2025 College Football Season

[tdindy88]

I'm fine with either Tulane or James Madison getting into the playoff and getting clobbered in the first round, but not both at the expense of some much better team, and thanks to Virginia's loss tonight it looks like that's what's going to happen.

I'm curious, why did both these teams get in? I know one Group-of-five team gets in, but why two?

[thspfc]

At least the committee got it right by putting Miami in instead of Notre Dame.

Notre Dame ranks higher than Miami, Alabama and Oklahoma by every major metric. "Got it right" is essentially "left out the team we don't like"

Notre Dame lost to Miami, so for me the other metrics there don't matter.  Yeah sure, I could see a much better argument for getting in over Alabama or Oklahoma (especially Alabama).

So one game is all that matters over a 12 game season? Does Florida State get in over Alabama? How about Louisville over Miami?

In the case of Notre Dame versus Miami, absolutely. 

Texas A&M is exceedingly thrilled that Miami got in over ND, if that tells you anything.

A&M opened between -3.5 and -5.5 vs Miami. So I'm curious, what was the line you were expecting for Notre Dame at A&M, after A&M won at Notre Dame?

Either way I am disappointed that the horrible bet you took won't have a chance to be paid out, but the blame does fall on me as I was clearly wrong in believing ND was a lock unless BYU pulled off a miracle.

[ModernDayWarrior]

I'm fine with either Tulane or James Madison getting into the playoff and getting clobbered in the first round, but not both at the expense of some much better team, and thanks to Virginia's loss tonight it looks like that's what's going to happen.

I'm curious, why did both these teams get in? I know one Group-of-five team gets in, but why two?

The five highest-ranked conference champs get automatic bids. Tulane and JMU were both ranked ahead of Duke (who wasn't in the rankings at all) so they get the final two autobids.

[NWI_Irish96]

At least the committee got it right by putting Miami in instead of Notre Dame.

Notre Dame ranks higher than Miami, Alabama and Oklahoma by every major metric. "Got it right" is essentially "left out the team we don't like"

Notre Dame lost to Miami, so for me the other metrics there don't matter.  Yeah sure, I could see a much better argument for getting in over Alabama or Oklahoma (especially Alabama).

So one game is all that matters over a 12 game season? Does Florida State get in over Alabama? How about Louisville over Miami?

In the case of Notre Dame versus Miami, absolutely. 

Texas A&M is exceedingly thrilled that Miami got in over ND, if that tells you anything.

A&M opened between -3.5 and -5.5 vs Miami. So I'm curious, what was the line you were expecting for Notre Dame at A&M, after A&M won at Notre Dame?

Either way I am disappointed that the horrible bet you took won't have a chance to be paid out, but the blame does fall on me as I was clearly wrong in believing ND was a lock unless BYU pulled off a miracle.

I know that before the playoff bracket announcement, when getting in wasn't even guaranteed, Notre Dame was +900 to win it all.
After the playoff bracket announcement, even though they're in for sure, Miami is +1800.

That tells you what the people who make a living off predicting sports results thought about the two teams.

[CoreySamson]

Notre Dame deserves to be in over Alabama. They don't deserve to be in over Miami or Oklahoma.

[Max Rockatansky]

Notre Dame deserves to be in over Alabama. They don't deserve to be in over Miami or Oklahoma.

That's what I don't get.  Arguing over Miami with a head to head loss doesn't make sense to me when a three loss Alabama team got in.

Heh, now there is a meme going around on social media about Notre Dame deciding not playing a bowl game:

"Opt out like a championship today"

[thspfc]

I know that before the playoff bracket announcement, when getting in wasn't even guaranteed, Notre Dame was +900 to win it all.
After the playoff bracket announcement, even though they're in for sure, Miami is +1800.

That tells you what the people who make a living off predicting sports results thought about the two teams.

Sure but those same exact people, if you did the math, indicated you should've been getting 3:1 odds at worst on the bet you proposed, so I don't believe you really care about what they say.

[hotdogPi]

I don't follow college football, but here is a Facebook post (although the first comment says there are errors). Of the four teams everyone is arguing about above, here is their current record and the number of wins their opponents had at the time the post was made (November 20). Unfortunately, I can't find a current list of "opponent win count/percentage".

