Just figured this would generate some interesting discussion. Bud Elliot named 18 teams the other day who he said could have a reasonable expectation to win a national championship in the current college football climate. That doesn't mean they're competing for one this year or even that they've been all that close in the last decade or two. Just teams that, given the resources they have/where they recruit, basically COULD win one.
ACC: Clemson, FSU, Miami (he was iffy on Miami)
BIG: Ohio State, USC, Michigan, Penn State
SEC: Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Florida, Tennessee, Texas A&M
PAC: Oregon
Other: Notre Dame
Big 12: None
Disagree with any of these? Would you add anybody?
I think they're fairly spot on, while acknowledging that teams like Penn State, Miami, Oregon, and Notre Dame would be more toward the bottom of those 18.
And yes - you'll have a TCU, Michigan State, Washington, Cincinnati, etc. sneak into the playoff every once in a while. But none of them were a legit threat to actually win it all.
ACC: Clemson, FSU, Miami (he was iffy on Miami)
BIG: Ohio State, USC, Michigan, Penn State
SEC: Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Florida, Tennessee, Texas A&M
PAC: Oregon
Other: Notre Dame
Big 12: None
Disagree with any of these? Would you add anybody?
I think they're fairly spot on, while acknowledging that teams like Penn State, Miami, Oregon, and Notre Dame would be more toward the bottom of those 18.
And yes - you'll have a TCU, Michigan State, Washington, Cincinnati, etc. sneak into the playoff every once in a while. But none of them were a legit threat to actually win it all.