The Best Of...
College Football Playoff Reaction Special
Ready to tackle the controversies and heated debates around the recent college football playoff announcements? Join us, the Beer Brothers, as we make an uncompromising examination of the chosen teams: Michigan, Washington, Texas, and Alabama. We unanimously agree on Michigan and Washington's spots but prepare for a passionate disagreement about Texas and Alabama's selections. We'll crack open the strong case for Texas as a conference champion, Alabama's early stumble, and the factors that might have swayed the committee's decision. Plus, we'll discuss how these choices could impact revenue and viewership.
But that's not all. We're also diving head-first into the Ohio State controversy, their loss to Michigan, their missing conference championship, and how these factors might influence their playoff chances. We'll analyze the SEC's performance this year, the underdogs, and the looming Kentucky versus Clemson bowl game. Also on tap: the repercussions of players opting out due to NIL deals. So, put on your game face, grab a beer, and join us for a spirited discussion that confronts the rivalries and complexities of college football rankings head-on.
Ready to tackle the controversies and heated debates around the recent college football playoff announcements? Join us, the Beer Brothers, as we make an uncompromising examination of the chosen teams: Michigan, Washington, Texas, and Alabama. We unanimously agree on Michigan and Washington's spots but prepare for a passionate disagreement about Texas and Alabama's selections. We'll crack open the strong case for Texas as a conference champion, Alabama's early stumble, and the factors that might have swayed the committee's decision. Plus, we'll discuss how these choices could impact revenue and viewership.
But that's not all. We're also diving head-first into the Ohio State controversy, their loss to Michigan, their missing conference championship, and how these factors might influence their playoff chances. We'll analyze the SEC's performance this year, the underdogs, and the looming Kentucky versus Clemson bowl game. Also on tap: the repercussions of players opting out due to NIL deals. So, put on your game face, grab a beer, and join us for a spirited discussion that confronts the rivalries and complexities of college football rankings head-on.
the beer brothers proudly present the best of a podcast about the best of everything, from the mundane to the ridiculous. Just three buddies sitting around the car table talking about things that absolutely matter to no one.
Speaker 1:Well, we're going to talk about things that absolutely matter to only college football fans.
Speaker 3:So that's basically everybody yeah.
Speaker 1:I would think so. I mean for the next 15, 20 minutes. Whatever it's going to take us to, we're debriefing. This is not really a best of episode. This is a special emergency podcast for a discussion of the college football playoff announcements for today. This is being recorded on Sunday, when the college football playoff, the four teams have been announced and there's a lot to unpack. So let's begin. I'm Mark, I'm Chris, I'm Greg. Where do we even begin? This is unprecedented year. Well, let's start with the easy.
Speaker 3:Yeah, the two were easy. I think, yeah, michigan, nope, Do we all agree they're down.
Speaker 1:Okay, do all reasonable college football fans agree that they should be in any reasonable college football fan that approves of cheating. Yes. Allegedly they should definitely be in it. Allegedly they're outstanding at cheating, but allegedly I digress. You know, with their cheating they're obviously one of the best teams. So yeah, they're there in Yep and I have also no issue with the next team you're going to mention. Washington Absolutely Should be it.
Speaker 3:I was impressed with Washington beating down Oregon again. I was too, and now the pack 10 doesn't play defense, that's true.
Speaker 1:So you bet the over.
Speaker 3:I did I lost See and it was a bad. It was a bad weekend in college football for me.
Speaker 1:It was close though. It was close it was close on the over. I should always bet the over and the impact 12 and you would normally win.
Speaker 3:Yeah, then number three Texas. What are your thoughts on Texas?
Speaker 1:being three, I think Texas as a conference champion who has a obviously it's the big 12. It is. But they they obviously have a very large win in their pocket over Alabama. You know I could see why some people might have an issue with them, but they just beat the tar out of Oklahoma State. They had one bad loss and sometimes it's hard to overcome a bad loss. I believe their bad loss was Iowa State Right.
Speaker 3:I thought it was Kansas State.
Speaker 1:I could be wrong. Yeah, Look that up. I will. I'll look it up. I thought it was Iowa State but I couldn't be you you definitely could be right.
Speaker 2:I think getting them in is just their farewell from the big 12.
Speaker 3:Welcome to the SEC next year, yeah Well well, but you do realize that this is something we'll get back into. Is that, like the top Seven or eight teams? It's the, it's the power to conferences start next year. It is.
