(I know some of you hate the new playoff concept...so feel free to not read this post...)
When it comes to PSU, nothing that happened this weekend meant jack squat. If we won, we virtually clinched a NY6 bowl. If we lost, we'd probably be out of the NY6 and in one of the lesser bowls.
Next year, we'd be watching closely to see if we get a home game in the first round or not. Our win would virtually clinch us a playoff berth; a loss would virtually eliminate us.
There will be a big different between getting the 11-seed (assuming a Group of 5 champ rep is ranked #12) and the 8 seed.
11-seed goes to play in a hostile road game against #6. While 8-seed gets to host #9. So we'd be sizing up 'Bama and Florida State and Missouri.
There are a quite a few teams (like us) who will have a lot riding on the final weekend.
In a sense, schools like OSU and Washington and Florida State will have LESS riding on their games...a loss won't knock them out of the playoff. But the difference between a bye and a "play in" game is a pretty significant incentive.
I can't wait. (And not just because "hey, PSU will still be playing for a chance at the title!!!" but because it'll make CFB more interesting later into the season.)
When it comes to PSU, nothing that happened this weekend meant jack squat. If we won, we virtually clinched a NY6 bowl. If we lost, we'd probably be out of the NY6 and in one of the lesser bowls.
Next year, we'd be watching closely to see if we get a home game in the first round or not. Our win would virtually clinch us a playoff berth; a loss would virtually eliminate us.
There will be a big different between getting the 11-seed (assuming a Group of 5 champ rep is ranked #12) and the 8 seed.
11-seed goes to play in a hostile road game against #6. While 8-seed gets to host #9. So we'd be sizing up 'Bama and Florida State and Missouri.
There are a quite a few teams (like us) who will have a lot riding on the final weekend.
In a sense, schools like OSU and Washington and Florida State will have LESS riding on their games...a loss won't knock them out of the playoff. But the difference between a bye and a "play in" game is a pretty significant incentive.
I can't wait. (And not just because "hey, PSU will still be playing for a chance at the title!!!" but because it'll make CFB more interesting later into the season.)