2024-25 College Football Season

[mobilija]

USC had a great win against LSU but how on earth did they go up 10 spots in the ranking?? That win alone basically vaulted them from #23 to being on the cusp of the 12-team playoff lol.

BC is definitely on the map again. I could see them being ranked as early as next week

Strength of Schedule. They?re in the SEC so they will always be given the boost. Self fufilling prophecy, the SEC is strong so teams winning in the SEC get vaulted up the ranking making the SEC strong.

[mobilija]

College football at its finest?.

1) Florida State goes undefeated last year only to get left out of the ?playoffs?. They then lose most of their players through the portal and likely recruits as well. Because who wants to play for a team that even if you do the best you can and win ALL your games, they still won?t let you compete at the highest level? The program essentially is destroyed by the ant-competition committee.

2) The next year the same paper pushers decide FSU is ranked #10 but they can?t hang on against the first two average teams they face. Sure, FSU needs to play better but talk about setting up a team for failure. The deciders have helped FSU look like total under achievers.

Too much influence from committees trying to control the narrative and decide who the best teams are.

I'm not sure if this is fair.  What recruits and transfers left because FSU was left out of the playoff? 

FSU was slated to be in the playoff and then they lost their QB, decimating their offense.  I think that talent evaluators (and players) recognized that.  If guys left, it was either to pursue a better chance for playing time somewhere else, or because they recognized that FSU just wasn't all that good.

========

Way to go, BC!  It feels like the first big football win in 20 years.

Not fair to the committee?!? hahaha Good joke.

I don?t know the names of recruits or transfers. I?ll quickly get in over my head here, but I distinctly recall lots of players leaving the program BEFORE their bowl game last year. You think those players would have left if they were in the playoffs?

Neither of us know exactly why any given player decides to transfer or not follow through on their commitment. But to not acknowledge that the committee pushing the program down, not allowing them to compete has a negative effect on the program and its ability to attract players, is willful ignorance.

FSU has their own problems and are ultimately responsible for their own successes and failures. But when someone decides on paper that you fail despite doing as well as you possibly could have, that is going to be detrimental to future success. It stinks that they lost their QB but it stinks even more that a bunch of egg heads then told the rest of the team, coaches, program and the nation that they?re not worth a hill of beans.  The program is in tatters now, loosing a talent to injury is part of that but so is decision making outside of the program that has nothing to do with competition and results on the field.

FSU lost their best players, including their QB, to the NFL draft not to the portal.  You could see how bad they were offensively, without their QB Travis, last season in the last 2 games before the bowl game. 

Florida State Seminoles football had 10 players drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft ? defensive end Jared Verse (No. 19 overall, Los Angeles Rams), wide receiver Keon Coleman (No. 33 overall, Buffalo Bills), defensive lineman Braden Fiske (No. 39 overall, Los Angeles Rams) safety Renardo Green (No. 64 overall, San Francisco 49ers), running back Trey Benson (No. 66 overall, Arizona Cardinals), defensive back Jarrian Jones (No. 96 overall, Jacksonville Jaguars), quarterback Jordan Travis (No. 171, New York Jets) and wide receiver Johnny Wilson (No. 185 overall, Philadelphia Eagles).

Per On3, they did lose 26 players to the portal but they also picked up 17 players who had a much higher average ranking than the players than they lost (78.35 to 65.81).   

FSU had the 12th best high school recruiting class in 2024.  That was a significant improvement from their prior 3 classes (19th, 20th and 23rd). 

So your baseless speculation doesn't hold any water.  If it did, FSU would NOT have been picked by most everyone to win the ACC and make the playoffs. 

FSU is down because they lost their best players on offense and defense to the NFL.  The pundits stupidly thought that FSU could just reload like elite programs (Bama, Georgia and OSU) do but FSU is not an elite program.

There is something off here tho?

Great recruiting class and appeared to gain in the transfer calculus, according to the pundits and computers, and picked to make the playoffs and win the ACC. Hence their ranking and yet, they?re not good. Maybe the people who make all those classifications are wrong and that information shouldn?t be deciding who gets to move on to the playoffs? Again, play the games and let that decide to who the best team is because clearly the math is wrong.

