[stupac2]

Last year after 7 weeks there were 5 undefeated teams in the top 10. This year there are 8. And there are a lot more undefeated teams in the 10-15 slots this year than last. Could be a much tougher year for a one loss team to get in. There is still a lot of football left to play, and a bunch of top undefeateds still need to play each other, but likely need  some upsets to help one loss teams to get in.

That's just a quirk of schedule, I think. The Big 12 wised up and put TCU v Baylor at the end of the year, last year it was early. Plus at most one team will emerge undefeated from the B1G, knocking out another two. Clemson and FSU will play, and we'll have to beat Utah to have any shot. So that means you'll see at most 5 undefeated teams (that matter, sorry Memphis et all), and that's assuming no upsets anywhere which is, to say the least, pretty unlikely.

I still think that if Stanford runs the table, we'll be in the playoff.

[stupac2]

Last year after 7 weeks there were 5 undefeated teams in the top 10. This year there are 8. And there are a lot more undefeated teams in the 10-15 slots this year than last. Could be a much tougher year for a one loss team to get in. There is still a lot of football left to play, and a bunch of top undefeateds still need to play each other, but likely need  some upsets to help one loss teams to get in.

That's just a quirk of schedule, I think. The Big 12 wised up and put TCU v Baylor at the end of the year, last year it was early. Plus at most one team will emerge undefeated from the B1G, knocking out another two. Clemson and FSU will play, and we'll have to beat Utah to have any shot. So that means you'll see at most 5 undefeated teams (that matter, sorry Memphis et all), and that's assuming no upsets anywhere which is, to say the least, pretty unlikely.

I still think that if Stanford runs the table, we'll be in the playoff.

[washingtonismoney]

Agree with stupac. The last time college football featured more than one undefeated team before the "bowl" season was 2010, when Auburn, Oregon, and TCU (pre-power 5) all went undefeated in the regular season. Other than that, at most one undefeated team -- which means three one-loss teams.

Every year people fret about what-happens-if-there-are-too-many-undefeated-teams, but the math is simply too unforgiving and the parity too great.

EDIT: and while there may be an unusual number of undefeated teams at this stage of the season, I think the teams are less elite than usual. Utah, for example. Undefeated. Great resume in terms of who they've beaten. I watch them and think they're good, but by no means world-beaters. (Same goes for this edition of Stanford football, to be honest.) We'll see upheaval, maybe more than usual.

[washingtonismoney]

Agree with stupac. The last time college football featured more than one undefeated team before the "bowl" season was 2010, when Auburn, Oregon, and TCU (pre-power 5) all went undefeated in the regular season. Other than that, at most one undefeated team -- which means three one-loss teams.

Every year people fret about what-happens-if-there-are-too-many-undefeated-teams, but the math is simply too unforgiving and the parity too great.

EDIT: and while there may be an unusual number of undefeated teams at this stage of the season, I think the teams are less elite than usual. Utah, for example. Undefeated. Great resume in terms of who they've beaten. I watch them and think they're good, but by no means world-beaters. (Same goes for this edition of Stanford football, to be honest.) We'll see upheaval, maybe more than usual.

[BostonCard]

[quote author=TreesAndBirds link=topic=13221.msg135472#msg135472 date=1445195281]
Last year after 7 weeks there were 5 undefeated teams in the top 10. This year there are 8. And there are a lot more undefeated teams in the 10-15 slots this year than last. Could be a much tougher year for a one loss team to get in. There is still a lot of football left to play, and a bunch of top undefeateds still need to play each other, but likely need  some upsets to help one loss teams to get in.

That's just a quirk of schedule, I think. The Big 12 wised up and put TCU v Baylor at the end of the year, last year it was early. Plus at most one team will emerge undefeated from the B1G, knocking out another two. Clemson and FSU will play, and we'll have to beat Utah to have any shot. So that means you'll see at most 5 undefeated teams (that matter, sorry Memphis et all), and that's assuming no upsets anywhere which is, to say the least, pretty unlikely.

I still think that if Stanford runs the table, we'll be in the playoff.
[/quote]

Right, by definition there will be at most one undefeated team from each of the power conferences, and if there's an undefeated team out of the Pac-12, it will mean we will have had at least two losses and be out of the running.  So, at most there will be four undefeated teams to compete against, in which case we are hosed.  And we are probably hosed if the undefeated team comes out of the SEC.  Beyond that, I think we will be in good shape given our competition.

