(05-29-2019 09:45 AM)Wedge Wrote: (05-29-2019 08:32 AM)bullet Wrote: You could theoretically end up with 3 unbeatens.
In the early 2000s, Ohio St. and Iowa both went 8-0 in the 11 team Big 10. With 14 teams, that would be more common and 3 would be possible.
Most controversial scenario, and one that would happen somewhere eventually if every conference did this, is two teams that didn't play each other tying for 2nd place, and of course if two teams tie for 2nd, only one of them plays in the CCG.
With 15 teams and only 8 conference games (ie. easier with only 14 teams or with 9 games), it is a pretty easy mental exercise to show that you can ensure there is no set of 3 teams who don't play each other in a given season.
To the "more controversial" scenario, this means that if team 2a and 2b didn't play each other, then at least one of them has played team 1. If 2a lost to team 1 or 2b defeated team 1, then 2b should play team 1 in the CCG.
Random rant...
With 2 teams coming from a single division or table, I think record against the #1 team should play a factor in determining the #2. Take the following Big 12 scenario:
8-1 Oklahoma (lost to Texas)
7-2 Texas (lost to WVU)
7-2 WVU (lost to Oklahoma)
Conventional wisdom says Texas loses the tie-break to WVU for #2. However, WVU already played and lost to Oklahoma... should we give them another shot? A better tie-break would be to include the #1 team when determining tie-breakers for #2 (until only 1 team other than #1 remains). In the above scenario, all 3 teams are 1-1 against each other and the tie-breaker moves to the next step. Consider the addition of another team:
7-2 Iowa State (lost to Texas and OU, beat WVU)
The 3 7-2 teams are all 1-1 against each other. Should the tie-breaker move to record against the #5, 6, or 7 in conference and eventually eliminate Texas (sending ISU to the CCG) or should record against Oklahoma count, rewarding Texas for their victory over the best regular season team?