The first ever College Football Playoffs rankings were released on Tuesday night and one of the biggest stories was how low Notre Dame was ranked in the initial rankings. Â The Irish came in at #10 in the only rankings that really matter despite being 6th and 7th in the AP and Coaches Polls respectively. Â While the rankings are low and of course ridiculous it’s still way to early to stress over them for Notre Dame fans.
First off, for the playoff rankings to mean anything for Notre Dame, the Irish have to win out following the loss to Florida State. Â Given the five game stretch the Irish face that is no guarantee. Â Assuming Notre Dame doesn’t make the Navy game interesting this year they will need to travel to Tempe next weekend to take on Arizona State and recent history has not been kind to the Irish the week following the yearly Navy game. Â Throw in the Thanksgiving weekend trip to Southern Cal and there are plenty of challenges left in store for Notre Dame.
Aside from that fact, there is still a lot of football left to be played and despite the Irish coming in at #10 right now, there is still plenty of time left for that to change. Â All you have to do is look at last year when Auburn was #11 in the first BCS rankings before climbing all the way to #2 to earn a trip to the title game to find a team who has been ranked worse than the Irish and still played for the title. Â And that was when just two teams, not four, were selected.
Many of the teams ahead of Notre Dame still have plenty of chances to lose to allow the Irish to move up . Notre Dame also has a chance to post victories over potentially ranked teams in Arizona State and USC although the Trojans will need to help us out to make that happen.
Right now Notre Dame has no real impressive wins and that is dragging them down in the rankings. Â Add in wins on the road vs. Arizona State and USC and now we’re talking. Â Hopefully Stanford can right its ship a bit and continue to have Oregon’s number this weekend to not only knock the Ducks out but also make Notre Dame’s win look all the more impressive.
Other than Oregon’s test this weekend against Stanford, here are the tough games each of the top 10 teams face over the next month.
- #1 Mississippi State – Arkansas (don’t laugh the Razorbacks have been competitive against Alabama, Texas A&M, and Georgia ), @ #6 Alabama, @ #4 Ole Miss, SEC Championship game
- #2 Florida State – Â @#25 Louisville. Â Outside of that, the Seminoles likely won’t be tested much and honestly, them being ranked #1 or 2 could help the Irish.
- #3 Auburn – @ #4 Ole Miss, @ #11 Georgia, @ #6 Alabama, SEC Championship game (potentially) – good luck navigating that without another loss
- #4 Ole Miss – vs. #3 Auburn, @ Arkansas, vs. #1 Miss State, SEC Championship game (potentially)
- #5 Oregon – vs. Stanford, @ #17 Utah, Pac 12 Championship (potentially)
- #6 Alabama – @ #19 LSU, vs. #1 Miss State, vs #3 Auburn, SEC Championship (potentially)
- #7 TCU – @ #20 West Virginia, vs. #9 Kansas State (elimination game)
- #8 Michigan State – vs #16 Ohio State, @ Penn State
- #9 Kansas State – @ #7 TCU, @ #20 West Virginia, @ #13 Baylor
There’s 5 head to head match-ups there alone – Miss St-Ole Miss, Miss St-Alabama, Alabama-Auburn, Auburn-Ole Miss, TCU-Kansas State. Â Those games alone are going to knock some teams down and give the Irish a chance to move up.
The two teams that really are the biggest potential hurdles right now for Notre Dame are Oregon and Michigan State. Â Neither has a really tough game left vs a top 10 team. Â Notre Dame fans need to be big Stanford fans this weekend and fans of anyone playing Nebraska right now. Â Michigan State’s only good win right now is against #15 Nebraska. Â If the Cornhusker can drop a few games, that win will look less impressive.
There are also the teams right behind the Irish that can move up though. Â Georgia has a gauntlet of games coming up that if they run the table through will have them in the playoffs. Â Arizona has a couple of ranked opponents left as well that will let them build their resume. Â #16 Ohio State can work on their resume if they beat Michigan State but that Virginia Tech loss is going to weigh them down all season even if they are able to upset Sparty.
