Are there not 4 CFB teams that are close in talent?

[Collegefbfan]

If we go back to 2 teams, the final this year would have had Bama beat Michigan by 8 TD’s.

I see that point also, but we wouldn't have to deal with the other two meaningless games before the championship. And more than likely not a rematch. Hell, I am sitting here trying to think when was the last close national championship since the playoff started. I know the Bama Georgia game a few years ago and one of the Clemson Bama games for the natty. But saying Bama would have beaten Michigan by 8 TDs is really no different than the whipping that Bama gave Ohio State last year, or the beating that Clemson put on Bama 44-16, or the whipping LSU gave Clemson, and the year Ohio State beat down Oregon.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Who does the recruiting for Michigan?

Yeah. Because, you know, for 20 years we’ve had excellent ammo.you can see it now, you in the winged helmet chasing after App State on a blocked field goal! Chasing a Toledo player on a pick 6! And with your head down on the bench against OSU! Are you Australian? And a punter? Excellent!

 

[Illustrious Potentate]

Yup. An expanded playoff does nothing Until the talent gap doesn’t exist like it does. Michigan recruits really well. But we don’t recruit anywhere in the ballpark of Georgia. There used to be not a huge difference between top 15 classes and top 5 classses, not so much anymore.

For comparison, Georgia took in 20 five star recruits in the last 4 recruiting cycles. 41 top 100 players. 1/2 of their team is comprised of top 100 players. Michigan has a total of 7 top 100 players in the same four year cycle.

I don’t know what the solution is but we’re going to keep seeing 3-4 teams dominate the sport until that’s spread out more.

UGA's QB is a former walk on
Two of the top 3 WR's are 3 star freshmen(one was a no star until he was offered by UGA)
The anchor of the defense was a 3 star after though
And a walk on gets significant playing time at safety

Gotta develop too.

 

[Deep Creek]

As I watched both games yesterday, I seem to agree with someone on here that said just go back to being #1 vs #2. The semifinal games have been blowouts except for maybe 2 or 3 of them. The Purdue and Tennessee game was much closer as was the Houston and Auburn game. Some of today's games will be closer and more exciting than the combined 61-17 score for the playoffs semifinals. I was a fan of expanding the playoff, but not so much now. Now, we are going to see Bama vs UGA again. Wonder how the ratings will look?

I didn't like the Bama/LSU rematch of 2011 but I have absolutely no problem with a Bama/Georgia rematch. The difference to me is both had to beat an outside opponent to get to the NCG this year. In 2011, LSU and Bama got there by being voted into it. HUGE difference IMHO.

Spoiler

Some will use the "teams earn their way there during the regular season where every game counts, blah, blah, blah" crap. I say that is a crock of shit because of the lack of enough good OOC games to determine such.

 

[Red_Alert]

Oh for heavens sake, give it 10 years and the landscape will look different and people will STILL be complaining

^^ THIS ^^

It's more about coaching than anything else. Winning coaches are gonna get the better players on the recruiting trail. They have something to sell in a kids living room. That momentum builds and you get your Bama's, Clemson's, Ohio St's, whoever.
Kirby is not a bad coach, he just happens to have the GOAT to overcome. Not to mention that GOAT happens to be in the same conference.
Every generation will have a handful of elite coaches. Some more elite than others (i.e Saban).

Harbaugh is NOT an elite coach. He just happened to catch Ohio St in either a down year or tOSU themselves don't have the Tressel/Meyer type elite coach in Ryan Day. Michigan beat (3-9) Nebraska by just a FG with 1:00 remaining on the clock.

"Boo Hoo. Only Bama and Georgia are gonna compete for Nattys for the rest of my miserable life" - Derp fans

 

[Deep Creek]

UGA's QB is a former walk on
Two of the top 3 WR's are 3 star freshmen(one was a no star until he was offered by UGA)
The anchor of the defense was a 3 star after though
And a walk on gets significant playing time at safety

Gotta develop too.

Yep. Quite a bit of poor development going on out there IMO.

That said, ya gotta "get 'em" or you never have a chance to "develop 'em"!

 

[Red_Alert]

UGA's QB is a former walk on
Two of the top 3 WR's are 3 star freshmen(one was a no star until he was offered by UGA)
The anchor of the defense was a 3 star after though
And a walk on gets significant playing time at safety

Gotta develop too.

Gee. A guy who puts reasonable thought into the equation.

 

[Wingsauce7]

Seems like the "parity" is an illusion.

There are about 6 teams that are close in talent. 2 are in the playoffs this year the other 4 lost games they shouldn't have and missed out.

 

[White Knight]

Who does the recruiting for Michigan?

 

[Collegefbfan]

I didn't like the Bama/LSU rematch of 2011 but I have absolutely no problem with a Bama/Georgia rematch. The difference to me is both had to beat an outside opponent to get to the NCG this year. In 2011, LSU and Bama got there by being voted into it. HUGE difference IMHO.

