Presidents Green Light College Football Playoff

[StallionsModelT]

Its really no different from the Big East's perspective.

Here's how I look at it as an SMU fan:

2013 Schedule (Just throwing in two random teams from Eastern Division)

Texas Tech
Baylor
Texas A&M
TCU
Boise State
Houston
San Diego State
Memphis
Louisville
Cincinnati
South Florida
UConn

If by some act of God we run the table, this schedule would give us a legit shot at getting into the playoff. As long as we keep two or three strong non-conference opponents on the docket we and the other Big East teams have a chance of getting in. We would've never had this platform in CUSA. So its a win IMO.

[PonyKai]

Yeah, if by some miracle we went 13-0 with that schedule (Big East Championship too), I'd say it's a fair shot. Might require a solid prior year to start the undefeated season, say, in the top 25 or top 20 though.

[Charleston Pony]

An undefeated BE team with a solid non-conf. schedule will have a chance at the top 4 too. The selection committee will like to avoid controversy at all costs.

Agreed. Remember, TCU finished #4 in the country just a couple of years ago, and under this system it would have been very difficult for them to be overlooked for a 1-loss team. It makes it much more palatable when it's 4 teams being selected vs. two, even if it doesn't eliminate all controversy.

This is really just a +1 anyway...we'll get the playoff in a few years when the money really flows in and they go to 8.

I don't recall TCU being #4 until AFTER their bowl win...they would not have qualified for the playoff. Nevertheless, this is a step in the right direction. preserves the bowls and as a practical matter, there are rarely more than 4 teams who can really claim to be the best team in the country. Anyone who goes undefeated through the Big XII will have a legitimate claim to being among the top 4. Lose one and you are done...except for what transpired in the SEC last year and it would be tough to argue that Bama and LSU weren't among the top 4 teams last year.

[Charleston Pony]

The value of us to the BE will be increased money over and above CUSA. With the TV markets we have in the BE there should still be a significant improvement. Would I rather we be in one of the biggies, sure. But I still think we are much better off.

Agreed. BE membership brings increased "east coast" media exposure which is huge. Our schedule will arguably be tougher, with Rutgers and UConn replacing Rice and Tulane. If SMU was to go undefeated with a non-conference schedule that included TCU, another Big XII school and 2 more schools in the upper tiers of the top 4 conferences, we would get serious consideration as that year's "Cinderella". Light years to go before that is even a possibility, so let's just keep improving.

Winning at least one of those games against Baylor, A&M and TCU would be a good way to start. Winning 2 of those 3 games will get some attention among waffling recruits.

[Charleston Pony]

Some ESPN wonk just said the teams with a chance at the playoffs will come from the SEC, ACC, Big 10.5, Big 12 and Pac-12 (or whatever it's called this week).

Does that nullify value of us moving to the Big East?

no. the bowl system remains alive and well

[Charleston Pony]

so is ACC in the playoff hunt or not? If they are why not the new BE - since the new BE is stronger then the new ACC?

ACC may not be a "favorite" but an undefeated FSU or Clemson or Va Tech would probably be among the top 4. This system will give everyone incentive to stop scheduling FCS schools...if you want to be taken seriously, that is. May give SMU an opportunity to schedule SEC teams if we'd like. They will probably substitute those UT-Chattanooga games for Memphis or at least Middle Tennessee. Will be interesting to see how "strength of schhedule" plays into this

[StallionsModelT]

You have to look at it this way. Even if we had ran the table in CUSA there would've been virtually zero chance of being a factor in this playoff system. We would have to schedule USC, Texas, LSU, and Alabama for nonconference, beat all of them, and then DESTROY every opponent in CUSA by at least 50 points. Think about what Boise has been able to do over the past decade and under the new system they'd still never have a top four finish.

If you look at the teams we play in 2013 both in conference and nonconference we will have one of the toughest week in week out schedules in the nation. Take a look and tell me where the gimme wins are outside of maybe Memphis. If we have a great year in 2012 (CUSA Champs and finish in the Top 25) we will likely enter 2013 either in or on the fringe of Top 25. If we beat Texas Tech, Baylor, Texas A&M, TCU, Boise State, Houston, Louisville, Cincinnati, and then whoever wins the other division of the Big East we would have done more than enough to be in consideration for the playoff.

Now take Boise State, Louisville, and Cincinnati out of the equation and replace them with UTEP, Tulane, and Rice. It wouldn't matter how badly we destroyed those teams our SOS would be dreadful even with the wins in nonconference.

Its not rocket science. Yes, the Big East will be on the outside looking in most years just like they have been since the inception of the BCS (excluding Miami). The ACC is in the same boat. Its still light years ahead of CUSA, MWC, or whatever the hell else is out there.