🏈 🏈 🏈 2025 EVERYTHING COLLEGE FOOTBALL Dystopian Discussion Thread 🏈 🏈 🏈

[JRX]

Originally Posted by Fenway55

This isn't even remotely the flex you think it is. All you are doing is proving how completely meaningless and worthless bowl games are by admitting they are played by third string scrubs.

I wanted to play college football too. No one cried for me when I wasn't good enough to get in the game.

They're going to end up expanding the playoff ever more as all the bowl games not part of the playoff become meaningless and fail to make money.

[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by JRX

They're going to end up expanding the playoff ever more as all the bowl games not part of the playoff become meaningless and fail to make money.

[2010GBPackers]

Originally Posted by Fenway55

You may have been right 20 years ago but not today. These days, a large part of your team enters the transfer portal and a large part of your team opts out on an individual basis.

Bowls just don't mean anything anymore. Even the players don't give a crap. They mean even less than an NFL preseason game. Their own gimmicky ridiculousness proves it.

Exactly. What's the point of playing in one of these meaningless games (at risk of injury) when you're just playing to perform for the alumni boosters?

The college game is now a professional league entity, and the colleges themselves are to blame. If I were a kid with hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line for my next NIL deal or was planning on entering the transfer portal, I wouldn't play either.

[JRX]

Originally Posted by 2010GBPackers

Exactly. What's the point of playing in one of these meaningless games (at risk of injury) when you're just playing to perform for the alumni boosters?

The college game is now a professional league entity, and the colleges themselves are to blame. If I were a kid with hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line for my next NIL deal or was planning on entering the transfer portal, I wouldn't play either.

They're also more worried about transfer portal than a pointless bowl game.

[Scottish Punk]

Originally Posted by JRX

They're going to end up expanding the playoff ever more as all the bowl games not part of the playoff become meaningless and fail to make money.

My prediction is we will get to 16 team playoff. SEC and Big Ten will get at least 4 auto bids apiece. Other conferences will get one auto bid. Championship week will have an extra game for the SEC and Big Ten (probably extra 2) which will be games to play in for the automatic seeding. These extra games are more premium inventory to sell to streaming providers.

I can see a lot of the everyday Bowl games falling off since more teams will opt out and revenue drops. The payout on these lesser bowls often don't cover the expense for the teams to get there and play. Feel like "ESPN bowl week" is no longer the must see like it used to be.

[Big35Hurt]

Rumor floating around that Notre Dame is guaranteed a CFP spot if in final top 12 rankings starting next year. I guess their tantrum worked!

[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by Big35Hurt

Rumor floating around that Notre Dame is guaranteed a CFP spot if in final top 12 rankings starting next year. I guess their tantrum worked!

It is not a rumor, it is a clause that ND bargained for earlier this year when other changes were made to the playoff format. It goes into effect in 2026 - and it becomes "top 13" if the playoffs expand to 14 teams.

The problem with that rule is that it assumes the PC is acting in good faith, which they clearly are not. IOW, if that rule was in place right now, the PC would simply say "ND doesn't deserve to be in the playoffs so even though we think they are the #11 team in the nation, we'll put them at #13 to keep them out."

[mossoholic]

I have yet to see a single person on tv say most of the real points. Miami and ND should be in over Bama. But most are just comparing ND and Miami.

I must be one of the few but to me ND should still be in over Miami. If you think the head to head matters this is a case where the particulars of that head to head should matter.

It's like when the analytics crowd says yes or no when it never takes into account all the factors of a situation. Like the Houston vs KC game last game. The analytics said to go on that 4th and 2 from KC's own 30 yard line with 10 minutes left in a tie game. What it didn't take into account is that KC's defense was dominating the game and they absolutely should not have gone for it. Every single coach thinks they are so smart going for 2 and on 4th down every time. Just because it works sometimes doesn't mean it was the right call for who you were playing, where, weather conditions, overall score, and how the game was going.

