2024 NCAA football thread

[Senator Clay Davis]

As someone who suggested at the time that Notre Dame's loss should be disqualifying, the rest of the season actually had to play out and...yeah, there really aren't 12 teams better than them. I'm not even sure there are five teams better than them. Between conference realignment, the portal, and NIL, feels like the sport has quickly become incredibly mediocre. Which is both good and bad as it means more teams seemingly have a chance (see Indiana and either ASU or Iowa State getting a chance), but it also underscores that there really aren't 12 teams you would consider truly worthy. This is where having defined paths instead of a selection committee would be preferred, cause then everyone "earns it", as they do in the NFL. Even if they aren't good, like we've seen with sub .500 division winners. But it's not based off judgement at least.

[Strange Brew]

Oh I think there are 20 teams better than Notre Dame. But deserving is another story. The playoff isn’t about the 12 best teams.

IMO college football is the opposite of mediocre, it’s about the haves and have nots. This ASU/Iowa State game is entertaining but they’re not top teams. Those exist in just two conferences now.

You could get rid of the selection committee and simply have criteria, but if you don’t guarantee the SEC about a third of the teams, they’re just going to take their ball and go home. They’ll throw big money at a couple more schools and have their own post season tournament. And the rest of the bowl games just become the NIT.

[Senator Clay Davis]

20 lol. I'm all for hating Notre Dame, but they aren't an FCS school talent wise. But yeah no, it's way more mediocre now. And why wouldn't it be? Imagine every NFL player was effectively on one year contracts, with agency to move every year. Continuity is juuuust a little important in building a quality team, thinking every year you can just throw a bunch of talented players who've never played together into a blender and that it'll magically produce a great team is more hope than a good formula. Before NIL and the portal is when the haves and have nots gap was massive, because an Alabama or Georgia could horde all the best players and movement was difficult. Now that it's easy, and for sale, not so easy.

[ResAlien]

It's more than a little funny that the PAC12 looks like they'll win two other conferences and the mighty mighty SEC could be won by the Big12

[Strange Brew]

What games can you point to that show ND should be ranked better than about 20? I don’t see it. 0-1 against teams in the top 25 right now.

The NIL money isn’t pushing teams to the middle, it’s doing the exact opposite.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Well you made the initial comment, so who are the 20 teams better than ND? Well, I guess four since I'm assuming you'll put the 16 SEC teams in front of them.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

It's more than a little funny that the PAC12 looks like they'll win two other conferences and the mighty mighty SEC could be won by the Big12

Not just that, every one of the Power 4 champions could conceivably be a newcomer to their respective conference. And Army just won the AAC in it's first year playing there.

One year is a little soon to pass judgement but it seems like NIL and the transfer portal may be having the opposite effect I thought it would. Rather than concentrate power even further, this year at least it seems to have actually enhanced equality and competitiveness.

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by Lubicon

Not just that, every one of the Power 4 champions could conceivably be a newcomer to their respective conference. And Army just won the AAC in it's first year playing there.

One year is a little soon to pass judgement but it seems like NIL and the transfer portal may be having the opposite effect I thought it would. Rather than concentrate power even further, this year at least it seems to have actually enhanced equality and competitiveness.

For sure, with the SEC no longer having the monopoly on paying players the playing field looks to have evened out real quick.

[ResAlien]

And lol Texas coming out on tilt for this game. Settle down nerds

[KelVarnsen]

Texas should be up by a lot more than 3

[Senator Clay Davis]

So that was a glitch in the Matrix, or some kind of dream world, where Carson Beck was actually thought of as a possible #1 pick, right? It wasn't actually the real world, cause that would have been one of the stupidest things people have ever thought.

[transplant99]

Well Gunner Stockton is certainly a great football name if nothing else.

[KelVarnsen]

Beck out for the game

[nfotiu]

Are they both really too injured to be FG holders?

[ResAlien]

I'm hearing Texas is doing Texas things

[KelVarnsen]

That’s an oops

[Senator Clay Davis]

This game is comedy central.

[KelVarnsen]

Does anyone want this game to have OT?

[Senator Clay Davis]

This would be a lot more intense if there were meaningful danger to losing, but with both already in kinda feels like injury avoidance is the primary goal in OT.

[ResAlien]

They tried to kill that boy. Georgia likely goes 3 straight runs and wins yeah