PRESS PICKS (Week 15): An unnecessary thing called Conference Championship games
STAFF REPORT
With a new playoff model beginning next season, the question must be addressed - what is the future of conference championship games?
There is growing concern among conference commissioners that playing an extra game might hurt the chances of teams getting at-large berths in the 12-team field.
You don’t have to wait until next season to have proof.
Pick any of the top games this weekend where the higher ranked team loses and is left out of the playoff. Thanks to a very crowded field, that’s possible for the likes of Georgia, Washington, Florida State and Michigan, all entering the weekend with an undefeated record.
In the past, if a team was in the Top 4 in the final weekend, the chances were pretty good it could still make the playoff with a loss (For proof, see Ohio State and TCU last season). But with a crowded field in 2023, that is not likely.
Add another issue with conferences going division-less: No set winners.
Most conferences will be that way next season, mostly for schedule purposes. But it will also have an affect on who might go to the conference title game. It already has in ‘23.
The Mountain West proved to be the ultimate boondoggle, where computer rankings among three teams decided the participants in the championship. The numbers favored UNLV and Boise State but left out San Jose State. The Spartans beat the Runnin’ Rebels last weekend and was the only team of the three to have faced the other two.
That made head-to-head was non-factor. Had it been and the three gone 1-1, the same computer ranking would apply.
With 16 teams now making up conferences, there is no chance of a “true” top two since they will have different opponents. Unless, of course head-to-head comes into play which might leave out the next best team.
Michigan and Ohio State will never give up playing on the last weekend of the season, but what if the loser gets left out of the conference championship after reaching “The Game” with both undefeated? Chances are the second best team will not be playing in Indianapolis the following week.
While the playoffs weren’t a factor in this case, imagine the same scenario in the Big 12 or SEC where, chances are very good, a decision based on “Hal 9000” (that’s a 2001 Space Odyssey reference) leaves somebody out of the running for the CFP. It’s gonna get tricky next year. And we are yet to get out of the woods in 2023.
To take the previous example a step further, the loser of Ohio State-Michigan is out of the conference race and might be in the playoff anyway, but will have to play the first weekend of the post season due to that loss. Meanwhile, USC sneaks in with a similar record and despite not playing either team during the season, upsets the Wolverines in the conference championship and claims the league title (which does sound weird, doesn’t it…) The Trojans get the bye and now both Ohio State and Michigan are playing the first round.
There is no perfect scenario for this to work. Which is why - eventually - you might see the leagues say “goodbye” to the championship games.
Yes, that includes the SEC.
Doug Amos continues to lead the panel after 14 weeks.
2023 Overall Standings (Last week)
1. Doug Amos 170-40 (14-1) .810
2. Graham Dunn 167-43 (13-2) .795
3. Wesley Lyle 163-47 (13-2) .776
4. Tim Gayle 161-49 (13-2) .767
5. Mike Peacock 159-51 (13-2) .757
6. Michael Butler 154-56 (14-1) .733
7. Lindsey Bonner 153-57 (12-3) .729
8. Rosie Langello 151-59 (12-3) .719
9. Barry McKnight 137-74 (12-3) .652
10. Rick Hendrick 133-77 (12-3) .633
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
170-40 (14-1) .810
Pike Road at Saraland - Saraland
B.T. Washington-Tuskegee at Catholic - Catholic
St. James at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Reeltown at B.B. Comer - Reeltown
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia - Georgia
Sun Belt: Appalachian St at Troy - Troy
Pac-12: Oregon vs Washington (Fri) - Oregon
Big 10: Iowa vs. Michigan - Michigan
Big 12: Texas vs. Oklahoma St - Texas
ACC: Florida St vs Louisville - Florida St
CUSA: New Mexico St at Liberty (Fri) - Liberty
MAC: Miami, Ohio vs Toledo - Toledo
AAC: Tulane vs. SMU - Tulane
SWAC: Prairie View at Florida A&M - Florida A&M
Mountain West: Boise St vs UNLV - Boise St
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
167-43 (13-2) .795
Pike Road at Saraland - Saraland
B.T. Washington-Tuskegee at Catholic - Catholic
St. James at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Reeltown at B.B. Comer - Reeltown
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia - Alabama
Sun Belt: Appalachian St at Troy - Troy
Pac-12: Oregon vs Washington (Fri) - Oregon
Big 10: Iowa vs. Michigan - Michigan
Big 12: Texas vs. Oklahoma St - Texas
ACC: Florida St vs Louisville - Florida St
CUSA: New Mexico St at Liberty (Fri) - Liberty
MAC: Miami, Ohio vs Toledo - Miami, Ohio
AAC: Tulane vs. SMU - Tulane
SWAC: Prairie View at Florida A&M - Florida A&M
Mountain West: Boise St vs UNLV - UNLV
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)
163-47 (13-2) .776
Pike Road at Saraland - Saraland
B.T. Washington-Tuskegee at Catholic - Catholic
St. James at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Reeltown at B.B. Comer - B.B. Comer
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia - Alabama
Sun Belt: Appalachian St at Troy - Troy
