CFB: Five Unbeatens and the CCGs - your thoughts?
The Conference Championship games are this weekend – a great set of games. Five (5) teams maintain an unblemished record.
Which team(s) if any, will fall from the ranks of the unbeaten? Here’s the list – and their opponent. The unbeatens are bolded with their AP ranking in parentheses.
The other Conference Championship Games – opponents, kickoff time, and network is also provided.
Friday, December 1st:
- Liberty (20) hosts New Mexico State (32), 7:00 pm, CBSSN – Conference USA
- Washington (3) vs Oregon (5), 8:00 pm, ABC – Pac 12
Saturday, December 2nd:
- Georgia (1) vs Alabama (8), 4:00 pm, CBS - SEC
- Florida State (4) vs Louisville (15), 8:00 pm, ABC - ACC
- Michigan (2) vs Iowa (18), 8:00 pm, Fox – B1G
Saturday, December 2nd – other Conference Championships – no unbeatens in these games:
- Texas (7) vs Oklahoma State (19), noon, ABC – Big 12
- Miami, OH (35) vs Toledo (23), noon, ESPN, MAC
- Boise State (NR) vs UNLV (NR), 3:00 pm, Fox, Mountain West
- Tulane (17) host SMU (25), 4:00 pm, ABC, American Athletic Conference (AAC)
- Troy (30) hosts Appalachian State (NR), 4:00 pm, ESPN, Sun Belt Conference
Slippery Rock hopes to avenge their only loss of the season when they host Kutztown University at Noon on Saturday.
What will you be watching? What are you looking forward to seeing?
My preferences – Michigan, Alabama, Florida State, Washington, and Texas.
The Meteor Games: If there happen to be a few “stray” meteors – I’ll choose both South Bend and Columbus – just for good measure, and Atlanta because "it just means more" in the SEC.
Go Blue!
November 28th, 2023 at 11:19 AM ^
I prefer the same as you, but I think that Georgia and Oregon win, and maybe even Louisville
November 28th, 2023 at 11:22 AM ^
I would rather Michigan play Washington than Oregon, but Oregon has looked far better than Washington as of late. I think they would be a worse matchup for Michigan.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:34 AM ^
Agreed. I would love a playoff in which the other three teams are Washington, Florida State, and Texas! I just don't think those first two teams can hold up their end of the bargain.
If not, then I would like whatever the hardest other team is first, so that we get the month to game plan for that one team.
But for now, and this is most important, beat Iowa!
November 28th, 2023 at 1:17 PM ^
Oregon has looked absolutely dominant, and have no idea how either M or Georgia could stop that passing attack. The best medicine against M is great passer who is elusive.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:21 AM ^
No bama. Chalk all the way. I feel Michigan matches up well with the current unbeaten.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:26 AM ^
Fucking Kutztown.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:30 PM ^
Slippery Rock had five bad plays...
November 28th, 2023 at 11:27 AM ^
If UNLV, Georgia and Washington all win, none of the other teams that will be in the CFP (besides us I mean) can say they beat a conference champ during the season.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:29 AM ^
A Michigan victory is first priority. Besides that, I'm rooting for any combination that keeps ohio state out and prevents the SEC from getting two teams into the CFP.
Ideally, Michigan somehow gets the #1 seed and the choice of which semifinals venue. If 'bama beats Georgia, it'll probably take a complete ass whooping to eliminate the GA Bulldogs from the playoff picture.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:46 AM ^
Trying to figure how the SEC and OSU get locked out. Seems like you'd be hoping for a close Oregon win over Washington and Bama beating Georgia so you get
- Michigan
- FSU
- Oregon
- Washington
Hard to imagine Georgia goes from 1 to 5 though
November 28th, 2023 at 11:49 AM ^
They wouldn't. Though it is possible for Bama to win and still finish 5th. Michigan, Washington, Florida State, and Texas all win and it's hard to argue that isn't your top 4.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:57 AM ^
There will be a lot of arguments about who gets in if Bama beats Georgia. Perhaps the most disagreement if FSU also loses and there are two spots between Texas, UGA and Bama.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:08 PM ^
If it's between those three then Georgia has to be the one left out.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:00 PM ^
Not sure how you keep Texas out in your scenario assuming they take care of business. I don't see it happening but there's an argument to keep both Bama and Georgia out.
Bama wins, Texas wins. Texas gets in over Bama head to head. Bama would be in over Georgia Head to head.
Then you have Michigan, Pac 12 winner and FSU all in. One spot left for Texas. Zero chance Washington gets in with a loss to oregon.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:15 PM ^
This is exactly why I would like to see Michigan, Texas, and Bama win. How would the committee rank / seed Texas and Bama?
November 28th, 2023 at 1:45 PM ^
I think committee would put Bama in over Texas which would mean Michigan would likely draw Bama in round 1 unless they put FSU 4 (or even 5 and shove both Bama and Texas in).
November 28th, 2023 at 12:04 PM ^
Agree. UGA going from 1 to 5 could be unprecedented. The only way that might happen is if Alabama completely blows out UGA.
