NCAA Football 2017 season

[Toe]

Good luck getting a big name to come there now, Volunteers fans.

So "big name"s won't come to UT because their fans don't like pedo-enablers? What a strange time we live in.

[RMC]

I don't buy that Alabama should be out of the playoffs because of their schedule.

Their only loss is versus probably the country's hottest team right now, a rival, on the road in one of college football's toughest environments to play. The committee does take injuries into consideration, and so they should consider that Alabama's injured players will be back to close to 100% by the time the playoff games start. Still one of the best 4 teams in the country in my opinion, biased as that may be.

There are other top 7 teams that have ugly losses against unranked terrible opponents. Not fluke trick-play losses -- BAD losses with wide point spreads. How on earth do you even consider putting an Ohio State team with such a terrible blowout loss to an unranked opponent in over Alabama?

Who here is advocating for Ohio State to make the playoffs?

As others here have said, if Clemson, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin all win on Saturday, they all deserve to be in the playoff over Alabama. And Alabama won't get in over the winner of Auburn/Georgia, either.

I think as someone from Ohio, I have to vote for the overrated OSU team get into the final 4, so they can get smacked around again.

[RMC]

Good luck getting a big name to come there now, Volunteers fans.

So "big name"s won't come to UT because their fans don't like pedo-enablers? What a strange time we live in.

Toe there is no proof he enabled anyone. Someone said that they heard from someone else that he said he knew 'something'. Everyone has since said, that they did not say that since.

So if we want to start blaming people for a perceived thing that they might have heard/said and what they actually meant, then we are in a totally new world.

Now, if he did enable any of that, he needs to be terminated from his current job, at OSU as well as never get a new job. But no proof and no other red flags since seems like a horrible thing to harm a persons career for.

[pr0ner]

Good luck getting a big name to come there now, Volunteers fans.

So "big name"s won't come to UT because their fans don't like pedo-enablers? What a strange time we live in.

Schiano isn't a "pedo-enabler". Try again.

[PLW]

I think as someone from Ohio, I have to vote for the overrated OSU team get into the final 4, so they can get smacked around again.

This was floating around Clemson during the total eclipse.

[Carpet_pissr]

[pr0ner]

Looks like the next big coaching vacancy is going to be FSU, as rumors are floating in the Twitterverse that Jimbo Fisher has already accepted Texas A&M's offer to be their next head coach.

[Lorini]

The Sandusky connection is killer I see. Also do you guys think a Super Bowl winning NFL coach would really want to go to college coaching? Gruden can have the Raiders coaching job any time he wants it.

[Remus West]

If the playoffs seriously consider Ohio State after getting demolished twice this season - once at home and once by a terrible Iowa team - then the playoffs are meaningless. Saturday's outcome for OSU should simply be playing spoiler to Wisconsin's title hopes and nothing more. They don't deserve it.

[ImLawBoy]

Here's my (valuable) prediction as to how things shake out:

Pac12 - Out of playoff. I can't see a way a team gets in here.
SEC - Winner of championship is in playoff, even if it's a two loss Auburn. Getting a second team (Alabama) in will depend on a few factors.
ACC - Winner of championship is in playoff. No second team in.
Big 12 - Oklahoma is in if they win. Big 12 is out of playoff if TCU wins (potentially opening a slot for Alabama or Ohio State).
Big 10 - Wisconsin is in if they win. OSU gets in if they win and Oklahoma loses (i.e., both Alabama and OSU are in with this scenario). If OSU wins and Oklahoma wins, it will be interesting to see whether Alabama or OSU gets in. Alabama doesn't really have a signature win, but they have only the one loss to a very good team. OSU will have two top ten wins (PSU and Wisconsin) and a conference championship (which is supposed to be a factor for the committee to consider), but they've got one loss to a very good team (Oklahoma) and a terrible blowout loss to a mediocre team (Iowa). It's a coin flip at that point.