My speculation may lack quantitative substance but the contradictions in your post don?t disprove it either. FSU has been in free fall begining with the loss of their star QB and the snub by the powers that control college football.

Regardless of going undefeated, FSU wasn't one of the 4 best teams and rightly was left out of the playoffs.  FSU is down because their best players left for the NFL.  It wouldn't have matter one bit if they made the playoffs and got blasted by Michigan rather than getting blasted by Georgia in the bowl game.  Their best players would have been gone regardless.  What the bowl game showed was their lack of talent without those top players and their lack of character or culture if you prefer. 

It is important to actually watch the games to see who the best teams are.  Just going by record and ignoring strength of schedule doesn't get you the best or most deserving teams.

The Georgia bowl game is meaningless. Players left before it. It tells us nothing had they been allowed to play Michigan with their full team minus their QB. I?m sure ur right and they most likely would?ve gotten destroyed but we?ll never know because they were never given the chance. They did everything they could to get there and the system didn?t let them in.

Our difference in opinion lies in the fact you (and the committee and likely most of America 😆) want the best teams on paper to play each other. Where as, I think record matters. If one of the best teams had a hiccup and lost whereas an inferior team goes undefeated, like last year, why should Alabama, a team that stumbled get a second chance where as a team that went perfect get no chance? I mean, geez no one actually believed Alabama was going to win out in the playoffs They were on paper and evidenced by their loss and getting a miracle to beat Auburn not a championship caliber team. But they get a redo? It?s a system that awards reputation and not competitive process.

What's the incentive for scheduling tough opponents if the thing that matters most -- almost exclusively -- is W-L record?

Strength of schedule matters, I get it. It?s a good way to determine tie breakers. How many out of conference games are scheduled each year? A handful, maybe a 1/4 or 1/3 of the schedule? So those games against opponents, whose skill level a team can?t control, matter more than running through your conference? Strength of schedule changes through out a college season, teams get better get worse, move up and down the rankings, it?s based on perception not always results. Basically last year it was decided the ACC wasn?t good enough, nothing they could have done would have gotten an ACC team in the playoffs. That?s anti-competition and not letting the on field results decide who moves on.

[A Future of Stevens]

I'm in the draft a tackle camp, but holy moly if Tetairoa McMillan is this good? 6'5 (allegedly, but so was Drake London who is now 6'3) and 215 pounds.

I hate the commentators that throw bball comparisons around, but this guy actually moves like a wing. Might not have other worldly top speed, but he's fluid and graceful. Fantastic hands.

10 catches 304 yards and 4 tds in the season opener for Arizona against New Mexico. He missed a 5th td by what felt like an inch.

He was projected as a mid 1st rounder pre season, but he might be a great option in the 3-8 range.

[tazzmaniac]

USC had a great win against LSU but how on earth did they go up 10 spots in the ranking?? That win alone basically vaulted them from #23 to being on the cusp of the 12-team playoff lol.

BC is definitely on the map again. I could see them being ranked as early as next week

Strength of Schedule. They?re in the SEC so they will always be given the boost. Self fufilling prophecy, the SEC is strong so teams winning in the SEC get vaulted up the ranking making the SEC strong.

No it is not.  The SEC has proven it is the best on the field for the past 15+ years.  Led by Bama's dominance but also Georgia, LSU, Auburn and Florida winning national championships. 

[tazzmaniac]

College football at its finest?.

1) Florida State goes undefeated last year only to get left out of the ?playoffs?. They then lose most of their players through the portal and likely recruits as well. Because who wants to play for a team that even if you do the best you can and win ALL your games, they still won?t let you compete at the highest level? The program essentially is destroyed by the ant-competition committee.

2) The next year the same paper pushers decide FSU is ranked #10 but they can?t hang on against the first two average teams they face. Sure, FSU needs to play better but talk about setting up a team for failure. The deciders have helped FSU look like total under achievers.