So in summary, there is A LOT of football left to be played and right now there isn’t much to be gained from getting all worked up over the rankings. Â Yes, the initial rankings are a joke and Notre Dame being ranked #10 is probably way too low. Â If, however, Â Notre Dame takes care of business on the field and uses their #10 ranking as a chip on their shoulder they still have a great chance of being in the final 4.
Now, if a couple of the teams ahead of the Irish start dropping games and the committee keeps a bunch of 2-loss teams ahead of Notre Dame, then it’ll be time to start freaking out. Â For now though, just sit back and enjoy the final five games of the year and let everything else start to work itself out before getting too worked up.
Did I see #30 Ben Councell limp off the field during the Navy game ?
Has he been cleared to play since his last play concussion against NC?
Why hasn’t he been mentioned as an LB replacement for Schmidt?
I’m excited about Morgan as an ILB, but Councell could provide some experience
there to at least complement Morgan during the game.
This might be a minority opinion, but the surmise here is that USC on the road and Louisville at home are more dangerous for ND than ASU.
If anybody here watched ASU-USC you would perhaps agree.
College football is about matchups and this Arizona matchup bodes very well for the Irish. The Irish will have the right mindset going into that game. Every once in a while the big lie gets so much early publicity that it takes hold of the public consciousness. I thought the commentariat was daft
when they proclaimed UCLA a top candidate for the Final Four. I think there are AT LEAST 20 football teams in America better than UCLA.
Similarly with the “athleticism” of Taylor Kelly. Check your hole card and see how well he ran against the much slower Irish of 2013.
Stanford, last year showed how to beat ASU. Hit them in the mouth early and often. They are just not very physical. The Irish are, and that will be a huge and pivotal factor on Saturday. Remember, with the prior quarterback, we had them down an easy 24-13 going into the 4th quarter last year. We have improved more than they have.
Injuries happen. Nyles Morgan now has a chance. He has gotten a battlefield promotion. When Collinsworth went down, it was too late to adjust before Rice (less than 48 hours). But now, Van Gorder and Elliott will do several things:
(1) A lot of time in film room with Morgan
(2) Tell the other players on the front seven that is on ALL OF THEM,
not just Morgan, to replace Joe Schmidt’s contributions. Captain Day, are you listening?
(3) We have this #9 guy on defense. When Moses walked down the mountain with the ten commandements, there was not one which said “Thou shalt not
let Jaylon Smith call the defensive signals.” Go ye and do likewise.
Re: #2- Step up. Like Justin Utopo did vs. Navy- his best career game, and we certainly noticed and appreciated it.
4) We also have this #5 guy on offense; Let him use his legs (especially in the red zone) and his arm as we close out this season. Everett “the Magician” pulls out rabbit-quick TDs and first downs out of OL breakdowns. TR was a pocket passer out of necessity. EG when roaming and rolling out creates D’ coverage breakdowns. Turn him loose and watch the magic show. For every mistake, there’s 10 or more spectacular plays. As for this week:
Scoring thirty-one
And still the irish aren’t done
Will exorcise the sun devils fun.
Send them Brian V
Don’t lay back to watch and wait
Force out their mistake.
Until the Irish start beating teams like Navy, Syracuse, Purdue, North Carolina etc. handily they aren’t going to get a lot of respect around the country with regards to the playoff race. Last night was a great example, they actually got off to a good start at 28-7 and then made sloppy plays and mistakes that allowed Navy to make a game of it. They also played very sloppy and turned the ball over against Purdue, Syracuse, and North Carolina. It just seems as though each week they make some weird, mental mistakes that allow inferior teams to stay in the game. There were about 5-6 such plays last night. Knowing how young the Irish are this year, I don’t think I would have predicted a 7-1 start so that is certainly a positive, but the next 4 weeks will certainly define the season. A very good ASU on the road, followed by two decent teams at home in Northwestern and Louisville, and then the season finale against a talented USC team in LA. Can the Irish win them all? Possibly, but they are going to have to play a hell of a lot better than they did last night and not turn the ball over. A lot of young guys on defense are going to have to step up and play very well – particularly with some of the injuries they have incurred in recent weeks. ASU worries me – I really can’t say I have seen them play but I know they score a ton of points and seem to be playing really well on both sides of the ball.