Speaker 1:And absolutely is. That's right. That's big 10 and SEC, yeah, and I do think you know a lot of the decisions that the committee made and they're going to give you every football reason that they can, but it comes down to the almighty dollar, which you know. What are the matchups that people are going to pay to watch? Now, I'll save that argument for a little bit. You know, later, as we discussed the other teams that got in, chris, I mean, kind of what are your?
Speaker 3:thoughts on Texas lost to Oklahoma.
Speaker 1:Oklahoma Oklahoma 34 30.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oklahoma's not great, that's right.
Speaker 3:I could not be Oklahoma. But look, if your coach can't if your coach can't run out of a uh when they're running onto the field without falling? Down I got a lot of good friends in Oklahoma, but if your coach can't run out on the field, then you don't deserve to be in.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Well that's, that's not a terrible loss, that's not I would state would have been worse, that's for sure. Uh, so I can absolutely see Texas being in it, right. So so let me, let me just say this as an Ohio State graduate and obviously a Homer for Ohio State, I feel that Texas, their loss, uh, being earlier in the year and winning their conference, I think those things matter. So I think Texas should be in above an Ohio State and most other.
Speaker 3:So so on that analysis, then, in Alabama should have been in, so you've got to. So you've got no argument with Alabama being in, because Alabama's loss was to Texas in the second week of the season and they were the comfort champion. So here.
Speaker 1:Here's the issue that I have with with that but, but.
Speaker 3:But you just now said, Texas gets in on that.
Speaker 1:I. It's different reasons, because what you've got to look at is do you want to have a two, one loss teams or do you have another undefeated power, five conference champion? No, so I mean to me.
Speaker 3:Florida state is not counting, it's is. Is the ACC really a power?
Speaker 2:five. No, Florida state is not counting.
Speaker 3:I mean, are they?
Speaker 1:really a power five. I mean, for that logic, let's have Liberty in there. They're 13 and 0.
Speaker 2:I don't. I think it's pretty Cut and dry for how many organs they didn't make it.
Speaker 3:You know, Oregon's going to beat Liberty today. Oh yeah, they're going to be Liberty today, yeah.
Speaker 1:Now I I think that Florida state fans have an uh, they have a real reason to be upset, I agree. But I also and I said this from the beginning I said to you I think this is these are going to be the four teams that they choose. I don't think it's the right for, in my opinion. But let's just be honest Florida state playing Michigan is not going to bring in the same type of revenue and the same type of viewership and it's not going to be as good of a game. That wouldn't even be a game, so come on.
Speaker 3:So who would your four have been?
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I would have Florida stayed in there instead of Alabama. Um, just simply for the fact that and and here's the thing Um, let's say, alabama lost in the regular season to Auburn, which they should have All right, they did, but they didn't.
Speaker 1:But let's say that they didn't lose to Texas, right, but they lost to Auburn and then they won against Georgia. I'd have zero issue with them, you know, being in at that point. The only reason that I can make an army it for for Texas being in is they have a head to head win over Alabama. If that's true, second game of the season right, but whether it's second or 13th, to me those things matter and but it didn't matter when Texas lost earlier in the season when they got to be home.
Speaker 1:But they also came back and they won their conference championship.
Speaker 3:So did Alabama.
Speaker 1:They won the rest of their games and I wouldn't have them in above an undefeated Florida state team in terms of the ranking. I would, simply because they have a loss Right. I you know, okay, but I test best, best teams there's. There's no one that could make the argument that Florida state is better than Georgia or Alabama or Ohio state or Texas, or frankly, you could probably make an argument that Oregon would, I mean would drill Florida state, but at some point Georgia would kill Florida yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I think Oregon would. I think Ohio state would. I think it'd be a closer game, because you know, you never know what you buck I team you're going to get. But you know, having said that, imagine your Florida state. You're in a power five conference. You win all your games. You do everything you're supposed to do. The only thing that you didn't do was protect your quarterback. Your quarterback get hurt, right.
Speaker 3:Yeah, sure.
Speaker 1:I get it. I get what I'm at home.
Speaker 3:I get whether, man yeah, I think it comes down to, as you and I talked about earlier today I think it comes down to are you doing the foremost deserving teams or are you doing the four best teams Right? And if you're doing the four best teams, they probably got it right.
Speaker 1:Well, I don't think they did.
Speaker 2:I think, Georgia, I think Georgia 26 in a row, they'd lose by three to Alabama.
