2016-12-07 07:03

Shortly after the release of the final College Football Playoff rankings I did read an article in which the BIG12 was mentioned to get clarification on the ranking process.
It was not because Oklahoma was left out of the TOP4, well not in the first step, but because of the mixed signals the teams got over the 3 seasons the system exists.

In the first season of that system in 2014 had the BIG12 2 shared conference title winners, TCU and Baylor.
Both teams had at that point just 1 loss so far.
Both were left out of the playoffs.
The explanation of the committee was at that time that the 13. data point, means conference championship game, was missing and that had not a unshared conference title and that Baylor had a too weak non-conference schedule.
So Title game, Title, Strength of Schedule. Got it.

In 2015 did Oklahoma get a spot in the playoffs, they had lost once in the season, won the conference alone and had no conference championship game, not even a game on that weekend, like this season.
Still, they were in.

In 2016 had Oklahoma won again the conference alone, had lost twice and had again no championship game, expect that they played OSU basically in a win-or-lose-game on that weekend, and won it.
They are not in, final rank is #7.

The reason why the did ask was the final rankings and the implications on the system overall.

Alabama won their game and finished unbeaten as SEC Champ, ranked #1.
Clemson won their game and finished with 1 loss as ACC Champ as #2, despite a quite soft conference schedule and also a mid-level non-conference schedule.
Ohio State did not win their division or their conference and did finish with 1-loss at #3. Their non-conference schedule does include Oklahoma, but that's it.
Washington won their conference and finished with 1 loss as PAC12 champ. Their non-conference schedule was quite soft.

There are the playoff teams.
Left out are Penn State, BIG10 Conference champ, 2 losses, mid-level to soft non-conference schedule, ranked #5 and of cause Oklahoma ranked at #7.

There are arguments for Ohio State and Penn State, for sure, and arguments against Washington, so the BIG12 is confused, as many other college football fans.

I'm not convinced that the TOP 4 teams got the 4 spots, I'm not convinced that the system works.

Yes, Ohio State has a good chance to win the National Title.
But as good does Penn State and Oklahoma have it.

Funny thing is, my simple system did exactly produce those 4 teams, which is only a coincident I guess.
The committee can't make it themselves that easy, can't they?

I think this season will be remembered as the first one to put a dent into the system.
Still 7 seasons at least to go.

With that weekend also the bowl teams got their tickets.
Lucky for everyone did Navy lose, which did give everyone the chance to work as ever, Western Michigan got the New Years bowl spot and all others did fall in place.
Army got their spot already, Louisiana-Lafayette won and got their ticket, South Alabama won also their last game and got also their bowl spot.
That makes it 78 teams.

Now we are missing 2 teams, which have to be recruited by 5-7 teams.
Based on the APR did North Texas and Mississippi State qualify for a bowl.
Texas had prior the last weekend announced that they would not accept a bowl spot, of they would qualify.
I have no information whether that happened or not.

Let's have a look at the BLOCK OF GRANITE TOP GAMES FOR WEEK 14

Fri. Dec 2 9:00 PM ET
PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#8 Colorado vs. #4 Washington
This was quite open until halftime, then did Washington dominate and won big.
It's a bit of a pity for Colorado that they did not get the Rose Bowl spot as second best team from the PAC12.
At the end was USC rank better than the then 3 loss Buffalos.
Washington will play Alabama in the playoffs, while Colorado will play Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl.
Colorado 10 - Washington 41 -> Jacks TOP GAMES Score: 43-23

Sat. Dec 3 12:30 PM ET
#10 Oklahoma State @ #9 Oklahoma
Tied at halftime this became a bit one-sided after the break.
Oklahoma did proof to be the best BIG12 team of the season, finished unbeaten inside the BIG12 and won the conference again.
For Oklahoma State it was a good season, which they can top with their Alamo Bowl game against Colorado.
Oklahoma will play Auburn in the Sugar Bowl.
Oklahoma State 20 - Oklahoma 38 -> Jacks TOP GAMES Score: 44-23

Sat. Dec 3 4:00 PM ET
SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#1 Alabama vs. #15 Florida
Florida was so out of their league ... I'm still amazed they got so high ranked and won their division.
Or maybe Alabama is just THAT good this season.
They are clearly the favorite to win it all and will play Washington in the first playoff round.
Florida got game against Iowa left in the Outback Bowl.
Alabama 54 - Florida 16 -> Jacks TOP GAMES Score: 45-23

Sat. Dec 3 8:00 PM ET
DR PEPPER ACC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#3 Clemson vs. #23 Virginia Tech
This was very close and Clemson had to fight themselves through this, but won it at the end.
They will face Ohio State in the playoffs, while Virginia Tech will meet Arkansas in the Belk Bowl.
Clemson 42 - Virginia Tech 35 -> Jacks TOP GAMES Score: 46-23

Sat. Dec 3 8:00 PM ET
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#6 Wisconsin vs. #7 Penn State
It was a great game between both teams and at the end did Penn State score 10 points in the 4th quarter to win this and to crown their season.
The committee did then leave them out of the playoffs, so they will meet USC in the Rose Bowl instead, which is a bit of a pity.
They might have gone even a longer distance.
Wisconsin will face Western Michigan in the Cotton Bowl, which will be an interesting matchup.
Wisconsin 31 - Penn State 38 -> Jacks TOP GAMES Score: 46-24

Other interesting games:

Fri. Dec 2 7:00 PM ET
PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#17 Western Michigan vs. Ohio
Closer than expected, did WMU win 29-23 this to stay perfect.
They will face Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl on New Years day.
Ohio will play against Troy in the Dollar General Bowl.
Jacks interesting games Score: 58-33

Sat. Dec 3 12:00 PM ET
Troy @ Georgia Southern
Georgia Southern made it and won 28-24.
That did spoil the shared conference title for Troy and only Arkansas State and Appalachian State did share the title of the Sun Belt now.
Troy will play Ohio in the Dollar General Bowl, Georgia Southern season is over.
Jacks interesting games Score: 58-34

Sat. Dec 3 12:00 PM ET
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Temple @ #19 Navy
I think this was one of the most loved upsets of the season.
Temple did outscore Navy early and over the whole time winning 34-10 and did solve the bowl crisis the FBS would have had, if Navy would have won.
That way did WMU get their New Years Bowls spot, Navy plays Louisiana Tech in the Armed Forces Bowl and Temple will play Wake Forest in the Military Bowl.
Jacks interesting games Score: 58-35

Sat. Dec 3 12:00 PM ET
DYNACRAFT CONFERENCE USA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Louisiana Tech @ Western Kentucky
This went a bit as expected, as a high scoring game.
WKU did at the end win it 58-44 and will now face Memphis in the Boca Raton Bowl.
Louisiana Tech will play Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Jacks interesting games Score: 59-35

Sat. Dec 3 7:45 PM ET
MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
San Diego State @ Wyoming
SDSU did win this 27-24, which is inside the expected results.
There was a small chance for Wyoming to win this, from my point of view, but at the end did the Aztecs deny the comeback.
SDSU will play Houston in the Las Vegas Bowl, Wyoming will play BYU in the Poinsettia Bowl.
Jacks interesting games Score: 60-35

And some other results which might be interesting:
Louisiana-Lafayette won their rivalry game against Louisiana-Monroe 30-3 to become Bowl eligible.
South Alabama won against New Mexico State 35-28 to get a Bowl spot.
Kansas State did beat TCU 30-6.

Tags: Block of Granite, News