, but Notre Dame would be roadkill in that conference.

They would look more like Arkansas or South Carolina than Alabama with an SEC schedule.

There’s a reason why the Golden Domers are too scared to join a conference. The curtain would be dropped, and they would be shown to be who they really are.

I think ND would lose 3-4 games a year in the SEC. But I recognize that is just my opinion.

The reason they don't join a conference is money. They have their own TV deal which are more lucrative than anything they would make as a member of a conference.

 

[Sydla]

Disagree. Your opinion is far from fact in regard to the SEC but you can believe whatever you want.

ND lost to Miami and A&M and then reeled off 10 in a row against unranked teams. But that is beside the point. I have more of a problem with Tulane and JMU being included over ND than Bama.

The SEC is a great conference. But there is this belief that anyone that is outside the conference wouldn't be able to hold up to the rigors of the league. It's more myth than reality at this point. Last year, ND fans heard it when they played UGA. UGA was much better, ND was living a lie based on a weaker schedule and if they played in the SEC theu wouldn't be in the playoffs and UGA would expose them. We heard it from some in SEC land with regards to IU this past weekend. That IU, while a nice team, isn't the #1 team in the country if they had to play the guantlet that is the SEC. Bama would show them that.

You are taking this evaluation as an insult. It's not. It's just reality. There absolutely was a stretch where the SEC was the dominant conference. But the portal and NIL has changed the landscape. This idea that ND (or some Big Ten team like Oregon or IU) couldn't compete in the SEC is more based on what the SEC was 10-15-20 years ago than what it is now.

And again, it's clear you don't have much of an answer here. Your SOS point missed the mark because Bama had the better SOS the week before the Auburn game and and ND was still ranked higher but somehow, squeaking out a win over a mediocre Auburn team was just the data point the committee needed to have Bama jump ND. I think deep down, even you find that odd.

 

[Sydla]

I think ND would lose 3-4 games a year in the SEC. But I recognize that is just my opinion.

The reason they don't join a conference is money. They have their own TV deal which are more lucrative than anything they would make as a member of a conference.

I'll grant you this, I think the ND teams under Kelly would absolutely be 3-4-5 loss SEC teams back in the day. He was wildly overrated as a coach and that showed at LSU. His ND teams were generally soft, were hit or miss on special teams, etc. That kind of stuff would get exposed in the SEC (which we saw it did).

But the Freeman teams are more talented than the Kelly ones and appear better coached.

 

[DFWJC]

The SEC is a great conference. But there is this belief that anyone that is outside the conference wouldn't be able to hold up to the rigors of the league. It's more myth than reality at this point. ......

This is true
I heard SO many people say Texas was going to get slaughtered in the SEC.

They've been near the top every year

 

[kskboys]

The way they manipulated the rankings at the end is a big reason they need to can the current selection process.

There is no reason the AD of Arkansas should be deciding between Bama and ND when Bama getting in financially benefits Arkansas.

Of course, but that's what was decided preseason.

The college football playoffs has been a clusterfudge for a long time. So, it's not shocking at all that it's taking a while to nail down the best system.

 

[kskboys]

Nah, it's greed. That's why they don't join a conference. They have a sweetheart deal with NBC, they get to keep all the playoff money if they make it, etc. Until there is a reason to have to join a conference, they'll stay independent.

And maybe that time is coming if ND finds it tougher to schedule games, etc.

It's also interesting you bring up Arkansas and saying ND would be closer to them than Bama. You guys love the comparative score game, so note, ND destroyed Arkansas in Arkansas, the same Arkansas team that lost to Ole Miss by 6, Tennessee by 3, etc. The notion that this ND team could not compete in the SEC is kind of chuckleworthy but predictable from the hate ND crowd.

The comparative score game is irrelevant.

 

[Sydla]

The comparative score game is irrelevant.

And yet it was used extensively by fans to justify A over B, etc.

 

[atlantacowboy]

The SEC is a great conference. But there is this belief that anyone that is outside the conference wouldn't be able to hold up to the rigors of the league. It's more myth than reality at this point. Last year, ND fans heard it when they played UGA. UGA was much better, ND was living a lie based on a weaker schedule and if they played in the SEC theu wouldn't be in the playoffs and UGA would expose them. We heard it from some in SEC land with regards to IU this past weekend. That IU, while a nice team, isn't the #1 team in the country if they had to play the guantlet that is the SEC. Bama would show them that.

You are taking this evaluation as an insult. It's not. It's just reality. There absolutely was a stretch where the SEC was the dominant conference. But the portal and NIL has changed the landscape. This idea that ND (or some Big Ten team like Oregon or IU) couldn't compete in the SEC is more based on what the SEC was 10-15-20 years ago than what it is now.

