As we approach mid-December, one of the biggest sporting events of the year is set to take place: the College Football Playoffs. While the field looks to set up some amazing games, fans of certain teams believe their team deserves to play for the championship. These 3 teams have got the best argument, but which of them actually deserved to make the College Football Playoffs?
- Texas
Record: 9-3
Final Ranking: #13
Best Win: #8 Oklahoma(Score: 23-6)
Losses: #2 Ohio State (Score: 14-7), #3 Georgia (Score: 35-10), Florida (Score: 29-21)
Texas has a very odd case. On one hand, they have 3 losses, and most people think 3 losses is an automatic elimination. But when looking closer into those losses, 2 out of 3 teams are ranked in the top 3. Ohio State and Georgia are some of the best teams in the country, which Texas can use to its advantage. But they also have an embarrassing loss to a 4-8 Florida team, the biggest knock on their resume. They are ranked #37 in total defense and #73 in total offense, which hinders their resume. Long-time Longhorns fan, Sabin Watkins, says that ”if losing to good teams will hurt resumes this badly, then we should stop scheduling them.”
(Our opinion) Did they get snubbed? No, we believe that a 3-loss team that didn’t even make their conference championship should not get in. While their impressive wins against (#8)Oklahoma, (#14)Vanderbilt, and (#7)Texas A&M are great resume boosters, their 3 losses are just too glaring to look over.
- Notre Dame
Record: 10-2
Final Ranking: #11
Best Win: #16 USC (Score: 34-24)
Losses: #7 Texas A&M (Score: 41-40), #10 Miami (Score: 27-24)
Notre Dame’s main point is the fact that they lost to 2 teams in the playoffs by a combined score of 4. They won the remainder of their schedule with ease, albeit most of those teams are not good. The closest score was 10 points to #16 USC. They are ranked #23 in the country in total defense and #18 in total offense, significantly higher in both categories compared to Texas. There was really only one spot left in the CFP, and the 2 teams that were fighting the hardest to secure it were Miami and Notre Dame. The only real difference between these 2 was that one beat the other, and the committee noticed that and left Notre Dame out. Noah Charvet, a devout Notre Dame fan, says that “losing to 2 playoff teams by a combined score of 4 should not be what stops us from making the playoffs.”
(Our opinion) Did they get snubbed? No, the only spot left was between them and Miami. Leaving out Miami for Notre Dame, even though Miami beat them, would set a bad precedent and leave the CFP committee under heavy fire from many college football fans. While Notre Dame’s resume does look pretty good, Miami’s just looked better, especially with the head-to-head win.
- Brigham Young University
Record: 11-2
Final Ranking: #12
Best Win: #15 Utah (Score: 24-21)
Losses: #4 Texas Tech (Score: 29-7), Conference Championship-#4 Texas Tech (Score: 34-7)
BYU’s regular season record was 11-1, while playing in a Power 4 conference. They won all but one game, a loss to #4 Texas Tech, and were looking like a pretty dominant team. But the highest they were ranked was #7, although this was before their first loss to Texas Tech. The biggest knock on their resume is the fact that the BIG 12 is a pretty weak conference. They only played 3 ranked teams all year, losing to one twice. They are ranked #59 in total offense and #28 in total defense, both stats right in between Notre Dame’s and Texas’s. Preston Dembiczak, lifelong BYU fan, says,” This is just unacceptable. Getting to play in a conference championship should be a reward, not a knock. An 11-1 regular season, while playing a power 4 schedule, should undoubtedly get into the playoffs.”
(Our opinion) Did they get snubbed? Yes, they played a Power 4 schedule and went 11-1 in the regular season; that alone should put them higher in the rankings than some teams with 2 losses. Even though the BIG 12 isn’t as deep as the BIG 10 and SEC, they are still a power conference, and their teams should be treated like it. Their 2 losses came from the same team, #4 Texas Tech, with one being in the conference championship. Teams should view the conference championship as a reward, not a potential elimination game. If BYU didn’t make the conference championship, their 11-1 record would most definitely mean they are in the playoffs, but now they are playing the Pop-Tarts bowl instead of a CFP game.