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1236746363609499/posts/1758165884800875/

Oklahoma: 10-2, 69
Notre Dame: 10-2, 63
Miami: 10-2, 58

Alabama: 9-3, 63

Notre Dame is above Alabama in this statistic, although I don't know if it's still the case now that it's no longer November 20.

[thenetwork]

I don't like how some colleges are now refusing to play in a bowl game for one reason or another.

It's understandable if one team's coach has already announced they are leaving the program, but for a team to be sour grapes and say that they refuse to play in a bowl game because they were denied a shot in the overall National Championship playoff bracket? 

[NWI_Irish96]

I don't like how some colleges are now refusing to play in a bowl game for one reason or another.

It's understandable if one team's coach has already announced they are leaving the program, but for a team to be sour grapes and say that they refuse to play in a bowl game because they were denied a shot in the overall National Championship playoff bracket? 

Why does it matter to you if the players don't want to play in a meaningless game? They don't owe you anything.

[SEWIGuy]

I don't like how some colleges are now refusing to play in a bowl game for one reason or another.

It's understandable if one team's coach has already announced they are leaving the program, but for a team to be sour grapes and say that they refuse to play in a bowl game because they were denied a shot in the overall National Championship playoff bracket? 

Bowls are rapidly becoming obsolete.

[1995hoo]

I don't like how some colleges are now refusing to play in a bowl game for one reason or another.

It's understandable if one team's coach has already announced they are leaving the program, but for a team to be sour grapes and say that they refuse to play in a bowl game because they were denied a shot in the overall National Championship playoff bracket? 

Why does it matter to you if the players don't want to play in a meaningless game? They don't owe you anything.

While it's not an issue for Notre Dame, I can see some of the conferences having a problem with it because they have contractual tie-ins with the bowl games that result in the conferences being paid to send teams to those games.

[NWI_Irish96]

I don't like how some colleges are now refusing to play in a bowl game for one reason or another.

It's understandable if one team's coach has already announced they are leaving the program, but for a team to be sour grapes and say that they refuse to play in a bowl game because they were denied a shot in the overall National Championship playoff bracket? 

Why does it matter to you if the players don't want to play in a meaningless game? They don't owe you anything.

While it's not an issue for Notre Dame, I can see some of the conferences having a problem with it because they have contractual tie-ins with the bowl games that result in the conferences being paid to send teams to those games.

That's the consequences that come with the advantages of joining a conference. If teams don't want to be obligated to games they don't want to play, then perhaps being in a conference isn't for them.

I do believe that I read that Big 12 teams declining bowl games had to pay a fine and don't get shares of the conference's bowl money.

[DTComposer]

I don't like how some colleges are now refusing to play in a bowl game for one reason or another.

It's understandable if one team's coach has already announced they are leaving the program, but for a team to be sour grapes and say that they refuse to play in a bowl game because they were denied a shot in the overall National Championship playoff bracket? 

Why does it matter to you if the players don't want to play in a meaningless game? They don't owe you anything.

Is it meaningless, or did they decide it's just not meaningful enough? The rest of the teams ranked 13-25 in the CFP poll seem to think their bowl games are meaningful.

Someone's always going to get snubbed, no matter how many teams are in the CFP. There's always going to be debate, there's always going to be some subjectivity about who gets in and who doesn't. Does the #13 team always get to just walk away? Why not #14 or #15 then - BYU and Texas both have strong cases for getting in.

IMO, if you're a true competitor and not just a glory-seeker, you take the opponent given to you and prove yourself to the best of your ability. Notre Dame could still go to a high-profile bowl, play another top-20 team, wipe the floor with them, and truly make their case that the CFP f'd up. Instead, they walk away - that's bad sportsmanship, and not a great lesson to be teaching these kids.

[Max Rockatansky]

This reads as though the Notre Dame coaching staff is afraid of a let down bowl loss and proving the committee right.

[thspfc]

There's the bowl opt-out and now this: https://x.com/dpshow/status/1998078296446181627?s=46&t=WqXB8tiok2zdZhDGtV8hHg

Has to be the most coddled program in the history of college football. So done with this shit. Join a fucking conference. You're not better than everyone else.

