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When you can’t possibly imagine another sickeningly simplistic argument to make the College Football Playoff, Miami arrives to the party and we’re all worse for it.
Temporarily, anyway.
“Award teams for winning football games,” Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal told Miami radio station WQAM. “We won 10 games this year, and not many teams have.”
Now we’re going down this road? OK, I’ll bite.
Army won 10 games. So did Memphis. So did Boise State and UNLV and Louisiana-Lafayette.
But, you say, those Group of Five conference schools have an easier road to 10 wins because of fortunate schedules.
Ding, ding, ding.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal runs on the sideline during his team’s game against Florida A&M at Hard Rock Stadium.
It is here where we introduce transitive property, because what’s used in one level of argument must be used at an increased level. In other words, power conference vs. power conference.
Let’s begin with basic math: 13 Power Four teams have won at least 10 games, and there could be another if Clemson wins the ACC championship.
Because there are five automatic qualifying spots – likely the Power Four conference champions, and the highest-ranked Group of Five conference champion – that leaves seven playoff spots for nine 10-win teams (possibly 10, if Clemson wins).
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How do you find seven from nine, you ask? Strength of schedule.
And now you see how Miami and Indiana – two teams with 10 or more wins that played weak schedules – have backed themselves into a corner. The only way out is mental gymnastics.
Don’t believe what you see, believe what you’re told.
Because there’s only one logical way to determine seven from nine when head-to-head…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/miami-indiana-college-football-playoff-180938495.html
Author : USA TODAY Sports
Publish date : 2024-12-03 18:09:00
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