The Spin Meister
Well-known member
Indiana is the only conference champion still in. And the only team left that even played in a title game !
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Shocking playoff results.
- Thread starter The Spin Meister
- Start date
Really incredible what he has done throughout his coaching career. You can't really say he's only been able to this because of NIL. He recruited players good enough to compete in the BIG 10 at JMU. He must be an incredible judge of talent, but it's not just that, because look at his previous stops and the turn around they made in just one year.
I hope Indiana wins it all.
I hope Indiana wins it all.
Sheriff Coffee
Well-known member
Yep. And last year two loss tOSU won the natty and every one of the top 4 teams, and had a bye, lost in the first round. Obviously, some work to do on the scheduling
Sheriff Coffee
Well-known member
BTW, all four final four QBs are transfers. This is consistent with last year, Allan being the exception, as well as the year before.
Jokerman
Well-known member
I would also add, Cignetti and IU are the extreme exception to the rule. Folks should not believe what Cignetti has done is easily repeatable, because it is not. That dude is a mad genius of a coach.
While I’m not a fan of the current state of college football, it is kind of nice to see Alabama, Georgia And Ohio State all go down over a two day period. It does seem as though there is more parity.
marylovesthelions
Well-known member
Expand to 16 and eliminate byes or cut to eight and eliminate byes.
The Spin Meister
Well-known member
Yep the big boys can no longer tie up huge numbers of top talent and force them to sit the bench. So now they don’t have near the depth so injuries and y long season take a toll.
Perhaps more importantly, those players now transfer to schools like Indiana, Illinois, Ole Miss where they get far more playing time.
Now the big differential is NIL money. And some mid level schools have deep pocketed alumni.
NittanyLion99
Well-known member
Either the conferences do a terrible job at determining their best team, or the playoff construction is highly flawed.
Pennstate_one
Active member
Unfortunately people will try and that will dig us deeper into the wild west until we see some serious regulations. Unless of course they want any resemblance of college football gone as we know it.
Also it’s time to eliminate all non power four teams including Independents.
NittanyLion99
Well-known member
Is it really fair to call the ACC a Power conference?
Time for the B2G and SEC to withdraw from the whole deal and announce their own playoff. Then figure out an expansion plan (everyone will want in) and move on. There will be a 1st tier playoff and a "G5" type 2nd tier. Perhaps current ACC and Big 12 teams that get an invite can be forced to pay an entrance fee to facilitate a buyout/removal of Rutgers, Maryland, Vandy, and Mississippi St. ND would need to pay a double entrance fee or watch their athletic program fade into irrelevance.
Sheriff Coffee
Well-known member
This is interesting. We are seeing the developments of minor leagues to the nfl with a, aa, aaa, and the major league of college football
NittanyLion99
Well-known member
I don't see how this is sustainable in the end. Nobody cares about the minor leagues.
Sheriff Coffee
Well-known member
Kids will go play for Ohio U for two years. Go to Iowa State for two years. Then play for Indiana the last year before trying the nfl.
Every QB left in the playoff is a transfer.
The Spin Meister
Well-known member
Huge impact of NIL. Just a few years ago, top players were jumping to the NFL after only three years. They did so because they were making little money in college.
Now most are well paid. Some making more than they would make in the pros. No need to go pro as soon as possible.
Plus the portal allows them to transfer to teams where they will get more playing time Or go to a coaching staff that runs a scheme that better matches their skill set. Think a drop back QB in an RPO offense.
Players are wise to take full advantage of the current system…..as much as we hate it.
NittanyLion99
Well-known member
I understand. I don't see how fans continue to care enough to fund this mess with their donations and their eyeballs.
LudicrousSpeedGO!
Well-known member
I would have agreed last year but the SEC performance against other conferences this season is abysmal.
2025-26 Bowl Game Records by Conference
Overall Performance
| Big Ten | 13 | 9-4 | .692 |
| ACC | 12 | 8-4 | .667 |
| Conference USA | 7 | 4-3 | .571 |
| American | 9 | 5-4 | .556 |
| Big 12 | 8 | 4-4 | .500 |
| Sun Belt | 10 | 4-6 | .400 |
| MAC | 5 | 2-3 | .400 |
| SEC | 13 | 4-9 | .308 |
| Mountain West | 7 | 2-5 | .286 |
NittanyLion99
Well-known member
No doubt, but I find bowls to be a poor indicator, especially these days. Aside from opt outs, the American is playing in a different class of bowl, as is the majority of ACC teams. Match-ups matter. No one thinks the Sun Belt is a stronger conference than the SEC because of bowl performance. The playoff is obviously a real test, but polls and committees are imperfect. The Rose was a beat down, and that was real. In the end, I suspect that Alabama was somewhat overestimated and Indiana was somewhat underestimated, for various reasons.
Leatherhelmets
Active member
Miami sends the murderer out as honorary captain. Go Ole Miss