UW-UO is basically a play-in game for the CFP. UO doesn't make it in with a loss. The best chance UW would have with a loss is if it's really close, UGA wins (or maybe Alabama blows them out), Texas loses, and FSU loses. You would then have UM and UO in, UGA if they win and maybe Alabama if they win big, and then UW.
The flip side of that coin is that now ohio state could also be in a position to sneak into the CFP yet again.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:43 PM ^
Unprecedented is an accurate description. How often have there been multiple undefeated P5 conference champions in the CFP?
November 28th, 2023 at 1:19 PM ^
#4 in that scenario should be Texas. No team should ever lose its way in.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:31 AM ^
The only way I can see OSU getting into the playoffs is if Texas loses, UGA wins and then FSU loses. So I hope for the opposite of that to happen, easiest would be for Texas to win the noon game so they are locked out early.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:31 AM ^
At the end of this weekend, Michigan will be the only undefeated team in FBS. The Jackrabbits will move to 12-0 this weekend as well.
...
Yes.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:39 AM ^
I want Alabama, FSU, and Texas to win (and Michigan of course). Then I want the CFP selection committee to do their damn jobs and leave the SEC out of it.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:46 AM ^
The only way Georgia drops from the Top 4 is a blowout loss to Alabama, and in that case, I can see them slipping Alabama in at 4.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:54 AM ^
Bama beating UGA and Texas winning is going to be a nightmare scenario for the CFP, and even more so if FSU also wins.
Big Ten (I'm assuming we win) and Pac-12 champ (one loss or undefeated) have to be in.
What's left are two spots and four teams. If you figure UGA is out (even with a close loss), that still leaves an undefeated FSU, and then Bama and Texas...where Texas has won head to head at Bama early in the season.
I don't even know what they would do, but no matter what, people will be furious, and I'm here for it. This is the kind of chaos I would love. Not the chaos where Bama, FSU, and UT lose and OSU backs in again.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:17 PM ^
If FSU beats Louisville they should be in. They would be an undefeated ACC champ with a nonconference win over LSU.
If Alabama and Texas win their CCGs then Texas should be in over Alabama, whom they defeated head-to-head, and Georgia, who would not be a conference champ.
It's a nightmare scenario because you'd have all the ESPN people howling over how the SEC means more. But seriously, do your damn job.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:46 PM ^
“ESPN” - you don’t have to say anything more. Finebaum is already saying it would be a travesty .. and gross injustice (or something similar) should the Texas and Bama winning scenario occur.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:51 PM ^
Completely agree that's what should happen. And in that case I'd like to believe we're playing Washington or Oregon in the title game which is kind of wild with them being conference opponents as soon as the game ends. Too bad the title game isn't at the Rose Bowl.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:41 AM ^
What I think:
FSU loses, Washington loses
As long as Texas wins the game at noon, I won't care about UGA and FSU. I think Texas will win, although I'd rather face FSU in the playoffs than UT if it came to that.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:43 AM ^
Oregon's gonna beat Washington by 14+. They have been heading in opposite directions since their first matchup
People think Bama is gonna get Georgia, but I think Georgia is gonna go hulk mode like they seem to do vs ranked teams lately and they beat Bama by 2 scores as well and solidify themselves as #1
CFP is
- Georgia
- Michigan
- FSU
- Oregon
This will touch on 2022 again where the 4 seed should be 1 loss Oregon, but clearly #1 Georgia would rather play FSU so I think it'll be FSU at 4
November 28th, 2023 at 12:03 PM ^
Oregon's gonna beat Washington by 14+. They have been heading in opposite directions since their first matchup.
I don't see that. Washington won the first game and there haven't been any key injuries or anything that have materially changed the compositions of the two squads. The one key difference is that this game will be at a neutral site. I think it's a 50/50 matchup. I do think Oregon will win because it's so difficult to beat good teams twice in the same season, but I expect the score to be within a TD.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:44 AM ^
If Bama upsets UGA the conversation will get crazy. how far does Georgia fall? Will the Texas/Bama head to head still hold up?
The rankings:
1. Michigan - big ten champ
2. Bama - One loss SEC champ
3. Oregon/Washington Pac 12 Champ
4. one loss Georgia? Big 12 champ Texas? One loss Washington? ACC champ (but no QB) FSU? Tail between their legs Ohio State?
November 28th, 2023 at 12:52 PM ^
Texas stomping Bama in Tuscaloosa would have to stand up.
And there's no way the committee pulls a Wayne Duke-type move of denying an undefeated FSU because of an injury to their QB. Remember our outcry over the bucknuts being voted into the Rose 🌹 Bowl after Dennis Franklin got injured?
November 28th, 2023 at 11:46 AM ^
If FSU, Bama and Tx win, I would not be surprised to see the PAC out. The Tx win over Bama will count far more than OR and UW beating each other as their best wins.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:46 AM ^
Go, Blue! Beat Iowa.
