2024 non-GT games thread

[orientalnc]

You won't see this type of article on ESPN.
I'm not saying TX doesn't deserve to be in the CFP, but if they are in, so is IN. The SEC teams TX has beaten this year are a combined 13-31 in conference and include 6 of the 7 worst teams (FL is the only one that is .500 or better in the conference, the other 5 all have losing conference records). Actually would not shock me if A&M won this week.

College football Week 13 overreactions: The SEC has been painfully average, Indiana remains CFP lock

Week 13 was disastrous for the SEC, which is seeing its multi-bid hopes slip

www.cbssports.com

Regardless of how it may have performed in recent years, the SEC looks painfully average this season, with Week 13 outcomes stripping away any mystique it still had.

This is a year when the SEC's soft scheduling philosophy really hurts. Georgia's Week 1 win over Clemson is the highlight of the nonconference results. Otherwise, Oklahoma's win over Tulane may be the next best. Certainly not befitting of a league that fashions itself as head and shoulders above all others.

Don't read this and think I'm saying the SEC is a bad conference. There's an absurd amount of talent spread among its 16 teams. But it hasn't performed like a league that deserves significantly more playoff spots than any other power conference.

When you look at their schedules to date, Texas, Oregon, Penn State, Indiana, and Notre Dame have all played woefully weak schedules. I will give credit where due - Ohio St, uga and Bama have played through a gauntlet of tough teams in the mix late in the season for the CFP. I think Bama is 3-1, tOSU is 2-1 and uga is 2-2. So far Texas, Penn St and Indiana are 0-1. Oregon is 1-0 by a single point. The Vols split their two games. But, the same is true for all three ACC teams. They haven't even played each other and Clemson's only "tough" game was a loss opening week to uga.

 

[CEB]

When you look at their schedules to date, Texas, Oregon, Penn State, Indiana, and Notre Dame have all played woefully weak schedules. I will give credit where due - Ohio St, uga and Bama have played through a gauntlet of tough teams in the mix late in the season for the CFP. I think Bama is 3-1, tOSU is 2-1 and uga is 2-2. So far Texas, Penn St and Indiana are 0-1. Oregon is 1-0 by a single point. The Vols split their two games. But, the same is true for all three ACC teams. They haven't even played each other and Clemson's only "tough" game was a loss opening week to uga.

Welcome to college football 2024. Schedule weak, avoid the extra game and if you’re lucky, host an opening round.
It works a lot better in the SEC and BIG, but it seems to be holding true for the ACC this year too.
Honestly, Notre Dame may have been the team that played its cards best. Remember when we thought they were at a disadvantage without a conference championship? I hate those guys.

 

[orientalnc]

Welcome to college football 2024. Schedule weak, avoid the extra game and if you’re lucky, host an opening round.
It works a lot better in the SEC and BIG, but it seems to be holding true for the ACC this year too.
Honestly, Notre Dame may have been the team that played its cards best. Remember when we thought they were at a disadvantage without a conference championship? I hate those guys.

I agree with you about ND. If your two toughest opponents are Navy and Army you have a very weak schedule.

 

[slugboy]

I agree with you about ND. If your two toughest opponents are Navy and Army you have a very weak schedule.

They did play us (and Louisville)

 

[orientalnc]

They did play us (and Louisville)

It was a bit of sarcasm as I never thought either deserved to be ranked.

 

[yeti92]

I don't disagree with the premise that an SEC crew might tilt toward uga, but the officiating has not been a meaningful part of any of those games since our win in 2016.

idk, a lot of gagger fans were convinced last year the refs were screwing them

 

[AUFC]

Welcome to college football 2024. Schedule weak, avoid the extra game and if you’re lucky, host an opening round.
It works a lot better in the SEC and BIG, but it seems to be holding true for the ACC this year too.
Honestly, Notre Dame may have been the team that played its cards best. Remember when we thought they were at a disadvantage without a conference championship? I hate those guys.

The competitive imbalance in college football is insane right now with these mega conferences. I want to go back to round-robin that the Big 12 had for a while when they had 10 teams. Yes SMU had to play BYU non-conference but we would probably be playing for hardware in Charlotte and a spot in the CFP in a couple weeks if we had lucked out with their conference schedule.

