With all this discussion of Ole Miss, Ala, and the Cocks, no one has mentioned what would very likely make the decision at this time of year much easier. The SEC should play 9 conference games. To its credit, Bama did schedule a potentially tough team in Wisky, but SC and Miss each played 4 cupcakes. Heck, SC beat Old Dominion 23 - 19 at home. Replacing one cupcake for each of those with an almighty SEC conference game may well have pushed both to a 4 loss season.
Illinois #21 in 12/3 CFB Playoff Rankings
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illinidarrin
- from parts unknown
If by some chance Illinois had to play Mizzou, they wouldn't have to worry about Luther Burden, he just declared for the NFL draft.
I think we'd be very very close and maybe even in at #11 rankings #12 seed. I know the AP rankings are not the same, but they have mirrored the CFP rankings fairly closely. We were 23rd when we played Minnesota and would moved up with a win. Then we had three more wins. We were ahead of South Carolina & Arizona State at that time and Alabama and Ole Miss have lost since then. Clemson, Miami & BYU have lost twice and Colorado has lost once since then. With us sitting at 10-2 and the only losses to the #1 & #3 teams both on the road, the whole argument between the 9-3 SEC teams might be moot.
I think this is a fair argument and the one both Bret and us fans would be making though it is very important to note that CFP rankings do not align with AP voting. Our 2 losses would be of ridiculous quality- both of those teams have a combined 2 losses, each to other Top 10 CFP teams away from home. We beat everyone else including teams better than the quality Alabama and Ole Miss lost to. But, historically there is decently strong precedent for putting 3 loss teams with high quality road wins over 2 loss teams without a quality win. So I think a 10-2 Illinois would have had strong argument for just making the CFP cut, but objectively, I think if they would have been the case, we would fall just short based on historical precedent. We'll never know of course, but how the CFP treats South Carolina, Alabama, and Ole Miss versus Miami will be somewhat telling.
Pru said it better than I can. I would simply add that, from a fan enjoyment experience, the great execution of the re-dedication game, including the throwback uniforms, special helmets, first-rate CBS national broadcast, and beating Michigan, all make a wonderful “icing on the cake” of this 9-3 regular season, for me.
Nothing to prove that we'd have taken care of MSU, Rutgers, and NW if we'd beaten Minnesota.
As much as I still loath Matt Sylvester, I think him hitting the 3 to hand us our first basketball loss of the 04-05 season was the necessary kick for us to go all the way to St. Louis.
As much as I still loath Matt Sylvester, I think him hitting the 3 to hand us our first basketball loss of the 04-05 season was the necessary kick for us to go all the way to St. Louis.
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
And on a side note, I'm REALLY hoping South Carolina is the opponent. One of my good friends from college at Illinois worked at South Carolina for a number of years and has a lot of fond memories of his time in Columbia. When I got married, our ties were South Carolina colors and I told him he hit the jackpot getting to wear his "second team's" colors as part of my wedding party. 
I spent an early-season baseball weekend there in the early 2010s and had a great time watching the Gamecocks and hanging out on the South Carolina campus when the games were done.
I spent an early-season baseball weekend there in the early 2010s and had a great time watching the Gamecocks and hanging out on the South Carolina campus when the games were done.
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I am hoping during the layoff until the Bowl game the Coaches and players watch game film and address the massive holes in the secondary and realize the opponents know exactly what the offense will do on 3rd down because they run the same play game after game after game [right up the middle] I am guessing Laughery can get to the outside with his speed if they pitch it to him. It would be a miracle if the defense could FINALLY STOP somebody on 3rd and long!!
Don't know about longer, but certainly happier!
Ditto
It’s looks like we’ll be playing either Ole Miss or South Carolina in the Citrus.
Wow... Well forget what I said earlier about the committee likely following historical precedent, hell, they straight up defy logic. These rankings are just completely wack for a CFP. They look more like someone's AP ballot... All I can say is the name on the front of the jersey means more than record or resume, because that's what the committee did.
Field is pretty much set now no matter what happens. It'll be:
Oregon
Texas
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Penn State
Indiana
Tennessee
Georgia
SMU/Clemson winner
ASU/ISU winner
Boise State/UNLV winner
Alabama last team in
Miami first team out.
Ole Miss 2nd team out
South Carolina 3rd team out
Yep. We'll see which one they choose.
Probably Ole Miss.
That's a very strange top 4 in the projected bracket. I just don't see SMU or Boise State as being that good.
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Doesn't matter, necessarily how "good" a team is. Top 4 conference champions get the top four spots.
You're right, and I understand why they do that. But it just seems like it's going to produce some poor matchups.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
The #1 thing I wanted to see too!!!Ha.....above Colorado
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
As Rece Davis said during the show tonight, "It's something they need to fix really fast -- i.e. in 2025."
Get rid of conference championship games. Unless you make conferences have divisions.
Take for example Tennessee they played UGA and Bama. Went 1-1. No Ole Miss or Texas
Missouri only played Bama and South Carolina. No UGA Texas Ole Miss
IU only played O$U. No PSU Oregon.
Conferences are not able to determine their best teams. Which allows people to say they deserve to be in
BSU played Oregon and will have to beat UNLV twice. They also played WSU and Oregon State. It isn’t a complete cupcake schedule
Auto bids make sense but the auto bye concept is a bit much.
I agree with you. I wouldn't mind seeing Boise State and SMU being in the top 12, just not in the top 4 with a bye.
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