2017 Wisconsin Football Thread

[tmwiese55]

To me it's just a different level. If the FCS champ goes undefeated should we argue whether they could have gone undefeated at a power 5 schedule, I don't think so. I say the same thing about the non power 5s. They are their own group, if they want to have their own champion, go for it, but then they'll have to give up all the money the power 5s toss them which funds their programs. Sorry, I'm 100% confident USF is not the best team this year. I do think it was a joke to leave them down at 12, at least throw them a bone and put them 8th or something. However, maybe it was all on purpose to tell everyone going forward that it's just not happening.

 

Also, I pointed out how you can argue in circles about all those spots so it's essentially the same argument from 10th-ish to 4th this year so it's the same gap.

[paul253]

It really is a simple solution to me. Go to 8. Five power 5 champs get automatic bids. Highest ranked group of 5 champ gets auto bid if they are ranked as a top 15 team by the committee So this year that’s Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma, Ohio St, USC and UCF. Can anyone really argue with that? Then two at large. This year it’s pretty clearly Alabama and Wisconsin. Simple.

 

It won’t always be this simple but the fact is a power five champ should never be left out in favor of a team that didnt even in their own division. Plus it eliminates the built in advantage the SEC and ACC have with 8 game conference schedules. And it still emphasizes regular season because the regular season because teams will want a good resume in case they don’t win their conference.

[pacopete4]

It really is a simple solution to me. Go to 8. Five power 5 champs get automatic bids. Highest ranked group of 5 champ gets auto bid if they are ranked as a top 15 team by the committee So this year that’s Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma, Ohio St, USC and UCF. Can anyone really argue with that? Then two at large. This year it’s pretty clearly Alabama and Wisconsin. Simple.

 

It won’t always be this simple but the fact is a power five champ should never be left out in favor of a team that didnt even in their own division. Plus it eliminates the built in advantage the SEC and ACC have with 8 game conference schedules. And it still emphasizes regular season because the regular season because teams will want a good resume in case they don’t win their conference.

 

Yep. The answer is staring at them but they won’t do a damn thing. This is exactly what should happen.

[PeaveyFury]

UCF is legit claiming the 2017 National Championship, and I thoroughly love it:

 

http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/21951014/ucf-knights-raise-national-championship-banner

[owbc]

To further emphasize how stupid the system is, Wisconsin should be helped considerably by the B10 moving conference games up to early September in a few years. The entire "strength of schedule" argument this year might have been ignored if Wisconsin had played their games in a different order.

 

I love what UCF is doing and I hope Wisconsin and Notre Dame fight back by canceling their upcoming series or making the series contingent upon an expanded playoff.

[LouisEly]

2) Don't schedule Florida Atlantic (2017),

In case you didn't notice, Florida Atlantic ran the table in their conference and won their bowl game 50-3.

 

There's also no logic to this, because what if you had scheduled Notre Dame last year - what type of team were you expecting, and what type of team did you get? What if you had scheduled Western Michigan last year - what type of team were you expecting, and what type of team did you get? Your non-conference SOS would look very different if you had scheduled those teams last year vs this year. You have no idea how good these teams are going to be in 5-6 years when you schedule them.

[LouisEly]

It really is a simple solution to me. Go to 8. Five power 5 champs get automatic bids. Highest ranked group of 5 champ gets auto bid if they are ranked as a top 15 team by the committee So this year that’s Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma, Ohio St, USC and UCF. Can anyone really argue with that? Then two at large. This year it’s pretty clearly Alabama and Wisconsin. Simple.

 

It won’t always be this simple but the fact is a power five champ should never be left out in favor of a team that didnt even in their own division. Plus it eliminates the built in advantage the SEC and ACC have with 8 game conference schedules. And it still emphasizes regular season because the regular season because teams will want a good resume in case they don’t win their conference.

 

Yep. The answer is staring at them but they won’t do a damn thing. This is exactly what should happen.

The solution is simple. The problem is when do you schedule the first round? College BB can have a tourney because it isn't anywhere near finals. Not so much with football.

[pacopete4]

It really is a simple solution to me. Go to 8. Five power 5 champs get automatic bids. Highest ranked group of 5 champ gets auto bid if they are ranked as a top 15 team by the committee So this year that’s Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma, Ohio St, USC and UCF. Can anyone really argue with that? Then two at large. This year it’s pretty clearly Alabama and Wisconsin. Simple.

 

It won’t always be this simple but the fact is a power five champ should never be left out in favor of a team that didnt even in their own division. Plus it eliminates the built in advantage the SEC and ACC have with 8 game conference schedules. And it still emphasizes regular season because the regular season because teams will want a good resume in case they don’t win their conference.

 

Yep. The answer is staring at them but they won’t do a damn thing. This is exactly what should happen.

The solution is simple. The problem is when do you schedule the first round? College BB can have a tourney because it isn't anywhere near finals. Not so much with football.

 

This year it could have been Christmas weekend, New Years weekend, and the weekend coming up. 8-4-2.

