Second College Football Playoff Announced
December 6, 2015 10:30 AM Subscribe
The second annual College Football Playoff teams have been announced, and there are no surprises: Clemson vs. Oklahoma, Alabama vs. Michigan State.
American college football is a multibillion-dollar industry, but it has never actually had an official champion. The "mythical national championship" is not officially recognized by the NCAA (despite advertising it extensively on its own website), but is the result of the big-money athletic conferences agreeing to let teams play three more games after the regular season to crown a "playoff winner".
Other mythical national championships are awarded by the Associated Press poll of sportswriters, the USA Today/Amway poll of college football coaches, and various other organizations, all of which agreed with the result of the playoff in its first go-round last year (wherein Ohio State triumphed over Oregon).
The matchups this year are noncontroversial. The Clemson Tigers "ran the table", the only major team to go undefeated, sewing up its bid for the playoff with a victory in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. The #1-ranked Tigers will take on the #4-ranked Oklahoma Sooners, who won the round-robin Big 12 Conference (which does not have enough teams to hold a championship game) with an 11-1 record, losing only to perennial rival Texas but dominating the remainder of its schedule. The Alabama Crimson Tide (winners of three of the last six consensus national titles and only repeat team from last year's playoff) went 12-1, winning the Southeastern Conference championship game; they will face the Michigan State Spartans, who barely won the Big Ten championship game in what was essentially a play-in to the playoff.
The winners of the two games on December 31st (Clemson and Oklahoma meet in the Orange Bowl, Alabama and Michigan State meet in the Cotton Bowl) will meet on January 11th in Glendale, Arizona.
The 38 other postseason bowl games will feature nearly two-thirds of schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision, from the Bahamas Bowl in Nassau to "the granddaddy of 'em all", the Rose Bowl.
The players will not be paid per se for their participation in this money-printing endeavor, but will receive swag bags of widely varying value.
American college football is a multibillion-dollar industry, but it has never actually had an official champion. The "mythical national championship" is not officially recognized by the NCAA (despite advertising it extensively on its own website), but is the result of the big-money athletic conferences agreeing to let teams play three more games after the regular season to crown a "playoff winner".
Other mythical national championships are awarded by the Associated Press poll of sportswriters, the USA Today/Amway poll of college football coaches, and various other organizations, all of which agreed with the result of the playoff in its first go-round last year (wherein Ohio State triumphed over Oregon).
The matchups this year are noncontroversial. The Clemson Tigers "ran the table", the only major team to go undefeated, sewing up its bid for the playoff with a victory in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. The #1-ranked Tigers will take on the #4-ranked Oklahoma Sooners, who won the round-robin Big 12 Conference (which does not have enough teams to hold a championship game) with an 11-1 record, losing only to perennial rival Texas but dominating the remainder of its schedule. The Alabama Crimson Tide (winners of three of the last six consensus national titles and only repeat team from last year's playoff) went 12-1, winning the Southeastern Conference championship game; they will face the Michigan State Spartans, who barely won the Big Ten championship game in what was essentially a play-in to the playoff.
The winners of the two games on December 31st (Clemson and Oklahoma meet in the Orange Bowl, Alabama and Michigan State meet in the Cotton Bowl) will meet on January 11th in Glendale, Arizona.
The 38 other postseason bowl games will feature nearly two-thirds of schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision, from the Bahamas Bowl in Nassau to "the granddaddy of 'em all", the Rose Bowl.
The players will not be paid per se for their participation in this money-printing endeavor, but will receive swag bags of widely varying value.
Yeah, I think the entire state of Iowa is going to need therapy for what happened last night. I wasn't even watching, and I am traumatized.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 10:37 AM on December 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 10:37 AM on December 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
My dad grew up in Iowa City, literally across the street from Kinnick stadium. I'm pretty sure I could hear him from 3 states away last night. Didn't help that I went to Michigan State. :)
posted by Eddie Mars at 10:42 AM on December 6, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by Eddie Mars at 10:42 AM on December 6, 2015 [7 favorites]
I'm an Ohio State alum, and MSU's winning drive last night brought back some bad memories. I wasn't buying on Sparty before (or even during) the season, but they do have a way of just crushing their opponents' spirit. Dantonio vs. Saban should be a fun coaching matchup to watch.
posted by kevinbelt at 10:46 AM on December 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by kevinbelt at 10:46 AM on December 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Carolina got robbed last night.