BC

[BostonCard]

[quote author=TreesAndBirds link=topic=13221.msg135472#msg135472 date=1445195281]
Last year after 7 weeks there were 5 undefeated teams in the top 10. This year there are 8. And there are a lot more undefeated teams in the 10-15 slots this year than last. Could be a much tougher year for a one loss team to get in. There is still a lot of football left to play, and a bunch of top undefeateds still need to play each other, but likely need  some upsets to help one loss teams to get in.

That's just a quirk of schedule, I think. The Big 12 wised up and put TCU v Baylor at the end of the year, last year it was early. Plus at most one team will emerge undefeated from the B1G, knocking out another two. Clemson and FSU will play, and we'll have to beat Utah to have any shot. So that means you'll see at most 5 undefeated teams (that matter, sorry Memphis et all), and that's assuming no upsets anywhere which is, to say the least, pretty unlikely.

I still think that if Stanford runs the table, we'll be in the playoff.
[/quote]

Right, by definition there will be at most one undefeated team from each of the power conferences, and if there's an undefeated team out of the Pac-12, it will mean we will have had at least two losses and be out of the running.  So, at most there will be four undefeated teams to compete against, in which case we are hosed.  And we are probably hosed if the undefeated team comes out of the SEC.  Beyond that, I think we will be in good shape given our competition.

BC

[Stymie]

[quote author=thunder_chik link=topic=13221.msg135466#msg135466 date=1445192500]
:P Updated AP poll - we are #10!
That Michigan finish was a heartbreaker...

Gee, for some, more than others, I guess...  :'(

[url=https://www.facebook.com/scott.edwards.3304/videos/10206677670154213/]https://www.facebook.com/scott.edwards.3304/videos/10206677670154213/
[/quote]

Good result for us.  We need to run the table, and if Mish U won and both they and Mish State You and tOSU  finished 11-1 (possible?) we could get shoved out.  The best result for us is that only one (or none) of "THElittle" ends up 11-1.

[Stymie]

[quote author=thunder_chik link=topic=13221.msg135466#msg135466 date=1445192500]
:P Updated AP poll - we are #10!
That Michigan finish was a heartbreaker...

Gee, for some, more than others, I guess...  :'(

[url=https://www.facebook.com/scott.edwards.3304/videos/10206677670154213/]https://www.facebook.com/scott.edwards.3304/videos/10206677670154213/
[/quote]

Good result for us.  We need to run the table, and if Mish U won and both they and Mish State You and tOSU  finished 11-1 (possible?) we could get shoved out.  The best result for us is that only one (or none) of "THElittle" ends up 11-1.

[ThePassionOfTheChryst]

I'm shocked that UF and TAMU fell so far.  UF lost a close one on the road.  TAMU got worked, but they got worked by Bama so I figured it would be a "quality loss."

[ThePassionOfTheChryst]

I'm shocked that UF and TAMU fell so far.  UF lost a close one on the road.  TAMU got worked, but they got worked by Bama so I figured it would be a "quality loss."

[TreesAndBirds]

In addition to my thought that we may have more P5 undefeated teams this year ( time will tell, and of course the max possible is 5) I think we should all be rooting for Utah to finish the regular season undefeated.

That way, if Stanford is fortunate enough to win the North ( no woofing, just saying if it would happen) but loses to Utah in the Pac12 championship, Utah would likely make the playoff so the Rose Bowl would be possible for us. But if Utah has a loss in the regular season, they might not make the playoff despite winning the Pac 12, in which case they go to the Rose Bowl and we end up somewhere else.

All that said, it's most likely that something unexpected happens, which is the fun of all this, but I think I'm rooting for Utah until the championship.

[TreesAndBirds]

In addition to my thought that we may have more P5 undefeated teams this year ( time will tell, and of course the max possible is 5) I think we should all be rooting for Utah to finish the regular season undefeated.

That way, if Stanford is fortunate enough to win the North ( no woofing, just saying if it would happen) but loses to Utah in the Pac12 championship, Utah would likely make the playoff so the Rose Bowl would be possible for us. But if Utah has a loss in the regular season, they might not make the playoff despite winning the Pac 12, in which case they go to the Rose Bowl and we end up somewhere else.

All that said, it's most likely that something unexpected happens, which is the fun of all this, but I think I'm rooting for Utah until the championship.