And again, it's clear you don't have much of an answer here. Your SOS point missed the mark because Bama had the better SOS the week before the Auburn game and and ND was still ranked higher but somehow, squeaking out a win over a mediocre Auburn team was just the data point the committee needed to have Bama jump ND. I think deep down, even you find that odd.

The SEC is the best overall top to bottom conference. That does not mean there aren't good teams outside of it. I don't know anyone who thinks that way. Other teams win national titles. For a time, nobody could beat Clemson. So, those of us that live in traditional SEC country understand there are powerhouse teams outside the conference.

As for IU, I do not think they would go undefeated in the SEC. I think they would have won the SEC but someone probably gets them. You can't have an off week in the SEC. That was an impressive win against Bama. They do not have the talent level of previous years and KD doesn't have the coaching chops to overcome it.

In regard to Bama making the playoff over ND. There may be a general bias toward conference members. But again, the travesty is not Bama going over ND. You can argue both sides of the coin all day on that one. The flaw in the system was including 2 small schools with a field limited to 12.

Food for thought: The Bama fanbase want KD out. Cignetti is from the Saban coaching tree and coached at Bama. IU has to offer him a top 3 contract now that's he's won the Rose Bowl , or his buyout which is 15M goes to zero. .

 

[jterrell]

My info comes from Nielson actually. All it takes is a cursory google or chat GPT inquiry to learn the facts. Are their other bowls making money outside the CFP? Sure. Nobody is arguing that the Liberty Bowl is operating in a cash loss position. But the overall trend across all non-CFP bowls since 2015 which is when the CFP began is lower. I'm not sure where the viewership "break even" mark is for the traditional non-CFP bowls but we are getting closer to it as the CFP expands.

Nothing wild about it.

It is wild because as usual you got the facts wrong.

The ESPN graphic just shows those Bowls numbers are HISTORICALLY high.

Also, almost no one relies on Nielson anymore because not many views are on traditional cable or the OTA.

Like the SEC that was from a prior decade.

 

[jterrell]

I think ND would lose 3-4 games a year in the SEC. But I recognize that is just my opinion.

The reason they don't join a conference is money. They have their own TV deal which are more lucrative than anything they would make as a member of a conference.

Alabama did lose 3 regular season games for the SECOND YEAR in a row.

 

[jterrell]

 

[jterrell]

The SEC is the best overall top to bottom conference. That does not mean there aren't good teams outside of it. I don't know anyone who thinks that way. Other teams win national titles. For a time, nobody could beat Clemson. So, those of us that live in traditional SEC country understand there are powerhouse teams outside the conference.

As for IU, I do not think they would go undefeated in the SEC. I think they would have won the SEC but someone probably gets them. You can't have an off week in the SEC. That was an impressive win against Bama. They do not have the talent level of previous years and KD doesn't have the coaching chops to overcome it.

In regard to Bama making the playoff over ND. There may be a general bias toward conference members. But again, the travesty is not Bama going over ND. You can argue both sides of the coin all day on that one. The flaw in the system was including 2 small schools with a field limited to 12.

Food for thought: The Bama fanbase want KD out. Cignetti is from the Saban coaching tree and coached at Bama. IU has to offer him a top 3 contract now that's he's won the Rose Bowl , or his buyout which is 15M goes to zero. .

Bama can't afford Cignetti. Bama is basically a broke boy.
KDB had offers elsewhere and Bama faithful were defending him tooth and nail because the actual knowledgeable Bama fans know they likely can't get a more coveted coach.

They can't afford Kirby or Lane or Cignetti.

Now why did they hire outside Saban's tree in the first place? Who knows.
But the issue is money.
Bama might not even be top 5 in SEC NIL money.
Ty Simpson is likely going to portal for a pay raise.

Alabama had A++ coaches and recruiters interning for Saban at near no pay. Players at the start of the NIL era in many cases were willing to take a discount to play for Nick Saban. While that allowed the Crimson Tide to spread its wealth and build deep, immensely talented rosters, it also meant the program would have to play catch-up after Saban's retirement. Now you see a ton of outgoing Bama kids yearly. The depth isn't there. And betting on high school kids has always been a suckers bet. Sticking to a model of top 3 HS classes while being trash in the portal means you are not winning the SEC much less a Natty.

I have been explaining these same basic points for 3 years now... and pretty much everyone on this board except seems to have caught on.

KDB built up Washington with transfers. I have no idea why he hasn't sought them out at Bama. His QB and WRs went pro at Washington and transferred in.

18-year-olds are seldom better than experienced 23-year-olds.

 

[jterrell]

This is true
I heard SO many people say Texas was going to get slaughtered in the SEC.

They've been near the top every year

The SEC inviting UT as NIL opened up was like paying Brad Pitt to take your wife to dinner and a movie.

