This is the first time the BCS formula differed from the CFP final four...

[TideEngineer08]

Well there really is no such thing as P5 or G5. It’s just a designation that fans and pundits made up. Even if the Pac12 survives, it will still be a clownshow like it has been for a while.

There are what are called “autonomous” conferences. That’s the P5.

 

[BigAlinKnoxville]

I have a theory. If the TCU fiasco of last year hadn't happened, Florida State would have made the playoffs this year. Last year, TCU actually LOST their conference championship, and didn't drop a single spot in the rankings. That's because the committee wanted to keep the "Cinderella story" alive by giving them a chance. Well, we all saw how that turned out and so did the committee.

FSU would have been blown out in the playoffs, and the comittee didn't want any "I told you so" being thrown at them.

So to make a long story short, as aggravating as the TCU matter was last year, I believe it helped us get in this year.

 

[BamaMoon]

I don't like the automatic qualifiers either for the same reason FSU, while a power 5 conference champion, isn't nearly the team the other 4 champions appear to be.

However, with the new 12 team format, that does leave 6 more open spots (after the 5 conference champs and the automatic qualifier for the group of 5).

It's like a 6 team playoff for those who either lost their conference game or had 1 or more losses that didn't win their conference. IOW, while I don't like the setup as much as simply the 12 best teams approach, it will open up huge doors of entrance for teams who didn't win the conference to get in.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

if they somehow beat uga, they will never shut up about it. Will probably throw a parade and hang a banner.

but think about it for just a moment...both teams are going to have sit-outs, that star WR for FSU just announced his.

So FSU if they lose is actually going to go with - wait for it - "yes, we lost, BUT THAT WASN'T THE SAME TEAM!!"

THINK about that.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

I don't like the automatic qualifiers either for the same reason FSU, while a power 5 conference champion, isn't nearly the team the other 4 champions appear to be.

However, with the new 12 team format, that does leave 6 more open spots (after the 5 conference champs and the automatic qualifier for the group of 5).

It's like a 6 team playoff for those who either lost their conference game or had 1 or more losses that didn't win their conference. IOW, while I don't like the setup as much as simply the 12 best teams approach, it will open up huge doors of entrance for teams who didn't win the conference to get in.

One of the things that is the biggest problem in any kind of CFB playoff is the notion that if you just happen to be in the same conference with another monster, a head-to-head loss on the last play of triple overtime effectively serves as a two-game block preventing you from advancing no matter how good (see the possible outcome of 2011 Alabama).

What happened this year was even more bizarre. In essence, Alabama played Texas early, lost, and the implicit (subconscious) argument is, "Texas has to lose twice before Alabama is back in the playoff hunt EVEN IF they're better than FSU." The Noles got spotted a TWO-GAME advantage on us by doing....nothing.

And for the record, what benefit prior to the final poll did Texas gain from beating Alabama?

Texas was still behind Oregon yet had beaten the best team on their schedule while Oregon had lost to theirs and ranked higher.