Scheduling "UP" to improve chances to get into playoffs

[RaleighPittFan]

Georgia is the team that I've noticed really trying to improve the quality of it's non-conference schedule.

"Those taking on the highest risk are willing to seek the highest reward. Between 2020-33, Georgia will play 13 nonconference games against Power Five opponents and Notre Dame. That's the equivalent of one full season of must-see nonconference games. The current slate includes home-and-homes against UCLA and Clemson (twice). The total doesn't include the annual rivalry game with Georgia Tech.

"I wouldn't say that Georgia's [future] schedules are competitively balanced," Brown said. "They're incredibly strenuous. … We could be dealing with an expanded playoff. If we are dealing with an expanded playoff, they've got the games that other people may not have, so they'll have a superior schedule strength to get them in."

… or too much competition that could knock the Bulldogs out of the CFP.

McGarity say that, in 2028 and 2029, Georgia is "rolling the dice." In each of those years, the Dawgs play three Power Five nonconference opponents -- Georgia Tech, Florida State and Texas in 2028; Georgia Tech, Clemson and Texas in 2029.

Brown suggested that just might be two of the toughest nonconference schedules ever."

https://www.cbssports.com/college-f...llege-football-teams-strengthening-schedules/

 

[TreyCampbell]

I think our slate last year qualifies as the toughest yet. That was
ridiculous.

 

[McKee Place]

So Pitt has been ahead of the trend in something finally

 

[joeydavid]

So Pitt has been ahead of the trend in something finally

Yeah, ahead of the trend of idiotic out of conference scheduling…

 

[McKee Place]

Yeah, ahead of the trend of idiotic out of conference scheduling…

Yeah sure we're getting pummeled NOW. But when we finally find the coach with the magic gift of gab that charms the four and five stars (because I've learned on these boards that a personable coach is totally ALL it takes to recruit; NOTHING untoward ever happens) ... when that magical guy finally shows up on the golden horse and we go 13-0 ... we will be well positioned for the playoff with our head smashing schedules!

 

[pittdan77]

This will be fine and dandy until a two loss Georgia gets left out of the CFP.

 

[DiehardPanther]

This will be fine and dandy until a two loss Georgia gets left out of the CFP.

If they win the SEC, then they would likely get into the playoff with 2 losses. They would still have a decent shot at the playoffs with 2 losses and not winning the SEC if they play a difficult schedule.

 

[pittdan77]

If they win the SEC, then they would likely get into the playoff with 2 losses. They would still have a decent shot at the playoffs with 2 losses and not winning the SEC if they play a difficult schedule.

There's no evidence that two losses would be trumped by winning the conference. We've already seen a two loss conference champ (that beat four top ten teams) excluded for a one loss team they beat.

 

[DiehardPanther]

There's no evidence that two losses would be trumped by winning the conference. We've already seen a two loss conference champ (that beat four top ten teams) excluded for a one loss team they beat.

SEC teams get more favorable treatment because they are the best conference.

 

[pittdan77]

SEC teams get more favorable treatment because they are the best conference.

I don't disagree. There just isn't precedent for it.

 

[RaleighPittFan]

There's no evidence that two losses would be trumped by winning the conference. We've already seen a two loss conference champ (that beat four top ten teams) excluded for a one loss team they beat.

I think they're putting all of their chips on an expanded playoff. Two losses would never get them a 4 team playoff, but strength of schedule may be highly weighted in an 8 team format.

Just speculating.

 

[PittFanDan17]

There's no evidence that two losses would be trumped by winning the conference. We've already seen a two loss conference champ (that beat four top ten teams) excluded for a one loss team they beat.

Was that OSU in 17?

 

[pittdan77]

I think they're putting all of their chips on an expanded playoff. Two losses would never get them a 4 team playoff, but strength of schedule may be highly weighted in an 8 team format.

Just speculating.

Seems unnecessary put definitely possible.

 

[pittdan77]

Was that OSU in 17?

Yes.

 

[PittFanDan17]

Yes.

crazy to think that if they didnt blow easy games against iowa and purdue theyre layups into the cfp 3 years in a row

 

[McKee Place]

Generally speaking I don't think a two loss Ga would get into a 4 team playoff. I think generally the networks would want to sell the cachet of undefeated and 1 loss teams. But it might depend who else those are and if enough 1 or 0 loss blue bloods. UCF, or similar at 1 or 0 loss? I think Ga gets the nod then.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Between 2020-33, Georgia will play 13 nonconference games against Power Five opponents and Notre Dame.

I think too many people here are overlooking the stunning difficulty of a non-conference schedule that includes an average of almost, but not quite, ONE P5 school per season on it.

I mean come on, 13 (let's assume all) tough non-conference games over 14 seasons? Wow! Who does that?

 

[RaleighPittFan]

I think too many people here are overlooking the stunning difficulty of a non-conference schedule that includes an average of almost, but not quite, ONE P5 school per season on it.

I mean come on, 13 (let's assume all) tough non-conference games over 14 seasons? Wow! Who does that?

Good point.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Just to put a point on it, most schools are not fully scheduled all the way out to 2033 yet, but we already have 14 of those games scheduled. Florida State has 23 of them, and with the exception of 2020 they don't have more than two non-conference games even scheduled in any of those years, and in several of them they only have one game scheduled. Clemson has 27 of them scheduled. Louisville has 13. Virginia Tech has 19. Florida has 18. Ohio State only has 10, but they only have 15 total non-conference games scheduled in that time frame so far, none beyond 2027, so they will easily end up with more than 13. Colorado has 18. The Hoopies have 13 and they don't have any games scheduled beyond 2027 yet.

In short, 13 P5 games over 14 seasons isn't all that difficult or unusual at all.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

And you know what, while I was thinking about this it occurred to me that that number of 13 P5 games for Georgia surely can't be right. I mean they play Georgia Tech every season, that should have been 14 right there, unless they haven't scheduled those games out that far yet or for some reason they are skipping some seasons in there. So I looked at their schedule. And the actual number of P5s they play isn't 13, it's 29. That story from Dennis Dodd seriously sold them short.

 

[pittdan77]

I think too many people here are overlooking the stunning difficulty of a non-conference schedule that includes an average of almost, but not quite, ONE P5 school per season on it.

I mean come on, 13 (let's assume all) tough non-conference games over 14 seasons? Wow! Who does that?

I'm pretty skeptical about the real reasons. It's like they're fashioning some kind of argument up front but I'm not convinced that padding their CFP resume is necessarily the main reason. I only say that because Georgia is in a really unique position. The ole "SEC is the toughest conference" ignores that Georgia plays in a relatively weak division within that conference and that outside of Bama, nobody in that conference managed better than five conference wins. The SEC is the only conference that didn't have at least three teams win 6 or more games. Hardly proof but they may be trying to set themselves up for making the argument as a two loss team in a four team field.

Let's face it, it's hard not to be cynical when I see anyone in college athletics presume to take the high road, so to speak.