[paul253]

They could always start the season a week earlier. Or better yet go back to three non conference games rather than four. One less opportunity to see Alabama play Furman. Bummer.

 

On a side note, every year my brother and I wager on the bowl games where we just switch off picking games and whoever wins more games wins the bet. Because of that I watch a lot of these crap bowls. The attendance at many of these second and third tier bowls is an absolute joke. I’m talking stadiums 75% empty (or more). If they are really concerned about players playing too many games or missing class or finals or whatever how about eliminating half of these stupid pointless bowl games where two 6-6 teams play each other in front of 8,000 fans?

[tmwiese55]

Agree that there would be no harm in axing about 6 bowls, would make it all seems a bit more prestigious then.

 

Another unrelated thing I'd like to see added is another bye week. Basically just move the season up one week so teams can have a buy within their first 4-5 games and another near the end. With how physical this all is now I just think it's in the best interest of the kids. And financially it spreads the games out more so you can sell more marquee games. I know the total games would be the same, but now they're more spread out so better timeslots. A weird quirk this year is I think USC didn't have a bye until the last week of the year. So they played one of the toughest schedules and got no byes. I think there was 3-4 blah games a week early this year, so maybe this trend is starting a bit.

 

Also note that the B1G, Pac 10, and Big 12 already play 9 conf games and only 3 non conference. ACC I think does 8 but they have the ND tie-in so 4 or 5 teams get ND. SEC is the only one still doing 8 so they can schedule a cupcake midseason to rest.

[owbc]

I think they will have to pay the players for the extra game. Players are already paid in gift cards/merchandise for bowl games so it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to add monetary compensation. Plus the usual arguments against paying players do not apply for a bonus game that would only pad the coffers while generating millions in bonus revenue.

 

Otherwise any player with NFL ambitions would be crazy to participate in potentially 3 extra games.

 

Another option would be to embrace the cupcake games and do away with power-5 non-conference games entirely. Smaller schools benefit considerably from those games so it could be a win-win.

 

As for the low-level bowl games, I would stop playing them at neutral sites and allow the higher-seeded team to host the game. Schools have been losing money due to not filling ticket allotments so we may see this happen if more schools decline bowl entries.

[CheezWizHed]

While they can get rid of the CHERIBUNDI TART CHERRY BOCA RATON BOWL, I hope they keep the TAXSLAYER BOWL

[LouisEly]

Otherwise any player with NFL ambitions would be crazy to participate in potentially 3 extra games.

This is another very important point. Will you really get the best teams if the best players sit out? The chance to play for a national championship will mitigate this - it's not just three random games - but it will happen.

[MrTPlush]

UCF trying to acclaim some National Champion title is pretty embarrassing. They only proved themselves worthy of a shot at the top teams after their bowl game victory. Sorry but you have to prove that against teams in the regular season. Regardless it is pretty sad because it’s not like they beat a top 4 team twice in a row. They were a long way away from winning anything.

 

I understand not liking the system...but they are taking it a little far in my opinion. To the point they just look ridiculous.

[pacopete4]

[space][/space]

UCF trying to acclaim some National Champion title is pretty embarrassing. They only proved themselves worthy of a shot at the top teams after their bowl game victory. Sorry but you have to prove that against teams in the regular season. Regardless it is pretty sad because it’s not like they beat a top 4 team twice in a row. They were a long way away from winning anything.

 

I understand not liking the system...but they are taking it a little far in my opinion. To the point they just look ridiculous.

 

I'm on the other end of it. The system is a flat out joke so they might as well do whatever the hell they want to. I wish more coaches, AD's, programs would begin to stick their middle fingers up at the NCAA and create some real change.

[homer]

I think UCF is just doing it to stay relevant during the dead recruiting period.

[Samurai Bucky]

I think UCF is just doing it to stay relevant during the dead recruiting period.

Will that overcome the fact that Frost is heading to Nebraska?

[PeaveyFury]

UCF trying to acclaim some National Champion title is pretty embarrassing. They only proved themselves worthy of a shot at the top teams after their bowl game victory. Sorry but you have to prove that against teams in the regular season. Regardless it is pretty sad because it’s not like they beat a top 4 team twice in a row. They were a long way away from winning anything.

 

I understand not liking the system...but they are taking it a little far in my opinion. To the point they just look ridiculous.

 

The argument, valid or not, is that they just beat the team that beat both of the teams playing in the Championship Game. Not completely crazy, IMO.

[ZBTMP]

Will be interesting to see how many Wisconsin seniors get drafted and how many make rosters in the league. To be honest, I could see a case for any of them:

Fumagali: May be a lock if he can get healthy, but it was a down senior year. Watched replay of the Cotton Bowl and was amazed by the performance but partially because I didn’t anything like that this year.

Ramesh: I don’t know where the bar is currently for fullbacks, but certainly his bowl performance and end of the season run should get him a camp invite if nothing else. Ewing and Watt both got drafted so I assume he will.

Tindal: Above average career, though seems more like the undrafted practice squad type given his size and the success of Badger DBs in the NFL.