Too much influence from committees trying to control the narrative and decide who the best teams are.

I'm not sure if this is fair.  What recruits and transfers left because FSU was left out of the playoff? 

FSU was slated to be in the playoff and then they lost their QB, decimating their offense.  I think that talent evaluators (and players) recognized that.  If guys left, it was either to pursue a better chance for playing time somewhere else, or because they recognized that FSU just wasn't all that good.

========

Way to go, BC!  It feels like the first big football win in 20 years.

Not fair to the committee?!? hahaha Good joke.

I don?t know the names of recruits or transfers. I?ll quickly get in over my head here, but I distinctly recall lots of players leaving the program BEFORE their bowl game last year. You think those players would have left if they were in the playoffs?

Neither of us know exactly why any given player decides to transfer or not follow through on their commitment. But to not acknowledge that the committee pushing the program down, not allowing them to compete has a negative effect on the program and its ability to attract players, is willful ignorance.

FSU has their own problems and are ultimately responsible for their own successes and failures. But when someone decides on paper that you fail despite doing as well as you possibly could have, that is going to be detrimental to future success. It stinks that they lost their QB but it stinks even more that a bunch of egg heads then told the rest of the team, coaches, program and the nation that they?re not worth a hill of beans.  The program is in tatters now, loosing a talent to injury is part of that but so is decision making outside of the program that has nothing to do with competition and results on the field.

FSU lost their best players, including their QB, to the NFL draft not to the portal.  You could see how bad they were offensively, without their QB Travis, last season in the last 2 games before the bowl game. 

Florida State Seminoles football had 10 players drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft ? defensive end Jared Verse (No. 19 overall, Los Angeles Rams), wide receiver Keon Coleman (No. 33 overall, Buffalo Bills), defensive lineman Braden Fiske (No. 39 overall, Los Angeles Rams) safety Renardo Green (No. 64 overall, San Francisco 49ers), running back Trey Benson (No. 66 overall, Arizona Cardinals), defensive back Jarrian Jones (No. 96 overall, Jacksonville Jaguars), quarterback Jordan Travis (No. 171, New York Jets) and wide receiver Johnny Wilson (No. 185 overall, Philadelphia Eagles).

Per On3, they did lose 26 players to the portal but they also picked up 17 players who had a much higher average ranking than the players than they lost (78.35 to 65.81).   

FSU had the 12th best high school recruiting class in 2024.  That was a significant improvement from their prior 3 classes (19th, 20th and 23rd). 

So your baseless speculation doesn't hold any water.  If it did, FSU would NOT have been picked by most everyone to win the ACC and make the playoffs. 

FSU is down because they lost their best players on offense and defense to the NFL.  The pundits stupidly thought that FSU could just reload like elite programs (Bama, Georgia and OSU) do but FSU is not an elite program.

There is something off here tho?

Great recruiting class and appeared to gain in the transfer calculus, according to the pundits and computers, and picked to make the playoffs and win the ACC. Hence their ranking and yet, they?re not good. Maybe the people who make all those classifications are wrong and that information shouldn?t be deciding who gets to move on to the playoffs? Again, play the games and let that decide to who the best team is because clearly the math is wrong.

My speculation may lack quantitative substance but the contradictions in your post don?t disprove it either. FSU has been in free fall begining with the loss of their star QB and the snub by the powers that control college football.

Regardless of going undefeated, FSU wasn't one of the 4 best teams and rightly was left out of the playoffs.  FSU is down because their best players left for the NFL.  It wouldn't have matter one bit if they made the playoffs and got blasted by Michigan rather than getting blasted by Georgia in the bowl game.  Their best players would have been gone regardless.  What the bowl game showed was their lack of talent without those top players and their lack of character or culture if you prefer. 

It is important to actually watch the games to see who the best teams are.  Just going by record and ignoring strength of schedule doesn't get you the best or most deserving teams.

The Georgia bowl game is meaningless. Players left before it. It tells us nothing had they been allowed to play Michigan with their full team minus their QB. I?m sure ur right and they most likely would?ve gotten destroyed but we?ll never know because they were never given the chance. They did everything they could to get there and the system didn?t let them in.