The rest: eh. I usually like to speculate—it's fun—but right now I'm devoting most of my band width to Saturday night at 8.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:54 AM ^
I hope the top 4 either stays Georgia, Michigan, Washington, and FSU. Would make a great playoff.
Or if Georgia loses to Bama and Texas wins, how do you justify putting Bama ahead of a 12-1 Texas that beat Bama in Tuscaloosa?
November 28th, 2023 at 12:20 PM ^
Exactly.. head to head must matter. And, if Bama defeats Georgia - how can Georgia be ranked ahead of Bama - or, based on the other games - even be one of the four CFP teams.
I want Michigan to win.. Chaos to ensue. And, wonder what would happen in the Selection Committee with an undefeated ACC champ and Texas as the Big 12 champ.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:57 AM ^
Georgia is probably going to win, and we'll see about FSU-Louisville but the Noles seem to have a plan without Travis and I'm not sold the fighting Brohms are good enough to beat them.
Texas is going to beat Okie St. and I think Oregon will beat Washington.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:00 PM ^
I believe Washington is going to get wrecked by Oregon. Hope I'm wrong because I like our odds of stuffing the UW offense into a locker, though Penix/Odunze are no joke
November 28th, 2023 at 12:24 PM ^
Honest questions:
How far do you think Michigan/Ohio State/FSU/Washington/Oregon would slip in these rankings over an absolute luck box win over a team that lost to New Mexico State?
Does Bama get dropped at all? They certainly belong at the bottom of the 1 loss teams and probably belong behind Missouri and Penn State.
I do understand they have more talent than any of those teams listed, but they haven't been a better team than those teams this season.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:25 PM ^
This is how I'd rank all of the teams capable of making the top 4 after this coming Saturday with every outcome accounted for:
Georgia (13-0)
Michigan (13-0)
Washington (13-0)
Florida State (13-0)
Oregon (12-1)
Texas (12-1)
Alabama (12-1)
Georgia (12-1)
Michigan (12-1)
Washington (12-1)
Florida State (12-1)
Ohio State (11-1)
I have said elsewhere that no team that finishes 11-1, and does not play for a conference title, should be able to jump a team that finished 12-0 and lost their conference title game. You're punishing teams for being forced to play an extra game. This is why I have Ohio State at the very bottom. Though I could see the committee going with OSU over FSU (with the latter losing the ACC CG) and there being no other 1-loss teams to choose from.
With a loss Oregon, Texas, and Alabama are absolutely done.
November 28th, 2023 at 1:05 PM ^
If Michigan, Washington, FSU, Texas and Alabama all win, and Alabama gets in over Texas, that would be a serious miscarriage of justice, IMO. Sure, resume’ should matter, but only when you are discussing teams with the same record who have not played one another. In this case the head to head shouldn’t be used as just one of the tie breakers, but should be THE tiebreaker used first.
November 28th, 2023 at 1:06 PM ^
Michigan wants UGA Oregon and FSU to win. This likely pits UGA VS Oregon 1v4, and Michigan vs FSU 2v3.
I'll take UW as a consolation prize. Want to avoid the SEC and Oregon in rd 1.
November 28th, 2023 at 1:09 PM ^
The committee would put FSU at 4 (especially if they win close) and jump Oregon to 3.
November 28th, 2023 at 1:41 PM ^
Since neither team was ranked by the CFP, the Mountain West had to use computer rankings to pick the two to play in the CCG. Computers liked UNLV best so they are home team. How’s that Michigan SOS now?
Picks:
- bibberty
- W
- meteor…ok Georgia
- FSU somehow
- M
- Texas
- Rockets
- UNLV
- Tulane
- Anyone but They Who Shall Not Be Named
November 28th, 2023 at 2:32 PM ^
I wouldn't mind if Georgia, Michigan, Washington and FSU all won and stayed in place in their playoff seeds.
November 28th, 2023 at 3:07 PM ^
What am I looking forward to seeing?
- As a west coast guy, I am very interested to see Washington vs. Oregon. I think that is going to be a barn burner. Ultimately I think Oregon wins since they got beat at UW earlier this year. hard to beat a great team twice, especially on a neutral field.
- hate watch Georgia vs. Alabama. hoping for Georgia to eek one out, thus showing they are vulnerable, but keeping Alabama out of the playoffs.
- I will keep an eye on FSU vs. Louisville and Texas vs. (not that) OSU, mostly so I can watch and laugh if either of them get beat.
- SMU vs.Tulane for me at least is good guys vs. bad guys. Go Green Wave! I want to see them get to 12-1.
- Iowa vs. Michigan of course I will watch every second of that regardless of the score.* I am hoping to see a dominant running attack with our realigned OL.
*I have made it a point to watch all of every game this year, hoping to be able to look back on that fondly if we win out.
November 28th, 2023 at 3:37 PM ^
One of the best parts about the upcoming slate is that the remaining teams all have looked vulnerable (or actually lost) in at least one game. Adds potential intrigue throughout.
As long as Michigan is in and Ohio is out, I'll be happy.