College Football Playoff Live Blog

by Brett Edgerton 12/7/2014 6:07:29 PM
Ohio State Jumps TCU For Final Spot In Playoff
Video: Kirk Herbstreit, Danny Kanell, David Pollack, Joey Galloway and Rece Davis break down the College Football Playoff rankings and how Ohio State bumped TCU for the final spot in the playoff.

by Brett Edgerton 12/7/2014 6:06:39 PM

3rd & 7 37yd

As a biased Ohio State fan, how do you think the CFP committee will treat the VT loss at this point? Will it be discounted because it happened under a different quarterback? Will it be used as evidence supporting the narrative that Ohio State has improved over the year? Will it simply be seen as a home loss to a 6-6 team? Or will it be perhaps seen as proof that the defensive line—one of the best units in the country when they are on—is sometimes scattered and not able to focus for an entire season?

by Mat (NYC) via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:07:42 PM
THE BIG 10 HATERS ARE IN FULL FORCE....

by doesn't matter via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:08:54 PM
Big 10 haters? Ohio State is running away with our poll question and almost every person I see on TV has OSU as their fourth.

by Brett Edgerton via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:08:54 PM
I'm not sure what Baylor paid its PR firm, but it wasn't enough to stop Art Briles from going off on message board-style rants.

by Matt Fortuna via twitter 12/7/2014 5:09:36 PM
Right, Brett. That would be the best thing to happen for schools like that. I think the Big 12 would need to be forced into thinking twice about its stance on expansion and championship games by being left out of the playoff like that. I don't think those things are really on the table until the Big 12 can see tangible reasons why they must be considered for the better of the conference.

by Brandon Chatmon via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:09:38 PM
My rankings: 1) Alabama, 2) Oregon, 3) Ohio State, 4) FSU, 5) Baylor 6) TCU

by Tony Barnhart via twitter 12/7/2014 5:09:46 PM
Wonder if we’ll ever know if debate began at 4-4-4 for Baylor, TCU and Ohio State in CFBPSC late last night. Seems highly possible.

by Joe Schad via twitter 12/7/2014 5:10:07 PM
Amazing that Stoops' decision to take a running into punter penalty is a factor in who makes the initial playoff. Odd, memorable season.

by Travis Haney via twitter 12/7/2014 5:10:16 PM
Well, Matt, if OSU would've won -- but struggled -- against Wiscy, the Barrett injury would've hurt them. That's something the executive director intimated about a week ago. The fact OSU dominated Wisconsin? I'd be surprised if the injury really factored into things anymore; Cardale Jones looked just fine.

by Josh via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:10:31 PM
If the committee hadn't put TCU 3, this would probably be easier to move OSU up. But to move them down two spots completely defeats the purpose of weekly rankings. Next year, don't release rankings til the end.

by Greg via ESPN edited by Brett Edgerton 12/7/2014 5:10:31 PM
Clear and outright Big 10 Champion makes a strong case for Ohio State. Big 12 is messy to pick TCU or Baylor. Baylor beat TCU but committee clearly likes TCU. Can't see Baylor jumping past Ohio State in any scenario. 1. Bama. 2. Oregon. 3. Florida State. 4. Ohio State.

by Dpb via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:11:07 PM
The fans have spoken! 61% believe Ohio State should be the @DrPepper #OneFinalTeam in the CFB Playoff. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4RLs3fIMAEMUyQ.png

by ESPN CollegeFootball via twitter 12/7/2014 5:11:18 PM
Big 12 should have a Championship game. If they had then that winner would have a legit reason to be included in the playoff.

by Ryan Hulce via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:11:19 PM
And how the committee weighs OSU's Virginia Tech loss -- well, that's the $10,000 question. On one hand, it came during a tough non-conference slate. (Compare that to Baylor's slate: Northwestern State, SMU, Buffalo.) But the committee also said it's looking for the four best teams, not necessarily the four most deserving. And I don't think any team has improved more since Week 2 than Ohio State.

by Josh 12/7/2014 5:11:46 PM
Josh, in your wildest imagination, could you have envisioned a 59-0 score in Indy last night?

by Brett Edgerton via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:11:55 PM
No one wants to see Ohio State get blown out again by a faster southern school. How many more times will the viewing audience be forced to watch these mediocre Ohio State games?

by Realistic viewer via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:12:23 PM
Ohio State has proven that they deserve a spot. They destroyed a 10-2 team with their back up to their back up QB.

by Travis via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:12:31 PM
I think you hit on the big question Matt. If they put in the top four teams in terms of how they are playing now, it's hard to imagine Ohio State on the outside looking in. For me, if TCU hadn't jumped to 3 last week, I would definitely think they are out. I guess we will see how it plays out.

by Brandon Chatmon via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:12:31 PM
Some interesting thoughts from #ACC commish John Swofford on moving from 4 to 8 teams… http://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4RMAACCQAAiYMM.png

by David Hale via twitter 12/7/2014 5:12:33 PM
Bottom line on playoff: 6 incredibly deserving teams. Two teams going to be left feeling like they got screwed, and they won't be wrong

by Jake Trotter via twitter 12/7/2014 5:12:48 PM
Herbstreit, Finebaum Debate Top Four Teams
Video: Kirk Herbstreit and Paul Finebaum break down their top four teams for the College Football Playoff and explain why they don't think a Big 12 team will make the playoff.

