CFP Rankings Question

[Perd Hapley]

Haven’t seen it mentioned, but the first CFP rankings came out this week.

There is not a single non-P4 team in the Top 25. But, there has to be at least one non-P4 that makes the field as the 5th best conference champion.

My question is, does the committee actually do the rankings further down than #25, but only publish the Top 25? If not, what are they going to do if this stays consistent all the way through the end of the season? Just pull out some random Sun Belt / AAC / MAC team as the 5th best champion even though they never appear in the rankings?

As of right now, JMU is 7-1 in the Sun Belt. San Diego State is 7-1 in the Mountain West. Navy, Memphis, and North Texas all have only one loss in the AAC. There are also 5 other 2 loss teams across all those leagues that are still in the picture as well.

Just seems like they need maybe a separate G5 ranking for added transparency.

 

[615dawg]

I've read a lot of people think its the highest rated G5 team, but like you said, its actually the highest rated G5 champion. There's a six way tie in the American in the 1 loss column. We could have some chaos for the G5 bid this year.

Navy, Memphis, North Texas, South Florida, Tulane and East Carolina all have one conference loss in the American.

San Diego State is unbeaten in the MWC, but still has two of the top four including Boise and would have to beat someone in the MWC Champ game.

Then there is James Madison at 7-1 (5-0). Southern Miss is 4-0 in the SBC as well, but 2 losses outside conference play.

Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State are unbeaten in C-USA play, but have 2 and 3 losses respectively, so they will not be a factor. Same deal in the MAC - Ohio, Buffalo, Miami -OH and Western Michigan all are 4-1, but all have 3 or 4 losses so they are out.

What happens if Boise wins the MWC with 3 losses, Southern Miss wins the Sun Belt with 2 losses, and the American Champ ends up being ECU with 3 losses?

 

[Perd Hapley]

I've read a lot of people think its the highest rated G5 team, but like you said, its actually the highest rated G5 champion. There's a six way tie in the American in the 1 loss column. We could have some chaos for the G5 bid this year.

Navy, Memphis, North Texas, South Florida, Tulane and East Carolina all have one conference loss in the American.

San Diego State is unbeaten in the MWC, but still has two of the top four including Boise and would have to beat someone in the MWC Champ game.

Then there is James Madison at 7-1 (5-0). Southern Miss is 4-0 in the SBC as well, but 2 losses outside conference play.

Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State are unbeaten in C-USA play, but have 2 and 3 losses respectively, so they will not be a factor. Same deal in the MAC - Ohio, Buffalo, Miami -OH and Western Michigan all are 4-1, but all have 3 or 4 losses so they are out.

What happens if Boise wins the MWC with 3 losses, Southern Miss wins the Sun Belt with 2 losses, and the American Champ ends up being ECU with 3 losses?

Yes, this is my entire point. They need to either expand the rankings and start publishing the Top 30, 35, 40, or whatever….or they need to publish a separate G5 ranking to at least show the Top 10 or so G5 teams. There will be tons of criticism if they don’t have a G5 team appear at all until selection day.

 

[615dawg]

Just used the calculator at https://bball.notnothing.net/ (good for all conferences)

If ECU beats Memphis, they are likely in the American championship game (likely vs. North Texas)

 

[Colonel Angus.sixpack]

Is it possible the highest rated G5 champion isn’t even ranked in the top 25? Giving a team like that a bid is a waste of a playoff spot.

 

[onewoof]

Is it possible the highest rated G5 champion isn’t even ranked in the top 25? Giving a team like that a bid is a waste of a playoff spot.

It may end up being a nice little home OOC patsy scout team scrimmage for the #5 team, for not being quite good enough to get the bye

 

[MStateDawg]

If there is no G6 team ranked at the end of the year, the committee will continue ranking past no. 25 in their normal manner until they reach a G6 conference champion.

 

[Perd Hapley]

Is it possible the highest rated G5 champion isn’t even ranked in the top 25? Giving a team like that a bid is a waste of a playoff spot.

It’s a waste of a playoff spot anyway.

And yes, it’s definitely possible. But it’s not likely. What is likely, however, is that whichever G5 champ that the committee blesses will suddenly appear at the #25 spot when the final rankings are released, with no transparency at all as to how or why they were chosen.

 

[patdog]

It’s a waste of a playoff spot anyway.

And yes, it’s definitely possible. But it’s not likely. What is likely, however, is that whichever G5 champ that the committee blesses will suddenly appear at the #25 spot when the final rankings are released, with no transparency at all as to how or why they were chosen.

This is exactly what will happen. I don't like this releasing playoff rankings by week. All it does is hurt the credibility of the process. And of course generate TV ratings for ESPN, so it's not going away.