“Alright, Saddle Up! “- Sergeant Striker SANDS of IWO JIMA
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How about those Saturday Game results? Yikes.
The list of top teams is shrinking towards the top. For this reason, I haven’t forced the issue of ranking twenty-five teams this week and have decided that for the rest of the season, I will have a top16 teams followed by a CFP playoff ranking if the season were to end on that particular day.
As of now, there is no clear G5 candidate this year, so do not expect to see one in the 16. But due to one having to make it this year, I’ll have my choice in the CFP12. I don’t think any G5 deserves it this year and can say that with conviction.
Here’s an idea, maybe the G5’s should have their own playoff to get into the 12th spot. The MWAC Champ, The AAC Champ would be automatic bids, and the other spots would be at-large. It’s off the top of my head and at the moment an incomplete and imperfect idea, but it is an idea. For a year such as this, it is a good idea.
JMU may have the better record by the end, but I simply cannot put them into the playoff with their lack of quality wins. It’s not all on them that their schedule is so easy this season, but the facts are what they are–they just haven’t beaten anyone that builds a playoff resume. Not to mention, they aren’t beating all of these bad teams by all that much.
A win is a win, I’ll grant you, but I expect a playoff team to beat a 1-8 Sun Belt team by more than 7 and a 4-6 team by more than 10. And a detail that is impossible to forget regarding those two matchups is that the Dukes trailed at the half in both of those games. No sir, this isn’t the team that is deserving for the playoffs.
So who is?
Let’s have a look at the Top16.
SingleHighSports.com TOP16:
- Ohio St
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Oregon
- Texas A&M
- Mississippi
- Oklahoma
- Notre Dame
- Texas Tech
- Alabama
- Georgia Tech
- USC
- Vanderbilt
- Miami
- BYU
- Utah
TOP16 right now.
But now, we are getting to the ‘rat killin’ as former USC O-lineman John Wayne would’ve said.
The field of twelve playoff teams–that’s really all that matters. The entire purpose of this season is to be one of the chosen twelve at the end. SHS CFP 12 is picked below.
College Football Playoff Field of Twelve
- Ohio St
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Oregon
- Texas A&M
- Mississippi
- Oklahoma
- Notre Dame
- Texas Tech
- Alabama
- Georgia Tech
- Navy
As I’ve made clear before, I don’t get much of a say. At least, I don’t think anyone on the selection committee is a reader. If any of them are readers, well, thanks for stopping by. I’d love to chat about football sometime.
As you can see, I’ve put Navy in for the G5 stand-in for this week since there seems to be no clear-cut contender at this late stage in the game. I’m still not ruling out the three-loss Bulls from South Florida if that tells you anything.
Again, a G5 playoff would be spectacular on a year such as this.
Navy, North Texas, Memphis, South Florida, East Carolina, JMU, Tulane, and San Diego St make 8 Teams. 8 Teams for one spot. It’s unlikely it ever happens but the matchups could look tasty.
G5 Ranking Right Now:
- Navy
- North Texas
- JMU
- South Florida
- San Diego St
If we played out a playoff of the top G5 schools and JMU came out on top, I would have no problem at all with them being the 12th Playoff team. Without the playoff, I don’t think JMU can do anything the rest of the way to change my mind. The twelve seed plays the five seed. Right now, that would be Texas A&M vs JMU. Do you want to watch that game?
It sounds like a game that would be on ESPN+ at Noon on opening weekend. A game that the Aggies would win 45-14 and most every person would see the score on the bottom ticker during the good matchups. Again, JMU is not the team this season. Truly none of the G5 seems to be, but at least there are other schools that look more like a contender.
A playoff would be electric from a neutral standpoint, and it would give the G5 something more to play for. I’m in favor of this if it happens. The Winner earning the 12th spot would add to the drama.
However, on the years where Boise runs the table and knocks off let’s say, Oregon and Memphis in the regular season, this system would be unfair to not allow this particular G5 directly into the playoffs. If there is a G5 that has earned it in the regular season, they should be rewarded. However, on a year such as this, this playoff system would be pure gold for the fans and showrunners alike.
Perhaps the players and coaches would say differently. Like I said–this is an off the top of my head, imperfect idea, but it is an idea that I think is worth exploring as time continues to pass.
Good advice for all the teams is ‘Win the rest of the way and you’ll be in the 12.’
Of course, this season, no one apparently wants to do that.
Navy is the G5 playoff rep if the season ended today. I’m sure I’ll have someone else by this time next week.
Let’s just see how the season plays out.
Memphis @ Boise St 9/12/26 Be there. Be proud. Wear Blue. Memphis Blue.
Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’
Whit W.