I know team composition changes a lot from year to year, but for what it's worth, our ACC schedule next year as the 2024 standings sit is @10th, @7th, 2nd, 8th, 6th, 11th, @14th, @15th.

 

[1979jacket]

3 losses period should put them out.

if they win the SECCG they are in with 10 losses - but no problem

 

[CEB]

The competitive imbalance in college football is insane right now with these mega conferences. I want to go back to round-robin that the Big 12 had for a while when they had 10 teams. Yes SMU had to play BYU non-conference but we would probably be playing for hardware in Charlotte and a spot in the CFP in a couple weeks if we had lucked out with their conference schedule.

I know team composition changes a lot from year to year, but for what it's worth, our ACC schedule next year as the 2024 standings sit is @10th, @7th, 2nd, 8th, 6th, 11th, @14th, @15th.

Maybe the silver lining in this is that the scheduling lottery is going to produce some “non-traditional” winners every year. It will give the appearance of parity but….

We need to be ready to seize the moment when the schedule gods smile upon us!

 

[Ash]

idk, a lot of gagger fans were convinced last year the refs were screwing them

To be fair, that's their default position in any game. If had a dime for every time I heard a guy in red and black yell "Damn zebras!" during a game I could retire.

 

[RamblinRed]

This is a fun article.
Kansas' punter is from rural Australia. His parents made the trip to see him play last week (31 hours) and it ends up being the game where he does not punt, though they did get to see Kansas upset CO.

Kansas Punter's Family Flies From Australia for Game, Only for Jayhawks Not to Punt

Don't worry, it's only a 31-hour flight back.

www.si.com

 

[stinger78]

Welcome to college football 2024. Schedule weak, avoid the extra game and if you’re lucky, host an opening round.
It works a lot better in the SEC and BIG, but it seems to be holding true for the ACC this year too.
Honestly, Notre Dame may have been the team that played its cards best. Remember when we thought they were at a disadvantage without a conference championship? I hate those guys.

Hate may be a little strong for me, but I really just do not like the present arrangement.

 

[Vespidae]

Hate may be a little strong for me, but I really just do not like the present arrangement.

I like Dabo’s term for it: The Big10 - SEC Invitational.

 

[FredJacket]

This is a good thing to reference (assuming it's accurate) if you want to know who's going to B12 championship.

 

[stinger78]

CFP easentially the same as AP except Clem and Ole Miss switched. Clem #13 and Ole Miss #12.

If Clem beats USCe and Ole Miss beats MSU, will they switch?

 

[FredJacket]

CFP easentially the same as AP except Clem and Ole Miss switched. Clem #13 and Ole Miss #12.

If Clem beats USCe and Ole Miss beats MSU, will they switch?

You've confused me.

Current AP
#12 Clemson
#15 Ole Miss

This week's CFB Playoff rankings come out tomorrow (Tues).

 

[stinger78]

Current AP
#12 Clemson
#15 Ole Miss

This week's CFB Playoff rankings come out tomorrow (Tues).

Sorry, that was a computer ranking under the header of CFP.

 

[Root4GT]

They did play us (and Louisville)

And 3 other ACC Teams. ND beating ACC Teams like a drum makes ND weak! What does that say about the ACC?

 

[HurricaneJacket]

I agree with almost all of your take. A couple of quibbles at the edges.

Purdue is a bad team. If Indiana struggles and edges out a 10-14 point win, their weak schedule could finally bite them.
I wonder if uga will be safe if they lose to A&M by more than a TD. They would have 3 losses and no other three loss team, save the SEC champ, would be in the CFP.
The Tennessee game with Vandy is interesting. Beating Tennessee makes the season for Vandy while a Tennessee win merely maintains the status quo. Emotions mean a lot in these rivalry games and it's more of a rivalry to Vandy.
Also, I don't think ND can squeak through with an exciting win that keeps viewers engaged. A lot of people still look at that schedule an think its not really as tough as the one Indiana played.

A lot of Tennessee fans despise Vanderbilt and see them as pretentious prices, especially those that live in Middle Tennessee

 

[Oldgoldandwhite]

if Clemson wins and ND were to lose, does Clemson jump the Irish?