Legal disclaimer: this text is for the specific written objective of serving to my Dad, whose worldview is so obscured by his SEC bias that he can’t see his hand waving inches in entrance of his face. I’m scripting this as a service to him and others like him who should be de-brainwashed like liberated cult members in order that they’ll reintegrate into civilized society.
Rest straightforward, Horned Frogs. You’re within the playoff. Don’t waste your time worrying for nonetheless lengthy after that is revealed for the playoff committee to announce its high 4.
There isn’t any case for Alabama. No quantity of Alabama bias will probably be sufficient to justify leaving TCU out of the faculty soccer playoff. And if I’m improper I assume you’ll be able to blame me for getting your hopes up.
Georgia and Michigan had been all the time going to be in whatever the outcomes of their convention championship video games. USC’s loss all however ensured that they’re out. The committee ranked Ohio State No. 5 final week, in order that they’re those who change them. With neither Ohio State and Alabama enjoying this weekend, the order that they’re in is about in stone.
Alabama’s solely hope was that two groups had been knocked out of the highest 4. With USC being one, and having already established that Georgia and Michigan are locks, that simply leaves TCU. With Alabama having two losses and TCU being beforehand undefeated, they’d’ve wanted to lose by a margin so humiliating that one may make the prospect that one loss is worse than Alabama’s two. That didn’t occur. They didn’t lose the Big 12 championship recreation by 50, however reasonably by a area objective in time beyond regulation.
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Here are a number of the arguments I’ve heard about why Alabama ought to make it and why they aren’t to be taken critically.
“But Alabama lost two games on the last play of the game.” And TCU misplaced one recreation on the final play of the sport. Not to say it was in time beyond regulation. That loss was additionally to a high 10 crew in Kansas State that may be ranked greater than each of Alabama’s losses when the ultimate rankings come out.
Also, TCU already defeated Kansas State earlier within the season. That means they defeated each crew they performed, which Alabama can’t say. It’s fairly weird that the order that the video games occurred in issues a lot. If USC had gained the PAC-12 championship recreation, they’d’ve been 1-1 towards Utah, nevertheless it wouldn’t have been a query that they had been in. TCU might have carried out themselves a slight disservice by not saving their one win for the convention championship recreation. The committee has stated that they worth convention championships, and if that’s true, they need to additionally care about making it to a convention championship recreation, which once more, Alabama didn’t.
“TCU plays in a pillow fight conference.” That convention additionally has Alabama’s finest win which was by 1 at Texas. It’s value noting that it is a frequent opponent and TCU beat the Longhorns by 7 on the identical area.
The one qualm I’ve concerning the committee doing the appropriate factor and preserving TCU within the playoff is the “eye test,” which is code for “I can’t justify this decision but I’m making it anyway.” Even then, the committee certainly wouldn’t put themselves into the unenviable place of getting to clarify having Alabama over TCU to Rece Davis throughout the choice present.
“I understand why some fans may be upset, Rece. I realize Alabama has more losses and their best win was by 1 point over a team TCU beat by 7, and they didn’t make it to their conference championship game, but the eye test clearly showed…”
It’s not taking place. I think TCU will fall to No. 4 however they’ll be enjoying within the nationwide semi-final. Don’t waste your time worrying about TCU or making an argument for Alabama.