I just love this line: ASU worries me – I really can’t say I have seen them play but I know they score a ton of points and seem to be playing really well on both sides of the ball.
It’s less about TOs than it is about making the big plays on O’ and D’. EVERY team makes turnovers; Winston made three last Thursday. But not every team has Jaylon Smiths and Everett Golsons who make big play after big play every week. I, for one, can’t wait for the next OL breakdown to watch EG create more magic. No Heismann- probably not- but ND without EG creating as he does would result in a lot more sacks and fewer receptions by all involved. I’ve seen Az.St. and your worries are warranted. They’ve made a ton of big plays these last few games. I have noticed Kelly under pressure will force throws.
Nyles Morgan did look pretty good though…..
We have a very good defense that had a very bad game. Happens all the time against the triple option. As Coach Kelly said before the game, “Ask any coach in the country why they don’t want to play Navy.” They played a great game.
We have one of the best offenses in the country. The breathless panic on this site sometimes blows me away.
I have no doubt BVG will figure it out and coach the kids right.
I am however very concerned about the injuries that occurred last night. We cannot afford to lose Joe Schmidt, especially with a decimated secondary.
Great game Navy.
Agreed with Burgundy. Doesn’t matter who we beat. If we are 11-1 then we are in. Every year there are maybe 1 or 2 undefeated teams then a couple 1 loss teams. If we beat Arizona St by a considerable margin then we earn some respect at the least. Still a long way to go ladies
ND MVP the last 2 games against Navy: Keenan Reynolds. Thanks to a bad pitch from him last season and his dropped half-back option pass this season, ND didn’t suffer 2 embarrassing losses in back-to-back games against the Middies.
ND doesn’t have a signature win this season. It has a signature defeat, though. That’s great! But that’s not nearly good enough for a playoff position.
In the immortal words of Jim Mora: “Playoffs, PLAYOFFS?!”
I thought Navy should have passed on the onside kick at the end. I think they we were really back on our heals. Its a shame we don’t play MSU this year. I don’t think they match up well with us and may grab a spot.
fxm,
Please recall the duranko has forbade the use of “we” on his site.
But I totally agree with you. The Navy coach has also helped us out with a few strange calls in the last 2 games against ND.
What is your fascination with MSU? Were you born in Sparta? Is your favorite color green? Who cares if they play them? They have enough to worry about with the teams left on their schedule. Go 11-1 and you’re in. Even though they are yet to beat anybody worth a damn it will be good enough. It always works out and many teams ahead all play each other. I don’t think the odds are very good they win out but there is something about #5 that gives you a chance.
Notre Dame will not be “back” until we start blowing out teams we should be destroying. If Alabama played this Navy team, the score would be 70-3. We don’t deserve any respect and #10 is just about where we should be at. That being said, if we go 11-1 I still think we get in 🙂
Stay Class, San Diego. #Austin316
A man can be as great as he wants to be-Vince Lombardi
I wake up in the morning and I piss excellence. – Ricky Bobby
So let me get this straight. BVG’s system is better than Diaco’s vs the option and the committee has bias vs ND.
Got it.
Agree. I wouldn’t put them in any top ten let alone top 4. On another note, our only “quality” win, Stanford got blown out so we pretty much have nothing going for us right now.
No need to worry about the playoff picture now.
They should drop in the rankings even if they hold on to win this in the last 5 minutes.
The Irish look horrible. Top tier teams play better than this.
If they get the win, I realize a win is a win. But they had them put away and let them back in to it.
Bad execution tonight.
This is not a new thing with Navy either. We have had a habit of letting a less talented Navy team look like a freaking championship team when we have played. I’m not going to repeat an earlier rant I made about this game. A lot of work remains ahead, period.
If we can get some help from WV and of course win big we should be ranked 8th come next week. But of course Haden aand Co. may disagree.
Their response is.. of all the one loss teams I mentioned, did they lose to a higher ranked team than ND did? And when we did “upset” Stanford they were ranked 13th also. T
hey make a valid point.
Awesome intel, can your sources verify the location of Bigfoot, Jimmy. Hoffa, Elvis and most importantly bj’s grass?
bj’s grass is in his bong.
