1 minute ago, Jumper_Dad said:

No one has an automatic qualifier. The 5 highest ranked conference champions get in.

Okay. What’s Army’s ranking?

3 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

Okay. What’s Army’s ranking?

It's lower, because you look at who someone plays.

So going by who you play matters, SMU has a much lower Strength of Schedule (60s) than So Carolina and Alabama (both in teens).

 

1 minute ago, Jumper_Dad said:

It's lower, because you look at who someone plays.

So going by who you play matters, SMU has a much lower Strength of Schedule (60s) than So Carolina and Alabama (both in teens).

 

…and one fewer loss.

9 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

…and one fewer loss.

They avoided Miami, Clemson, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame in conference play, they feasted on the bottom of the conference. Other than Pitt and Louisville, they played no one.

They definitely would have another loss or two if they played a few more teams at the top of their conference. That's why SOS matters when comparing teams.

8 minutes ago, Jumper_Dad said:

They avoided Miami, Clemson, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame in conference play, they feasted on the bottom of the conference. Other than Pitt and Louisville, they played no one.

They definitely would have another loss or two if they played a few more teams at the top of their conference. That's why SOS matters when comparing teams.

SEC teams feast on the bottom of the conference annually and are rewarded for it. 

11 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

SEC teams feast on the bottom of the conference annually and are rewarded for it. 

They also play more teams in the top than SMU did this year. My point is, this season, SMU has a gaudy record because they missed all of the top teams in their conference. 

I'm still not saying who should or shouldn't be in. When you get to the last spot there will be compelling arguments every year. I'm just saying that it's no great conspiracy if SMU doesn't make it, their resume' is weaker than others.

SMU should have a spot. They had one loss and was in their conference championship at least. Even with them being down the majority of the game, Clemson beat them with a walk off field goal. A team can’t be punished for barely losing its conference championship having one loss prior and in the top eight.

11 minutes ago, Jumper_Dad said:

They also play more teams in the top than SMU did this year. My point is, this season, SMU has a gaudy record because they missed all of the top teams in their conference. 

I'm still not saying who should or shouldn't be in. When you get to the last spot there will be compelling arguments every year. I'm just saying that it's no great conspiracy if SMU doesn't make it, their resume' is weaker than others.

The number of losses (or wins, however you want to say it) has to matter, and it has to be consistent. 

Nobody would advocate for a three loss, non-champion from the ACC, Big 12 or Big 10 to get in, ever. 

I wish it was a 16 team playoff. 

And again… SMU was already ahead of Alabama. What did Alabama do to jump them?

15 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

The number of losses (or wins, however you want to say it) has to matter, and it has to be consistent. 

Nobody would advocate for a three loss, non-champion from the ACC, Big 12 or Big 10 to get in, ever. 

Then every team should follow the Notre Dame path, play no one and win 10 or 11 games each year. 

Just now, TheDeuce said:

And again… SMU was already ahead of Alabama. What did Alabama do to jump them?

Nothing except SMU lost this week.

I hope SMU gets in!!!