Quote:No way , no how the MAC is in the G5 rep discussion this year.
I wasn't at all implying they were. I was saying that WMU beating @Ohio, @Toledo, @NIU, and @EMU -- puts them at a strong disadvantage winning the MAC West.
My previous separated topic post was about the playoff structure, of 6 or 8 teams. I used NIU as an example, not for this year, but just as a mid-major on some random year. I don't think Marshall's going to be #12 and undefeated this year, and I don't think NIU's going to be #15 with 1L this year, don't worry. :)
Quote:As for the playoff, I am of the opinion it is just a money making ploy that does nothing for the game.
I think, and almost everyone out there agrees, the current 4 team playoff is better than not having a playoff at all. :)
Quote:So what if they add 2 more playoff teams or whatever. It is still a mistake [...]. MAC teams don't belong with Alabama and Clemson.
First, I never implied MAC teams would be in it with 2 more playoff teams. Think it through.
6 teams LAST YEAR -- it'd just be the Top G5 like UCF. Other years NOT even any G5s.
With 8 teams, there most likely would be 1 G5 -- maybe 2, once in a good while. Especially when Notre Dame has some not-so-grand years + 2 G5s stick out.
Read what I wrote -- it IS going by RANKING. But yes, it'd include the P12 Champ who may not "belong" with Alabama or Clemson on a certain year. But it'd at least Eliminate some barely-ranked P12 Champ who pulled an upset in a P12 Conf Championship game that they completely lucked out falling into -- and take a highly ranked 2nd-placer of the SEC or other P5 instead.
The whole concept of expanding the playoffs is to get the P5 Champs in. But I INCLUDE exceptions. Like if the P12 or B1G Champ wasn't that great and pulled a big upset -- which has happened before -- an G5 Champ undefeated, not highly ranked but higher ranked than they would be accepted in sooner. By Ranking.
My example of NIU with 1 loss at #15 reflects the year they went to a BCS Bowl, where the MAC had a pretty good year and two ranked teams went at it for the MACC. NIU was higher ranked than 2 P6 Champs. Rare situation at 1L. But again, going by Rankings. And even in that example, IF you read it, it shows NIU *not* getting in over an independent who's at a disadvantage not being part of a conference, because NIU wouldn't be undefeated (they'd have to make the Top 12 to outdo a higher-ranked undefeated Independent, with 1L; good luck for any G5 ever doing that).
If you think it through, my 8-team construct is basically just an Insurance Policy for wacky situations, that would otherwise let a not-so-great P5 Champ in over a better ranked G5 Champ. It also gives an advantage to Conf Champs over Independents (cough cough join a conference; they had an extra 'playoff' game they won, you didn't). There can easily be a G5 Champ with 1L, ranked well in the nation, but AIN'T GETTING IN. However, if undefeated, not being so held back if still ranked in the Top 16. Could reduce that to 15, but that's about it, as I can't see an undefeated G5 not being any lower without Trying to have a poor schedule. You wouldn't want a team like how Marshall ALMOST was, with a D1AA + 3 MAC schools (only 1 being decent) as their OOC schedule, with their CUSA schedule not being so hot. Marshall would have been ranked probably #19-20 at best and wouldn't make my scheme.
Here, I'll do 2016-2018, for both 6-team/8-team schemes. One thing I didn't mention previously that I've always liked to add: Limits on the same conference. No more than 2 teams from the same conference, unless you're in the Top 3 -- or ranked 3 places higher+ than who would be the next said team who'd be an at-large of their conference, then 3rd one allowed, max. Concept is based on the same concept of advantage to Conference Champs. And to also adjust who-plays-who 1st round, to avoid inter-conference games, if rankings are just a couple spots away.
2016 6-Team:
#1: Alabama (SEC) [bye]
#2: Clemson (ACC) [bye]
#3: Ohio State (B1G) vs #7 Oklahoma (B12)
#4: Washington (P12) vs #5 Penn State (At-Large)
Left Out: #6 Michigan, #15 Western Michigan (Undefeated G5)
2016 8-Team:
#1: Alabama (SEC) vs #15 Western Michigan (MAC; Undefeated G5)
#2: Clemson (ACC) vs #6 Michigan (At-Large)
#3: Ohio State (B1G) vs #7 Oklahoma (B12)
#4: Washington (P12) vs #5 Penn State (At-Large)
Left Out: #8 Wisconsin
2017 6-Team:
#1: Clemson (ACC) [bye]
#2: Oklahoma (B12) [bye]
#3: Georgia (SEC) vs #8 USC (P12)
#4: Alabama (At-Large) vs #5 Ohio State (BIG)
Left Out: #6 Wisconsin, #7 Auburn, #12 Central Florida (Undefeated G5)
2017 8-Team:
#1: Clemson (ACC) vs #12 Central Florida (AAC, Undefeated G5)
#2: Oklahoma (B12) vs #8 USC (P12)
#3: Georgia (SEC) vs #6 Wisconsin (At-Large)
#4: Alabama (At-Large) vs #5 Ohio State (BIG)
Left Out: #7 Auburn
2018 6-Team:
#1: Alabama (SEC) [bye]
#2: Clemson (ACC) [bye]
#3: Notre Dame (IND) vs #8 Central Florida (AAC)
#4: Oklahoma (B12) vs #6 Ohio State (B1G)
Left Out: #5 Georgia, #7 Michigan
2018 8-Team:
#1: Alabama (SEC) vs #9 Washington (P12)
#2: Clemson (ACC) vs #8 Central Florida (AAC)
#3: Notre Dame (IND) vs #6 Ohio State (B1G)
#4: Oklahoma (B12) vs #5 Georgia (At-Large)
Left Out: #7 Michigan