Undefeated C-USA team maybe not enough for playoff

[Harry]

In the new system, a mid-major team simply needs to be ranked higher than any team in the other mid-major conferences.

"It's more open now," Banowsky said. "In the BCS, we could get a team in, but not only would they have to be our champion and be better than all the other champions, but it would have to be ranked in a certain place in the top-12 or top-16 and ranked above the other champions. With this, the best of our (mid-major) champions is in automatic. We need to find out a way to get a team to run the table, have a great season and be better than teams in our other peer conferences."

As for a Cinderella bid in the College Football Playoff, Hancock said the door is still open if a mid-major team has a very strong resume. But that would likely mean a combination of an undefeated record and a challenging schedule.

"Absolutely, it's open because there is no automatic qualification (in the College Football Playoff)," Hancock said. "It's wide open. Their opportunity is significant."

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2014/07/24/undefeated-c-usa-team-maybe-not-enough-for-playoff-spot/13099055/

[Mean Green 93-98]

There's no "maybe" about it. It would have to be a season where not only a C-USA team went undefeated with at least one big-time win, but also where no more than 3 P5 teams lost less than 1 game. Because a 1-loss P5 team will get the nod over an undefeated C-USA team every time.

The playoff needs to go to at least 8 teams, probably more, for C-USA to have a fair shot.

[MeanGreen13]

I think an undefeated NT may have a shot depending on how IU and UT would do after we hypothetically beat them. also, if we win the conference title game over an undefeated marshall with so much hype around them, that may be enough to squeak in...

on second thought, Nichol state, Southern Miss, and FIU.

[Mean Green 93-98]

I think an undefeated NT may have a shot depending on how IU and UT would do after we hypothetically beat them. also, if we win the conference title game over an undefeated marshall with so much hype around them, that may be enough to squeak in...

on second thought, Nichol state, Southern Miss, and FIU.

Last year, who would have been left out of the top 4 to let us in with our having a season like you describe?

#1 Florida State - 13-0, ACC Champs

#2 Auburn - 12-1, Only loss a week 4 35-21 loss to LSU. Beat #1 Bama, #5 Mizzou, #7 A&M. SEC Champs.

#3 Bama - 12-1, Only loss came by a highly improbable ending to #4 Auburn.

#4 Michigan State - Only loss a 17-13 week 4 loss to then #22 Notre Dame. Beat #2 Ohio State to become Big 10 champs.

I just don't see any scenario where an undefeated record with our schedule would bump out any of those teams.

[Ben Gooding]

We would have to beat UT. Then beat the living hell out of everyone else. Things would then have to fall in place for us to slide into that 4 spot. Marshal is CUSA's best shot. Their OOC schedule is garbage though, so even with 13 lopsided victories they'd be on the outside.

[DallasGreen]

If you think UT views North Texas as anything other than a scrimmage, you are sucking hard at the green kool aide. The changes now taking place in collegiate football put us as far behind figuratively as we were in I-AA.

[Ben Gooding]

Let them think whatever they want to think. I'm not saying we will win, but upsets happen and the game must be played. QB play and play calling will be imperative to our success that day. The coaching staff can get these guys up the entire month of August for this game, but if the coaching staff comes into that game with a timid play calling mentality brace yourself.

[NT80]

#1 Florida State -

#2 Auburn -

#3 Bama -

#4 Michigan State -

I just don't see any scenario where an undefeated record with our schedule would bump out any of those teams.

Thus the big flaw with the 4-team playoff, no room for Cinderella. It will be basically the same 4 type teams every year until it's expanded.

It needs to be a 16-team playoff, including ALL FBS Conference Champs plus a few at-large teams. What is the big draw to March Madness? It's not Duke, KU, UNC, et al.....it's the Cinderella teams in the field that makes it so interesting.

[North Texas Shep]

These seems like it would be common sense. No team in CUSA, with the schedule they have should expect to go to the playoffs. Did there need to be a column about it?

[VideoEagle]

If you think UT views North Texas as anything other than a scrimmage, you are sucking hard at the green kool aide. The changes now taking place in collegiate football put us as far behind figuratively as we were in I-AA.

No, not accurate. We weren't ranked by national media in the top half of all FBS/Division 1a when we were in 1aa. While I'm sure the UTtshirt fans think of it as a scrimmage Charlie Strong does not. The single biggest change being put forth is paying athletes the actual costs of college and CUSA and NT have already said they would do that if needed.

There's always been a huge gap between the UTs, OUs, Alabamas and us. There always will be. But that is completely different between the 1aa days of being in a completely different division and now or anything that's been seriously proposed. Don't get caught up in the negotiating hyperbole.

[Jason Howeth]

All of this talk smells an awful lot like Northwestern. MAC team who goes undefeated a few times and finally gets respect, but still not enough to make the top rankings. Have they ever made Top 5? They were the BCS busters in the last couple years just like TCU was before it joined the Big XII. Remember their good days in CUSA and M-West? All plausible things for North Texas to do, but it will take years of winning to even join the conversation.

And if we beat "Texsa," I still don't think we come out undefeated. There will almost certainly be a game that we have no business losing, but find a way to do so.

[Mean Green 93-98]

All of this talk smells an awful lot like Northwestern. MAC team who goes undefeated a few times and finally gets respect, but still not enough to make the top rankings. Have they ever made Top 5? They were the BCS busters in the last couple years just like TCU was before it joined the Big XII. Remember their good days in CUSA and M-West? All plausible things for North Texas to do, but it will take years of winning to even join the conversation.

And if we beat "Texsa," I still don't think we come out undefeated. There will almost certainly be a game that we have no business losing, but find a way to do so.

Northwestern? They've been in the Big 10 forever. Do you mean Northern Illinois? They've never been undefeated--at least not recently--but they have had two 12-2 seasons in a row.

[Jason Howeth]

Northwestern? They've been in the Big 10 forever. Do you mean Northern Illinois? They've never been undefeated--at least not recently--but they have had two 12-2 seasons in a row.

I knew I had that wrong. Northern Illinois is who I was talking about.

[North Texas Shep]

All of this talk smells an awful lot like Northwestern. MAC team who goes undefeated a few times and finally gets respect, but still not enough to make the top rankings. Have they ever made Top 5? They were the BCS busters in the last couple years just like TCU was before it joined the Big XII. Remember their good days in CUSA and M-West? All plausible things for North Texas to do, but it will take years of winning to even join the conversation.

And if we beat "Texsa," I still don't think we come out undefeated. There will almost certainly be a game that we have no business losing, but find a way to do so.

UTSA... Still sad.