Our difference in opinion lies in the fact you (and the committee and likely most of America 😆) want the best teams on paper to play each other. Where as, I think record matters. If one of the best teams had a hiccup and lost whereas an inferior team goes undefeated, like last year, why should Alabama, a team that stumbled get a second chance where as a team that went perfect get no chance? I mean, geez no one actually believed Alabama was going to win out in the playoffs They were on paper and evidenced by their loss and getting a miracle to beat Auburn not a championship caliber team. But they get a redo? It?s a system that awards reputation and not competitive process.

I don't see how rewarding teams who don't lose because they play much easier schedules is a competitive process.  Playing a harder schedule and risking losing is what competition is about. 

College football is different from other sports.  Schedule strength varies much more in college football.  College basketball, NFL, NBA, MLB have playoffs that around half the teams make the playoffs so the best teams are assured of making it.  College football only having 4 teams make the playoffs meant that schedule strength needed to be more than just a tie breaker.

Did you watch the FSU-Florida game?  Did you watch the FSU-Louisville game?  I did.  It was clear that without Travis that FSU wasn't close to being one of the 4 best teams.  The committee's directive was to select the 4 best teams.  They'd been shirking their duty if they had chosen FSU just because they had finished undefeated. 

As for Bama, they certainly weren't the best Saban team during the Saban era. But they showed they were championship caliber by beating Georgia in the SEC championship and then by playing Michigan closer than any other team taking them to overtime before losing. 

[mobilija]

I know that you?re largely right. There are two many teams and not enough playoff spots (till now maybe?). There needs to be some sort of equalizer. However, 1) I dont think an easier schedule is wholly an individual programs fault. They only choose 1/3 of their schedule. At the time of choosing, they don?t know how good or bad that team will be. It takes two teams to agree to schedule, every team can?t fill those scheduled games with top 10 programs, the other team has to agree too. A program has no control over the quality of their conference. 2) There is a dishonest nature to the same teams getting chosen to be the best bc they play each other, constantly pumping up the others value. I do see that the Georgia, Alabama, LSU etc consistently have elite programs but the cyclical nature of ranking them the best and therefore always have the best SOS gives them a cushion that gives them extra room for error other programs aren?t afforded.  For me, what it boils down to is I hate committees deciding who is better, more deserving. Especially when they are using flawed on paper metrics from the season (like FSUs ranking early this season). Those evaluations get more accurate as a season progresses but you end up w things like a team scheduling an opponent that looks good on paper but end being garbage and then are penalized for playing a cupcake when that was not their intention.

The solution would be to take self scheduled games out of the equation or rather make those games have restrictions or scheduled by committee. Something, like every top 5 conference has to play a team from every other top conference with a smaller conference team mixed in to give the little guys some exposure. Make those inter conference games rotate team to team so in a 10  year ish span you?ve had to play every team. But conferences got all mashed up last year so it?s all different now.

Sorry, this is an outdated discussion. But clearly important and it was a problem, evidenced by the massive changes occurring this year. We?ll see what happens this year.

[tazzmaniac]

I know that you?re largely right. There are two many teams and not enough playoff spots (till now maybe?). There needs to be some sort of equalizer. However, 1) I dont think an easier schedule is wholly an individual programs fault. They only choose 1/3 of their schedule. At the time of choosing, they don?t know how good or bad that team will be. It takes two teams to agree to schedule, every team can?t fill those scheduled games with top 10 programs, the other team has to agree too. A program has no control over the quality of their conference. 2) There is a dishonest nature to the same teams getting chosen to be the best bc they play each other, constantly pumping up the others value. I do see that the Georgia, Alabama, LSU etc consistently have elite programs but the cyclical nature of ranking them the best and therefore always have the best SOS gives them a cushion that gives them extra room for error other programs aren?t afforded.  For me, what it boils down to is I hate committees deciding who is better, more deserving. Especially when they are using flawed on paper metrics from the season (like FSUs ranking early this season). Those evaluations get more accurate as a season progresses but you end up w things like a team scheduling an opponent that looks good on paper but end being garbage and then are penalized for playing a cupcake when that was not their intention.

