First off, it's way too early to make any kind of prediction about where the conferences stack up this year. I will also say that despite so many people saying conference pride is dead nowadays, I beg to differ oh so strongly with this new playoff format especially. Firstly, we are naturally disadvantaged due to lacking a CCG. We definitely need to be rooting the hell out of our brethren's OOC schedule. The Big 12 had "shoe-in" National Championship level teams the last 3-4 years and all just fell short at the end.
O-State with Weaver
Us with Klein
TCU last year
Any of these three teams could have won the NC if given the chance, but were derailed late in the season. TCU, on the other hand, was simply snubbed. A lot of this goes to the OOC and then how that plays out in the season and end of season. Without a CCG, it hurts us even more.
I look at our marquee OOC match-ups this year and they are peanuts to the caliber of last year's.
Texas/ND
Texas/Cal
OU/Tenn
Tech/Arky
TCU/Minnesota
WVU/Maryland
You could throw in KU/Rutgers and maybe ISU//Iowa, but KU and ISU suck. Last year you had FSU/OSU, WVU/Bama, Texas/UCLA, Texas/BYU as well as all the other ones already listed except Texas/ND.
With all that said, we faired well our first week at 8-2, which puts us 2nd to the SEC in winning pct among the Power 5 (maybe ACC tied?). We have to see Texas beat Cal, OU beat Tenn and WVU beat Maryland at least. Tech/Arky will be tough.
We do that, we can start to talk #2 conference this year which WILL help us get a one loss team in the playoff, if that happens. Otherwise, it's going to be on the fence if a one loss TCU gets in....TCU may have to run the table regardless, but winning these key OOC games, which we didn't do last year really IMO, will help.
O-State with Weaver
Us with Klein
TCU last year
Any of these three teams could have won the NC if given the chance, but were derailed late in the season. TCU, on the other hand, was simply snubbed. A lot of this goes to the OOC and then how that plays out in the season and end of season. Without a CCG, it hurts us even more.
I look at our marquee OOC match-ups this year and they are peanuts to the caliber of last year's.
Texas/ND
Texas/Cal
OU/Tenn
Tech/Arky
TCU/Minnesota
WVU/Maryland
You could throw in KU/Rutgers and maybe ISU//Iowa, but KU and ISU suck. Last year you had FSU/OSU, WVU/Bama, Texas/UCLA, Texas/BYU as well as all the other ones already listed except Texas/ND.
With all that said, we faired well our first week at 8-2, which puts us 2nd to the SEC in winning pct among the Power 5 (maybe ACC tied?). We have to see Texas beat Cal, OU beat Tenn and WVU beat Maryland at least. Tech/Arky will be tough.
We do that, we can start to talk #2 conference this year which WILL help us get a one loss team in the playoff, if that happens. Otherwise, it's going to be on the fence if a one loss TCU gets in....TCU may have to run the table regardless, but winning these key OOC games, which we didn't do last year really IMO, will help.