posted by Token Meme at 10:49 AM on December 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Token Meme at 10:49 AM on December 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
Roll Tide. Derrick Henry will win the Heisman and follow it up with a depressing three-year NFL career that will turn the lower half of his body into dust and pudding. No Alabama QB will take a snap in the NFL, in accordance with the Saban/Satan Compact, until blood rains from the sky. But Saban will win another championship and on his way home that night, he will whisper fiercely, "it isn't enough."
posted by BitterOldPunk at 10:54 AM on December 6, 2015 [22 favorites]
posted by BitterOldPunk at 10:54 AM on December 6, 2015 [22 favorites]
It was indeed a sad night here in Iowa City. We had a good run though.
posted by Lutoslawski at 11:12 AM on December 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Lutoslawski at 11:12 AM on December 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
American college football is a multibillion-dollar industry, but it has never actually had an official champion. The "mythical national championship" is not officially recognized by the NCAA (despite advertising it extensively on its own website), but is the result of the big-money athletic conferences agreeing to let teams play three more games after the regular season to crown a "playoff winner".
The college part is also somewhat mythical.
posted by srboisvert at 11:24 AM on December 6, 2015 [5 favorites]
The college part is also somewhat mythical.
posted by srboisvert at 11:24 AM on December 6, 2015 [5 favorites]
I'm an OU fan by marriage, and I've got a feeling this New Year's Eve isn't going to be pretty.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:39 AM on December 6, 2015
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:39 AM on December 6, 2015
Given the actions of the Missouri football players in getting rid of their college president, I wonder if a similar strike could be held, especially by one of the above listed teams, to, you know, actually get paid for their work. Of course, that would be unamerican, but I can dream.
posted by Hactar at 12:03 PM on December 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Hactar at 12:03 PM on December 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
As someone with only a passing interest (npi) when my U of M 'Canes are not involved, I found this post a very helpful and well organized guide to this year's biggest games. Thanks Etrigan!
posted by ericbop at 12:07 PM on December 6, 2015
posted by ericbop at 12:07 PM on December 6, 2015
American college football is a multibillion-dollar industry, but it has never actually had an official champion.
A common misconception. The NCAA Division I Football Championship tournament is underway, with the championship game scheduled for January 9 in Frisco, TX.
The portion of Division I that contests for the Football Championship was helpfully re-named the Football Championship Subdivision a few years ago.
Much like the Championship in English football, it's the next level down from the big guys, and you get promoted by spending money, not by winning.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 12:08 PM on December 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
A common misconception. The NCAA Division I Football Championship tournament is underway, with the championship game scheduled for January 9 in Frisco, TX.
The portion of Division I that contests for the Football Championship was helpfully re-named the Football Championship Subdivision a few years ago.
Much like the Championship in English football, it's the next level down from the big guys, and you get promoted by spending money, not by winning.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 12:08 PM on December 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
You forgot to mention the most important college football game of all, the Army-Navy game!
I kid, I kid. Usually I'll say this is the year Army wins, but it would take an absurd amount of blind optimism to declare that this year.
posted by A Bad Catholic at 12:12 PM on December 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
I kid, I kid. Usually I'll say this is the year Army wins, but it would take an absurd amount of blind optimism to declare that this year.
posted by A Bad Catholic at 12:12 PM on December 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
As an LSU alum and fan, the depths of my loathing for Alabama are uncharted. That said, I look forward to their inevitable dismemberment of Clemson to win yet another national championship. I want an 8-team playoff because the regular season is so short, but I'm not sure that'll ever happen.
posted by wintermind at 1:35 PM on December 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by wintermind at 1:35 PM on December 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
I was almost hoping Michigan State AND Iowa would make the top 4. That was a really tough, close game.
Iowa was undefeated to that point and lost in the final seconds to a top 5 team.
So who would you take?
1) A 12-1 team (Iowa) that barely lost in a conference final game, or
2) An 11-1 team (Oklahoma) that didn't play a conference final and lost to Texas?
Oklahoma also lucked out in the final rankings getting moved to 4...since they play Clemson (instead of Alabama).
posted by CrowGoat at 1:35 PM on December 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
Iowa was undefeated to that point and lost in the final seconds to a top 5 team.
So who would you take?
1) A 12-1 team (Iowa) that barely lost in a conference final game, or
2) An 11-1 team (Oklahoma) that didn't play a conference final and lost to Texas?
Oklahoma also lucked out in the final rankings getting moved to 4...since they play Clemson (instead of Alabama).
posted by CrowGoat at 1:35 PM on December 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
Oklahoma also lucked out in the final rankings getting moved to 4...since they play Clemson (instead of Alabama).
