The Pac-12's, 3 ranked teams at year's end are a function of its 9-game conference scheduling (self-cannibalizing) and East Coast ignorance (bias?). Last year's Utah team was a more-injured, but better version of Tennessee (which played 1 fewer conference game in the SEC). TN winds up ranked 17th at year's end & Utah is unranked.
The SEC & ACC are the last holdouts with 8-game schedules. Supposedly, the soonest the SEC will move to a 9-game conference schedule is 2026 (the holdup: ESPN coughing up more $ for the 9th game). I cannot wait for the playing field to level-up in this regard. With more overall & in-conference losses (and resulting diminshed rankings & strength-of-schedules), hopefully the incidence of inequitable TN/UT outcomes will diminish.
Regarding the ACC: regardless of 8 or 9 game conference scheduling: last year's FSU snub has shown that it has already been discounted in the CFP world.
Love the back and forth, guys. More please.
I like the variety in this style of writing, and getting other writer’s perspectives.
The Pac-12's, 3 ranked teams at year's end are a function of its 9-game conference scheduling (self-cannibalizing) and East Coast ignorance (bias?). Last year's Utah team was a more-injured, but better version of Tennessee (which played 1 fewer conference game in the SEC). TN winds up ranked 17th at year's end & Utah is unranked.
The SEC & ACC are the last holdouts with 8-game schedules. Supposedly, the soonest the SEC will move to a 9-game conference schedule is 2026 (the holdup: ESPN coughing up more $ for the 9th game). I cannot wait for the playing field to level-up in this regard. With more overall & in-conference losses (and resulting diminshed rankings & strength-of-schedules), hopefully the incidence of inequitable TN/UT outcomes will diminish.
Regarding the ACC: regardless of 8 or 9 game conference scheduling: last year's FSU snub has shown that it has already been discounted in the CFP world.
Very fun and informative back and forth. Thanks!
The Tyson & Christian Show! Civilized conversation between two solid journalists. Thanks