[ImLawBoy]

Regarding Tennessee, I think that some folks might be using the Sandusky connection to justify trying to scuttle the hiring of a second tier (in the eyes of Vol fans) coach. It didn't matter so much whether the allegations were true - he just needed the stink of them to justify losing the job. TN fans appear at this point to be somewhat delusional that they will be able to lure a successful NFL coach (who, by the way, has no college coaching experience - ask Lovie Smith if coaching in college is the same as coaching in the NFL) or get some other A list coach. From what I understand, their recruiting footprint suffers a bit in that their primary SEC East competition are in more talent rich states (Georgia and Florida). The job may not be that attractive these days (kind of like Nebraska). Of course, many people thought Michigan fans were delusional about attracting a successful NFL head coach to a state without the best recruiting profile, so . . . .

Speaking of the Wolverines, Wilton Speight has officially announced his intention to grad transfer for his fifth year. With O'Korn graduating, that leaves redshirt sophomore Brandon Peters or redshirt freshman Dylan McCaffrey (of the football McCaffreys) in the driver's seat next year (barring an unlikely grad transfer or one of the two true freshmen QBs coming in winning the job). Certainly can't be worse than O'Korn, and I'm looking forward to Harbaugh finally having one of his QB recruits be the man. Speight did about as much as could realistically be expected of him, and I wish him the best (maybe at Virginia?), but the raw talent level of the new QBs is a step up.

[Scuzz]

I think there are a lot of possible combinations for the playoffs. One reason I would like 8 teams is so that every conference winner gets in automatically. But, based on what we have....


SEC CG Winner.....Auburn or Georgia
ACC CG Winner....Clemson or Miami
Wisconsin if they beat OSU
Oklahoma if they beat TCU

If OSU wins or TCU wins you might see a Clemson get in if Miami beats them. I wouldn't be shocked if the committee gave OSU a spot if they won. Since the committee claims it is how you are playing now that counts maybe USC gets in if they beat Stanford in the PAC12 CG.

[Scuzz]

Speaking of the Wolverines, Wilton Speight has officially announced his intention to grad transfer for his fifth year. With O'Korn graduating, that leaves redshirt sophomore Brandon Peters or redshirt freshman Dylan McCaffrey (of the football McCaffreys) in the driver's seat next year (barring an unlikely grad transfer or one of the two true freshmen QBs coming in winning the job). Certainly can't be worse than O'Korn, and I'm looking forward to Harbaugh finally having one of his QB recruits be the man. Speight did about as much as could realistically be expected of him, and I wish him the best (maybe at Virginia?), but the raw talent level of the new QBs is a step up.

O'Korn looked terrible against OSU. He holds the ball way to long.

[Pyperkub]

I don't buy that Alabama should be out of the playoffs because of their schedule.

Their only loss is versus probably the country's hottest team right now, a rival, on the road in one of college football's toughest environments to play. The committee does take injuries into consideration, and so they should consider that Alabama's injured players will be back to close to 100% by the time the playoff games start. Still one of the best 4 teams in the country in my opinion, biased as that may be.

There are other top 7 teams that have ugly losses against unranked terrible opponents. Not fluke trick-play losses -- BAD losses with wide point spreads. How on earth do you even consider putting an Ohio State team with such a terrible blowout loss to an unranked opponent in over Alabama?

I don't, but Alabama needs help next weekend to get in. Specifically, they need Ohio state to win. 1 loss TCU avenging their loss to Oklahoma could easily jump them, as could 1 loss Miami with a win over Clemson, as they would both be conference Champs with better wins than Alabama.

Ohio State, as much as ESPN wants to push them, ain't getting in.

Think of it this way, what's Alabama's signature win? LSU or Mississippi St. Both good teams, but not anywhere near Oklahoma/Clemson/Auburn on a neutral field (the last, in case Georgia wins the SEC championship). And if Wisconsin wins, unbeaten plus a win over tOSU for a conference championship probably does the trick.

Edit. Forgot TCU has 2 losses. Alabama gets in over them as well. Ohio state doesn't (split with Oklahoma and tougher schedule wins out). If Ohio state and TCU win, the fourth slot could open up to. .. UCF.