Speaker 1:But here's the thing I think Georgia is better than Alabama and I think if they play 10, times.
Speaker 3:I think Georgia is better than Alabama. I think they would play 10 times Georgia would win seven Alabama.
Speaker 1:I agree, I agree, I agree yeah.
Speaker 2:Alabama wins it all.
Speaker 1:Never. So if you just go with that logic, then they didn't get All right.
Speaker 3:Who do you think the four best teams are? Honestly, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'd go and again my bias not playing a role here at all. Michigan.
Speaker 3:I think Washington has shown I would say the fourth best team and I think they're all the same. I think the fourth best team can Washington play defense is my only Look their offense.
Speaker 1:They get their quarterback, he's, he's legit. But I've played defense. I have I've kind of been bashing them all year and they just keep winning. You know what I mean? Yeah. So I'd have to throw them in there as one of the best teams.
Speaker 3:They may. They may be the fourth best, but then I'd say Georgia, Alabama.
Speaker 1:I think I don't see.
Speaker 3:I don't have any huge issues with it. I don't see it. Instead of Washington, I could see it.
Speaker 1:I could see the argument.
Speaker 3:But I think Georgia and Alabama are in the top four. I think Michigan you got to put them there. I mean they've got. They've not played many people. They beat Ohio State, they beat Penn State. They really not played anybody else.
Speaker 1:No, they beat Ohio State by six in the big house.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 1:And Ohio State's driving.
Speaker 3:Without their head coach? Yeah, without their head coach.
Speaker 1:That's a good thing for them. Their interim did a much better job. We would prefer Harbaugh, frankly.
Speaker 2:Well, harbaugh will be back for the championship. Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah.
Speaker 3:He was back for the game. Well, no, I don't think Harbaugh will be back for the championship.
Speaker 1:No, he won't be back for the championship Because I think Alabama, I think Alabama beats them, so they're not going to be in it.
Speaker 2:No doubt, what did I just say? Never bet against Saban.
Speaker 3:Well, it'll be Did you see the lines for these games? Mm-mm. Okay, Did you see them? I did. Michigan is favored by two. I have already placed my no. Allegedly Gambling is legal in Kentucky now. So you can say I did. I've already placed my wager on Alabama. Now wager at your own discretion. And the other game Texas is favored by four and a half over Washington. But the game I did win money on this weekend was Washington was the underdog to Oregon by nine and a half points.
Speaker 3:I didn't understand the line. I thought somebody had hurt. I think I called you and asked you if somebody was hurt.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Because I was like there's no way that line's nine and a half.
Speaker 1:No, I think Michigan can win the game against Alabama. I think that's why they're favored. And SEC buys. You can take your SEC bias and you know, make whatever you want.
Speaker 3:I just don't think Michigan can stop their quarterback. Yeah, I mean, their quarterback was terrible at the beginning of the season. Yeah, I mean it was terrible, yeah, and now he's as good as anybody in the country.
Speaker 2:But that Kentucky game was about the time he changed, if you think about it. They came into Kentucky just he was barely coming to fruition then and he's just been dominant ever since.
Speaker 3:I'm glad we could help him.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 3:We're SEC friendly.
Speaker 1:I would have preferred. It just means more If Alabama would not have made it, because then, as a tweet I saw, the NIT would have been fantastic. Look, NIT would have been Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State and Oregon. That would have been a fun.
Speaker 2:So that would have been better than the national championship.
Speaker 3:But I do have a legitimate question. So you're saying that a lot of it had to do with matchups. People want to see things like that and I don't disagree with that. Where does Ohio State fit in that?
Speaker 1:Yeah, ohio State's been an enigma all season long, you know, but don't they?
Speaker 3:I mean they got a huge following.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah they, they are the, they are the draw in college football, but they're not the the the in terms of their viewership what have been the highest rate of college football games all season long. Ohio State top two, the Notre Dame game and the Michigan game higher than any other. The they bring in viewers, but they're not getting in the college football playoff, losing and not being a conference champion. Right, those are the two biggies If you've got a. It's happened before if you, but if you've got a loss and see but it's easy.
Speaker 1:One of them, you're right, absolutely, you know and you know and.
Speaker 3:I mean, if you can't beat Michigan, you can't be in and the 20, the 2014 year.
Speaker 1:Ohio State had a terrible loss during the season and they rallied and got strong as the year went on. They went in the college in the big 10 championship and waxed Wisconsin 59 to zero. That's Wisconsin. And then they got into that. They got into the playoff as the number of playoffs against Alabama, who won four and went down and beat the tar out of Alabama 10 years ago.
