2024 Postseason Discussion

[legendkiller5]

Quote: Originally Posted by LowerWolf

I see people elsewhere getting on Freeman for opting for the field goal on fourth-and-goal from the 9 down 31-15. I don't think that was a bad call. While a 16-point deficit is technically a two-score game, analytically it's still a three-score game since the analytics say you're unlikely to convert both two-point tries (and probably even more unlikely after ND converted one on its previous touchdown). So kicking the FG takes it from a three-score game (analytically) to a two-score game. I certainly wouldn't have blamed him for going for it there either, but from that distance taking what should have been an easy three points seems like a reasonable call to me.

Agree, especially with how elite Ohio State had been defending the red area / in goal-to-go situations. You also expect your kicker whose right leg delivered you to the championship game would come through that moment.

The more egregious decision was Golden, who was pretty brilliant most of the year, calling a zero blitz + cushion on that last 3rd down. If the corner gets beat off the line - fine. If he's in phase and Smith Moss'd him - fine. You can live with either of those outcomes, vs a free release and easy pitch & catch.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Is football in the south, as king, dead? You have to go back to 1994-1995 when Nebraska was champion, to find consecutive years to shut the south out of championships.

[canes21]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ghost Of The Year

Is football in the south, as king, dead? You have to go back to 1994-1995 when Nebraska was champion, to find consecutive years to shut the south out of championships.

Making it legal to pay players was always going to hurt the SEC more than any other conference. It also will lead to more parity in general as teams won't be stacking talent as frequently.

[l3ulvl]

Quote: Originally Posted by canes21

Didn't watch the entire game through, but it felt like a perfect conclusion to this season. Outside of a handful of minutes it was mostly an unexciting game that you already knew how it was going to end. It's known by now I am not a fan of the current playoff system and feel it is far too many teams and I think that played a massive role in why this season was one of the seasons I was least interested in in my lifetime. Ohio State was clearly playing the best ball by the end of the year and has arguably the most talented roster in the country. I've seen the argument that they never would have had a chance to play for a title under the old systems and I get why some people view that as a positive. I understand many people want to see what they perceive as the best teams playing in these playoff games to cap off the year. I view it from a different perspective, though. I can admit they have the best roster and are the best team in the country when playing at their best, like they did in the playoffs. However, I don't think a team that loses multiple games in a season, especially the final game of the year when favored by 20+ is really deserving of playing for a title. That's why I am not a fan of the playoff expansion and why I found this season to be lacking overall. The games in the regular season have become more meaningless and what a team earns on the field during the year matters less than it ever has before in the history of the sport. Not trying to convince anyone to see it the way I do, just simply stating my own opinion on the matter.

Do you think OSU would've played differently against Mich under the previous format?

[canes21]

Quote: Originally Posted by l3ulvl

Do you think OSU would've played differently against Mich under the previous format?

No. They came out trying to prove a point that they are just as physical as Michigan and it backfired. They also played poorly as a team altogether that day on top of having a poor gameplan. It wasn't from a lack of trying, either.

[canes21]

Seems the posts on here from before the title game were not simply anecdotal and CFB fans as a whole weren't as up for this title game. 22.1m viewers, 3rd lowest viewer count for a title game since the playoffs became a thing. A little surprising given the two programs in the title and the sizes of their bases, but I think there may have been some playoff fatigue in place.

[LowerWolf]

Quote: Originally Posted by canes21

Seems the posts on here from before the title game were not simply anecdotal and CFB fans as a whole weren't as up for this title game. 22.1m viewers, 3rd lowest viewer count for a title game since the playoffs became a thing. A little surprising given the two programs in the title and the sizes of their bases, but I think there may have been some playoff fatigue in place.

There probably was some playoff fatigue, and just fatigue in general with as long as the season went. As I wrote before the game, Ohio State was expected to win big, so I'm sure that played a factor as well. And while Notre Dame is a big brand, it strangely lacked star power.

SEC fans, by large, can't stand either program. I'm guessing the ratings drop was pretty big in the South.

Add it all up and not really a surprise.