No love for FSU....

[jiw98]

What I see after the bowl games so far is that maybe the SEC West isn't as strong of a conference after all. The only team from the West that won their Bowl game is Texas A&M (a former BIG 12 team).
The conference that seems to get bashed (BIG 10) showed a lot of grit knocking off two of the SEC West teams. The BIG 10 also knocked off the BIG 12 co-champion. Maybe there isn't as big of difference in talent as some are thinking.
That being said I think TCU belonged in the play-off. They certainly played their Bowl game like they belonged. What a statement they made against yet another SEC West team.
Good luck to Oregon and Ohio State.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by jiw98

What I see after the bowl games so far is that maybe the SEC West isn't as strong of a conference after all. The only team from the West that won their Bowl game is Texas A&M (a former BIG 12 team).
The conference that seems to get bashed (BIG 10) showed a lot of grit knocking off two of the SEC West teams. The BIG 10 also knocked off the BIG 12 co-champion. Maybe there isn't as big of difference in talent as some are thinking.
That being said I think TCU belonged in the play-off. They certainly played their Bowl game like they belonged. What a statement they made against yet another SEC West team.
Good luck to Oregon and Ohio State.

You could be right about lack of disparity. The SEC certainly didn't show up for bowl season.

Regarding TCU's belonging - this wasn't about getting the best 4, rather it was about getting a legitimate champion. Any team can appear to be the best at the end of the season - just look at all the wild cards in both MLB and the NFL that have gone on to win championships. Perhaps TCU actually is the best team. Perhaps Baylor is...I mean 'was'...and now Michigan State is? If OSU beats Oregon, everyone will say they got it right, except, of course TCU.

If you go to 'best 8', you'll have several teams screaming that they were at least the 8th best team - instead of 2 (Baylor and TCU), you will have 3-4. Look at the NCAA tourney - every time they expanded the field, they simply expanded the number of complaints about getting left out.

[HRBAKER]

Speaking of the Big 10, did Iowa send the third string to Jacksonville? The Volunteers aren't exactly world beaters.

[Section103]

Originally Posted by Runscott

If you go to 'best 8', you'll have several teams screaming that they were at least the 8th best team - instead of 2 (Baylor and TCU), you will have 3-4. Look at the NCAA tourney - every time they expanded the field, they simply expanded the number of complaints about getting left out.

You'll never eliminate the complaining, but the further down the line you go, the less the complaints matter. Teams complaining about being #3 or #5 being left out has a chance of being significant to the championship process. Teams complaining about being left out at #65 & #66, have very little chance of being significant to the process.

No one has ever said the complaining will stop. Its about making the process as good and complete as it can be (within constraints).

[HRBAKER]

As pointed out previously.
It's only going to get bigger, the money will dictate that.
At the end of the day - that's what it is really all about.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Section103

You'll never eliminate the complaining, but the further down the line you go, the less the complaints matter. Teams complaining about being #3 or #5 being left out has a chance of being significant to the championship process. Teams complaining about being left out at #65 & #66, have very little chance of being significant to the process.

No one has ever said the complaining will stop. Its about making the process as good and complete as it can be (within constraints).

The process isn't complete enough at 4. We have complaints, so we realize this. The process won't be complete enough with 8. We'll have complaints, so we'll realize this. It won't be complete enough with 16. We'll have complaints, so we'll realize this. It won't be complete enough with 32. We'll have complaints, so we'll realize this. It won't be complete enough with 64. We'll have complaints, so we'll realize this.

[Section103]

After yesterday can you honestly say we were better with only 2? You might. You will be in the minority. But your argument applies just the same to 2.