So here we go again college football fans. It’s that time of year when the College Football Playoff Selection Committee collectively shuttle into Grapevine, TX, to huddle behind closed doors and decide the fate of our beloved schools and teams. The initial vote towards the final four playoff teams will be announced Tuesday, November 1st between 6pm-7pm Central on ESPN.
So, first things first – my allegiance, as anyone who knows me will tell you, lies with my Horned Frogs of TCU. What a season it has been so far for the Frogs under new head man Sonny Dykes. 8-0 with wins over four teams that were ranked at the time they played them. I admit, I didn’t see this coming, but boy oh boy has it been fun so far.
The Frogs are currently ranked #7 in the AP poll, behind #1 Georgia, #2 Ohio State and Tennessee (tie), #4 Michigan, #5 Clemson and #6 Alabama (the only team with a loss in the top 7). Big 10 and SEC bias? Of course, as there always is. You could argue the only team that has a resume as impressive as the Frogs’ is Tennessee, due in no small part to their 52-49 home win over Alabama. But that’s the problem with starting the season unranked as the Frogs did – you have to fight tooth and nail to climb your way up the ladder when others were perched at the top from the beginning, mostly due to brand identity (i.e., big name programs).
But here’s why I’m not panicked – yet – but I admit I am already concerned. Let’s say that TCU takes care of business the remainder of the season and goes undefeated (I admit that’s the only way they get in). No easy task for sure, having road games left in Waco and Austin for example. But there are games that will, in theory, eliminate some of the Frog’s competition for a top four position as well. Michigan will have to travel to Columbus on Nov. 26th to face the Buckeyes. Tennesee and Georgia will face off this Saturday in Athens. And then, most likely, ‘Bama will take on the winner of that game in the SEC Championship. Clemson, on the other hand, looks to have smooth sailing from this point on if they can avoid a road bump in South Bend this weekend.
So let’s play this out in theory – let’s say Georgia knocks off Tennessee, Ohio State takes down Michigan, and then Alabama beats Georgia in the SEC Championship. You’d have Ohio State , Clemson, and TCU undefeated, with Georgia, Alabama, Michigan and Tennessee all with a loss, putting, at least in my mind, an undefeated TCU in the playoffs. But what if Georgia and/or Michigan run the table? They’d obviously be “in” with Clemson and TCU, but then would the committee jump a one-loss Ohio State or one-loss Tennessee over the Frogs? That’s when my palms start to sweat a bit.
Bottom line is that the Frogs need to keep winning, and it starts this Saturday morning in Ft. Worth against the Red Raiders of Texas Tech, a game in which TCU is currently favored by 10.5 points. I’d feel a lot better if we started the selection process tomorrow night in the 6th spot instead of 7th….but hey, we’re talking about a one-loss Alabama, so that probably won’t happen. It sure is good to have brand recognition, ain’t it Nick?