The solution would be to take self scheduled games out of the equation or rather make those games have restrictions or scheduled by committee. Something, like every top 5 conference has to play a team from every other top conference with a smaller conference team mixed in to give the little guys some exposure. Make those inter conference games rotate team to team so in a 10  year ish span you?ve had to play every team. But conferences got all mashed up last year so it?s all different now.

Sorry, this is an outdated discussion. But clearly important and it was a problem, evidenced by the massive changes occurring this year. We?ll see what happens this year.

Going to the 12-team playoff was decided long before the CFP decided on the four playoff teams last season.  The decision was all about getting more money.

I've been pushing strength of schedule but in reality the CFP has been going by record.  The CFP chair clearly indicated FSU was left out because they did not think FSU was one of the 4 best teams after they lost their QB as shown by their lousy offensive performance against Florida and Louisville.  If FSU hadn't lost their starting QB, they would have certainly made the playoffs even with playing a significantly weaker schedule.  If FSU's offense had looked even decent against Florida and Louisville with one of their backup QBs, FSU would have most likely made the playoffs.  But the committee members and anyone who watched those 2 games clearly saw that FSU was not close to one of the four best teams without their starting QB.  The direction to the committee was to select the 4 best teams so choosing FSU just because they were undefeated would have clearly violated that direction.

[mobilija]

I know that you?re largely right. There are two many teams and not enough playoff spots (till now maybe?). There needs to be some sort of equalizer. However, 1) I dont think an easier schedule is wholly an individual programs fault. They only choose 1/3 of their schedule. At the time of choosing, they don?t know how good or bad that team will be. It takes two teams to agree to schedule, every team can?t fill those scheduled games with top 10 programs, the other team has to agree too. A program has no control over the quality of their conference. 2) There is a dishonest nature to the same teams getting chosen to be the best bc they play each other, constantly pumping up the others value. I do see that the Georgia, Alabama, LSU etc consistently have elite programs but the cyclical nature of ranking them the best and therefore always have the best SOS gives them a cushion that gives them extra room for error other programs aren?t afforded.  For me, what it boils down to is I hate committees deciding who is better, more deserving. Especially when they are using flawed on paper metrics from the season (like FSUs ranking early this season). Those evaluations get more accurate as a season progresses but you end up w things like a team scheduling an opponent that looks good on paper but end being garbage and then are penalized for playing a cupcake when that was not their intention.

The solution would be to take self scheduled games out of the equation or rather make those games have restrictions or scheduled by committee. Something, like every top 5 conference has to play a team from every other top conference with a smaller conference team mixed in to give the little guys some exposure. Make those inter conference games rotate team to team so in a 10  year ish span you?ve had to play every team. But conferences got all mashed up last year so it?s all different now.

Sorry, this is an outdated discussion. But clearly important and it was a problem, evidenced by the massive changes occurring this year. We?ll see what happens this year.

Going to the 12-team playoff was decided long before the CFP decided on the four playoff teams last season.  The decision was all about getting more money.

I've been pushing strength of schedule but in reality the CFP has been going by record.  The CFP chair clearly indicated FSU was left out because they did not think FSU was one of the 4 best teams after they lost their QB as shown by their lousy offensive performance against Florida and Louisville.  If FSU hadn't lost their starting QB, they would have certainly made the playoffs even with playing a significantly weaker schedule.  If FSU's offense had looked even decent against Florida and Louisville with one of their backup QBs, FSU would have most likely made the playoffs.  But the committee members and anyone who watched those 2 games clearly saw that FSU was not close to one of the four best teams without their starting QB.  The direction to the committee was to select the 4 best teams so choosing FSU just because they were undefeated would have clearly violated that direction.

Last year isn?t an outlier. There?s controversy about the playoff teams almost every year.

[tazzmaniac]

This Saturday has a couple of top 25 matchups but there are some other interesting games. 