I dunno. As an Alabama fan, I'm really happy we don't have to play Oklahoma. They're scary good.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:14 PM on December 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
I dunno. As an Alabama fan, I'm really happy we don't have to play Oklahoma. They're scary good.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:14 PM on December 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Etrigan: “The matchups this year are noncontroversial. The Clemson Tigers "ran the table", the only major team to go undefeated, sewing up its bid for the playoff with a victory in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. ”Well, noncontroversial except for North Carolina getting jobbed on that onside kick.
posted by ob1quixote at 3:14 PM on December 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
So who would you take?
1) A 12-1 team (Iowa) that barely lost in a conference final game, or
2) An 11-1 team (Oklahoma) that didn't play a conference final and lost to Texas?
If you don't win your conference, you don't belong in the playoff. Period. I don't care if Alabama goes 11-1 but doesn't get to the SEC title game because they lost ugly to an 8-4 Arkansas, they shouldn't get in.
I know, this isn't the actual rule, but it should be.
And yes, I'm still pissed at that LSU-Alabama BCS game after the SEC lobbied so hard to kill an Ohio-Michigan rematch in 2006.
posted by Etrigan at 3:18 PM on December 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
1) A 12-1 team (Iowa) that barely lost in a conference final game, or
2) An 11-1 team (Oklahoma) that didn't play a conference final and lost to Texas?
If you don't win your conference, you don't belong in the playoff. Period. I don't care if Alabama goes 11-1 but doesn't get to the SEC title game because they lost ugly to an 8-4 Arkansas, they shouldn't get in.
I know, this isn't the actual rule, but it should be.
And yes, I'm still pissed at that LSU-Alabama BCS game after the SEC lobbied so hard to kill an Ohio-Michigan rematch in 2006.
posted by Etrigan at 3:18 PM on December 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
I dunno. As an Alabama fan, I'm really happy we don't have to play Oklahoma. They're scary good.
After watching last night's slugfest, I think Alabama has to be happy they're not facing that Iowa defense. The Rose Bowl will probably have a baseball score.
posted by dw at 7:44 PM on December 6, 2015
After watching last night's slugfest, I think Alabama has to be happy they're not facing that Iowa defense. The Rose Bowl will probably have a baseball score.
posted by dw at 7:44 PM on December 6, 2015
Meanwhile, the TCU Horned Frogs will defend the College Football Belt against the Oregon Ducks in the Alamo Bowl.
posted by graymouser at 8:11 PM on December 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by graymouser at 8:11 PM on December 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
I just want Dabo Sweeney to lose in the first round so I can yell, "Where's your daed god now?" At the TV.
I have issues.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 10:04 PM on December 6, 2015
I have issues.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 10:04 PM on December 6, 2015
Was gonna chime in here but BitterOldPunk said it better than I could.
So I'll just leave it at Roll Tide.
posted by RolandOfEld at 7:22 AM on December 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
So I'll just leave it at Roll Tide.
posted by RolandOfEld at 7:22 AM on December 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
I feel conflicted enjoying football in the midst of horrible concussion lawsuits and the criminal withholding of money from the players who are liquified in the name of institutional profit… but I went to Michigan State during the John L Smith years, where our only notable games consistently ended in colossal, once-in-a-lifetime collapses. So, despite any moral misgivings, I'm excited to see my school not only play competent football, but have a chance to win a championship. (And get on the other side of some once-in-a-lifetime collapses holy moly that fumble return!)
Go green!
posted by Turkey Glue at 8:41 AM on December 7, 2015
Go green!
posted by Turkey Glue at 8:41 AM on December 7, 2015
Well, it's not all bad. Iowa's going to the Rose Bowl!
posted by dirigibleman at 4:49 PM on December 7, 2015
posted by dirigibleman at 4:49 PM on December 7, 2015
Iowa's going to the Rose Bowl!
During that Ohio-Michigan #1-#2 game in 2006, Brent Musberger pointed out "Here's how big this game is -- the loser goes to the Rose Bowl!" This year marked the second time that happened. The world is all topsy-turvy.
posted by Etrigan at 6:05 PM on December 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
During that Ohio-Michigan #1-#2 game in 2006, Brent Musberger pointed out "Here's how big this game is -- the loser goes to the Rose Bowl!" This year marked the second time that happened. The world is all topsy-turvy.
posted by Etrigan at 6:05 PM on December 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
There was a 128 team playoff and you didn't even realize it
posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:34 PM on December 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:34 PM on December 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
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