ND lost to Miami, by 3, on the road, at the end of the game, the first game of the season. That first game of the season thing seems to only help out Bama but not ND. Bama loses by 14 to a 7 loss team and ND loses by 3 right at the end to a great team. If Miami would have won 31-17, like FSU did over Bama, yes they should be in over ND. If they won on neutral site or at ND without a fluke at the end situation then sure.

Everyone knows that the home field counts for 3. Miami won at home by 3 at the end. On a neutral field they are even. What has happened since then? ND lost by 1 point at the end to a top 10 team. There was also a bad call at the end you can claim lost ND the game. Everyone else ND killed by an average of 30 a game. Miami lost to 2 4 loss teams. Clearly ND deserves to be in. If you're in the head to head matters no matter what crowd then you're basically saying Miami could have lost by 50 to the 2 worst teams on their schedule, beat ND on a 60 yard hail mary with no time left by 1, and Miami should still be in. Sorry but that makes no sense.

What makes even less sense is ND has looked as good as anyone in the country since they were ranked 8 spots ahead of Miami. The committee somehow moves Miami 9 spots and ahead of ND when ND is killing everyone and looks as good as any team in the country.

But really the Miami vs ND debate is just deflecting how they both should be in over Bama. Alabama has looked terrible the last several weeks. They have more losses than Miami and ND. They have the worst loss. They have the 2 biggest losses. The title game shouldn't penalize you crap is bs. If there is a reward for winning there has to be a negative for losing. You can't take the money for the games and then expect that there can't be negative repercussions. Except that's exactly what happened. Bama could have lost that game 50-0 and they still would have been in.

[Siberian13]

Originally Posted by Fenway55

It is not a rumor, it is a clause that ND bargained for earlier this year when other changes were made to the playoff format. It goes into effect in 2026 - and it becomes "top 13" if the playoffs expand to 14 teams.

The problem with that rule is that it assumes the PC is acting in good faith, which they clearly are not. IOW, if that rule was in place right now, the PC would simply say "ND doesn't deserve to be in the playoffs so even though we think they are the #11 team in the nation, we'll put them at #13 to keep them out."

Only 14? That’s just not enough. If they expand? Make a splash and make it 32 teams.

[Big35Hurt]

Originally Posted by Siberian13

Only 14? That’s just not enough. If they expand? Make a splash and make it 32 teams.

Or change it 8 teams. No automatic bid for ND. Problem solved!

[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by mossoholic

I have yet to see a single person on tv say most of the real points. Miami and ND should be in over Bama. But most are just comparing ND and Miami.

I must be one of the few but to me ND should still be in over Miami. If you think the head to head matters this is a case where the particulars of that head to head should matter.

Actually, since you mentioned it, every single poll (except the PC) has Notre Dame ahead of Miami.

The AP, the Coaches, CBS, ESPN FPI, and all 6 former-BCS computers have ND ranked over Miami.

[swerve]

Quite frankly, why is Alabama not catching enough flak for losing to a sh!^^y FSU team? Texas is being raked over the coals for the Florida loss. Why not the same treatment for ALA? Even if Texas was 10-2 people would still be talking about the FLA loss but this whole time ALA has gotten a pass over the FSU loss. Btw, we are talking about the same FSU team that FLA nearly double up.

Not really advocating for Texas here. Just saying goal posts are being moved for different teams.

Don't get me started on ND, they don't deserve any kind of guarantee.

[bigdog2003]

I use to look forward to bowl season. Me and my friends would do a bowl bet on games, but now we don't even look at the games. I don't care at all about the Bush's Baked Beans Bowl, the Scooter's Coffee Bowl, or any of the other sponsored bowls by companies I don't even know. Heck, I don't even care about the first round of the CFP at this point. The day is coming soon when we have conference playoffs to get into the CFP.

[Siberian13]

Originally Posted by swerve

Quite frankly, why is Alabama not catching enough flak for losing to a sh!^^y FSU team? Texas is being raked over the coals for the Florida loss. Why not the same treatment for ALA? Even if Texas was 10-2 people would still be talking about the FLA loss but this whole time ALA has gotten a pass over the FSU loss. Btw, we are talking about the same FSU team that FLA nearly double up.

