If Georgia Had Beaten Bama, Does FSU Make the CFP?
Hypothetically if Georgia won the SEC Championship game, then it would come down to Texas vs FSU for the final slot in the CFP. Would the committee do the same thing to FSU? I would think they would have went with a slate of all undefeated conference champs with FSU at #4 and Texas out even though Texas is the “better team” on paper.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:37 AM ^
Yes. Next question.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:38 AM ^
delete, we are saying the same thing. My bad.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:43 AM ^
I don't know what your original comment was but I don't think you're saying the same thing based on your reply below.
OP title is: "Does FSU Make the CFP?"
When you say "Yes" that means FSU is in the CFP, not Texas.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:44 AM ^
I caught it before you, 🤪
December 4th, 2023 at 7:49 AM ^
At the risk of talking in circles:
Post above says "Yes."
Your post below says "Yes" but the rest of your message actually says "no."
You think you are saying "yes" but you are not saying "yes." Anyone saying "yes" is saying the opposite of you, not the same as you, I believe.
Not sure what I'm missing here.
December 4th, 2023 at 10:09 AM ^
Im not so sure. Seemed like the committee was determined to punish FSU for their QB being injured. I think it wouldve been 1 Michigan 2 UW 3 Georgia 4 Texas
December 4th, 2023 at 11:33 AM ^
I actually think the opposite. I think that their quarterback being hurt was just the most convenient excuse for leaving them out and putting Bama in. I don't think that they really care about the quarterback being out.
December 4th, 2023 at 10:26 AM ^
NCAA bylaws require at least one SEC team to be in the playoffs on 1 to 4 exponential.
December 4th, 2023 at 10:28 AM ^
I think the better question is, if Clemson had gone 13-0 would they have made it? And I think the answer to that is yes too.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:37 AM ^
Yes.
I think it would've been Georgia, Michigan, Washington, Texas.
FSU 5, OSU 6.
They've already answered this question by ranking Texas ahead of FSU.
They could've put Bama in this year at #3, FSU #4, Texas #5. They didn't.
(that would've been ridiculous considering Texas beat Bama, in Tuscaloosa...but the point is, they've already answered the question by ranking Texas ahead of FSU)
December 4th, 2023 at 7:48 AM ^
The committee should have had the stones to show this weeks ago. Oklahoma St and Louisville had basically identical resumes. Both FSU and Texas won their conference games and while Texas was more impressive, it is not as if in my opinion it was enough to have them jump from #7 to #3.
I stated in the selection show thread that it was actually more about Texas than Alabama jumping FSU. The SEC champion under no circumstance was going to be left out. The committee was just stuck because they could not jump Alabama and leave Texas out. This was their plan all along, and if it is about finding the "Four Best Teams" as they have said non-stop the past 48 hours, my question is: How do we trust anything the committee says if they claim all year their rankings are about who are the best 4 teams? How could they have possibly thought FSU was #4 and Texas #7 just 6 days ago, yet after beating similar teams, Texas showed so much to jump 4 spots and jump FSU?
December 4th, 2023 at 10:46 AM ^
How could they have possibly thought FSU was #4 and Texas #7 just 6 days ago, yet after beating similar teams, Texas showed so much to jump 4 spots and jump FSU?
I do agree. I can see the argument re Bama--they wouldn't have jumped FSU without the win over UGA--but Texas beating OkSt. doesn't really move the needle much (certainly not to justify a jump from 7-3). So Texas should have been ahead of FSU at least a week or two ago.
It's especially galling if Texas wouldn't have gotten in if Bama didn't upset UGA, i.e. if the CFP would have been UGA, M, UW, FSU. The mental gymnastics required by the committee--FSU is better than Texas, but we can't leave Bama out since they beat UGA, and we can't put Bama in over Texas, so we have to leave FSU out--are truly ubelievable...
December 4th, 2023 at 11:01 AM ^
The fix was in but theoretically the Texas win over Alabama looks a lot better after Alabama beats GA.