[NWI_Irish96]

This reads as though the Notre Dame coaching staff is afraid of a let down bowl loss and proving the committee right.

This was 100% the players' decision, not the coaches. They didn't want to spend an extra two weeks on campus practicing for a meaningless game. The coaches would much prefer to have the extra practice time regardless of how the game went.

[NWI_Irish96]

There's the bowl opt-out and now this: https://x.com/dpshow/status/1998078296446181627?s=46&t=WqXB8tiok2zdZhDGtV8hHg

Has to be the most coddled program in the history of college football. So done with this shit. Join a fucking conference. You're not better than everyone else.

Don't like it? Blame Fielding Yost and Michigan. His absolute hatred of Catholics got the entire Big Ten to not onnly refuse to admit ND but blackball them entirely and force them to play games outside their region at a time where they didn't happen. He forced them to become the first national brand decades before anybody else did.

Nobody from Wisconsin nor any of the other 7 schools (MSU wasn't in yet) had the guts to challenge Yost.

[Max Rockatansky]

This reads as though the Notre Dame coaching staff is afraid of a let down bowl loss and proving the committee right.

This was 100% the players' decision, not the coaches. They didn't want to spend an extra two weeks on campus practicing for a meaningless game. The coaches would much prefer to have the extra practice time regardless of how the game went.

So in others word, "quit like a champion today?"

[NWI_Irish96]

This reads as though the Notre Dame coaching staff is afraid of a let down bowl loss and proving the committee right.

This was 100% the players' decision, not the coaches. They didn't want to spend an extra two weeks on campus practicing for a meaningless game. The coaches would much prefer to have the extra practice time regardless of how the game went.

So in others word, "quit like a champion today?"

They didn't quit. That implies they were obligated to something and they were never obligated. Nothing in the NCAA rules require them to accept bowl invitations. They chose to value their time differently than you wanted them to value their time. Have you ever spent time around a D1 college football program? Do you understand what it takes for players to prepare for a game? The players decided that a goodie bag from a sponsor wasn't worth all that time and effort, including spending Christmas in South Bend.

[Max Rockatansky]

This reads as though the Notre Dame coaching staff is afraid of a let down bowl loss and proving the committee right.

This was 100% the players' decision, not the coaches. They didn't want to spend an extra two weeks on campus practicing for a meaningless game. The coaches would much prefer to have the extra practice time regardless of how the game went.

So in others word, "quit like a champion today?"

They didn't quit. That implies they were obligated to something and they were never obligated. Nothing in the NCAA rules require them to accept bowl invitations. They chose to value their time differently than you wanted them to value their time. Have you ever spent time around a D1 college football program? Do you understand what it takes for players to prepare for a game? The players decided that a goodie bag from a sponsor wasn't worth all that time and effort, including spending Christmas in South Bend.

What are you getting at you say "spent time around a D1 program?" 

[NWI_Irish96]

This reads as though the Notre Dame coaching staff is afraid of a let down bowl loss and proving the committee right.

This was 100% the players' decision, not the coaches. They didn't want to spend an extra two weeks on campus practicing for a meaningless game. The coaches would much prefer to have the extra practice time regardless of how the game went.

So in others word, "quit like a champion today?"

They didn't quit. That implies they were obligated to something and they were never obligated. Nothing in the NCAA rules require them to accept bowl invitations. They chose to value their time differently than you wanted them to value their time. Have you ever spent time around a D1 college football program? Do you understand what it takes for players to prepare for a game? The players decided that a goodie bag from a sponsor wasn't worth all that time and effort, including spending Christmas in South Bend.

What are you getting at you say "spent time around a D1 program?" 

Have you ever been around a team or players to see what they go through?

[thspfc]

There's the bowl opt-out and now this: https://x.com/dpshow/status/1998078296446181627?s=46&t=WqXB8tiok2zdZhDGtV8hHg

Has to be the most coddled program in the history of college football. So done with this shit. Join a fucking conference. You're not better than everyone else.

Don't like it? Blame Fielding Yost and Michigan. His absolute hatred of Catholics got the entire Big Ten to not onnly refuse to admit ND but blackball them entirely and force them to play games outside their region at a time where they didn't happen. He forced them to become the first national brand decades before anybody else did.