[ImLawBoy]

Speaking of the Wolverines, Wilton Speight has officially announced his intention to grad transfer for his fifth year. With O'Korn graduating, that leaves redshirt sophomore Brandon Peters or redshirt freshman Dylan McCaffrey (of the football McCaffreys) in the driver's seat next year (barring an unlikely grad transfer or one of the two true freshmen QBs coming in winning the job). Certainly can't be worse than O'Korn, and I'm looking forward to Harbaugh finally having one of his QB recruits be the man. Speight did about as much as could realistically be expected of him, and I wish him the best (maybe at Virginia?), but the raw talent level of the new QBs is a step up.

O'Korn looked terrible against OSU. He holds the ball way to long.

The only thing worse than him holding the ball too long is when he actually throws it.

[Remus West]

With half decent QB play Michigan turns the beginning of Saturday's game against OSU into a blow out. With O'Korn over throwing every wide wide wide open receiver....well, you saw or heard what happened.

[pr0ner]

ImLawBoy:

Apparently Tennessee is now after Todd Bowles, who allegedly wants out of his NY Jets job.

[Lorini]

Pete Carroll went from the Patriots to USC and made it relevant again after years of neglect but he at that time hadn't taken a team to the Super Bowl.

[noxiousdog]

Looks like the next big coaching vacancy is going to be FSU, as rumors are floating in the Twitterverse that Jimbo Fisher has already accepted Texas A&M's offer to be their next head coach.

A&M is not a better job than Florida State. I would be shocked if he moved.

[pr0ner]

Looks like the next big coaching vacancy is going to be FSU, as rumors are floating in the Twitterverse that Jimbo Fisher has already accepted Texas A&M's offer to be their next head coach.

A&M is not a better job than Florida State. I would be shocked if he moved.

A friend of mine who works at FSU says the donors and boosters there are NOT happy with how this season went. There could be some pressure on Fisher that hasn't really been reported yet.

[noxiousdog]

Looks like the next big coaching vacancy is going to be FSU, as rumors are floating in the Twitterverse that Jimbo Fisher has already accepted Texas A&M's offer to be their next head coach.

A&M is not a better job than Florida State. I would be shocked if he moved.

A friend of mine who works at FSU says the donors and boosters there are NOT happy with how this season went. There could be some pressure on Fisher that hasn't really been reported yet.

Well, good for A&M if it happens. That would be a great hire for them.

[Scuzz]

I don't buy that Alabama should be out of the playoffs because of their schedule.

Their only loss is versus probably the country's hottest team right now, a rival, on the road in one of college football's toughest environments to play. The committee does take injuries into consideration, and so they should consider that Alabama's injured players will be back to close to 100% by the time the playoff games start. Still one of the best 4 teams in the country in my opinion, biased as that may be.

There are other top 7 teams that have ugly losses against unranked terrible opponents. Not fluke trick-play losses -- BAD losses with wide point spreads. How on earth do you even consider putting an Ohio State team with such a terrible blowout loss to an unranked opponent in over Alabama?

I don't, but Alabama needs help next weekend to get in. Specifically, they need Ohio state to win. 1 loss TCU avenging their loss to Oklahoma could easily jump them, as could 1 loss Miami with a win over Clemson, as they would both be conference Champs with better wins than Alabama.

Ohio State, as much as ESPN wants to push them, ain't getting in.

Think of it this way, what's Alabama's signature win? LSU or Mississippi St. Both good teams, but not anywhere near Oklahoma/Clemson/Auburn on a neutral field (the last, in case Georgia wins the SEC championship). And if Wisconsin wins, unbeaten plus a win over tOSU for a conference championship probably does the trick.

Edit. Forgot TCU has 2 losses. Alabama gets in over them as well. Ohio state doesn't (split with Oklahoma and tougher schedule wins out). If Ohio state and TCU win, the fourth slot could open up to. .. UCF.

I don't see any way UCF gets in, just based on the strength of schedule argument.

[Scuzz]

ImLawBoy:

Apparently Tennessee is now after Todd Bowles, who allegedly wants out of his NY Jets job.

ESPN is bringing up the name of Tee Martin. Isn't he the current offensive coordinator?

[ImLawBoy]

ImLawBoy:

Apparently Tennessee is now after Todd Bowles, who allegedly wants out of his NY Jets job.

