Quote from: The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole on December 08, 2024, 04:48:53 PMThe Tennessee loss was excusable. But all they had to do was beat Vanderbilt OR Oklahoma.

Yep. Wouldn't have felt bad for SMU if they were excluded, and I sure as shyte don't feel bad for Bama.

Just win another game.

Alabama fans are taking it well.

https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2024/12/goodman-should-alabama-join-the-acc.html

Quote from: The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole on December 10, 2024, 07:55:04 AMAlabama fans are taking it well.

https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2024/12/goodman-should-alabama-join-the-acc.html

This would be hilariously awesome.  Whenever a big program gets snubbed, they join the ACC or B12.

Quote from: wadesworld on December 10, 2024, 09:58:03 AMThis would be hilariously awesome.  Whenever a big program gets snubbed, they join the ACC or B12.

The positives outweigh the negatives by being in the SEC, but there is a downside to these mega conferences that has been partially off-set by the 12 team playoff. Schools like Illinois, Wisconsin, Miss and S. Carolina have essentially aced themselves out of winning a conference and realistically are praying for a good year where they finish 3rd or 4th and maybe sneak into a road playoff game. A lot fewer banners to be hung.

Quote from: WhiteTrash on December 10, 2024, 10:31:04 AMThe positives outweigh the negatives by being in the SEC, but there is a downside to these mega conferences that has been partially off-set by the 12 team playoff. Schools like Illinois, Wisconsin, Miss and S. Carolina have essentially aced themselves out of winning a conference and realistically are praying for a good year where they finish 3rd or 4th and maybe sneak into a road playoff game. A lot fewer banners to be hung.

South Carolina has never won the SEC and the last time Ole Miss won it was 1963 - so that's not all that different.

But Wisconsin definitely has the resources to finish top two in the conference - especially with an unbalanced schedule. If you look at their upcoming schedules, you can definitely see opportunities. For instance in 2026 and 2027 they don't play Ohio State, Michigan or Oregon.

Quote from: The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole on December 10, 2024, 10:40:24 AMSouth Carolina has never won the SEC and the last time Ole Miss won it was 1963 - so that's not all that different.

But Wisconsin definitely has the resources to finish top two in the conference - especially with an unbalanced schedule. If you look at their upcoming schedules, you can definitely see opportunities. For instance in 2026 and 2027 they don't play Ohio State, Michigan or Oregon.

Yeah, I think Wisconsin is capable of getting in every odd year or so.  They have the luxury of their rivals being similar types of institutions when it comes to the football pecking order.  No reason they can't sweep Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota.  Even 2-1 and 5-1 against the rest puts you in a great position

https://x.com/OllieConnolly/status/1866522057791668538

At UNC, Belichick will have results similar to those he had with the Browns and with the post-Brady Patriots, as opposed to the great heights of the Brady-led glory years. (Just MHO, of course.)

Can't really predict if his son will be more Pat Knight than Eric Musselman, but legacy hires often suck.

Quote from: The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole on December 10, 2024, 10:40:24 AMSouth Carolina has never won the SEC and the last time Ole Miss won it was 1963 - so that's not all that different.

But Wisconsin definitely has the resources to finish top two in the conference - especially with an unbalanced schedule. If you look at their upcoming schedules, you can definitely see opportunities. For instance in 2026 and 2027 they don't play Ohio State, Michigan or Oregon.

I didn't intend to get into the weeds on exact schools. The point is if you layer Oregon, USC and Washington onto the upper tier of the Big10 it makes it harder to win and already difficult conference. Penn State could have had their first(?) Big10 championship this year.

Quote from: WhiteTrash on December 10, 2024, 01:30:47 PMI didn't intend to get into the weeds on exact schools. The point is if you layer Oregon, USC and Washington onto the upper tier of the Big10 it makes it harder to win and already difficult conference. Penn State could have had their first(?) Big10 championship this year.

