[ADPinWDC]

ESPN Projection updated this morning after Week 14.  
https://www.espn.com/college-football/st...12-week-14

First-round byes

No. 1 Ohio State (Big Ten champ)
No. 2 Indiana
No. 3 Georgia (SEC champ)
No. 4 Texas Tech (Big 12 champ)

First-round games

On campus, Dec. 19 and 20
No. 12 Tulane (American champ) at No. 5 Oregon
No. 11 Virginia (ACC champ... or Duke?) at No. 6 Texas A&M
No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 Ole Miss
No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Oklahoma

Quarterfinal games
At the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential and Allstate Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

No. 12 Tulane/No. 5 Oregon winner vs. No. 4 Texas Tech   [My take:  Oregon emerges] 
No. 11 Virginia/No. 6 Texas A&M winner vs. No. 3 Georgia  [My take:  TA&M vs GEOG is a great game; GEOG wins with Def] 
No. 10 Alabama/No. 7 Ole Miss winner vs. No. 2 Indiana   [My take:  I want to see INDY thump BAMA; "anyone but Bama" is my bus]  
No. 9 Notre Dame/No. 8 Oklahoma winner vs. No. 1 Ohio State  [My take:  OHST is a bone-crushing machine]  

The ACC Champ will draw a very, very tough route at #11.  TA&M, then GEOG, then OHST.  !!

So, OREG vs OHST in one Semi (they did not play in season).  Fast offense against a brutal defense.
And INDY vs GEOG in the other.  Two of the best coaches in the country.  

NDAM upset GEOG last year in the quarters, and edged PNST to reach the Finale 
OHST crushed OREG in the quarters, then beat UTEX, and triumphed over NDAM for the cup.  

SO, the TV Studios want the SEC Power:  GEOG or BAMA 
 against the BigTEN Top Dog OHST to drive ratings.  And it would.

[ADPinWDC]

ESPN Projection updated this morning after Week 14.  
https://www.espn.com/college-football/st...12-week-14

First-round byes

No. 1 Ohio State (Big Ten champ)
No. 2 Indiana
No. 3 Georgia (SEC champ)
No. 4 Texas Tech (Big 12 champ)

First-round games

On campus, Dec. 19 and 20
No. 12 Tulane (American champ) at No. 5 Oregon
No. 11 Virginia (ACC champ... or Duke?) at No. 6 Texas A&M
No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 Ole Miss
No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Oklahoma

Quarterfinal games
At the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential and Allstate Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

No. 12 Tulane/No. 5 Oregon winner vs. No. 4 Texas Tech   [My take:  Oregon emerges] 
No. 11 Virginia/No. 6 Texas A&M winner vs. No. 3 Georgia  [My take:  TA&M vs GEOG is a great game; GEOG wins with Def] 
No. 10 Alabama/No. 7 Ole Miss winner vs. No. 2 Indiana   [My take:  I want to see INDY thump BAMA; "anyone but Bama" is my bus]  
No. 9 Notre Dame/No. 8 Oklahoma winner vs. No. 1 Ohio State  [My take:  OHST is a bone-crushing machine]  

The ACC Champ will draw a very, very tough route at #11.  TA&M, then GEOG, then OHST.  !!

So, OREG vs OHST in one Semi (they did not play in season).  Fast offense against a brutal defense.
And INDY vs GEOG in the other.  Two of the best coaches in the country.  

NDAM upset GEOG last year in the quarters, and edged PNST to reach the Finale 
OHST crushed OREG in the quarters, then beat UTEX, and triumphed over NDAM for the cup.  

SO, the TV Studios want the SEC Power:  GEOG or BAMA 
 against the BigTEN Top Dog OHST to drive ratings.  And it would.

[BostonCard]

congrats to Indiana who beat tOSU.  Duke almost upset Virginia but Virginia tied it with 22 seconds to go, so they are going to OT.  Announcers talk about the fact that the UVa QB has been in four schools in four years like that’s a good thing.

BC

[BostonCard]

congrats to Indiana who beat tOSU.  Duke almost upset Virginia but Virginia tied it with 22 seconds to go, so they are going to OT.  Announcers talk about the fact that the UVa QB has been in four schools in four years like that’s a good thing.