I think we would be asking too much. But I can check for you.
Or could it be that the committee is showing favor to teams that are in a major conference? Should Oregon or MSU or TCU or even freaking KState be ranked ahead of us? Of course not!
At least that’s what my sources tell me.
Ask your sources what ND has done to be ranked higher. What is the signature win? You could make a case that ND got lucky being ahead of Ga and Ariz. maybe the bias runs the other way.
Nobody is saying it but is FSU really that good? They are defending champs and undefeated but have they really impressed? For the most part ND manhandled their offensive line and the FSU defence isn’t FSU-like. Without Winston would they even be in consideration?
Without Winston they probably have 4 losses. But they have #5 and as long as they do they are dangerous.
The first ranking and all subsequent rankings until the last one are of little relevance. 3 plays 4 this week and one of the two will have 2 losses. The SEC west still has a lot of football to play and losses there will pile p for some and not others. The Big 12 has some high profile games yet to play. Notre Dame has some high profile games yet to play.
The Irish at 11-1 will be difficult to keep out. All of the talk of multiple SEC teams is just that at the moment, talk. My opinion (worth nothing I know) is that the only way 2 SEC teams get in is with an undefeated Mississippi State losing to a 1-loss UGA in the SEC Championship game.
As of today-Oregon has better wins the Notre Dame; Alabama is Alabama; TCU has a better win than Notre Dame; Michigan State has a better win than Notre Dame; and KState has a better win than Notre Dame.
With the exception of Alabama; the other teams ahead of the Irish have at least one win against a current ranked opponent.
The Irish win out and they will be in a great position. Don’t sweat the polls just yet. If the Irish don’t win out (highly unlikely that they lose again) then they don’t deserve to be there.
It is unfortunate that the Irish opponents all picked the same year to be historically bad.
Go IRISH!!
Let’s not get all calm and rationale here. Don’t you know that there are numerous ND haters on the committee and that the ND bias runs rampant. People everywhere are searching for ways to keep ND out of the playoffs. In fact, if ND were to beat the Denver Broncos by 31 they would actually drop in the polls because Haden is on the committee and it is his mission to sully the reputation of ND.
Pat Haden???
The College Football playoff system is an exceptionally powerful magical object.
Only an exceptionally powerful Confundus charm could have hoodwinked it!
Magic way beyond the talents of a ordinary Athletic Director.
And I thought it had something to do with our wins against mediocre teams. Thanks for clearing that up for us.
CHALLENGE:
To everyone on this site who is complaining about the current Playoff Selection Committee and claiming anti-ND bias, please build your own hypothetical committee. Said committee cannot contain more than 2 people with past or current associations with Notre Dame. What 12 human beings in this country would hit the target perfectly, thereby assuaging any concerns you might have about “ND haters out there”.
Best of luck.
Duranko is right. Think about the schedule of the 9 teams ahead of ND:
MS S U – plays AL and Ole Miss
FSU – plays Lou, Mia and UF
AU – plays Ole Miss and MS S U
MS – plays AU and MS S U
OR- plays Utah and Stan
AL – plays LSU, MS S U and AU
TCU – plays WVU, KSU, Tex
Mich St. plays OSU and PSU
KSU plays TCU, Baylor and WVU
I see a lot of potential for the top 9 to lose over the next 5 weeks, especially since some top 9 play other top 9. There’s still a lot of football to be played in the next 5 weeks. We must be patient – I like our chances if we win out.
I am aware who is on the committee and no I’m pretty sure they do not wake up and and decide how they can screw ND today. What I am saying I do not feel they are getting a fair look and consideration from many of the folks on the committee just by who the year moved above us. I certainly am not looking for a grand slam on a ranking but my opinion is they should be around 6th. And yes there are many ND haters out there……
Never underestimate partisan proclivity in a small group of individuals. ND was ranked a tad low but this should only fuel the players and program to force a readdress on the field of play. The zebras can’t always win.
to get there we have to look like national champions, no penalties, no interceptions, a powerful grinding running game, and yes a few or more runbacks on punt and kickoff situations for scores.