by Brett Edgerton 12/7/2014 5:13:03 PM
Honestly i have a hard time putting florida st in final 4. #1 oregon #2 alabama #3 ohio state #4 baylor. Florida state will get smoked in a playoff

by chad via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:13:27 PM
Never, Brett. Absolutely never. Wisconsin was the Vegas favorite; heck, I even picked Wisconsin to win. Four of us six Big Ten bloggers did. Cardale Jones was a huge question mark, and Melvin Gordon was having the best season by a running back in a quarter-century. No one saw 59-0 coming ...

by Josh via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:13:27 PM
Remember: under the BCS system, it would be Florida St/Alabama, with 3 conferences hopping mad at the SEC. Actually, that would be more fun, to watch the rest of the country hate the SEC even more

by Andrew via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:14:03 PM
Brandon/Josh, can you imagine right now if it was still the BCS. More than likely it would've been Bama and FSU. The vitriol coming from Eugene and elsewhere...holy cow. Take this controversy and double it.

by Brett Edgerton via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:14:47 PM
In what way? Would be awful for everyone in league. RT @LiamSuffolk : @TravHaneyESPN better for Stoops if TCU and Baylor get left out

by Travis Haney via twitter 12/7/2014 5:15:41 PM
I can't imagine leaving an undefeated Florida State out Chad. It's about winning actual games on the field, is it not? I mean, isn't that the purpose of having a playoff in the first place?

by Brandon Chatmon via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:15:44 PM
TCU hasn't actually beaten anyone, save for a 3-loss K-State team and an even worse Oklahoma side.

by Vivek via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:15:48 PM
Iowa st was 0-9 vs the Big 12.... 1-0 vs B1G. Says a lot about how bad the B1G really is. I like how the lack of talent in the B1G is being overlooked and ignored now haha

by Mark in Manhattan via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:16:08 PM
Yeah, there's been a great debate this season and this weekend. No matter who makes it in today, this system is working. Plus, I don't know if I've spoken to anyone who thinks Florida State is a better team than Oregon ... but you're right -- Bama-FSU likely would've been the matchup.

by Josh via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:16:12 PM
Yes. There would be a lot more upset people and debate than with this four-team playoff, that's for sure, Brett.

by Brandon Chatmon via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:16:52 PM
do you think the ap poll will affect the decision?

by Thomas Sanders via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:17:04 PM
Seriously doubt it, Thomas. At least it's not supposed to. It also just came out...the committee's decision has been made.

by Brett Edgerton via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:17:04 PM
Mark, if we start playing that game, you could also point out how Indiana beat Mizzou from the SEC ... Iowa State didn't beat Ohio State, so I think that kind of logic is moot.

by Josh via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:17:24 PM
Mark in Manhattan makes a good point....

by Brandon Chatmon via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:17:32 PM
Remember: this committee has to fill 4 other bowl games too. And with #s 7, 9, 11, and 12 all losing yesterday, there's a bit of work they need to do on that end. They need to be fair to teams who played the extra championship game and lost.

by Andrew via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:17:44 PM
Yep, Andrew. Even as bad as that 51-13 loss was, it sure appears Arizona is still headed to the Fiesta Bowl.

by Brett Edgerton via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:17:48 PM
Now Wisconsin on the other hand ... can't see the Badgers making the New Year's Six.

by Brett Edgerton via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:18:16 PM
I don't know that you can take Iowa State's win over Iowa and decide playoff contenders based off that fact but it is an interesting fact nonetheless

by Brandon Chatmon via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:18:20 PM
I keep seeing people trying to use the argument that the B1G is weak compared to the B12. One thing I'd point out...Ohio State went undefeated in the B1G while Baylor/TCU did not go undefeated in their conference.

by Gophs via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:18:28 PM
How great would an 8 team playoff be this year with the committee avoiding conference opponents or rematches in round 1:

Alabama vs Michigan St.
Oregon vs Mississippi St
TCU vs Ohio St
Florida St vs. Baylor

by Chester via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:19:04 PM
Is that supposed to help or hurt the Buckeyes, Gophs?

by Brandon Chatmon via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:19:24 PM
This is all silly, worthless discussion...Lets face it, Oregon and Bama are far and away the two best teams in the nation and will smoke anyone in the 3 and 4 seeds.
Bama v Oregon is the inevitable championship.

by Mack Mooker via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:19:44 PM
The best thing about the @CFBPlayoff Selection show starting in 10 minutes? It's not on Tuesday.

by Austin Ward via twitter 12/7/2014 5:19:56 PM
No, no New Year's Six game for Wisconsin anymore. But Michigan State should get into the Capital One Orange Bowl. Wisconsin will probably be going go the National University Holiday.

by Josh via ESPN 12/7/2014 5:20:08 PM

College Football Playoff Live Blog

Ohio State Jumps TCU For Final Spot In Playoff

Herbstreit, Finebaum Debate Top Four Teams