ESPN is bringing up the name of Tee Martin. Isn't he the current offensive coordinator?

I believe he's USC's OC. I don't know why they're spending all this energy on a coaching search - Brady Hoke already has an apartment there and everything!

[Pyperkub]

I don't buy that Alabama should be out of the playoffs because of their schedule.

Their only loss is versus probably the country's hottest team right now, a rival, on the road in one of college football's toughest environments to play. The committee does take injuries into consideration, and so they should consider that Alabama's injured players will be back to close to 100% by the time the playoff games start. Still one of the best 4 teams in the country in my opinion, biased as that may be.

There are other top 7 teams that have ugly losses against unranked terrible opponents. Not fluke trick-play losses -- BAD losses with wide point spreads. How on earth do you even consider putting an Ohio State team with such a terrible blowout loss to an unranked opponent in over Alabama?

I don't, but Alabama needs help next weekend to get in. Specifically, they need Ohio state to win. 1 loss TCU avenging their loss to Oklahoma could easily jump them, as could 1 loss Miami with a win over Clemson, as they would both be conference Champs with better wins than Alabama.

Ohio State, as much as ESPN wants to push them, ain't getting in.

Think of it this way, what's Alabama's signature win? LSU or Mississippi St. Both good teams, but not anywhere near Oklahoma/Clemson/Auburn on a neutral field (the last, in case Georgia wins the SEC championship). And if Wisconsin wins, unbeaten plus a win over tOSU for a conference championship probably does the trick.

Edit. Forgot TCU has 2 losses. Alabama gets in over them as well. Ohio state doesn't (split with Oklahoma and tougher schedule wins out). If Ohio state and TCU win, the fourth slot could open up to. .. UCF.

I don't see any way UCF gets in, just based on the strength of schedule argument.

3 games against solid teams (with a blowout win over Memphis already - 2 over an otherwise unbeaten Memphis isn't a bad resume builder), could give them an opening to allow the Committee to chose a group of 5 team, just so they can say they have - but yes, very unlikely. I think it would actually bring them into the discussion, at least a bit.

[Skinypupy]

Interesting local tidbit, BYU fired Ty Detmer as their Offensive Coordinator today. Can't imagine that was a fun conversation for Holmoe to have with an school legend.

[Scuzz]

Just want to say that Fresno State (9-3) beat Boise State on Saturday and is ranked 25th in one poll. One heck of a turnaround from last years 1-11 season. Two of Fresno's loses were to Alabama and Washington.

[Pyperkub]

Just want to say that Fresno State (9-3) beat Boise State on Saturday and is ranked 25th in one poll. One heck of a turnaround from last years 1-11 season. Two of Fresno's loses were to Alabama and Washington.

And yet, Boise is favored in the championship game rematch...

[Scuzz]

Just want to say that Fresno State (9-3) beat Boise State on Saturday and is ranked 25th in one poll. One heck of a turnaround from last years 1-11 season. Two of Fresno's loses were to Alabama and Washington.

And yet, Boise is favored in the championship game rematch...

Well, it is in Boise and beating any opponent twice in a season is pretty tough, especially two weeks in a row. I am not sure Boise had their heart in the first match up since the second was already a sure thing. But they didn't look like the traditional Boise team and Fresno, while not as flashy offensively, has a much better defense than in the past few years.

PS....I don't expect Fresno to win, but then I didn't expect them to win last Saturday either.

[Chrisoc13]

Interesting local tidbit, BYU fired Ty Detmer as their Offensive Coordinator today. Can't imagine that was a fun conversation for Holmoe to have with an school legend.

Makes me sick but it was the right call. Sitake should probably be gone too. Ugh detmer being fired makes me sick.

[Lorini]

So Bama is out, Miami is out, Auburn is in and Wisconsin is in. If the top four win out, Bama is toast. Good, I'm looking forward to new teams in the championship.

[msduncan]

So Bama is out, Miami is out, Auburn is in and Wisconsin is in. If the top four win out, Bama is toast. Good, I'm looking forward to new teams in the championship.

?

If TCU wins, Bama is likely in.

