Conference Shuffle

[JTS]

Saw this from the Texas Tech HC, we could have:

A year ago Big XII team (Texas) win the SEC​

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A year ago PAC 12 team (Oregon) win the Big 10​

​

A year ago PAC 12 team (Arizona St) win the Big XII​

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A year ago AAC team (SMU) win the ACC​

We could end up in a situation where none of the 2023 SEC, Big 10, ACC, or Big XII conference teams win a 2024 conference championship.

 

[jacketfanatic15]

Saw this from the Texas Tech HC, we could have:

A year ago Big XII team (Texas) win the SEC​

​

A year ago PAC 12 team (Oregon) win the Big 10​

​

A year ago PAC 12 team (Arizona St) win the Big XII​

​

A year ago AAC team (SMU) win the ACC​

We could end up in a situation where none of the 2023 SEC, Big 10, ACC, or Big XII conference teams win a 2024 conference championship.

In all honesty, most had favorable schedules to do so.

 

[JTS]

In all honesty, most had favorable schedules to do so.

Noticed that as well....Was trying to see if they had in-conference strength of schedule statistics out there somewhere, but could not find it anywhere.

Now that we are in the division-less conference era where the top 2 teams go to the championship, wondering if getting lucky on a weak in-conference strength of schedule combined with having a good team will be the formula for conference championships therefore first round byes to the playoff.

 

[Vespid]

Clemson only played two ACC teams that finished in the top half of the conference and they lost by 12 to one of them. The rest of their conference schedule was literally against the bottom half. Conferences are getting too big to not have pods or divisions and think you're getting anywhere close to a fair representation of a "Championship" game.

 

[andrew]

Giant, division less conferences are a menace in so many ways.

 

[GTLiebs]

Giant, division less conferences are a menace in so many ways.

Another "fun" aspect combined with the playoff is a circumstance of two teams playing each other 3 times in a single year. Would be possible if we still had divisions but I feel like it is more likely now since any conference team you play could still be in the conference championship.

 

[juraitwaluzka]

Giant, division less conferences are a menace in so many ways.

100% agree. I share a similar disdain for divisions (unless the criteria for winning a division counted division games only, then it would be fine). Otherwise it's at least somewhat arbitrary. My preference would be for all conference teams to play each other every year, like the old ACC, then you can get a truer result because everyone played everyone else - but of course that idea today would be heresy.

 

[mts315]

Another "fun" aspect combined with the playoff is a circumstance of two teams playing each other 3 times in a single year. Would be possible if we still had divisions but I feel like it is more likely now since any conference team you play could still be in the conference championship.

It may happen this season. UGA and UT have already played once and are about to meet a second time in the SEC Championship. Both teams are going to be in the playoffs regardless of the outcome of the SECC game. I would imagine that the brackets would be organized as such that they wouldn't be able to meet in the second round but if they both get to the Semi-Finals it could happen.

 

[GTLiebs]

It may happen this season. UGA and UT have already played once and are about to meet a second time in the SEC Championship. Both teams are going to be in the playoffs regardless of the outcome of the SECC game. I would imagine that the brackets would be organized as such that they wouldn't be able to meet in the second round but if they both get to the Semi-Finals it could happen.

Oh yeah, I'm looking forward to the mental gymnastics to create rankings that dont have those two or Oregon/Ohio St or Ohio St/Penn St playing each other too soon.

 

[greenmachine]

Clemson only played two ACC teams that finished in the top half of the conference and they lost by 12 to one of them. The rest of their conference schedule was literally against the bottom half. Conferences are getting too big to not have pods or divisions and think you're getting anywhere close to a fair representation of a "Championship" game.

although they just missed title game, same with indiana this year. but divisions don't help this. plenty of instances where best 2-3 teams in conference were in same division and got left out title game for a weaker team in opposite division.

 

[andrew]

although they just missed title game, same with indiana this year. but divisions don't help this. plenty of instances where best 2-3 teams in conference were in same division and got left out title game for a weaker team in opposite division.

I feel it still helps because at least those 2-3 teams were guaranteed to play each other. The degree of unbalanced schedules is lower with divisions.

 

[Vespid]

although they just missed title game, same with indiana this year. but divisions don't help this. plenty of instances where best 2-3 teams in conference were in same division and got left out title game for a weaker team in opposite division.

They do a little. At least both teams can say I'm absolutely the champion of these 8 teams. Likelihood of one of those divisions having all of it's members in the bottom half is near impossible. Much easier to finagle an easy schedule when you can pick 8 out of 17. Not saying it will produce 1 vs 2, but much more likely to give you a minimum of 2 of the top 4 IMHO. I just like divisions better, both versions certainly have flaws

 

[JTS]

Divisions are fine as long as the division champion is determined by the in-division record, not with an unbalanced cross-division schedule.