Nobody from Wisconsin nor any of the other 7 schools (MSU wasn't in yet) had the guts to challenge Yost.

It's disappointing that it was religiously motivated at the time, but he was correct that nobody wants pretentious princesses in the Big Ten.

How exactly does that prevent them from joining the ACC, which they're a member of for other sports and have this "scheduling agreement" with?

[Max Rockatansky]

This reads as though the Notre Dame coaching staff is afraid of a let down bowl loss and proving the committee right.

This was 100% the players' decision, not the coaches. They didn't want to spend an extra two weeks on campus practicing for a meaningless game. The coaches would much prefer to have the extra practice time regardless of how the game went.

So in others word, "quit like a champion today?"

They didn't quit. That implies they were obligated to something and they were never obligated. Nothing in the NCAA rules require them to accept bowl invitations. They chose to value their time differently than you wanted them to value their time. Have you ever spent time around a D1 college football program? Do you understand what it takes for players to prepare for a game? The players decided that a goodie bag from a sponsor wasn't worth all that time and effort, including spending Christmas in South Bend.

What are you getting at you say "spent time around a D1 program?" 

Have you ever been around a team or players to see what they go through?

Have you?  It sounds like you're asking if I played D1 athletics, I didn't. 

I did work for a Winston Cup team for several years which probably stands as a comparable analog in terms of preparations.  There certainly was a crap load of practice sessions and research work that went into even just qualifying for a race field.  Not making a field meant not getting paid by the sponsor nor getting any of the race purse to keep the team operating.  That doesn't even get into what takes place during an actual race.

How that worked in 1996 specifically was that Marcis Auto Racing (the #71 car) signed a $3 million sponsorship with Prodigy Online.  That sponsorship was prorated in payments of each of the 31 races in the Winston Cup Season.  Mr. Marcis failed to qualify for fours races that year and did get any sponsor money (nor race winnings).  Considering he was an owner/driver those were some massively financial hits.  That doesn't even hit on things like associate sponsors or contingency sponsors.

My summer job was more or less the team lackey.  Essentially I did whatever Mr. Marcis or his team manager required of me.  Usually it involved cleaning the shop during the week or helping manage the show car.  I ran tools to garage from the hauler along with gas cans to the pit. 

On occasion my dad would let me go work a race weekend during the school year.  Here is a photo of me with Mr. Marcis at the fall North Wilkesboro race.  My dad was the marketing VP at Prodigy Online and arranged for sponsorships circa 1994-1996.

https://flic.kr/p/21DkbTd


Back to the actual topic at hand...  Now your AD is whining about why the ACC pushed Miami over them.  Why would the ACC support a part-time team that lost a head-to-head?

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/47247217/notre-dame-ad-rips-acc-saying-permanent-damage-done

[DTComposer]

This reads as though the Notre Dame coaching staff is afraid of a let down bowl loss and proving the committee right.

This was 100% the players' decision, not the coaches. They didn't want to spend an extra two weeks on campus practicing for a meaningless game. The coaches would much prefer to have the extra practice time regardless of how the game went.

So in others word, "quit like a champion today?"

They didn't quit. That implies they were obligated to something and they were never obligated. Nothing in the NCAA rules require them to accept bowl invitations. They chose to value their time differently than you wanted them to value their time. Have you ever spent time around a D1 college football program? Do you understand what it takes for players to prepare for a game? The players decided that a goodie bag from a sponsor wasn't worth all that time and effort, including spending Christmas in South Bend.

Again, not meaningless, just (in their opinion) not meaningful enough. But, was beating Syracuse by nine touchdowns a meaningful game? Was beating Arkansas by six touchdowns, or Stanford by four touchdowns, meaningful? More meaningful than making a statement by putting the hurt on, say, Michigan, or USC (again), or Vanderbilt and showing the world they did indeed belong?

Before the bracket was announced, what were ND's odds of winning the championship? What would have been the odds of them even making out of their half of the bracket? Maybe they're slight favorites against Texas A&M, but then they play Ohio State, then they play Georgia?

The players are saying "if we don't get to play for the Natty then we're not playing at all" - and that's sour  grapes. And it may have been the players' decision, but then who the hell's running the program there?