JK37 wrote: ↑January 1st, 2024, 9:31 pm
Getting manhandled like LU did, I’m afraid what it does for CFP prospects in the next few years. Go undefeated again next year, and it will be harder to get in. LU missed a chance to grow in respect as the top G5.
I agree with this 100%. We missed an opportunity for sure. I think it will be very hard for us to get in the CFP next year even with the assumption of being undefeated. Truthfully we had a perfect storm of things occurring to allow us to get in this year. But there are a few reasons I don’t think it’s as unlikely as it seems.
We made the Fiesta Bowl more out of the committee being forced than them thinking we were great. Who else could have been chosen? SMU and Tulane both lost to average teams. Almost every team whining about us lost their bowl game to average teams.
The truth is we were the best G5 and I think they may still think that even after our loss. I think the committee knew there wasn’t a strong G5 which is why we got the nod even with our obvious struggles on defense and kicking.
What happened this year seems like a perfect storm for us to get in a NY6 bowl, but I think we will see a weakening of the AAC and no obvious marquee team in the Sun Belt or MWC along with an improving C-USA. Combine that with a Liberty team that will be even better all around with transfers coming in.
Will the committee want to put us in a CFP? No, especially not after this Oregon game. They didn’t want us in this year, really. But there will be years that we look dominant with no other obvious competition. We also may have a P5 on future schedules if we can move things around. Think, this years perfect storm but more perfect.
Perhaps this should be another thread, but I’d be curious who you believe is the top of the G5 pecking order going forward? There doesn’t seem to be obvious teams at the moment due to all the realignment. Hopefully we can fill that void with great performances over the next few years.