FSU only played 5 teams with winning records 3 of which ended up ranked (13,15 and 22)
Michigan only played 6 teams with winning records three of whom were ranked (7, 10, 17)
Texas played [6] teams with winning records and lost one. 4 teams were ranked.(4, 20, 25 and lost to #12)
Alabama played [7] winning teams and lost to one of them. Five were ranked at EOY though TN probably shouldn't have been. (3, 6, 9, 11, 13, 21)
(I did all of this manually and got bored at the end so forgive any factual errors. At least 90% accurate.)
FSU record
LSU(5) 45-24 9-3 (13)
Southern Miss 66-13 3-9
BC 31-29 6-6
Clemson 31-24 8-4 (22)
VTech 39-17 6-6
Syracuse 41-3 6-6
Duke (16) 38-20 7-5
WF 41-16 4-8
Pitt 24-7 3-9
Miami (YTM) 27-20 7-5
North Alabama 58-13 3-8
Florida 24-15 5-7
Louisville (14) 16-6 10-3(15)
December 4th, 2023 at 7:48 AM ^
That where I disagree. Going into champ week, it was Georgia, Mich, Washington, and FSU at 1,2,3,4. Every top 4 team would have held serve and the SEC champ would have been in if Georgia won. Then the committee would have been using the criteria that “games matter” to keep Texas out.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:35 AM ^
Very good point. What I was alluding to is that I think it was Texas and the fact that they beat Alabama as the real issue for FSU. I think the committee would have been fine keeping 1-loss out of the Big 12 Texas out of the playoffs if Georgia had won. There just was no way they would leave out the winner of that SEC Championship game, and since the team that ended up winning had a H2H loss with another team on the bubble, they had to elevate Texas to push Alabama across the finish line.
Roles reversed, FSU has Alabama's record and SOS and Alabama has FSU's record, SOS, and lost their starting QB...there is not a chance in hell the committee keeps out an undefeated Alabama even with identical (or even weaker) resume than FSU currently has.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:59 AM ^
The committee put Texas at 3 because they beat Bama. If Bama loses to Georgia, which is what the question is, then that changes everything. Texas could be ranked lower than FSU because the only reason they were ranked 3 is because Bama won. Maybe you don’t understand how a different team winning a game changes everything.
December 4th, 2023 at 11:40 AM ^
You arent paying attention.
FSU is #4 because the SEC #1 Georgia gets a nice little gift. At this time Texas 7/Bama. The committee has determined in WEEK 15 this is correctly placed: FSU4 /Texas 7/ Bama 8.
Now Georgia loses and the committee ABSOLUTELY is putting in an SEC team. ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
So how do they do that? Welp Texas is a package deal with Bama as the head to head is WAY to obvious. Away FSU goes and the talking heads start the company line the night before. 57% of the board eats this shit up and away we go.
"BaMa meEts the EyE teSt!"
If you think Georgia and Bama are better then everyone then fucking skip all the bull shit and make it a two team at large invite to the SEC invitational.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:43 AM ^
Absolutely not. This was a con job to get an SEC team in. I don't know how the CFP can say a team that eeked by so many mediocre teams is better than an undefeated P5 champion. The fancy stats say that they're about equal. FSU just didn't get paved by Texas at home... Imagine if we were in FSU's position.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:47 AM ^
Then why is Texas over them literally right now?
Texas, with 1 loss is over undefeated FSU, as we speak. At this very moment.
Take Bama out for a second.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:51 AM ^
Then why is Texas over them literally right now?
You cannot take Bama out of it and answer this question. The reason Texas is in was so they could put in Bama.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:17 AM ^
Seriously, literally, and quite frankly (but not figuratively), Texas is in because Bama is in and they didn't want to tie themselves in knots trying to explain why they chose Bama over Texas when the Longhorns had already soundly beaten Bama in Tuscaloosa. Instead they chose to explain that Jordan Travis' injury is the reason FSU is left out (despite the fact that Football is a team sport and FSU won two games without Travis). It's a con to get the SEC in and FSU/ACC got the short end on this deal.
December 4th, 2023 at 9:14 AM ^
Yes. Once Texas beat Bama, they became a package deal.
December 4th, 2023 at 9:43 AM ^
Because people shift the rankings to achieve their desired result. Why is this so hard to understand?
December 4th, 2023 at 10:04 AM ^
Then why is Texas over them literally right now?