Pac-12: Oregon vs Washington (Fri) - Oregon
Big 10: Iowa vs. Michigan - Michigan
Big 12: Texas vs. Oklahoma St - Texas
ACC: Florida St vs Louisville - Florida St
CUSA: New Mexico St at Liberty (Fri) - Liberty
MAC: Miami, Ohio vs Toledo - Toledo
AAC: Tulane vs. SMU - Tulane
SWAC: Prairie View at Florida A&M - Florida A&M
Mountain West: Boise St vs UNLV - UNLV
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
161-49 (13-2) .767
Pike Road at Saraland - Saraland
B.T. Washington-Tuskegee at Catholic - Catholic
St. James at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Reeltown at B.B. Comer - Reeltown
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia - Alabama
Sun Belt: Appalachian St at Troy - Troy
Pac-12: Oregon vs Washington (Fri) - Oregon
Big 10: Iowa vs. Michigan - Michigan
Big 12: Texas vs. Oklahoma St - Texas
ACC: Florida St vs Louisville - Louisville
CUSA: New Mexico St at Liberty (Fri) - Liberty
MAC: Miami, Ohio vs Toledo - Toledo
AAC: Tulane vs. SMU - Tulane
SWAC: Prairie View at Florida A&M - Florida A&M
Mountain West: Boise St vs UNLV - UNLV
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
159-51 (13-2) .757
Pike Road at Saraland - Saraland
B.T. Washington-Tuskegee at Catholic - Catholic
St. James at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Reeltown at B.B. Comer - Reeltown
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia - Georgia
Sun Belt: Appalachian St at Troy - Appalachian St
Pac-12: Oregon vs Washington (Fri) - Oregon
Big 10: Iowa vs. Michigan - Michigan
Big 12: Texas vs. Oklahoma St - Texas
ACC: Florida St vs Louisville - Florida St
CUSA: New Mexico St at Liberty (Fri) - Liberty
MAC: Miami, Ohio vs Toledo - Toledo
AAC: Tulane vs. SMU - Tulane
SWAC: Prairie View at Florida A&M - Florida A&M
Mountain West: Boise St vs UNLV - Boise St
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
154-56 (14-1) .733
Pike Road at Saraland - Saraland
B.T. Washington-Tuskegee at Catholic - Catholic
St. James at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Reeltown at B.B. Comer - Reeltown
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia - Georgia
Sun Belt: Appalachian St at Troy - Troy
Pac-12: Oregon vs Washington (Fri) - Oregon
Big 10: Iowa vs. Michigan - Michigan
Big 12: Texas vs. Oklahoma St - Texas
ACC: Florida St vs Louisville - Florida St
CUSA: New Mexico St at Liberty (Fri) - Liberty
MAC: Miami, Ohio vs Toledo - Toledo
AAC: Tulane vs. SMU - SMU
SWAC: Prairie View at Florida A&M - Florida A&M
Mountain West: Boise St vs UNLV - UNLV
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
153-57 (12-3) .729
Pike Road at Saraland - Saraland
B.T. Washington-Tuskegee at Catholic - Catholic
St. James at Mobile Christian - St. James
Reeltown at B.B. Comer - Reeltown
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia - Georgia
Sun Belt: Appalachian St at Troy - Troy
Pac-12: Oregon vs Washington (Fri) - Oregon
Big 10: Iowa vs. Michigan - Michigan
Big 12: Texas vs. Oklahoma St - Texas
ACC: Florida St vs Louisville - Louisville
CUSA: New Mexico St at Liberty (Fri) - Liberty
MAC: Miami, Ohio vs Toledo - Toledo
AAC: Tulane vs. SMU - Tulane
SWAC: Prairie View at Florida A&M - Florida A&M
Mountain West: Boise St vs UNLV - UNLV
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
151-59 (12-3) .719
Pike Road at Saraland - Saraland
B.T. Washington-Tuskegee at Catholic - Catholic
St. James at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Reeltown at B.B. Comer - B.B. Comer
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia - Alabama
Sun Belt: Appalachian St at Troy - Troy
Pac-12: Oregon vs Washington (Fri) - Oregon
Big 10: Iowa vs. Michigan - Michigan
Big 12: Texas vs. Oklahoma St - Texas
ACC: Florida St vs Louisville - Florida St
CUSA: New Mexico St at Liberty (Fri) - New Mexico St
MAC: Miami, Ohio vs Toledo - Toledo
AAC: Tulane vs. SMU - Tulane
SWAC: Prairie View at Florida A&M - Florida A&M
Mountain West: Boise St vs UNLV - Boise St
Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
137-74 (12-3) .652
Pike Road at Saraland - Saraland
B.T. Washington-Tuskegee at Catholic - Catholic
St. James at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Reeltown at B.B. Comer - Reeltown
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia - Georgia
Sun Belt: Appalachian St at Troy - Troy
Pac-12: Oregon vs Washington (Fri) - Oregon
Big 10: Iowa vs. Michigan - Michigan
Big 12: Texas vs. Oklahoma St - Texas
ACC: Florida St vs Louisville - Louisville
CUSA: New Mexico St at Liberty (Fri) - Liberty
MAC: Miami, Ohio vs Toledo - Miami, Ohio
AAC: Tulane vs. SMU - Tulane
SWAC: Prairie View at Florida A&M - Florida A&M
Mountain West: Boise St vs UNLV - UNLV
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
133-77 (12-3) .633
Pike Road at Saraland - Saraland
B.T. Washington-Tuskegee at Catholic - Catholic
St. James at Mobile Christian - Mobile Christian
Reeltown at B.B. Comer - B.B. Comer
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia - Alabama
Sun Belt: Appalachian St at Troy - Troy
Pac-12: Oregon vs Washington (Fri) - Washington
Big 10: Iowa vs. Michigan - Michigan
Big 12: Texas vs. Oklahoma St - Texas
ACC: Florida St vs Louisville - Florida St
CUSA: New Mexico St at Liberty (Fri) - Liberty
MAC: Miami, Ohio vs Toledo - Toledo
AAC: Tulane vs. SMU - Tulane
SWAC: Prairie View at Florida A&M - Florida A&M
Mountain West: Boise St vs UNLV - Boise St