Not really advocating for Texas here. Just saying goal posts are being moved for different teams.

Don't get me started on ND, they don't deserve any kind of guarantee.

Bama beat UGA on the road and Texas got destroyed by them in regular season. So they definitely get in before Texas. Bama gets the nod over Notre Dame I think because their best win is USC.

[swerve]

I hope Texas continues to schedule marquee non-conference games, even at the risk of missing the playoffs. Every week of the college football season needs to have good prime time games.

That said, I hope they drop the upcoming ND series like a hot potato. F that program, join a conference and let the chips fall where they may.

[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by swerve

I hope Texas continues to schedule marquee non-conference games, even at the risk of missing the playoffs. Every week of the college football season needs to have good prime time games.

That said, I hope they drop the upcoming ND series like a hot potato. F that program, join a conference and let the chips fall where they may.

Why should Notre Dame join a conference, other than your jealousy that they can fill a complete 12-game schedule without doing so?

(Nobody ever answers that question)

[JRX]

Originally Posted by Fenway55

Why should Notre Dame join a conference, other than your jealousy that they can fill a complete 12-game schedule without doing so?

(Nobody ever answers that question)

They'll never do it unless they get guaranteed even more money than their current tv contract. They're the only team that has its own national tv deal.

[swerve]

Originally Posted by Siberian13

Bama beat UGA on the road and Texas got destroyed by them in regular season. So they definitely get in before Texas. Bama gets the nod over Notre Dame I think because their best win is USC.

I get it...

Based on what we have today, I'm okay with Texas being out but I do think they certainly have a case to be in, every bit as much as ND.



My biggest issue is how much losses are looked at due to the fact that it is impossible to balance schedules.

Unless you are going to expand the playoffs, shouldn't it only be teams that provide a realistic or demonstrated ability to win these types of games?

So, if you are going to objectively decide who 11 & 12 are. They should be ND & Texas. By, reasoning and even some dialogue if you consider an expansion to 16 teams :

G5, sorry, unless you are undefeated and demonstrated the ability to beat a team in the playoff picture. You are out.

Tulane, sorry, you already got demolished by Ole Miss. Maybe it will be closer this time, but Kiffin is gone so circumstances have changed. Othewise, I think you really need to expand to 16 teams to find any other way to justify G5 teams.

JMU, sorry. You lost to pretty much the only team with a pulse that you played.

ND. Sure they have the ability but to win in the playoffs but they are 0-2 against those teams so they have not demonstrated it. 1-2 if you give them credit for USC since they are 16 and you had an expanded field.

Texas. 2-2 against playoff teams, 3-2 with Vandy if you are considering an expanded field. So they have clearly demonstrated the ability to win against playoff teams.

BYU. 0-2 and handled easily by a playoff team. 1-2 expanded since Utah top 16.

Vandy. Similar to ND, they have the ability, but facts are 0-2 against top 16.


To amplify the impossibility of balanced schedules I'll use Aggy. Not because they are Texas' rival but they are they perfect example for this. IN NO WAY AM I SAYING THEY ARE NOT A PLAYOFF TEAM!!! They are definitely talented and dangerous. That said, do we really know how good they are? They have 0 wins against playoff teams and would be at 1-1 against top 16. There was no Bama, UGA, Oklahoma, Ole Miss or even Vandy on their schedule.



So, to the detriment of college football, what is the incentive for top tier programs to play anyone of similar stature OOC? Just schedule teams they can beat by 2+ touchdowns and also not have to go on the road because you can pay them to come to your place.

LSU-CLEM was a perfect example. Exciting early season matchup, gets everyone ready for the meat of the season. It ended up both teams sputtered to 7-5. If LSU had ended up becoming a bubble team that win over a 7-5 CLEM would look as great as assumed. So in the end, was the juice worth the squeeze. Probably not, but it sure was much more exciting, as a fan of the sport, than LSU-Tulsa.