True, but do we also need to do it on grass?
After seeing how ND dropped with the playoff selection committee I’m not sure we get into playoffs even if we win out. Why, there are alot of ND haters on this committee and probably future committees. Starting to think they should still use the AP or Coaches poll and take top 4 to playoffs. Just saying.
So your premise is that these very accomplished individuals on the selection committee (some of which include Rhodes Scholars and former Secretaries of State) wake up and decide how it is they can screw ND on this ranking system?
Yep, seems completely plausible.
That former Secy of State also graduated from ND – we’re all forgetting about Condi as at least one friendly voice on the committee.
Rhodes scholar = Pat Haden = USC/ Pac12. Need I say more?
Secretary of State qualifies one how, exactly, to judge football teams?
You’re an idiot, Burgundy.
Why the secret ballot? Accomplished individuals also have bias, as do refs who grew up sports’ fans, as might ADs tied to conferences in which their livelihood and success depends on increased revenue for their conferences.Want to stifle the accusations of bias? Have each member go public with his/her rankings. Why the secrecy? Do we know if our #10 ranking, or Alabama at #6, or anyone else for that matter didn’t get low balled by a member of the committee ?
Until they go public individually, there will be accusations of bias every week.
Again, why the secrecy?
So nut jobs and fanatics stay away. This was a meaningless poll and people have all gone crazy. You probably wouldn’t be able to get people on a selection committee if their vote was public because no matter how you rank it irrational fans will always cry, bitch and moan. The minute you lose a game you lose the right to complain. It’s a beauty pageant and unfortunately at the end of the day somebody’s baby will be called ugly.
well, there are five weekends in November, and then the Conference Championships. If we climb one notch per week…… The sine qua non is an unbeaten November for the Irish.
But while that’s unfolding, so is the inherent chaos in College Football.
And all these projections and predictions will be smashed into a thousand pieces, as occurs every year. It’s why teams play and why fans watch.
Only fools make predictions, and bigger fools pay attention.
Chaos, this year, is Notre Dame’s friend.
Or, as that great philosopher Yogi Barra said, “Making predictions is hard, especially about the future.”
As this is the very first ranking by the selection committee, I’m not saying that they are right, or they are wrong, I’m just trying to get a handle on what they look at, their priorities, and their reasoning in conjunction with what was described as the main criteria before the season started.
The only thing I know for certain at this time is the committee has thus far ignored the “cupcake” factor as part of the SOS.
I think ND has maybe one cupcake on their 2014 schedule… Rice
Here is a list of the “cupcakes” that can be found on the schedules of the teams currently ranked ahead of the Irish:
UAB
So.Alabama
UT Martin
The Citadel
Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Lafayette
Presbyterian
So. Dakota
Florida Atlantic
Wyoming
Western Carolina
Samford
SMU
Steven F Austin
Jacksonville St.
UTEP
Eastern Michigan
Who has the worst loss. Oregon at home to the U of Arizona or ND on the
road to Florida State on a fixed call. Who is ranked higher? Pathetic.
So now the call was fixed?
I dunno about fixed but maybe a bit curious. Looked to be a case of defensive holding. Crimnoles won though and that is what counts. Shame it had to end like that.
Looks like they are setting the SEC up for 2 spots, maybe 3. Even with the flurry of losses to come, they might take a 2 loss SEC team (say GA wins SEC championship). MI St. ranking is the most undeserved of the lot and the most problematic for us.
If ND wins out and they only have that one good loss, it would be far to controversial for the selection committee too not place them in the final four. It would put the process into question the first year in.
If you stipulate the Sagarin predictor as gospel, then the season ends with the following:
1 loss:
Alabama
Ole Miss
FSU
TCU
Mich. St.
Oregon
2 loss:
MS St.
KS St.
ND*
*ND is a toss-up leaning USC
If this scenario holds up, except that ND prevails over USC, it is hard to see a path to the final 4. They’ll move ahead of Auburn, MS St. and KS St.
Then they somehow have to leapfrog MI St., FL St., and TCU. It’s plausible, but only if the Louisville and USC games are statement wins and even then it’ll take some help with SOS improving.
