Reality Check: Could an undefeated Marshall get into the Playoff?

[JesseMartin]

At first glance, I'd say no. Check out their nice, fluffy schedule. A little MUTS and FAU sprinkled with some Ohio really isn't going to boost their SOS enough to be considered.

But what got me thinking about this was an article on espn.com asking if a 2-loss SEC team might get left out. If that's the case, and if the top dogs of other conferences find themselves in a similar jam, there's a chance.

See, what I'm thinking about is the C-USA championship game. If we, or Rice, or UTSA pound out some decent territory on the way to the conference championship, then it could be a contest between two ranked teams. Now, of course I'd love to see North Texas make it into the game and beat Marshall or whoever else the East sends. But if the Herd goes 12-0, and is likely ranked around the lower teens/high twenties, and beats a CUSA West champ nipping on its heels, the committee (who doesn't HAVE to take anything like rankings or stats into account, but let's face it, probably will) might make a consideration for a 13-0 team, especially if they beat most opponents rather decisively and pull out the close ones against decent competition.

What do you think? Does an undefeated CUSA champion Marshall beat out a couple of 2-loss P5 conference champions for a spot, IF everything else (i.e. blowout all weak teams) holds?

[MDH]

Not a chance with their schedule.

[golfingomez]

nope... bad schedule and not enough credibility before this year

[class84]

Moot point, they won't be undefeated after we beat them in the C-USA Championship game..

Seriously, I don't see any way the big 5 conferences are going to let anyone else into the playoff system. We are at the beginning of the Golden Rule in college football: they have the gold and they make the rules. The rest will be lucky to hang on to the bowl tie-ins currently in place.

[Jason Howeth]

The selection committee will be "fair"

[UNTcrazy727]

I don't see a G5 school getting into the Final 4 unless they run the table two years in-a-row. But once the playoff expands to 8 then we'll see a G5 school sneak in once every few years. This is under the assumption that the P5 hasn't completely broken off from the G5 schools, which is very likely.

[UNTexas]

No

[UNT90]

Have you seen where every member of the selection committee went to college?

Not a chance in hell. Not even if they beat OU in Norman and went undefeated.

[Ben Gooding]

BYU...this year...has a shot. Decent schedule with a legitimate shot to run it. They may not consider themselves G5, but the P5 community does. If the chips fall right they'll be deeply in the conversation.

[CMJ]

It's possible. There would have to be a lot of carnage among the big boys, but it's possible. Let's say a ten percent chance if they run the table, they get in.

Edited September 11, 2014 by CMJ

[Ben Gooding]

It's possible. There would have to be a lot of carnage among the big boys, but it's possible. Let's say a ten percent chance if they run the table, they get in.

Which the carnage you speak of is possible. Big10 is done. Sec will not have a team go undefeated. Big12 MIGHT have one undefeated in Baylor/OU. PAC 12 might have Oregon going undefeated, which is unlikely. There will be room there IMO for a team to slide in there, like BYU. Marshal doesn't have a shot, schedule is too soft. In the national championship race you have to beat somebody to be somebody.

[VideoEagle]

I don't think Marshal has a shot at a playoff spot, but if they go undefeated they have an excellent chance of being the G5 rep in one of the major bowls. Making a BCS-like bowl is still very, very good.

[North Texas Shep]

We already had this thread.. It would never happen.

[CMJ]

Which the carnage you speak of is possible. Big10 is done. Sec will not have a team go undefeated. Big12 MIGHT have one undefeated in Baylor/OU. PAC 12 might have Oregon going undefeated, which is unlikely. There will be room there IMO for a team to slide in there, like BYU. Marshal doesn't have a shot, schedule is too soft. In the national championship race you have to beat somebody to be somebody.

No, I am more speaking of carnage on the line of a few years ago when a 1 loss Ohio State played a 2 loss LSU in the BCS title game...and I think the rest of the top ten all had numerous losses (or bad blowout single losses).