[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by JRX

They'll never do it unless they get guaranteed even more money than their current tv contract. They're the only team that has its own national tv deal.

Exactly. They'd be stupid to join a conference - and the jealous haters who say "they should join a conference" know it. They know joining a conference weakens Notre Dame, which is why they are so desperate to see it happen.

They don't have to share bowl revenue, which was $20 million last year. They have complete control over most of their schedule (the ACC has control of some games). They get all their TV revenue. And starting next year they will have an automatic path to the playoffs. (We can only imagine the whining and complaining if that rule was in place this year)

[Siberian13]

Originally Posted by Fenway55

Why should Notre Dame join a conference, other than your jealousy that they can fill a complete 12-game schedule without doing so?

(Nobody ever answers that question)

If I’m other teams in the ACC or other conferences. I say screw you Notre Dame. Don’t even bother scheduling them. Let them schedule games against the other independents. If they get special treatment then help take it away from them.

It’s all money. They just greedy little leprechauns but can’t blame them. All these schools are greedy monsters.

[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by Siberian13

If I’m other teams in the ACC or other conferences. I say screw you Notre Dame. Don’t even bother scheduling them.

Fans have been saying that for 40 years now but fact is Notre Dame is a huge draw and a huge money maker. Like it or not, there will always be teams willing to schedule them.

Originally Posted by Siberian13

It’s all money. They just greedy little leprechauns but can’t blame them. All these schools are greedy monsters.

Yup. Greed has upended college football. The players are greedy, the coaches are greedy, the schools are greedy.

And we all keep watching.....

[JRX]

Originally Posted by Siberian13

If I’m other teams in the ACC or other conferences. I say screw you Notre Dame. Don’t even bother scheduling them. Let them schedule games against the other independents. If they get special treatment then help take it away from them.

It’s all money. They just greedy little leprechauns but can’t blame them. All these schools are greedy monsters.

Its not like the ACC is a pro bono exercise. They broke up the Big East solely for football. Also, Cal and Stanford are in the ACC?

[4barrel]

Notre Dame Fighting Cryrish

[jkampis]

Originally Posted by 4barrel

Notre Dame Fighting Cryrish

ND really keeps digging a deeper hole in the court of public opinion. This latest tactic of going after the ACC for allegedly pushing for Miami over them in the playoff (which I think is a stretch) is another bad look. But, hey, if the ACC DID do that I wouldn’t blame them since ND isn’t in the conference for football purposes.

ND could stop crying and join a conference, but they won’t because of the money.

[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by jkampis

ND really keeps digging a deeper hole in the court of public opinion. This latest tactic of going after the ACC for allegedly pushing for Miami over them in the playoff (which I think is a stretch)

If you think it "is a stretch" then you haven't been paying attention. About a dozen times over the past month, the ACC put out a tweet arguing for Miami to get in over ND.

Originally Posted by jkampis

is another bad look. But, hey, if the ACC DID do that I wouldn’t blame them since ND isn’t in the conference for football purposes.

ND could stop crying and join a conference, but they won’t because of the money.

Notre Dame is the only reason the ACC still exists. Half the conference sued (or was planning to sue) to get out of their ACC commitment before settling out of court. The additional exposure ACC football teams gain from playing ND regularly went a long way towards getting those teams to agree to the settlement.

There are already articles saying that if ND leaves the ACC, it will be the first domino which triggers Miami, Clemson and FSU leaving as soon as they can. That will be quickly followed by UNC and Duke.

So yeah... maybe the ACC should shut the you-know-what up when it comes to criticizing Notre Dame and show a little gratitude because Notre Dame is the only reason the ACC didn't go the way of the Pac-12. Part of the reason so many people criticize ND for having such an easy football schedule is because the ACC is 80% ass. ND didn't schedule BC and Syracuse and Stanford this year, the conference did. Then BC goes 2-10 and Syracuse goes 3-9 and Stanford goes 4-8 and it hurts ND.