Penn State

[Aiks19]

The fact that we are having this discussion is pretty amazing in itself.what a turnaround.

[billmurray]

I think they went to a human element since the BCS was not well liked.  They put the test into the equation to acknowledge certain things.  That's why the NCAA basketball tournament uses a human selection committee. Like if Villanova's point guard were to miss 8 games this year and they go 3-5 without him but they are 22-3 with him and he's back for the tournament, they're gonna be seeded as that team with their full lineup and won't be punished for him missing time.  That's something a computer can't acknowledge.



Pitt received votes this week in the rankings.  Miami did not. Both have the same record and Miami just beat Pitt. But since Pitt beat number 2 on national TV, voters took notice.  

That's what happened with Pemn State, they got a ton of credit for beating Ohio State on national TV.

I agree, the human element is important. Like I said, Pitt has lost some very close games. Computers don't see that. Personally, I thought Pitt should have received a few more votes. 

[say_oww]

Computers rank performance.  Injuries are part of performance and influence outcomes.  If a team is unbeaten and loses key players in the semi-finals they will not be the same team in the championship.  I'd agree that there should be some kind of data driven factor to offset human bias.  With that being said, game sites matter quite a bit too, so there has to be a way to factor that element into the equation.  Beating a ranked team at home is nowhere near as difficult as doing it on the road.

[abpk2903]

This conference championship game thing needs to be revisited if they are going to use conference championships as a determining factor for playoff qualification.

In the SEC, Alabama will play either Tennessee or Florida. Meanwhile LSU, Texas A&M, and probably Auburn are better and higher ranked football teams.

In the ACC, Clemson (most likely) will play Virginia Tech or UNC. I think we can all agree that Florida State and Louisville are much better.

The Big12 doesn't even have a conference championship. What happens when when WVU beats OU and then OU beats Oklahoma State? Does anyone know who becomes champion in that scenario? Until Texas becomes relevant and they have a conference championship game, this conference is absolutely going to be left out. Might as well put them in with the Power 5 to make the Power 6.

The B1G looks as a though they will be the only conference that will have 2 teams with playoff hopes playing. But their, IMO, best team (Ohio State) only has like a 10% chance of making the championship game.

I think these conferences should implement some sort of system that doesn't allow such atrocious conference championship games. Here is my suggestion, if a "division winner" isn't within the top 15 in the final CFP, the highest ranked member that didn't qualify for the game is sent instead.

Currently we have these championship games:

-Florida v Alabama
-Colorado v Washington
-Michigan v Wisconsin
-Clemson v Virginia Tech

Instead we could have these championship games:

-LSU v Bama
-Colorado v Washington
-Michigan v Wisconsin
-Clemson v Louisville
-Oklahoma v WVU (or Okie State)

[konjo78]

I agree a good bit with abpk.

Though if your ohio state you have to love this scenario. They can win out, not have to play a conference chanp game, and he in the playoffs. Not having to risk that last game against a tougher opponent will be huge.


I actually think ACC has more of a chance to get 2 teams. If both louisville and clemson win out they both are in. Wis and psu should not be able to jump over either of them and ohio state

[bigrig15]

I think it will be very interesting if OSU beats Michigan and penn state wins out and wins the conference championship game and Clemson and Louisville win out. Cause PSU is probably the odd man out even tho they win a conference championship and have a head to head win over one of the teams in

[konjo78]

I think it will be very interesting if OSU beats Michigan and penn state wins out and wins the conference championship game and Clemson and Louisville win out. Cause PSU is probably the odd man out even tho they win a conference championship and have a head to head win over one of the teams in

If only they didnt lose to a pitt team. or get run over by mich. Or beat ohio state decisively

[abpk2903]

Irregardless, it's a good indicator of where teams should be ranked. It's like Ken Pom in basketball. It's another guide to who are the best college football programs, and NOT from a human standpoint, where sportswriters and coaches vote with their heart, not their head.

Perfect example of why computer formulas shouldn't be used to rank teams.

RPI as of today:

1. Albany
46. PSU
57. Duke

[223113]

Pitt received votes this week in the rankings.  Miami did not. Both have the same record and Miami just beat Pitt. But since Pitt beat number 2 on national TV, voters took notice.  

Amen.

[PLDragons24]

S&P has PSU 12, Massey has them 8, and F+ has them 10th. Sagarin has them the lowest out of all the mostly used advanced statistics ratings, so I would say the CFP rankings currently having them at 10 is pretty inline with the advanced statistics and I believe the CFP committee uses advanced statistics as one of their categories in determining rankings.