Speaker 2:I was going to say that was almost 10 years ago 10 years ago.
Speaker 1:I'm just making a point. It's it was the first year of this system, and so it may be the only time the SEC is not one.
Speaker 3:And then they won the championship.
Speaker 2:How many times you have with George one and twice in a row, and was that a little bit before?
Speaker 3:they've won 70.
Speaker 1:I guess it just didn't mean more that year it's not Uh-huh, uh-huh, we had to let the first year system go get, going Get a little bit of people.
Speaker 2:We had otherwise it was not fair.
Speaker 1:I bring. I bring that up just to say you know that a team can have an early season loss and, and you know, be okay, I think that's the.
Speaker 3:I think that is the problem with the rivalry week being the last week of the year.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean because, let's say, ohio State would have lost to Michigan the third week of the season and then they win nine straight Right. Then there's going to be other people losing the the automatic move on up.
Speaker 1:It would have been a discussion right.
Speaker 2:You know, I think, the rivalry week thing rivalry rivalry week. I don't care when it's played there. Those games mean so much more than just you know there's kind of more emotion SEC game, Exactly Right.
Speaker 3:They just mean more right. They mean more than emotion and all that.
Speaker 2:So you know, there's always coming in, like when you have an, like you have a Kentucky versus a Louisville and ACC versus an SEC. Yeah, you know who was the better team, and who comes out on?
Speaker 1:top Kentucky won.
Speaker 2:Well, they did that.
Speaker 1:Yes, Well, let's ask the question then. If that's the case, you know, I think everyone would agree, at least to some extent the SEC had a down year this year.
Speaker 3:They were not the dominant until they went up against the ACC.
Speaker 1:They had a losing record. I hear here's how you, here's what I think, here's what I think about that.
Speaker 3:Okay, I think overall the SEC is not as dominant this year as it has been in the last two decades. Yeah, I agree I think the two best teams in the SEC are as good as any other team in the country. I think it gets skewed a little bit when you're looking at a, when you're looking at a, for example, an ACC number two. Yeah, versus an SEC eight or nine.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Uh, which is the Kentucky Louisville game. So, so I think, when you like, when you're starting to look at like bowl records, yeah, Um, the SEC is going to have 10 or 11 teams in it and they're going to be playing ACC number, SEC 10 is going to be playing ACC four or something like that. Uh, I think if you would put ACC four versus SEC four, I think the SEC's get got a winning record with no issue. So that's like like who's the fourth best team in the big 10?
Speaker 1:That's a. I think someone would argue that it's Iowa. But gosh, I sure, okay, okay, okay, I'm good with that, you know, let's assume it's Iowa. It may it may be Maryland, so then. So then I will have okay. So Iowa versus LSU. Oh yeah, I mean, I was terrible.
Speaker 2:I agree, but.
Speaker 3:I was really good defense. So they can. So it's Maryland.
Speaker 2:It's.
Speaker 3:Maryland, and with that we'll get to number five. Uh, probably, probably, okay, so then that would have them against.
Speaker 1:Well, no, I take that back.
Speaker 3:They'd be playing LSU, because old mess is SEC.
Speaker 1:four what, what about?
Speaker 3:or Tennessee their SEC three. They're not great.
Speaker 1:So what about the UK Clemson game then? That's going to be in the uh, in the.
Speaker 3:Gator. So Kentucky's probably eight or nine in the SEC. And what's Clemson?
Speaker 1:I honestly don't know.
Speaker 3:Three or four, three or four, I would assume.
Speaker 1:Yep, I would have said, and Kentucky's already beat the.
Speaker 3:ACC number two Correct.
Speaker 1:So you should be betting the house.
Speaker 3:Then on UK over Clemson right, you said, you said number two.
Speaker 1:You should be betting the house then on UK to beat the heck out of Clemson.
Speaker 3:All of these bowl games, except the CFP games, are entirely dependent on who plays. Who plays. So Ray Davis, kentucky's best offensive player, has already said I'm not playing. Yeah, now do I think they should play. Absolutely Way to let your team, I think they should play.
Speaker 2:Get off my lawn here's the thing If you're going to come up, go play. You're going to come in with NIL and you're going to get paid to do this or that. I'm sorry, second, go play. This is not how this works.
