2025-26 College Football

[Yespage]

The lack of success for teams that received first-round byes continued this year despite a format change last season that no longer reserved the top four seeds for conference champions. While none of last year's losses for top-four seeds came as massive surprises – No. 3 seed Boise State and No. 4 seed Arizona State were underdogs for their games against Penn State and Texas, No. 2 seed Georgia was without starting quarterback Carson Beck and No. 1 Oregon lost to eventual national champion Ohio State – this year's quarterfinal results were more surprising, particularly with Ohio State and Georgia losing.

Those results could lead to an increased push for the CFP to expand to 16 teams, with all of the top eight seeds hosting first-round games on campus and no teams receiving byes.

From the outside looking in, Ole Miss was a sleeper. I was hardly shocked they won. Miami was a shocker to me. Texas Tech was a weak #4.

People keep talking about the lay off... how about simply, the rankings were wrong and it is possible the parity among the top 8 or 12 is actually tighter than people want to appreciate.

 

[cpalmer2k]

From the outside looking in, Ole Miss was a sleeper. I was hardly shocked they won. Miami was a shocker to me. Texas Tech was a weak #4.

People keep talking about the lay off... how about simply, the rankings were wrong and it is possible the parity among the top 8 or 12 is actually tighter than people want to appreciate.

That's my thinking too. The rating process is flawed. They keep buying into this argument that certain programs or conferences (cough... SEC) are stronger than everyone else, when in reality NIL has evened the playing field considerably. If you've got enough $$ you can buy success now in the college ranks.

 

[Jimbo]

Back in the day they were off for 3 weeks. But all teams were off that long.

And MOST of them Struggled when they did play ...

 

[madmadworld]

No, not an excuse at all ...
IF you remember, The BUCKEYES WON IT ALL LAST YEAR.
Winning Back to Back is VERY Rare

It is a FACT that 7 out of 8 teams that had the long lay off Lost.

All I can say is easy money

 

[Yespage]

Indiana, Ole Miss, Miami, Oregon. Of these teams, Oregon wouldn't have been a crazy pick for the playoff at the start of the year. If Miami or Ole Miss take the title, does the playoff get a massive change so the cartels can better control the playoff?

 

[Jimbo]

Indiana, Ole Miss, Miami, Oregon. Of these teams, Oregon wouldn't have been a crazy pick for the playoff at the start of the year. If Miami or Ole Miss take the title, does the playoff get a massive change so the cartels can better control the playoff?

IF Ole Miss wins it, that just means the SEC folk will once again, will be saying what a Great Conference it is ... and that the Big Ten winning was an aberration.

 

[cpalmer2k]

Apparently even Finebaum now admits the SEC has had a bad bowl season...

The SEC has finally lost Paul Finebaum: 'It's been terrible'

In an appearance on First Take, Paul Finebaum grimly admitted that there was no way that even he could defend the SEC's performances.

awfulannouncing.com

 

[Derwin0]

No, not an excuse at all ...
IF you remember, The BUCKEYES WON IT ALL LAST YEAR.
Winning Back to Back is VERY Rare

It is a FACT that 7 out of 8 teams that had the long lay off Lost.

And that is each and every one of their own faults for not properly preparing. Something Indiana had no problem doing for when they dispatched Alabama.

Miami had a much longer layoff than A&M and still won.

As for Georgia losing to Ole Piss, their earlier game in Athens was very close as was this one, so the layoff didn't seem to affect how they performed.

 

[Derwin0]

From the outside looking in, Ole Miss was a sleeper.

How so? Ole Piss has been ranked all season, especially after beating then #4 LSU. Their only loss was a close one on the road at Georgia.

Hardly a "sleeper".

 

[Derwin0]

Indiana, Ole Miss, Miami, Oregon. Of these teams, Oregon wouldn't have been a crazy pick for the playoff at the start of the year. If Miami or Ole Miss take the title, does the playoff get a massive change so the cartels can better control the playoff?

Probably not as Miami had been expected to do good because of Timmmy transferring from Georgia.

Same with Ole Piss as they barely missed the playoffs last year and only have the single loss at Georgia.

Neither one taking the title moves the needle.

 

[Ronnie-]

How so? Ole Piss has been ranked all season, especially after beating then #4 LSU. Their only loss was a close one on the road at Georgia.

Hardly a "sleeper".

I agree. Anyone that actually watched them this year did not sleep on them.

Now, with the coaching situation at the end and before the playoffs, I can see how some might have counted them out of the playoffs.

 

[Ronnie-]

Bama, and I say this as a Bama fan, should not have been in it.

I am glad they were of course, and they have the talent there, however after the first Oklahoma game, they were never the same. Simpson couldnt get focused, and when he was pressured, which was alot, he was lost.

The running game all season was non existent, and the coaching was questionable at times.

I fully expected to lose the first round to Oklahoma, and was surprised at the comeback. After watching the first two series of the Indiana game, I knew which way that was headed.