BC

[norcard10]

can someone explain how cignetti is still at IU? genuinely surprised he hasn't taken the money elsewhere.

[norcard10]

can someone explain how cignetti is still at IU? genuinely surprised he hasn't taken the money elsewhere.

[JeffInCorvallis]

can someone explain how cignetti is still at IU? genuinely surprised he hasn't taken the money elsewhere.

Cignetti is going to make $10-$11.5M each year for the next 8 years on his new contract. LSU is paying Lane Kiffin around $13M annually, so I suppose he could go somewhere else and make a *bit* more money, but he's not going to 3X his salary by jumping to Alabama or Texas.

Not in the next year or two, anyway.

[JeffInCorvallis]

can someone explain how cignetti is still at IU? genuinely surprised he hasn't taken the money elsewhere.

Cignetti is going to make $10-$11.5M each year for the next 8 years on his new contract. LSU is paying Lane Kiffin around $13M annually, so I suppose he could go somewhere else and make a *bit* more money, but he's not going to 3X his salary by jumping to Alabama or Texas.

Not in the next year or two, anyway.

[chrisk]

ACC likely shut out of CFP

[chrisk]

ACC likely shut out of CFP

[newguy]

ACC likely shut out of CFP

Virginia's QB threw an interception on their first offensive play in overtime.

[newguy]

ACC likely shut out of CFP

Virginia's QB threw an interception on their first offensive play in overtime.

[ADPinWDC]

Will Bama make the playoff at 10-3? 
Or NDAM and MIAM?  

DUKE wins ACC Game-- won't make Playoff at 7-5.
BAMA loses SEC Champ game and makes Playoff? 
Bama lost to FLST, OKLA, and beat GEOG in season, 
but just lost to #3 GEOG.

---

USA TODAY (early Sunday, Dec 7)
CFB rankings, bracket predictions after Week 15
* Denotes one of five highest-ranked conference champions

Craig Meyer, USA TODAY Network
Indiana *
Georgia *
Ohio State
Texas Tech *
Oregon
Ole Miss
Texas A&M
Oklahoma
Notre Dame
Alabama
Tulane *
James Madison*

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc...643705007/

---

Most of the sports news sources have Bama in at #10 and MIAM out.  NDAM moves to #9.  

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...exas-tech/

[ADPinWDC]

Will Bama make the playoff at 10-3? 
Or NDAM and MIAM?  

DUKE wins ACC Game-- won't make Playoff at 7-5.
BAMA loses SEC Champ game and makes Playoff? 
Bama lost to FLST, OKLA, and beat GEOG in season, 
but just lost to #3 GEOG.

---

USA TODAY (early Sunday, Dec 7)
CFB rankings, bracket predictions after Week 15
* Denotes one of five highest-ranked conference champions

Craig Meyer, USA TODAY Network
Indiana *
Georgia *
Ohio State
Texas Tech *
Oregon
Ole Miss
Texas A&M
Oklahoma
Notre Dame
Alabama
Tulane *
James Madison*

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc...643705007/

---

Most of the sports news sources have Bama in at #10 and MIAM out.  NDAM moves to #9.  

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...exas-tech/

[norcard10]

can someone explain how cignetti is still at IU? genuinely surprised he hasn't taken the money elsewhere.

If he really wants to prove his coaching prowess, he should come here and win in the NIL era. I can dream.

[norcard10]

can someone explain how cignetti is still at IU? genuinely surprised he hasn't taken the money elsewhere.

If he really wants to prove his coaching prowess, he should come here and win in the NIL era. I can dream.

[ADPinWDC]

Latest ESPN Bowl Projections, including Playoffs.

I like GEOG over OHST
Then INDY beats TTEC 
INDY vs GEOG would post great TV Ratings.
BigTEN Champ vs SEC Champ in a "Two Super Power" world... is where we are.  
ACC fell off the table.  

https://www.espn.com/college-football/st...nship-week

[ADPinWDC]

Latest ESPN Bowl Projections, including Playoffs.