Speaker 3:I think we all agreed they should go play. But but you guys both know as well as I do it's entirely dependent on who plays, because last year, just the Kentucky game last year will let us didn't play, chris Rodriguez didn't play, terrible Makes made it entirely different.
Speaker 1:So but but do you think they'll still go to class?
Speaker 2:We're not talking about Carolina basketball.
Speaker 3:So student athletes did you hear on ESPN today, Savinson? Now we got to give these kids a week off because they got finals coming up.
Speaker 1:Now look how many Bama football players are taking finals this week, yeah, so we're going to do a little fun fact here.
Speaker 2:In all of college football, there are only eight teams that have been to eight straight bowl games through this year, including this year. Can you name? How many can you name?
Speaker 3:OH, oh.
Speaker 2:How about another one?
Speaker 3:I'm going to say UK.
Speaker 2:UK is one Michigan.
Speaker 3:Alabama.
Speaker 2:Alabama, georgia, michigan, ohio State. No, ohio State I.
Speaker 3:Climbs. That's probably in it, I would think.
Speaker 2:I'll have five, so I don't know. You tell me the other three.
Speaker 3:How did you know that you say there?
Speaker 2:were eight. It says there eight.
Speaker 3:Who says?
Speaker 2:three. It's on Twitter. Excuse me X. Did they not have the answer? They just told me the top five, but I just want to make a point terrible.
Speaker 3:Do you know that there are 78 people in the world who guess this? All the ball games, correct, just?
Speaker 2:for I don't know any of their names, my point is three of the eight or the SEC how many are gonna be in the? Big.
Speaker 1:So three of the eight, then are in the big 10.
Speaker 3:I'm talking about the ACC, so it's a big two.
Speaker 2:Of course that was.
Speaker 1:That was a fun fact brought you by Chris. Yeah, that's awkward.
Speaker 3:So there's gonna be some fun games though.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree, here's. Here's the thing, boys. How fun has it been today just to have these discussions via text messaging.
Speaker 3:Oh yeah, that's good. On Twitter.
Speaker 1:Now, we're not gonna have this next year, we're think about next year. We have a 12, so did you see the?
Speaker 3:cutoff. Where the cutoff would be, this year's old miss is the last team in and liberty gets the last spot, because the highest ranked Non-power I should say to, but power five conference is the last pick. So it would have been old messing up Versus and liberty so do the first four get buys?
Speaker 1:How's it work next year?
Speaker 3:I'm curious about it has to be by that's right.
Speaker 1:So you would think so you wouldn't put Georgia Liberty, and I mean, that's just right, I think.
Speaker 3:I think Five through twelve would have to play each other in one, two, four. We get a buy with yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know one thing I want to throw out there that I really enjoyed reading today.
Speaker 1:Is it another fun fact?
Speaker 2:It's about University of Louisville. Okay, right, university of Louisville, prior to the UK game, was talking about how they're gonna win the ACC. They're gonna go to a New Year's Day or New Year's Six Bowl, right, they're excited about that. Well, now they've lost to Kentucky. They lost to Florida State Because Florida State didn't make it in. So now Louisville gets to play on December 27th out in, I believe, in out in California. So they didn't make the New Year's Six Bowls, they didn't win the ACC championship. So the 10 and 3 team, who had a great season, not taking away from them, has had all their dreams busted.
Speaker 1:I think it's a today, the beer brothers the best of bowl. You're right, that's our sponsorship, hey.
Speaker 3:I just look. Clemson was sixth in the ACC and Kentucky is tied for eight in the SEC.
Speaker 1:So by your logic, bet the house UK is gonna roll Clemson, can we?
Speaker 3:entirely dependent on. I can't if, john, we're trying, if we take it back to week three, I hope he just runs out on the field falls I Mean is he gonna sprint out on?
Speaker 1:the field.
Speaker 3:Oh good, maybe we should just pony up.
Speaker 1:Here's the thing big 10 sec. Awkward, we can all agree. Dabbo is a Yep.
Speaker 3:Yes not a great person. He's not a good person who plays the card. So now he's a he from llama.
Speaker 2:He is not. Hey, this would be a good cuz. We got plenty of time to talk.
Speaker 1:So, oh, you know it really has. I'm sorry, we're just kind of running out of time.
Speaker 2:And thanks for listening to this week's podcast, the best of presented by the beer brothers.
Speaker 1:The best of is available on all formats. Wherever you listen to podcasts, be sure to catch our next episode. You never know what or who will be the best of next. Have a great day, everyone.