Texas, with 1 loss is over undefeated FSU, as we speak. At this very moment.
The whole point was to get Bama into the Playoffs. There is no way they could rationally choose Bama above Texas due to the fairly comparable resumes and the H2H results. FSU is collateral damage so they could get Bama in. Take away Bama and frankly no one cares about UT
If Georgia won, the SEC/ESPN whining would not be there as the SEC would be represented and Bama would have been knocked out. So the motive to demote FSU is gone and CFP would be represented by four undefeated P5 champs
December 4th, 2023 at 12:09 PM ^
Unfortunately FSU would have been 21 point dogs vs anyone, the current teams are the best competitors.
Realize that FSU 2nd string QB would be available, so it's a poor decision letting Bama jump in.
December 4th, 2023 at 11:45 AM ^
Why was Texas 3 spots behind FSU after
FIFTEEN WEEKS of data? After 105 days of games and information gathered the 106th day Texas moves up 3 spots and FSU drops behind two teams that are several spots behind them. Cumong Herbstreits burner account you have to be kidding me.
Because when Georgia lost Texas became a package deal with Bama. If Texas beat LSU week 1 they would be at home right now.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:43 AM ^
Probably. Or if Auburn has beaten Alabama or even Oklahoma State beating Texas.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:47 AM ^
Yes, the plan was for UGA to win and it go UGA, UM, UW, FSU, as was their ranking after Rodemaker played and beat Florida.
UGA messed it up by losing. So they had to put in Bama to get an SEC team, which meant they had to put in Texas and leave out FSU, even though Rodemaker was going to be back for the CFP.
December 4th, 2023 at 9:23 AM ^
On the flip side of that, Had Auburn beat bama and bama beat UGA, they'd still screw FSU over by dropping UGA to #4. Either way they weren't leaving an ESECPN team out.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:15 PM ^
EDIT: I forgot about Washington, disregard this post.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:52 AM ^
Trying to guess what that committee would do feels like a waste of time, tbh. They would have made up some bullshit reason to justify whatever decision it decided to make. That's the answer, lol.
This notion that it's always been about the "best" 4 teams is bullshit. UGA would be favored tomorrow over every team in the CFP, including Bama, but they aren't in because they don't *deserve* to be. Bama would've been in last year, etc. You are supposed to earn your way in. They invoked an injury criteria that they haven't enforced up until this point to keep FSU out. Flavor of the day type shit.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:14 PM ^
MDot hit the nail on the head - and the more I think about it, the more pissed off I am about FSU getting the shaft.
This was a no-brainer:
3 undefeated P5 champions - Mich, Wash, FSU - IN
2 one-loss P5 champions - one beat the other head-to-head - Texas IN
Simple as that. Yep, SEC could claim bad luck. Boo fucking hoo.
By the twisted logic of Boo Corrigan & the committee, Georgia should have made the playoff (no, I DO NOT wish that had happened).
One of the most infuriating things that crapped out of that guy's mouth was his BS about how 'bama was so strong at the end of the season and FSU was "not the same team". Alabama got lucky as hell (4th and 31!) to sneak past a terrible Auburn team LAST WEEK. That Auburn game + loss to Texas should have kept them out of the tournament.
Meanwhile, FSU beat TWO SEC teams non-conference. What the hell else could they have done? They went undefeated in their conference AND scheduled and beat 2 SEC teams - and not the Vandy/SC/Ark/Cowbell wing of the SEC either. Hell, we didn't schedule anybody OOC - and 'bama lost their only OOC challenge at home.
Finally, no conference outside the decayed husk of the PAC 12 had any depth this year. After the top couple of teams the B1G, SEC, ACC, and Big 12 all sucked.
It's insane. This season ended up with a perfect scenario where results on the field actually showed a clear 4-team field - and how much fun it would have been to have a playoff with 4 teams that hadn't won before!
Fuck 'bama and the SEC. And Boo Fucking Corrigan too.