Texas at Michigan is the main attraction.  Michigan's defense is really going to have to dominate and may need to score some points for Michigan to win.  If not, Texas probably wins by a couple touchdowns. 

Arkansas at Okie State.  Think Arkansas pulls off the upset close win led by their dynamic dual threat QB. 

Georgia Tech at Syracuse.  Probably won't be pretty but should be a close, hard-fought game. 

Iowa State at Iowa.  Rivalry game.  Is Iowa's 2nd half offense outburst last week for real or was it just a mirage? 

South Florida at Bama.  The game Milroe was benched for last season in order to try out the backup QBs.  Here's hoping for the 2nd bloodbath of the DeBoer era. 

Tennessee at North Carolina State.  The 2nd top 25 matchup.  NC State struggled last week against a cupcake.  Tennessee needs to show they are ready to be a playoff team.  Could put Tennessee's QB, Nico <I can't say his last name>, squarely in the Heisman race. 

Colorado at Nebraska.  If Colorado wins, we'll be hearing a lot of Deion hype again.  If Nebraska wins, we'll likely be hearing a lot of Dylan Raiola hype.  I'll go with Nebraska given Colorado's team is crap outside of the skill positions.  Would be good to see Nebraska back to having some relevance. 

App State at Clemson.  Could Clemson join Florida State at 0-2?  Dabo taking some more heat would be fun. 

Boise State at Oregon.  This one should be exciting.  Can Oregon fix their problems from last week's game to show they are a true championship contender? 

Utah State at USC.  Don't know much about Utah State but I could see USC laying an egg after beating LSU.  Or has Riley's team actually turned a corner? 

[Phantom255x]

If the season ended today (obviously not even close lol), the CFP matchups would be:

Georgia-Ohio State-Texas-Alabama - BYE

Notre Dame vs. Miami
Ole Miss vs. Utah
Oregon vs. Michigan
Penn State vs. Missouri

Great matchups

[tazzmaniac]

If the season ended today (obviously not even close lol), the CFP matchups would be:

Georgia-Ohio State-Texas-Alabama - BYE

Notre Dame vs. Miami
Ole Miss vs. Utah
Oregon vs. Michigan
Penn State vs. Missouri

Great matchups

I wish but that's not accurate.  The top 5 conference champs make the playoffs which means at least one G5 conference champ makes it.  The top 4 conference champs get the byes.  So using the AP poll rankings it would be:

Georgia, Ohio State, Utah and Miami who get the byes and the 1st round matchups would be:

Boise State at Texas
Missouri at Alabama
Penn State at Notre Dame
Oregon at Ole Miss

The 5 through 8 seeds get to host the 1st round playoff games on campus which is the best part of the expanded playoffs.

[tazzmaniac]

BYU vs SMU tied at 15 with 4mins left.  BYU made a nice 4th and 1 conversion.

Edit:  BYU pulls it out 18-15. 

Duke at Northwestern is 7-10 at the half.

[Phantom255x]

If the season ended today (obviously not even close lol), the CFP matchups would be:

Georgia-Ohio State-Texas-Alabama - BYE

Notre Dame vs. Miami
Ole Miss vs. Utah
Oregon vs. Michigan
Penn State vs. Missouri

Great matchups

I wish but that's not accurate.  The top 5 conference champs make the playoffs which means at least one G5 conference champ makes it.  The top 4 conference champs get the byes.  So using the AP poll rankings it would be:

Georgia, Ohio State, Utah and Miami who get the byes and the 1st round matchups would be:

Boise State at Texas
Missouri at Alabama
Penn State at Notre Dame
Oregon at Ole Miss

The 5 through 8 seeds get to host the 1st round playoff games on campus which is the best part of the expanded playoffs.

Oh never mind, TP and thanks for the clarification.

Those are still great games though and yeah, it's interesting to see the "home field advantage" aspect of it. I'm excited for the expanded format

[libermaniac]

Texas laying the wood on Michigan. ❤️

[tazzmaniac]

Texas laying the wood on Michigan. ❤️

Yep.  Their offense making the Michigan defense look pretty ordinary.