There was hope for Cincinnati to become the first group of five team to reach the top four in the College Football Playoff's 2014 establishment.
How to nave.
CFP Selection Committee reminded us all that the Group of 5 does not need to apply to the playoff. It is judged using a different set of criteria, so it may as well be playing for crumpets, and not national championships.
Cincinnati came in at No. despite having the best non-conference record of any Group of 5 undefeated team that was ever presented to it. The first rankings reveal Tuesday revealed that Cincinnati ranked No. 6. This is a joke that insults all schools that are not in the major conferences.
The selection committee may be proud of Cincinnati's accomplishment in placing higher than any other Group of Five team in playoff history. The hypocrisy is laughable, even though it's so ridiculous. People like Bill Hancock, executive director of CFP, told us that UCF was undefeated in 2017-2018 and didn't even make it to the top four.
Hancock cited 2016 Houston as an example. Houston won the season opener against Oklahoma. The Cougars fell during conference play, and they were removed from consideration. Hancock stated to ESPN that he didn't believe the 2018 committee was unfair to Group 5 teams. Houston is the best example. They had a great schedule and a great conference schedule. I disagree with them."
Luke Fickell's Cincinnati Bearcats are doing everything they can, but still fall outside of the College Football Playoff selection panel's top four. AP Photo/Darron Cummings
Cincinnati offers a great schedule. As a matter fact, the same conference (AAC), as Houston. The season's final nonconference road win against Notre Dame is better than the 2016 Houston victory over Oklahoma, which was played on a neutral venue.
In that same year, the Sooners began 1-2. No. No. 10 Notre Dame currently stands at 7-1. Cincinnati defeated Indiana, giving the Bearcats two victories over Power 5 nonconference rivals. On the road. They did exactly what was expected of them. Yet, it wasn't enough. It's not Cincinnati's fault Indiana hasn't met its expectations this year.
By contrast, No. 5 Ohio State has not won a major nonconference victory. Although Ohio State is a Big Ten member, it does play primarily Power 5 teams. This leads to the same debate as when UCF tried to get into the top four. If the Group of 5 teams cannot do anything in their nonconference schedules, then why include them in this Power 5 playoff invitational.
The Conference Strength of Schedules between the Power 5 & Group of 5 will always favor the Power 5. This fact will be reinforced by stronger nonconference schedules. The College Football Playoff selection panel must admit that it cannot. There is really nothing you can do.
You can try again, but never again.
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The sad truth is that the goalposts always move each year. After the BCS had eliminated every unbeaten Group of five program, the playoff was established. Go undefeated, and the top four teams will be waiting!
However, just being undefeated wasn't enough. They were then told to build strong nonconference schedules and remain undefeated. However, they should also ensure that their conference is strong enough for them to help. They might also need to defeat every opponent. After struggling against Tulane and Navy, Cincinnati won the last two weeks. That is also not permitted.
Let me now consult this lengthy checklist, which only applies to the Group of 5
Make sure you have a challenging nonconference schedule.
These games should be played on the road.
Make sure everyone at your conference is happy.
Your conference should be a success.
You see? These teams will never be enough.
Instead of awarding Cincinnati a top-four spot among six undefeated teams, the committee decided to reward two teams that lost: No. 2 Alabama and No. 4 Oregon. However, Cincinnati was ranked No. Not only was the attention grabber Tuesday, but so was placing Cincinnati at No.
The Oklahoma team was ranked No. 8 was a slap on the face of the Sooners' inconsistent and sloppy play throughout the season, which included a close loss to Kansas. The other shocker was the inclusion of a Pac-12 team that lost just once in the Top 4. The committee gave Oregon credit for its win over Ohio State. That should be enough to put the Ducks ahead of the Buckeyes. Oregon lost to Stanford, but it did manage wins over Cal and UCLA. It was a lot like Cincinnati's win the previous two weeks.
This brings us to Alabama. The committee's best win nonconference is... 4-4 Miami. The committee has proven over its history that the SEC's schedule strength is all that matters when it comes down to evaluating schools from this conference in comparison to others.
Desmond Ridder led Cincinnati to an undefeated season, but the Bearcats are currently No. 6 in the CFP rankings. Justin Casterline/Getty Images
Some might respond by saying, "Alabama/Ohio State/Georgia would defeat Cincinnati in a playoff match!" It was less than a year ago that Cincinnati almost beat Georgia in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. Or is that because Georgia didn't care and wasn't trying hard enough to win the playoff?
It is no. If chaos does not ensue, 6 may be Cincinnati's ceiling. Even if everyone loses and Cincinnati finishes undefeated it's clear that one-loss teams, maybe even two-loss Alabama, will prevail over the Bearcats. This is based on the current rankings. Notre Dame will have a better record than Cincinnati for the remainder of the season. The teams ahead will have more to come, so wins over SMU and the conference championship game will be insignificant.
Cincinnati is ranked in the top four both in the coaches poll and the AP poll. This gives hope that the selection panel will follow its lead. The selection committee has been telegraphing its feelings about the Group of 5 for seven consecutive years.
It is absurd to imagine that this year will be any different.
