Alabama Is 4th Team In The 2017 College Football Playoffs: Clemson, Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama

ESPN TV ^ | 12-3-2017 | blam

[blam]

This announcement is being made from a TV broadcast. This is from the National Football Selection Committee.

Alabama has been chosen as the 4th team to participate in the 2017 college football playoff.

More to follow as soon as it hits the press.

[wyowolf]

Which bowl is FSU going to?

[FredZarguna]

I understand that, but there is really no good argument for Alabama being picked over OSU (nor, before anyone starts on me, would there be any convincing reason for Ohio State to be picked over 'Bama) least of all past performance which is even less meaningful in the college game than it is in the pros.

We shouldn't be having an argument about this. The "playoff system" was supposed to remove the a choice of national champion based on a popularity contest. It doesn't, because a two-round playoff system isn't deep enough.

[blam]

I was just thinking, play-off teams will probably make enough money on these games to pay the salaries of the entire staff of the football team.(Maybe not with Saban @ $11.4 million)

[kosciusko51]

Agreed that a 4-team playoff isn’t sufficient, nor is the method in which the four teams are picked.

[simon says what]

OSU got clobbered by Iowa, Clemson lost to Syracuse, OK lost to IA State

Clemson losing to Syracuse was far more understandable than the Oklahoma's or Ohio State's losses in regards to playoff selection. Syracuse played a perfect game in Syracuse and Clemson's QB was knocked out of the game with a concussion. Oklahoma gave up 38 points at home in their loss and Ohio State got creamed at Iowa. If Syracuse had made one mistake or Clemson's QB wasn't knocked out, they'd be undefeated.

[kosciusko51]

What’s the price of tea in China?

[Will88]

Both have embarrassing losses in their seasons,

Clemson has the most embarrassing loss of those in the four team playoff; their loss to 4-8 Syracuse which was the second worse team in the ACC after NC. And they didn't exactly roll over every so, so opponent on their schedule.

There simply has not been a superior team this year from the first week to the final week of the season and warts can be found on all teams.

[blam]

An article from last year at this same time:

College Football’s Chosen 4: Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Washington

[RckyRaCoCo]

You also have to wonder if all this early exit from the college ranks to the NFL(for the $$$)is going to affect BOTH(as in...water them both down?)

The risk of injury(and losing an NFL paycheck)at the college level isn't worth a 4-5 year commitment to a lot of players, parents, and reps. With that, even Conferences like the SEC may find it difficult to continue to "re-load".

..."always the dollars, always the %$#@'n' dollars"

[simon says what]

Clemson has the most embarrassing loss of those in the four team playoff; their loss to 4-8 Syracuse which was the second worse team in the ACC after NC.

Syracuse is young and up and coming with one of the best offensive coaches in college football. They're better than their record. They played a perfect game at home against Clemson. Clemson's QB was knocked out with a concussion in the second quarter. If he played the whole game, Clemson would have won.

[Will88]

And Alabama beat FSU, who beat Syracuse, who beat Clemson.

Yep, and Alabama beat LSU, who beat Syracuse, who beat Clemson.

[kosciusko51]

LSU also beat Auburn...

[moviefan8]

That plan with the power 5 and one at large (wild card) seems reasonable.

[blam]

"LSU also beat Auburn..."

Ha, ha. Alabama beat LSU, 24-10.

[Will88]

If Syracuse had made one mistake or Clemson's QB wasn't knocked out, they'd be undefeated.

Clemson lost to a 4-8 team, which was the second worse team in the ACC after NC. They should still have beaten Syracuse if they'd lost three or four other staters. Syracuse even lost to Middle Tennessee.

[wrcase]

With fewer and fewer kids playing football it’s not really going to matter in the end. Creating a regional sport is only going to hasten the end. Schools may decide “Well, if I’m not allowed to compete for a title because Kirk Herbstreit or Paul Finebaum don’t think I should, maybe I’ll just say to hell with it.”

[simon says what]

Clemson lost to a 4-8 team, which was the second worse team in the ACC after NC. They should still have beaten Syracuse if they'd lost three or four other staters. Syracuse even lost to Middle Tennessee.

Syracuse is young and up and coming with one of the best offensive coaches in college football. They're better than their record. They played one of the toughest schedules in the country... @Miami, Clemson, @LSU, @Miami, @NC State, and they gave all of those teams good games.

[grey_whiskers]

What kind of "old boys network " travesty is this?

Everyone, and I mean *everyone*, knows that the 4th spot rightfully belongs to the Minnesota Golden Gophers, in honor of their stunning upset of Nebraska!

(Quick, where's my car trunk full of missing ballots?)

[John Milner]

Nice try.

But Syracuse is 4-8 and finished dead last in their ACC division. Way worse than Iowa or ISU who both finished 7-5. ISU lost all 5 games by a total of 25 points. Iowa lost to Penn St on a last second play.

[simon says what]

I meant to put in @Fla State for the 2nd @Miami.