Jamerson: Rawness at the position and tackling lapses may keep him from a roster, but he probably has enough speed to intrigue teams.

Jacobs: Seems likely to make a roster as a special teams player if nothing else.

Dooley: Could see him playing inside at the next level. Wasn’t a strong enough pass rusher to me to see him playing outside on Sundays

Sheehy: Was a versatile player for Wisconsin but I don’t know if he is big enough to play inside or quick enough to play end at the next level.

James: Generated enough negative plays and pressure his senior year to be drafted. Probably a better fit in a 4-3.

Obasih: Before the knee injury, I thought he was a mid-round pick but I think he still gets a late round flyer if he tests well and is healthy, and he will make a roster.

So my completely amateur and uninformed guess is 5 get drafted (Fum, Ramesh, Jacobs, James, and Obasih), while Sheehy, Tindal and Jamerson make practice squads next season.

[homer]

I think UCF is just doing it to stay relevant during the dead recruiting period.

Will that overcome the fact that Frost is heading to Nebraska?

 

The fact that they let Frost coach the bowl game tells me they knew that was their best chance to win the game and stay in the news. Remains to be seen what they do with the exposure.

[hurricanecrush]

It really is a simple solution to me. Go to 8. Five power 5 champs get automatic bids. Highest ranked group of 5 champ gets auto bid if they are ranked as a top 15 team by the committee So this year that’s Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma, Ohio St, USC and UCF. Can anyone really argue with that? Then two at large. This year it’s pretty clearly Alabama and Wisconsin. Simple.

 

It won’t always be this simple but the fact is a power five champ should never be left out in favor of a team that didnt even in their own division. Plus it eliminates the built in advantage the SEC and ACC have with 8 game conference schedules. And it still emphasizes regular season because the regular season because teams will want a good resume in case they don’t win their conference.

Why not the first or second weekend after the regular season?

 

Yep. The answer is staring at them but they won’t do a damn thing. This is exactly what should happen.

The solution is simple. The problem is when do you schedule the first round? College BB can have a tourney because it isn't anywhere near finals. Not so much with football.

[MrTPlush]

UCF trying to acclaim some National Champion title is pretty embarrassing. They only proved themselves worthy of a shot at the top teams after their bowl game victory. Sorry but you have to prove that against teams in the regular season. Regardless it is pretty sad because it’s not like they beat a top 4 team twice in a row. They were a long way away from winning anything.

 

I understand not liking the system...but they are taking it a little far in my opinion. To the point they just look ridiculous.

 

The argument, valid or not, is that they just beat the team that beat both of the teams playing in the Championship Game. Not completely crazy, IMO.

 

It is incredibly stupid:

 

#1 Both those wins were at home not to mention Auburn lost to Georgia too.

 

#2 It isn’t about who your opponent beat, it is about who you beat. UCF could have handedly lost to both championship teams. You don’t hang banner for that kind of thing. Did the Chiefs get anything for beating the Patriots/Steelers during the regular season? Do they deserve the #1 seed in the playoffs?

[paul253]

I think them claiming a NC is dumb. They should be demanding a game vs Alabama and calling for a change in the system them excluded them.

 

Look, they are the only team in FBS to win all their games. No the schedule wasn’t that tough but I’d be willing to guess it was stronger than at least several teams from the Power 5 conferences. And had any power 5 conference team been undefeated they’d be in.

 

Additionally, they beat Auburn on a neutral field. They also beat a good Memphis team twice and a good South Florida team. They deserved a shot in the playoff. Yet because there are only four teams in the playoff they never really had a chance.

 

On a completely separate note, did anyone watch the major choke job by Georgia last night? My lord.

[tmwiese55]

No, there schedule is not anything close to what any Power 5 team played. Not even close. That good Memphis team lost to 7-5 Iowa St in a bowl game in Memphis' home stadium. Memphis scores like 60 vs their conference, got 20 in that game. I think in the title game UCF went double OT vs them and gave up 55 points. They got up for a big game and they pulled it out vs Auburn, good for them. But if they played a normal P5 Conf they'd have 0% chance of winning the national title, 0. These teams can pull their upsets but it's much different to have to play those teams 9 weeks in a row, as opposed to getting up once. And of course in any one game situation anything can happen, but 9 weeks in a row is a different animal.

 

UCF Schedule

FIU--won in blowout

at Maryland (only P5 team who happens to suck)--won 38-10

Memphis--won blowout

at Cinncy--won blowout

East Car---won blowout

at Navy---won by 10. Navy was 6-6 this year

Austin Peay an FCS team--won blowout

at SMU---won by 7, smu was 7-5 and got blown out by 41 by Louisiana Tech in bowl

Uconn--won blowout

at Temple--won blowout

USF--won by 7, great game and USF was a solid team

Memphis--title game won by 7 in double OT.

Then Auburn

[stoutdude04]

Not that it matters, but in the final AP poll UCF jumped to number 6 and Wisconsin dropped to 7. Ha. To me, the system is broken.