Penn State has won multiple Big Ten championships.

But my point is to "win" the Big Ten means you have to finish in the top 2 and win the championship game. Larger conferences come with unbalanced schedules, which are going to favor teams some years, disfavor them in others.  Wisconsin has the capability to manage that.

Quote from: The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole on December 10, 2024, 01:37:45 PMPenn State has won multiple Big Ten championships.

But my point is to "win" the Big Ten means you have to finish in the top 2 and win the championship game. Larger conferences come with unbalanced schedules, which are going to favor teams some years, disfavor them in others.  Wisconsin has the capability to manage that.

Okay. You keep coming back to Wisconsin, they were just one of a few example teams. Maybe you're a fan? If it makes you feel better: UW should expect a Big10 Championship in the next few years. You heard it here first!

Quote from: WhiteTrash on December 10, 2024, 01:44:51 PMOkay. You keep coming back to Wisconsin, they were just one of a few example teams. Maybe you're a fan? If it makes you feel better: UW should expect a Big10 Championship in the next few years. You heard it here first!

You brought them up and I never came close to saying what's italicized.

I guess that means you finally realized how inaccurate your initial argument was.

Don't pay enough attention to know the exact in's and out's of conference scheduling, but as it stands, Madison needs improvement across the board.  If you're not even competitive against the likes of Nebraska, Iowa or Minnesota, it doesn't matter how unbalanced the schedule it, you're not sniffing a conference title or CFP appearance. Madison fans are already asking for Mac's/Fik's head. Won't happen this offseason, but a repeat of this year and I could see it. Again, don't know what their conference schedule looks like next year, but they've got that return trip to Bama, which I expect to get ugly. I'm just here to enjoy the spiral.

Quote from: Its DJOver on December 10, 2024, 01:56:19 PMDon't pay enough attention to know the exact in's and out's of conference scheduling, but as it stands, Madison needs improvement across the board.  If you're not even competitive against the likes of Nebraska, Iowa or Minnesota, it doesn't matter how unbalanced the schedule it, you're not sniffing a conference title or CFP appearance. Madison fans are already asking for Mac's/Fik's head. Won't happen this offseason, but a repeat of this year and I could see it. Again, don't know what their conference schedule looks like next year, but they've got that return trip to Bama, which I expect to get ugly. I'm just here to enjoy the spiral.

Of course they are going to need to improve the product on-field. But there is no reason they can't get back to their most recent peak under Bielema - and they won multiple conference championships under him, and would have been playoff qualifiers multiple times. As well as under Chryst.

Quote from: PGsHeroes32 on December 08, 2024, 11:49:08 AMPlayoff needs some tweaking

The fact Penn State sans a bye has a astronomically better draw than Oregon is hilarious

Ya, things will change in 2026.

Quote from: The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole on December 10, 2024, 02:06:34 PMOf course they are going to need to improve the product on-field. But there is no reason they can't get back to their most recent peak under Bielema - and they won multiple conference championships under him, and would have been playoff qualifiers multiple times. As well as under Chryst.

Well sure, but couldn't you say that about most power conference teams? I feel like there have been way more teams that have been near/at top 12 in the last 12 years than not. Even Northwestern and Minnesota have a top 10 finish in that time period.

Quote from: Its DJOver on December 10, 2024, 02:22:10 PMWell sure, but couldn't you say that about most power conference teams? I feel like there have been way more teams that have been near/at top 12 in the last 12 years than not. Even Northwestern and Minnesota have a top 10 finish in that time period.

No doubt. That is why I didn't agree with White Trash's initial point.

Quote from: The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole on December 10, 2024, 02:25:20 PMNo doubt. That is why I didn't agree with White Trash's initial point.

I will die on this hill: conference expansion with quality teams make it more difficult to win a conference.

Quote from: WhiteTrash on December 10, 2024, 02:41:47 PMI will die on this hill: conference expansion with quality teams make it more difficult to win a conference.