I like GEOG over OHST
Then INDY beats TTEC 
INDY vs GEOG would post great TV Ratings.
BigTEN Champ vs SEC Champ in a "Two Super Power" world... is where we are.  
ACC fell off the table.  

https://www.espn.com/college-football/st...nship-week

[Maple Leaf]

If a vote comes down to the last spot between the domers and the U, then have their five common opponents vote on who should go.  Of course all of the common opponents are from the ACC, so what if there might be a tad bit of favoritism for the U, I am sure the domers will understand!!

[Maple Leaf]

If a vote comes down to the last spot between the domers and the U, then have their five common opponents vote on who should go.  Of course all of the common opponents are from the ACC, so what if there might be a tad bit of favoritism for the U, I am sure the domers will understand!!

[ca245]

It must grate on the Texas fans to no end to see two other Texas schools (Texas A&M, Texas Tech) make the CFP and they are not in it

[ca245]

It must grate on the Texas fans to no end to see two other Texas schools (Texas A&M, Texas Tech) make the CFP and they are not in it

[BostonCard]

If a vote comes down to the last spot between the domers and the U, then have their five common opponents vote on who should go.  Of course all of the common opponents are from the ACC, so what if there might be a tad bit of favoritism for the U, I am sure the domers will understand!!

Was that meant in jest?  Miami and Notre Dame have a head-to-head matchup that could be used (or maybe that’s the joke).

BC

[BostonCard]

If a vote comes down to the last spot between the domers and the U, then have their five common opponents vote on who should go.  Of course all of the common opponents are from the ACC, so what if there might be a tad bit of favoritism for the U, I am sure the domers will understand!!

Was that meant in jest?  Miami and Notre Dame have a head-to-head matchup that could be used (or maybe that’s the joke).

BC

[chrisk]

Somewhat surprisingly, Miami gets the nod. Saban dissents from ND’s omission.

No matter how big they make the CFB, there will be controversy.

Conference championship games have become a farce, but there is too much money involved to abandon them.

[chrisk]

Somewhat surprisingly, Miami gets the nod. Saban dissents from ND’s omission.

No matter how big they make the CFB, there will be controversy.

Conference championship games have become a farce, but there is too much money involved to abandon them.

[JeebsOak]

CFB owned by Disney and ESPN. Zero interest in this playoff race and zero interest in vetted monopolies pushing sec bullshit.

James Madison in the playoffs to lose by 40 to Oregon? Hell yeah

[JeebsOak]

CFB owned by Disney and ESPN. Zero interest in this playoff race and zero interest in vetted monopolies pushing sec bullshit.

James Madison in the playoffs to lose by 40 to Oregon? Hell yeah

[82lsju]

Somewhat surprisingly, Miami gets the nod.  Saban dissents from ND’s omission.

No matter how big they make the CFB, there will be controversy.

Conference championship games have become a farce, but there is too much money involved to abandon them.

true that, there is controversy in the men's basketball tournament with 68 teams....

and on conference championship games, the SEC and Big Ten games are probably money makers, not so sure about any of the others...

and if Alabama had missed the CFP playoff due to their performance yesterday that might have caused some conversations, what's the min CFP payout vs the value of a conference championship game?

[82lsju]

Somewhat surprisingly, Miami gets the nod.  Saban dissents from ND’s omission.

No matter how big they make the CFB, there will be controversy.

Conference championship games have become a farce, but there is too much money involved to abandon them.

true that, there is controversy in the men's basketball tournament with 68 teams....

and on conference championship games, the SEC and Big Ten games are probably money makers, not so sure about any of the others...

and if Alabama had missed the CFP playoff due to their performance yesterday that might have caused some conversations, what's the min CFP payout vs the value of a conference championship game?

[needle]

If this were a four-team playoff year, everyone (neutral fans) would be happy and looking forward to seeing undefeated Indiana and one-loss Ohio State, Texas Tech and Georgia all play.

Biggest gripers would be Ole Miss at 11-1, but with a head-to-head loss to Georgia (by eight points); Oregon at 11-1, but with a loss to Indiana that would be objectively worse (at home, by two scores) compared to Ohio State's loss to Indiana, and Texas A&M at 11-1, but they would have a multi-score loss as their last game of the season.

Texas Tech's lone loss would have come on the road by four points while playing its back-up QB the entire game because of injury. We also would be hearing a lot about the (made up) importance of a team winning its conference championship, and most of us would have nodded along simply because having TT in a four-team playoff is objectively more fun than having two SEC teams and two B1Gs or three B1Gs and one SEC team.