[pr0ner]

So Bama is out, Miami is out, Auburn is in and Wisconsin is in. If the top four win out, Bama is toast. Good, I'm looking forward to new teams in the championship.

?

If TCU wins, Bama is likely in.

TCU isn't top 4.

If Clemson, Auburn, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin all win on Saturday, Alabama isn't getting in.

[Chrisoc13]

So Bama is out, Miami is out, Auburn is in and Wisconsin is in. If the top four win out, Bama is toast. Good, I'm looking forward to new teams in the championship.

?

If TCU wins, Bama is likely in.

TCU isn't top 4.

If Clemson, Auburn, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin all win on Saturday, Alabama isn't getting in.

If TCU wins Oklahoma loses therefore Alabama is most likely in.

[pr0ner]

So Bama is out, Miami is out, Auburn is in and Wisconsin is in. If the top four win out, Bama is toast. Good, I'm looking forward to new teams in the championship.

?

If TCU wins, Bama is likely in.

TCU isn't top 4.

If Clemson, Auburn, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin all win on Saturday, Alabama isn't getting in.

If TCU wins Oklahoma loses therefore Alabama is most likely in.

Yes. But MSDuncan's "?" seemed to indicate that he thought TCU was top 4. As things stand, Bama is out.

[RMC]

So Bama is out, Miami is out, Auburn is in and Wisconsin is in. If the top four win out, Bama is toast. Good, I'm looking forward to new teams in the championship.

?

If TCU wins, Bama is likely in.

TCU isn't top 4.

If Clemson, Auburn, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin all win on Saturday, Alabama isn't getting in.

If TCU wins Oklahoma loses therefore Alabama is most likely in.

I just heard an analyst make an argument that Ohio State should be in above Bama if they beat Wisconsin, because they would be a conference champion, and Bama's best win was against LSU. <shrug> Let the hate begin if that actually happens, because OSU does not deserve to be in the TOP 4 with how they played this year.

[Lorini]

So Bama is out, Miami is out, Auburn is in and Wisconsin is in. If the top four win out, Bama is toast. Good, I'm looking forward to new teams in the championship.

?

If TCU wins, Bama is likely in.

Yeah that doesn't contradict anything I said since they are playing Oklahoma and Oklahoma is in. I am therefore puzzled by the ?.

?

[ImLawBoy]

I just heard an analyst make an argument that Ohio State should be in above Bama if they beat Wisconsin, because they would be a conference champion, and Bama's best win was against LSU. <shrug> Let the hate begin if that actually happens, because OSU does not deserve to be in the TOP 4 with how they played this year.

The argument for OSU is that they will have beaten two top ten teams (Penn State and Wisconsin), an absolute pummeling of another top 25 team (48-3 over Michigan State), and are a conference champion (and conference championships are something that the committee is supposed to take into account). The argument against OSU is losing big at home to Oklahoma and getting crushed at mediocre Iowa.

The argument for Alabama is only one loss to a strong (albeit 2-loss) Auburn team on the road. The argument against Alabama is lack of signature wins and no conference championship.

I don't think either team has a particularly strong playoff resume.

[Scuzz]

If Alabama gets in (due to a Oklahoma or Wisconsin loss) it only strengthens the argument for an 8 team playoff and that the committee has it for Alabama.

[RMC]

I just heard an analyst make an argument that Ohio State should be in above Bama if they beat Wisconsin, because they would be a conference champion, and Bama's best win was against LSU. <shrug> Let the hate begin if that actually happens, because OSU does not deserve to be in the TOP 4 with how they played this year.

The argument for OSU is that they will have beaten two top ten teams (Penn State and Wisconsin), an absolute pummeling of another top 25 team (48-3 over Michigan State), and are a conference champion (and conference championships are something that the committee is supposed to take into account). The argument against OSU is losing big at home to Oklahoma and getting crushed at mediocre Iowa.

The argument for Alabama is only one loss to a strong (albeit 2-loss) Auburn team on the road. The argument against Alabama is lack of signature wins and no conference championship.

I don't think either team has a particularly strong playoff resume.

Ohio State is overrated this year, and has been. But I am a homer, so have to further the argument.