December 4th, 2023 at 6:00 PM ^
Well said! It was simple. 4 non-SEC teams were clearly the most deserving. And the corrupt committee f'd that up.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:54 AM ^
There’s another post with an interesting article about Sankey and his power. The thread included “USA Today” article in its title.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:07 AM ^
That article calls the process a Beauty Pageant. You can close the book right there.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:36 AM ^
LB, it’s been a beauty pageant since … forever. I recall Colorado losing in the Big 12 CCG and getting into the BCS NC game. And, when Bama lost to LSU at home - the Tide was given a “do over” and “second bite of the apple”.. when Bama was selected to replay LSU in the NC game.
If I’m at a benefit / fundraiser - I appreciate southern charm. But, they play these games supposedly for a reason.
I’m not counting any chickens - and, I love Team 144.
Go Blue!
December 4th, 2023 at 7:56 AM ^
Yep everything was supposed to be chalk. This isn't about the Travis injury. This is about increasing the odds that Michigan doesn't win because we made their scandal look stupid. We witnessed the power of ESPN yesterday, they were able to flex their muscle due to their contract with the CFP.
December 4th, 2023 at 10:29 AM ^
I don't think the committee cared that much about that; they said so repeatedly. Keep in mind that the CFP is not affiliated with the NCAA.
But they definitely wanted an SEC team in the field. Georgia winning would have taken care of that. Bama winning complicated things because Texas objectively had a better résumé than them, having beaten them head-to-head. So both had to get in and FSU was sacrificed.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:03 AM ^
Yes
But I'll toss a hypothetical back at you... If Texas wasn't joining the SEC next year, would they have been the one screwed over instead?
December 4th, 2023 at 12:17 PM ^
I doubt it. It would have been way too obvious to leave them out after they beat Bama head to head. Maybe if Travis didn't get hurt..
December 4th, 2023 at 8:08 AM ^
No, Nic would threaten to hold his breath...again. Next year all the banks in Tuscaloosa will be emptied to rectify the recruiting dip problem. The revered coach's legacy of player acquisition and development always ends with a cutout of his handing over a bag of scrubbed money.
Pointing at others is another of his time honored coaching miracles. Alinsky-esque in its brilliance.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:12 AM ^
Yes. And they should have.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:21 AM ^
Yes. 4 undefeated power 5 champs that includes an SEC team, committee jumps at the chance for the easiest solution IMO.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:24 AM ^
If Grandmother had handles she’d a been a wheelbarrow
December 4th, 2023 at 8:47 AM ^
If a frog had wings, he wouldn't bump his ass when he jumps.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:22 PM ^
If "ifs" and "buts" were candy and nuts, we'd all have a happy Christmas.
December 4th, 2023 at 2:16 PM ^
You serious Clark?
December 4th, 2023 at 8:25 AM ^
The part of the committees work I find hilarious is that they rank Florida State higher than Georgia. How is it that the eye test means that Alabama is better than Florida State, but Florida State is better than Georgia?
I'll answer my own question. It's because once you get past #4 this year, the rankings don't matter. The committee can say, 'Oh we feel bad for you Florida State so we will rank you #5 but in actuality if they had used their criteria up and down the scale it would have been:
1) Michigan
2) Washington
3) Texas
4) Alabama
5) Georgia
6) Ohio State
7) Oregon
8) Florida State
The committee doesn't have the balls to actually come out and say that an undefeated Power 5 Conference Champion is rated #8 on the criteria of significant injuries and 'best teams' theory because then the question would be why even play the games? The committee just bent the rules to make sure a SEC team would make it.
December 4th, 2023 at 9:37 AM ^
First, I agree FSU got screwed. We all hate bama, we agree on that too. Its the system why they were screwed over.
That said, the ACC is hot trash. I feel bad for FSU. Going undefeated is tough especially with your starting QB out, buuuuuuut what was their signature win? LSU? Again, a team not in the ACC. FSU played the Minnesotas, the Purdues, the Wisconsins of the ACC all season.
I'm sure that was a factor. Alabama at least beat a few middle of the pack ranked teams, and the #1 team in the country. That has to count for something.
As Michigan fans would we have rather been matched up with FSU? Shit yeah. They're just going to have to prepare for their best game of the season and take bama down with a flawless game similar to osu. Im not as worried about Michigans defense as I am the offense. They need long drives to keep that bama offense off the field.