Stipulating ND wins out, the biggest thing to root for is for Stanford to upset Oregon.
The key will be next week after ND beats Navy. Will a 2 loss SEC team (Auburn or Ole Miss) still be ahead of ND? If so, then ND has no chance. It would be ridiculous but could happen because Auburn beat an overrated Kansas State….
I think it’s win and we are in. It’s way too early to even think about the playoffs. With that said who’d thought we’d be complaining about being in 10th place after losing 3 starters. BTW they would still be playing if they went to Florida State or an SEC school!
Second, we haven’t beaten anyone of relavince and people are always going to say our schedule is weak (even though we don’t pl a two directional school like south east carolina). I think we beat everyone except Arizona State and we can win that too. I don’t think that EG has peaked so look out if he does.
GO IRISH!
I wouldn’t get too hyper yet. The committee has stated time and time again this will not be like BCS polls. This weeks rankings will have zero effect on next weeks. If ND beats Arizona State, it will be ranked ahead of Michigan State. Also some teams above us will lose additional games.
ND just needs to make sure it wins out. With all the teams in the top 10 playing each other, there will be opportunities for ND to shine. The Arizona State game is critical though (and USC to a lesser extent). And root for Stanford this weekend.
I think Stanford and Michigan struggling has hurt our strength of schedule. While I would never root for Michigan (it would be pointless now anyway) I can certainly root for the other teams on our schedule.
But the last rankings are the only ones that count.
There is the possibility that ND could win out and still be left out of the playoff picture but I think they will make in based on the difficulty of the tough games still ahead for the 9 teams currently ranked in front of ND. After this weekend ND should move up one or two positions but they must put a beatdown on Navy. There cant be anymore of these tight games with the teams we should easily beat. Still plenty of time to move into the top 4
I absolutely believe that even if we win out the “loss” to FSU keeps us out of the playoff. It still drives me crazy. FSU was not a loss, the game was taken from the better team.
Yeah Jeff, I think so too. Especially if FSU wins out. I can see why Kelly was pissed because that penalty had a huge implication on playoffs
This just makes that BS call against FSU even more important than we thought. I know there is a TON of football left but sitting at #10 is no respect to ND at all. I don’t want to put this in the hands of voters who are ND haters. If we get that call, we are sitting at #2 right now in the playoff, but simply because we would be undefeated. They would HAVE to put us there but in their minds, they obviously feel that Michigan State, Kansas State, etc. are better teams than us right now. What a joke!!!
They clearly don’t care who you lose to in the equation, with the exception of Ohio State. Ole Miss loses to a two loss LSU team but still gets the #4 seed for the playoff, really??? Michigan State’s “key” win is against Nebraska, hahahahaha!!!! Are you effing kidding me!? They nearly lost to McNeese. Has anyone even heard of McNeese? Nebraska sucks!
I’m really worried that ND is going to get screwed because of the haters, even if we win out. We will see what happens but I hope this gives Kelly some indication of needing to run scores up on teams, etc.
Again way to early to freak but I do have doubts about this new system working fairly. Obviously they are looking at strength of schedules (only in ND’S case) but look at FSU’s schedule – not very impressive other than ND. Better yet look at Miss State’s, yes 3 big wins but look at their first 3 games. My old high school team could have beaten those schools as well! Not only do we need to win out but need alot of help from the above ranked teams. Hey least were on college football radar. There were many years folks said we belonged in the Ivy League. 5 more wins then we can start bitching – maybe.
They have set this up that if MSU beats Ohio State and wins the Big Ten they will be one of the four teams. They have also set it up that if Oregon wins the whole way they will be one of the four teams. That leave two spots open. The one spot will be filled by an SEC team and the other spot by if able an undefeated FSU. Now you have satisfied four of the Big conference champions. If FSU loses ND still won’t leap them due to head to head competition. I don’t see a scenario where Kstate or TCU makes it into the playoffs.
What does this all mean, even Big Lou wants ND in a conference. This is where this is headed. Eventually this will be a eight team playoff with 5 conference winners and 3 at large bids. They will uses lessor bowls to play the first playoff games old BCS bowls to play the semis and a NC by the first week in January. You don’t really have to worry about finals as the schools are usually on break.