The system would have worked!

[needle]

If this were a four-team playoff year, everyone (neutral fans) would be happy and looking forward to seeing undefeated Indiana and one-loss Ohio State, Texas Tech and Georgia all play.

Biggest gripers would be Ole Miss at 11-1, but with a head-to-head loss to Georgia (by eight points); Oregon at 11-1, but with a loss to Indiana that would be objectively worse (at home, by two scores) compared to Ohio State's loss to Indiana, and Texas A&M at 11-1, but they would have a multi-score loss as their last game of the season.

Texas Tech's lone loss would have come on the road by four points while playing its back-up QB the entire game because of injury. We also would be hearing a lot about the (made up) importance of a team winning its conference championship, and most of us would have nodded along simply because having TT in a four-team playoff is objectively more fun than having two SEC teams and two B1Gs or three B1Gs and one SEC team.

The system would have worked!

[ADPinWDC]

DOMER NATION IS FURIOUS.  
They get the head to head loss with MIAM.  
But, they are crying "RIGGED"! about BAMA getting the nod (because of ESPN financial interests in SEC), while NDAM is independent with NBC deal. 
Tide had -3 rushing yards and got crushed by GEOG. 

NDAM clearly ran up the score in their last two regular season games with no Conf Champ game. 
But, their SoS was harmed by bad year for ACC. 
Last year Domers made it all the way to the Finale vs OHST. 

Consolation?
Catholic Domers likely get Pop Tarts Dec 27 in Orlando for Holy Moley matchup vs Mormons (BYU). Pity the Cougs. NDAM will want to hang 50+ on the Cougars to show the injustice.

https://www.onefootdown.com/college-foot...-cfp-irish

[ADPinWDC]

DOMER NATION IS FURIOUS.  
They get the head to head loss with MIAM.  
But, they are crying "RIGGED"! about BAMA getting the nod (because of ESPN financial interests in SEC), while NDAM is independent with NBC deal. 
Tide had -3 rushing yards and got crushed by GEOG. 

NDAM clearly ran up the score in their last two regular season games with no Conf Champ game. 
But, their SoS was harmed by bad year for ACC. 
Last year Domers made it all the way to the Finale vs OHST. 

Consolation?
Catholic Domers likely get Pop Tarts Dec 27 in Orlando for Holy Moley matchup vs Mormons (BYU). Pity the Cougs. NDAM will want to hang 50+ on the Cougars to show the injustice.

https://www.onefootdown.com/college-foot...-cfp-irish

[Goose]

DOMER NATION IS FURIOUS.  

But, their SoS was harmed by bad year for ACC. 

It was also harmed by USC not being even a top 20 team this year. Normally this game is one of the most difficult on ND's schedule. That hasn't been true lately. Stanford of course hasn't help the ND SoS for quite some time. IMO that is a good reason to not continue the series, and this latest situation makes it very probable it will not be renewed. Keeping USC is also less certain for similar reasons, but ND may believe USC will be "better" in the near future, while Stanford will not. Let's hope they are wrong on both counts.

[Goose]

DOMER NATION IS FURIOUS.  

But, their SoS was harmed by bad year for ACC. 

It was also harmed by USC not being even a top 20 team this year. Normally this game is one of the most difficult on ND's schedule. That hasn't been true lately. Stanford of course hasn't help the ND SoS for quite some time. IMO that is a good reason to not continue the series, and this latest situation makes it very probable it will not be renewed. Keeping USC is also less certain for similar reasons, but ND may believe USC will be "better" in the near future, while Stanford will not. Let's hope they are wrong on both counts.

[PalmTree]

DOMER NATION IS FURIOUS.  

Tant pis pour eux......

[PalmTree]

DOMER NATION IS FURIOUS.  

Tant pis pour eux......

[chrisk]

Notre Dame among schools rejecting bowl games.

But they don’t have a conference to fine them big bucks.

Iowa State and K-State fined $500K by Big 12.

[chrisk]

Notre Dame among schools rejecting bowl games.

But they don’t have a conference to fine them big bucks.

Iowa State and K-State fined $500K by Big 12.