(01-11-2018 12:07 PM)FloridaJag Wrote:  

(01-11-2018 11:58 AM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  

(01-11-2018 11:05 AM)FloridaJag Wrote:  

(01-11-2018 10:49 AM)ohio1317 Wrote:  Strongly, strongly opposed and think very small chance we do not finish out the 12 year contract.

With that said, if we get 8 teams at some point, I think people are looking at the Group of 5 spot wrong. People are arguing for and against a guarenteed spot, but I think there will be something in the middle. The most likely outcome in my view would be they would have the highest Group of 5 champion (or possibly independent) in if they are either ranked above a power 5 conference champ or are in top 12/14. That's basically what the BCS did, and I think would be similar here. They are not going to put the Group of 5 champ in if they are a 2 loss team barely in the top 25 (like Boise State the first year of the CFP).

There's also the question of how they deal with independents and I have not seen a lot of talk on that. If the Group of 5 and Power 5 conferences have a spot they can get, while not being in the top 8, then independents would be the only teams without that possibility and, if fact, would probably have to make top 5/6 or so most years to account for other teams below them getting in. Notre Dame is going to either push hard for no auto-bids at all (so they can get in at #8) or want to be included in one. While appeasing Notre Dame is not absolutely necessary, they have a seat at the table here and contrary to popular belief, the rest the conferences really are not pushing the Irish into a conference (outside their own, they would rather Notre Dame be independent than play in a rival conference). I see three ways they could handle this.

1. Independents are guarenteed a spot in if in top 8. The logic here is that independents cannot win or lose a conference and thus if they are in the top 8 (the teams that would be in if we ignored conference championships), they should be in. Unlike others, they could neither get in ranked less than 8 and never be left out if in the top 8.

2. Independents and Group of 5 share a spot. They might or might not have the same rules for getting it (maybe independents have to be in top 10 to take, while Group of 5 could be top 14).

3. No compromise from the other powers and independents treated as just an at large. Mostly likely, especially if highest Group of 5 champ given a way in, this would effectively mean independents would probably have to be in the top 6 or so most years to get in. I don't really think this would push the Irish anywhere, but they would push against it strongly.

The question has already been answered about ND/Independents.

All the P5 champs plus the highest ranking G5. If Notre Dame is rated higher than the next two P5 runner ups then ND gets a playoff berth.

There's no way the powers that be will agree to a G5 autobid over ND.

The networks will never agree to taking a 2 loss Boise (for example) over a 2 loss ND in the playoffs. I'd venture to say that with ND's relationship with the ACC that they'd be in that camp as well.

IF the playoff would expand to 8, the best you'd see is either the committee placing 8 teams or P5 autobids with 3 wild cards.

Does that actually apply if ND has a 5 win 7 loss record?

At the end of the season Central Florida was ranked #12 and Notre Dame was #14.

Assuming 8 teams in this year's playoff, why would ND leap frog the other four P5 schools?

Your reasoning is flawed.

Not at all.

My point was the G5 is no more deserving of a guaranteed spot than ND. That doesn't mean ND should have one, but all things being equal, a 2 loss ND belongs in the playoffs WAY before a 2 loss king of the G5. Hence the 5 champs and 3 wild cards.

There's also no way the P5 will allow an autobid for the G5 over any of their runner ups.

You're whole argument is based on this year's UCF. An undefeated G5 is the exception, not the rule and none of the power brokers are going to make major changes based on one team and one year.