Perhaps, but according to your example, a Power 5 conference champ will STILL be left out. If ND joins ACC, no guarantee we’d be in, especially this year if FLAST wins out.
We have better chance where we are.
Correct, but once they have ND in a conference they can extend to 8 and guarantee all power conference champions get in. Right now they can not go to that format because they would have to be a special ND rule for one of the three at large. The press is already clamoring for an 8 team playoff. It will happen sooner than later and take out the committee.
If Notre Dame Football had any notion of joining a conference, Jack Swarbrick would have already done it when he made the deal with the ACC.
By joining the ACC for all sports except football, the University sent a clear and unmistakable message about ND’s long term commitment towards remaining an Independent in college football.
This action is viewed by most as a sound and savvy business decision as the Notre Dame Name and Brand has the strength, stability, and renowned recognition to stand on its own and remain the sole propriety of the University.
But I do agree there is no doubt some conference politics and influence involved.
Although, when it comes to politics and influence ol Notre Dame knows a thing or two about that as well.
Shaz,
I think ND will be forced alla the God Father, an offer they can’t refuse. There are many people on this committee with conference affiliation or school affiliation, but no one there representing the Irish. That needs to change.
Just unfortunate we don’t play MSU this year. They just can’t beat us, and with a stationary target at QB they are made for us. Too bad.
Just curious, and I haven’t looked yet, but everyone on the committee has ties to some other schools. Who might the IRISH have? Willingham can’t really be consider with the way he left, which might even bode badly for ND. Let’s face it, these people are only human, and the, shall we say “dislike”, factor can’t be ignored.
Your example of Auburn leaves out a big factor. They’re SEC…
Oh, I see Pat “run down from his booth, onto the field to whine about officiating, ex-QB for SC” Haden is there.
How can any currently-employed persons of a school in FBS be on it? I’m not saying they’ll be biased for their school, but might have anti-sentiments to others, not just ND.
It is still yet another imperfect way to handle college football -playoffs-hope for a national title because of human error and bias.
Computers/Saagarin (gag) were also imperfect.
We will never find the perfect system–playoff or not. Other Divisions in NCAA may have it right.
This is about $$$ and bias and again, human imperfection.
The old system was better than this.
This–combined with the felons at FSU is a mess.
Irish–Win Out–and just play.
ND forever!
I don’t understand the dislike of the computers. They have NO subliminal bias, and are emotionless regarding the facts. This poopoo about “eye test” is phony excuse for bias.
Throw out margin of victory, include SOS down two levels (opponents’ opponents), eliminate ALL wins vs FCS, compare common opponents, use comps AND expand to 8 team playoffs.
If we were still using the old system Notre Dame would already be out of it.
Jeff, please explain. ND lower than 10th? Out of it now.
PatrickM, My point was that if the NCAA were still using the BCS system to determine the Top 2 teams Notre Dame would be on the outside looking in. Mathematically they would still have a chance but I believe they would need to much help from other teams to finish in the Top 2 spots. With the current system they are right there in the thick of things. My comment was to Irisheye62 who said the old system was better than the current one which I disagree. My hope is that ND makes it in. I would also like to see this playoff system expanded to 8 teams sooner than later.
Condie Rice is an ND grad – she went onto Stanford for law school. Could help us with both “likes”. We need to win out, if we don’t none of this makes any difference.
We are in trouble… The Irish have no friends on the committee…there is no way we are given a playoff spot even if we win out…we have to move up 6 spots…even considering other teams possible losses the math does not work in our favor.
Once again the college football world (committee) is Pro-SEC and Anti-Independent. The way its structured, if ND wins out, their best win would be a two loss ASU and non conference winner. And as you noted above a potential two loss SEC team could still be rank above a 11-1 ND.
I don’t think you will find one Irish fan, player or coach who cares that Notre Dame sits 10th. If we take care of business we will end up in the final four plain and simple. Its going to he tough but if we take care of the football I think we can run the table and finish 11-1 but its going to take the Irish playing just like they played in the Fla State game. Got my fingers crossed and hoping like hell we can do it.