the irish should be fine vs the Big 12 If they beat Stanford comfortably.
right now Clemson, Alabama, and the Big 10 winner (unless its Michigan) are pretty much locks to get into the playoff.
still in play is the fourth spot....likely among 1 team from the Big 12 or Notre Dame.
worst case scenario would seem to be a clear champion for the Big 12. but for that to happen
Baylor has to lose to TCU tonight. than the winner of Oklahoma and Ok St Saturday...would be the lone Champion.
if its the Sooners while there non con wasn't much. They did win on the road at Tennessee. The Sooners were also fortunate enough to have suffered their loss relatively early in the season. Problem for Oklahoma is it was the same team the Irish beat up on to open the season. Advantage Irish.
Oklahoma State would seem an unlikely playoff team simply because they lost so late on 11/21 to Baylor. Meanwhile their best non con win was on the road at 7-5 Central Michigan. Huge advantage Notre Dame.
If Baylor wins tonight...so what? they beat lamar SMU and Rice in non con. and just lost 3 weeks ago. They are dead to the committee no matter what...and actually might hurt the ok/ok st winner if they wind up tied for the conf champ with them.
Basically Oklahoma is the only team I think the committee might put ahead of the Irish...but I don't know how they could justify the common opponent Texas loss...and compare that to the Irish loss on the road to number 1 Clemson to that Texas loss. add to that the Irish overall have played a far better schedule than Oklahoma
So just beat Stanford right?
well the nightmare scenario....what if North Carolina beats Clemson?
Yipes. the Tar heel sched has been light. but save for an opening night loss to South Carolina they haven't been touched. And NC can claim a huge advantage in both margin of victory, and control of common opponants (5 of them) over the Irish.
don't worry about the Big 12. The Irish have that covered. North Carolina beating Clemson is the only thing (besides Stanford) standing in the way of the Irish being in the playoff. but if that happens...all bets are off. this would be a true Chaos scenario for the committee.
add to that a potential Florida win over Alabama (as unlikely as that would be) or Michigan finding a way to win the Big 10
its actually theoretically still possible for a playoff to look like
1) Oklahoma
2) North Carolina
3) Florida
4) Baylor
and wouldn't that just about blow up the whole format?
right now Clemson, Alabama, and the Big 10 winner (unless its Michigan) are pretty much locks to get into the playoff.
still in play is the fourth spot....likely among 1 team from the Big 12 or Notre Dame.
worst case scenario would seem to be a clear champion for the Big 12. but for that to happen
Baylor has to lose to TCU tonight. than the winner of Oklahoma and Ok St Saturday...would be the lone Champion.
if its the Sooners while there non con wasn't much. They did win on the road at Tennessee. The Sooners were also fortunate enough to have suffered their loss relatively early in the season. Problem for Oklahoma is it was the same team the Irish beat up on to open the season. Advantage Irish.
Oklahoma State would seem an unlikely playoff team simply because they lost so late on 11/21 to Baylor. Meanwhile their best non con win was on the road at 7-5 Central Michigan. Huge advantage Notre Dame.
If Baylor wins tonight...so what? they beat lamar SMU and Rice in non con. and just lost 3 weeks ago. They are dead to the committee no matter what...and actually might hurt the ok/ok st winner if they wind up tied for the conf champ with them.
Basically Oklahoma is the only team I think the committee might put ahead of the Irish...but I don't know how they could justify the common opponent Texas loss...and compare that to the Irish loss on the road to number 1 Clemson to that Texas loss. add to that the Irish overall have played a far better schedule than Oklahoma
So just beat Stanford right?
well the nightmare scenario....what if North Carolina beats Clemson?
Yipes. the Tar heel sched has been light. but save for an opening night loss to South Carolina they haven't been touched. And NC can claim a huge advantage in both margin of victory, and control of common opponants (5 of them) over the Irish.
don't worry about the Big 12. The Irish have that covered. North Carolina beating Clemson is the only thing (besides Stanford) standing in the way of the Irish being in the playoff. but if that happens...all bets are off. this would be a true Chaos scenario for the committee.
add to that a potential Florida win over Alabama (as unlikely as that would be) or Michigan finding a way to win the Big 10
its actually theoretically still possible for a playoff to look like
1) Oklahoma
2) North Carolina
3) Florida
4) Baylor
and wouldn't that just about blow up the whole format?
