Let me start by saying, I don't believe they are a top 4 team (and I doubt they will become that in the eyes of the committee even if they win out though their competition is improving).
However, I have an issue with the playoff leaving them out if they go undefeated (again). NCAA Football is the only sport I can think of that a team can finish the season undefeated and not be the champion. The playoff was created to eliminate doubt but an undefeated team at the end of the year leaves at least a sliver. Would they win a four team playoff against power 5 champs? I doubt it. But I didn't think they would beat Auburn last year either. And you can make all kind of excuses for Auburn but the truth is when they played UCF won.
Let's start with the schedule since everyone complains about their schedule.
It is bad. The American Conference has some decent teams but also some terrible teams. But it's not entirely their fault.
Some say "They should play all power 5 non conference games?"
The reality is with power 5 schools playing 9-10 power 5 schools and may playing a FCS (1AA) school. It is impossible for them to schedule 4 OOC games against power 5 schools. They have scheduled 2 the last fews seasons and have had 1 canceled last two years due to a major hurricane. They cannot help that their conference has only a handful of decent teams among some terrible teams. You can only play the teams on your schedule. These schedules were made years ago in some cases before the playoff existed.
On a side note, I find it funny how people are complaining about Bama's (and other SEC schools) OOC scheduling. Louisville has dropped off the map along with Florida St last year that was supposed to be the game of the century.
Another problem I understand is that they want to plÃ*y power 5 teams at home. Few of the power 5 schools still go to smaller schools and play. We do but how many others would do a home and home with a team like UCF. Alabama doesnt. Most of the bluebloods dont either. Some do it for recruiting purposes.
The truth is they have won 21 games in a row. Alabama is second at 10. If they win out again, they will have won 25 games in a row. Sure the competition is low (mostly American Conference teams), but it's still impressive. When was the last time we had a 25 non conference game win streak? What about 20? Have we ever?
One solution I see is to create two new divisions: the power 5 schools + Notre Dame (65 teams) and the non power 5 schools (64 teams). There is already a clear divide between these groups. The bowls could be split among them since there are a million of them now. 1 reason this won't happen is money. The smaller schools need the power 5 money. BYU is another school that would want to be with power 5 schools and plays most of them.
Another solution is to expand to 8 with 5 power 5 champs and the top group of 5 school guaranteed spots and two at large spots. This one is more likely but won't happen for years because for some reason the NCAA made a contract that they can't amend for the betterment of the sport.
The thing is I thought the playoff was created to remove all doubt who the champion is. An undefeated team not being the champ or having a shot at championship is not removing.
Who knows they will probably lose in the next month so this won't matter until another school goes undefeated.
However, I have an issue with the playoff leaving them out if they go undefeated (again). NCAA Football is the only sport I can think of that a team can finish the season undefeated and not be the champion. The playoff was created to eliminate doubt but an undefeated team at the end of the year leaves at least a sliver. Would they win a four team playoff against power 5 champs? I doubt it. But I didn't think they would beat Auburn last year either. And you can make all kind of excuses for Auburn but the truth is when they played UCF won.
Let's start with the schedule since everyone complains about their schedule.
It is bad. The American Conference has some decent teams but also some terrible teams. But it's not entirely their fault.
Some say "They should play all power 5 non conference games?"
The reality is with power 5 schools playing 9-10 power 5 schools and may playing a FCS (1AA) school. It is impossible for them to schedule 4 OOC games against power 5 schools. They have scheduled 2 the last fews seasons and have had 1 canceled last two years due to a major hurricane. They cannot help that their conference has only a handful of decent teams among some terrible teams. You can only play the teams on your schedule. These schedules were made years ago in some cases before the playoff existed.
On a side note, I find it funny how people are complaining about Bama's (and other SEC schools) OOC scheduling. Louisville has dropped off the map along with Florida St last year that was supposed to be the game of the century.
Another problem I understand is that they want to plÃ*y power 5 teams at home. Few of the power 5 schools still go to smaller schools and play. We do but how many others would do a home and home with a team like UCF. Alabama doesnt. Most of the bluebloods dont either. Some do it for recruiting purposes.
The truth is they have won 21 games in a row. Alabama is second at 10. If they win out again, they will have won 25 games in a row. Sure the competition is low (mostly American Conference teams), but it's still impressive. When was the last time we had a 25 non conference game win streak? What about 20? Have we ever?
One solution I see is to create two new divisions: the power 5 schools + Notre Dame (65 teams) and the non power 5 schools (64 teams). There is already a clear divide between these groups. The bowls could be split among them since there are a million of them now. 1 reason this won't happen is money. The smaller schools need the power 5 money. BYU is another school that would want to be with power 5 schools and plays most of them.
Another solution is to expand to 8 with 5 power 5 champs and the top group of 5 school guaranteed spots and two at large spots. This one is more likely but won't happen for years because for some reason the NCAA made a contract that they can't amend for the betterment of the sport.
The thing is I thought the playoff was created to remove all doubt who the champion is. An undefeated team not being the champ or having a shot at championship is not removing.
Who knows they will probably lose in the next month so this won't matter until another school goes undefeated.