Spoiler

Some will use the "teams earn their way there during the regular season where every game counts, blah, blah, blah" crap. I say that is a crock of shit because of the lack of enough good OOC games to determine such.

Didn't they get voted in to play in the playoff? I think it will be a good game, and I watch all college football, so I will be watching.

 

[Codaxx]

Honestly Georgia is far and away the best team. If it wasn’t for the QB, I would bet the house on Georgia. That said styles make fights and Michigan/Georgia was terrible match up for Michigan. Playing a team with more talent that plays your style is always an L. Just another reason I want a larger playoff. I would like to see teams have to beat different styles to win.

 

[Deep Creek]

Didn't they get voted in to play in the playoff? I think it will be a good game, and I watch all college football, so I will be watching.

I guess you can say the CFP committee "voted" them in. But I think they use the term CFP "Selection" Committee. THe old BCS definitley used the voting polls and some secret formula. That was much more beauty pageantish than the current one...while some of that still exists.

 

[Deep Creek]

Honestly Georgia is far and away the best team. If it wasn’t for the QB, I would bet the house on Georgia. That said styles make fights and Michigan/Georgia was terrible match up for Michigan. Playing a team with more talent that plays your style is always an L. Just another reason I want a larger playoff. I would like to see teams have to beat different styles to win.

I felt like Georgia's offensive play calling was more "playing to win" instead of "playing not to lose" last night. I haven't felt like I've seen that out of them in the past. It seems they've been in too much of the latter mindset...especially against Bama.

 

[navamind]

I felt like Georgia's offensive play calling was more "playing to win" instead of "playing not to lose" last night. I haven't felt like I've seen that out of them in the past. It seems they've been in too much of the latter mindset...especially against Bama.

They did a great job attacking Michigan's biggest weakness on defense early (LB) throwing to Bowers and Cook. Seemed like UGA was expecting Michigan to key in on the run early. Also negated Michigan's edge rushers and forced the interior linemen to step up... which they didn't.

 

[fordman84]

It would keep the best team from winning though.

Teams like A&M could beat Bama and Georgia, but then would turn around and lose to Cincy.

Then they aren't the best team. Best team is the one that wins them all when it matters.

 

[Illustrious Potentate]

I felt like Georgia's offensive play calling was more "playing to win" instead of "playing not to lose" last night. I haven't felt like I've seen that out of them in the past. It seems they've been in too much of the latter mindset...especially against Bama.

You probably only watched the Bama game and last night. Again, UGA averaged 39 points per game this year and were 6th in yards per play. The offense is underrated. Now, if only Kirby would play the right QB...

 

[Bayou Tiger]

I felt like Georgia's offensive play calling was more "playing to win" instead of "playing not to lose" last night. I haven't felt like I've seen that out of them in the past. It seems they've been in too much of the latter mindset...especially against Bama.

The Michigan CBs were getting burned on every route. If you noticed Georgia ran the same play several times wherein the receiver got enough separation from the defender they turned upfield and ran a post route. They scored or gained tremendous yards every time they did it.

They could have ran the play 12 more times and probably have been successful every time because Michigan couldn't keep up with the receivers they were trying to cover.

 

[DraftNerd]

Then they aren't the best team. Best team is the one that wins them all when it matters.

This! Almost every other sport is like this. Multiple Wildcards in NFL and MLB have got hot at the right time and won it all.

At the end of the day giving a well recruited team with a smart coach weeks to prepare for a game means we will get results like this.

Take that well recruited and well coached team and make them earn it just a bit more.

 

[TaikoTiger]

This! Almost every other sport is like this. Multiple Wildcards in NFL and MLB have got hot at the right time and won it all.

At the end of the day giving a well recruited team with a smart coach weeks to prepare for a game means we will get results like this.

Take that well recruited and well coached team and make them earn it just a bit more.

CFB is still like this. All the way up to rivalry week and the CCG, multiple teams had their chance in getting into the top 4 but lost. UGA and Bama are the teams that got hot going 13-1 and now there in the Championship game

 

[Wizardhawk]

Yup. An expanded playoff does nothing Until the talent gap doesn’t exist like it does. Michigan recruits really well. But we don’t recruit anywhere in the ballpark of Georgia. There used to be not a huge difference between top 15 classes and top 5 classses, not so much anymore.

For comparison, Georgia took in 20 five star recruits in the last 4 recruiting cycles. 41 top 100 players. 1/2 of their team is comprised of top 100 players. Michigan has a total of 7 top 100 players in the same four year cycle.

I don’t know what the solution is but we’re going to keep seeing 3-4 teams dominate the sport until that’s spread out more.

The bigger impact is the transfer portal. Few teams can actually keep that stable of talent as backups and developmental players. If you aren't starting the top 4* and 5* kids they entirely bail and go anywhere else where they can start.

Bama can keep top flight talent as backups better than everyone else.

Doesn't matter what your incoming class ranking is if you can't keep that talent from bailing to the portal.