UT and tOSU had the highest grossing sports programs even at the height of the SEC.
But the SEC wanted the ESPN highest offer so bad they folded and forced UT down TAMU's throat and took their pay days and smiled.
That move led to Fox demanding USC/UCLA and offering even more money than the SEC got.

It set all this up.

And an offshoot of that is Miami and Texas Tech have had to fight for their lives in non P2 conferences so have had a compelling argument for boosters to drop the bag or lose big time college football altogether.
Now we are in a whole new era. 100K in the trunk of a Charger gets you a 4-star HS kid from Georgia or Florida but it doesn't get you a top 50 portal kid.
Adn the 175th rated portal kid who has 100 games of experience as a 5th year senior from UTEP is probably better than your 4-star HS kid but is most definitely more mature and professional.

 

[jterrell]

Two schools could reportedly be emerging for Ty Simpson if he enters the NCAA's Tnrasfer Portal, according to 247Sports:

• Tennessee
• Oregon

 

[jterrell]

I'm addressing what is the best way to identify the best teams & determine a true champion on the field.

Yes, I think we all understand that "money" is more important to many of the parties involved than what I'm interested in.

It starts with going to 16 teams.
Then it requires not overrating entire conferences and forgiving their losses while championing their wins.
At 15 (+1 G6) you can be pretty certain you get at least the best 10 teams in the field.
From there you will be more than fine.

ND did not boast a top 10 resume this year. The schedule was just OK and they lost the toughest two games.
The best win was at home against a team that will finish the year outside the top 20.

 

[kskboys]

And yet it was used extensively by fans to justify A over B, etc.

I know, I see it all the time. It's something I used to think mattered back when I was like 12. Didn't take me long to figure out what it wasn't a thing.

So, makes me wonder what those who use it are thinking about? Best example is back when BUFF beat NE 31-0 to start the season. 03 or 04 I think. What happened later? NE then beat BUFF 31-0. Freaky as hades, same score. Oh, and then NE won the super bowl.

 

[atlantacowboy]

Bama can't afford Cignetti. Bama is basically a broke boy.
KDB had offers elsewhere and Bama faithful were defending him tooth and nail because the actual knowledgeable Bama fans know they likely can't get a more coveted coach.

They can't afford Kirby or Lane or Cignetti.

Now why did they hire outside Saban's tree in the first place? Who knows.
But the issue is money.
Bama might not even be top 5 in SEC NIL money.
Ty Simpson is likely going to portal for a pay raise.

Alabama had A++ coaches and recruiters interning for Saban at near no pay. Players at the start of the NIL era in many cases were willing to take a discount to play for Nick Saban. While that allowed the Crimson Tide to spread its wealth and build deep, immensely talented rosters, it also meant the program would have to play catch-up after Saban's retirement. Now you see a ton of outgoing Bama kids yearly. The depth isn't there. And betting on high school kids has always been a suckers bet. Sticking to a model of top 3 HS classes while being trash in the portal means you are not winning the SEC much less a Natty.

I have been explaining these same basic points for 3 years now... and pretty much everyone on this board except seems to have caught on.

KDB built up Washington with transfers. I have no idea why he hasn't sought them out at Bama. His QB and WRs went pro at Washington and transferred in.

18-year-olds are seldom better than experienced 23-year-olds.

Little of that is true but believe what you want. You aren't listening to the media that cover Alabama or the fan base. That drubbing by a bunch of no-name kids at Indiana changed everything. KD was on the hot seat after following a 4 loss season with another 4 loss season, but embarrassing losses in the playoff hit different.

Furthermore, there is no accurate reporting of NIL money bc it doesn't have to be declared. All it takes is one booster willing to write a check any given year. Bama has plenty of them. They hired KD bc they were not prepared for the Saban retirement and he was the best they could get. It was the worst possible timing. Plus, not many of Saban's coaching fraternity were excited about following his giant footsteps. Who can fill the Goats shoes and improve on that? That's changed bc KD has lowered the bar enough where someone can now come in and make improvement. Nobody in Tuscaloosa wanted Lane Kiffin bc of the way he left deserting the team in the midst of a national title run much like he did to Ole Miss. Those bridges are burned. Bama once made Saban the highest paid coach and they can do it again if that's what it takes.

Cignetti is making a lot of sense. He coached under Saban at Alabama, and the fanbase recognized the style of football he was playing. KD returning in 2026 is likely but not a given. At most, he's got one more season unless he wins some playoff games.

 

[atlantacowboy]

Alabama did lose 3 regular season games for the SECOND YEAR in a row.

This is news to who? I think ND would do the same. Perhaps you aren't reading the whole thread?

 

[jterrell]

 

[jterrell]

This is news to who? I think ND would do the same. Perhaps you aren't reading the whole thread?

Good grief brother, saying Notre Dame would be equal to Alabama while arguing about Notre Dame versus Alabama is a bit reductive, no?