Strong non conference scheduling and conference championships (like OU's if they win Saturday) mean nothing if the committee were to put Michigan into playoffs over a conference champion with the same losses. Michigan lost to Iowa and TOSU. SOONERS lost to TOSU and Houston who is as good as Iowa. IMHO
Non Conferrnce Scheduling
- Thread starter PryorFan
- Start date
Michigan lost in OT on the road, and by a last second FG on the road.
OU lost by double digits...
I say forget about scheduling one tough, one average and one lighweight in the non-conference schedule. Select three middle-of-the-pack teams like Kentucky, Colorado State and Northern Illinois and be done with it. Unfortuantely, it doesn't make for very compelling games for the fans or for TV. So, I guess it will never work.
This as much as anything is why I'm for the expansion to 8 teams and the auto-bids for the five conferences. That way you encourage teams to play good non-conference schedules to serve as an alternative path to earn a playoff spot beyond the conference title. Otherwise, a team is much better suited to play a couple of D1 'meh' teams each year than to schedule other bona-fide opponents.
1971.....#1 Nebraska, #2 Oklahoma, #3 Colorado. All from the Big 8 Conference. It can happen again. The four best teams should be in the playoffs and no team should be automatically entitled to a playoff slot simply because it won its conference. But that's just my opinion.
The other point is that not only did Michigan lose twice, but both losses were at the end of the season which usually spells disaster for a playoff spot. Sandwiched in between the Iowa and OSU loss was a tough game with Indiana whereas Oklahoma continually got better as the season went on. Yeah, I don't get it either.
Yes, this is a valid point. I know others feel early season losses are the kiss of death especially for teams on the bubble, but it is much more common that losing late in the season hurts more. Wasn't Penn State 2-2 early this season yet they are still in it. Same goes for Heisman consideration. With a good game today Dede will remain a contender. A bad day, he will be out. What have you done for me lately syndrome.
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Herbstreit this morning referenced this in regards to the playoff and Washington. He said that if Washington gets in with a nonconference strength of schedule in the 120's it will send the message to play a weak non conference schedule, win your conference championship, and get in the playoff. OU played the 7th ranked non conference schedule and they've never recovered. What's the point in doing that?