No kidding. It's more difficult for every team when you add more teams into a conference. But you said that teams like Wisconsin would "essentially ace themselves out of ever winning the conference." But that's just not true.

Quote from: The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole on December 10, 2024, 02:44:28 PMNo kidding. It's more difficult for every team when you add more teams into a conference. But you said that teams like Wisconsin would "essentially ace themselves out of ever winning the conference." But that's just not true.

For your pleasure: Buckyville

Quote from: The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole on December 10, 2024, 02:06:34 PMOf course they are going to need to improve the product on-field. But there is no reason they can't get back to their most recent peak under Bielema - and they won multiple conference championships under him, and would have been playoff qualifiers multiple times. As well as under Chryst.

Disagree - the BIG 10-12-14-18 is much different than when Wisconsin was battling the Big 10 West.  They could get a favorable unbalanced schedule and manage beating the West teams and get to a conference championship game (often with 3 better teams in the B10 East).  Michigan, Penn State and OSU were also down during some of those years.

Now with 18 teams - Wisconsin will likely never be better than OSU, Michigan, Penn State or Oregon.  In their very best years, they will be competing with Iowa, Nebraska, USC, Illinois, and maybe now Indiana for 5th. The rest of the teams are all very average to below average - Purdue, Washington, UCLA, MSU, Rutgers, NW, Minnesota, Maryland.

At their very best (and they are now where near that with Fickell so far) - they are fighting for 5th among next next 5 best teams.  At current pace - they are perennially competing for the top of the bottom 8.

Bucky football future looks bleak...

Quote from: PointWarrior on December 11, 2024, 10:41:16 AMDisagree - the BIG 10-12-14-18 is much different than when Wisconsin was battling the Big 10 West.  They could get a favorable unbalanced schedule and manage beating the West teams and get to a conference championship game (often with 3 better teams in the B10 East).  Michigan, Penn State and OSU were also down during some of those years.

Now with 18 teams - Wisconsin will likely never be better than OSU, Michigan, Penn State or Oregon.  In their very best years, they will be competing with Iowa, Nebraska, USC, Illinois, and maybe now Indiana for 5th. The rest of the teams are all very average to below average - Purdue, Washington, UCLA, MSU, Rutgers, NW, Minnesota, Maryland.

At their very best (and they are now where near that with Fickell so far) - they are fighting for 5th among next next 5 best teams.  At current pace - they are perennially competing for the top of the bottom 8.

Bucky football future looks bleak...

Wisconsin made the first two Big Ten Championship games in a division that featured Ohio State and Penn State.

And again, with unbalanced schedules, they have the resources to build a team, facing a relatively easy schedule, and break into the top 2. I mean, Indiana almost did so this very year. And if they can, Wisconsin certainly can.

Quote from: The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole on December 11, 2024, 10:45:11 AMWisconsin made the first two Big Ten Championship games in a division that featured Ohio State and Penn State.

And again, with unbalanced schedules, they have the resources to build a team, facing a relatively easy schedule, and break into the top 2. I mean, Indiana almost did so this very year. And if they can, Wisconsin certainly can.

"Wisconsin made the first two Big Ten Championship games in a division that featured Ohio State and Penn State."   

Yes, and OSU and PU were down those years.  And in 2011, OSU was 7-6.  In 2012, OSU was 12-0 but ineligible for the championship game (Wisconsin was 8-6, 4-4 in conference).

"Indiana almost did so this very year."  - Highly fluke / rare unbalanced schedule of IU, and they will also likely be in the bottom 8 each year.  Will not repeat after getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs.

Appears Beichick to UNC is happening.  Fascinating

Quote from: Uncle Rico on December 11, 2024, 12:47:43 PMAppears Beichick to UNC is happening.  Fascinating

I give Bill credit. He knew that he wasn't going to get the control of an NFL team in the way he wanted, so instead he decided to set-up Stephen. I get it from his perspective.