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OT: How 40 years of college football history would have been different with a playoff (ESPN)

TemplarCane said:
Interesting hypothesis on how a CFP would have influenced CFB if it has started in 1979.

www.espn.com

How 40 years of CFB history would have been different with a playoff

No Jimmy Johnson at The U? A string of Florida State championships? What would the legacies of certain teams and coaches be if they had played in the CFP era?
www.espn.com www.espn.com
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Clever enough premise, but should've gone as far as to pick a potential winner from each season—playing out the Playoff match-ups as deemed fit. Instead, came off like a half-baked concept.
 
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Awsi Dooger said:
Typical fan perspective of addition but never subtraction. The same thing shows up every season when close losses are greeted by "only 11 points away from 3 more wins" while tight victories are taken for granted, as if there was no other possibility.

I'd say Miami would have fewer than 5 national championships if a 4-team playoff were in place throughout. The 1983 situation has already been mentioned. It's no guarantee we do sneak in. If so, we're going to be an underdog twice.

In many of those seasons we would be facing a mega talented Florida State team for the second time. Plus you've got to throw out the surreal home field advantage of the Orange Bowl in deference to two games on a neutral site. That is an entirely different dynamic.

Sure some of our best teams could run the table. But 5 times? I doubt it. There would be the same obstacles we failed plus additional possibilities like Washington 1991 and Notre Dame rematch in 1989, plus so many times against Florida State.

Those second meetings with Florida State are what is being ignored throughout this thread. In 1987 it's not going to be one home game against Oklahoma. You've got Florida State more than eager for a second try after blowing the 19-3 lead during the regular season.

I'll take what we have.
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We whip 91 Washington...and do the same against ND in rematch 89
 
TemplarCane said:
This may be blasphemy, but I don't believe Miami beats 1991 Washington, especially on a neutral site.

The article suggests Schnellenberger might not have taken the ill-fated USFL offer without the 1983 championship. A lot of people assume Miami would have still been a dynasty in the 1980s, but you never know. The program would have likely been very good, but maybe not 44-4 good like JJ.
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Not blasphemy. 1991 Washington was one of the best college football teams I've ever seen. Loaded on offense and defense, and coached by Don James, one of the greatest coaches ever. Remember that 1992 Alabama team we had to play in the Sugar Bowl? Well, 1991 Washington was basically an upgraded version of that squad, with an even better defense, receivers, and quarterback play. They could not be blocked, and it seems like they have had five or six guys storming into the backfield on every single play. Never seen so many tackles for loss.

The only teams I would put in their same category are 1995 Nebraska and our 1987 Hurricanes. I honestly don't think our 1991 team was good enough to deal with that defense (Gino Torretta, ugh).
 
Awsi Dooger said:
Typical fan perspective of addition but never subtraction. The same thing shows up every season when close losses are greeted by "only 11 points away from 3 more wins" while tight victories are taken for granted, as if there was no other possibility.

I'd say Miami would have fewer than 5 national championships if a 4-team playoff were in place throughout. The 1983 situation has already been mentioned. It's no guarantee we do sneak in. If so, we're going to be an underdog twice.

In many of those seasons we would be facing a mega talented Florida State team for the second time. Plus you've got to throw out the surreal home field advantage of the Orange Bowl in deference to two games on a neutral site. That is an entirelyThose second meetings with Florida State are what is being ignored throughout this thread. In 1987 it's not going to be one home game against Oklahoma. You've got Florida State more than eager for a second try after blowing the 19-3 lead during the regular season.
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Awsi Dooger said:
Those second meetings with Florida State are what is being ignored throughout this thread. In 1987 it's not going to be one home game against Oklahoma. You've got Florida State more than eager for a second try after blowing the 19-3 lead during the regular season.
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The FSU kickers just missed three more field goals while you were typing all that.
 
Largely because we take out Nebraska in round one.
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There would have been OT Nebraska would have had no reason to go for 2 and thew win at the end. No telling how OT would have played out.
 
Awsi Dooger said:
Typical fan perspective of addition but never subtraction. The same thing shows up every season when close losses are greeted by "only 11 points away from 3 more wins" while tight victories are taken for granted, as if there was no other possibility.

I'd say Miami would have fewer than 5 national championships if a 4-team playoff were in place throughout. The 1983 situation has already been mentioned. It's no guarantee we do sneak in. If so, we're going to be an underdog twice.

In many of those seasons we would be facing a mega talented Florida State team for the second time. Plus you've got to throw out the surreal home field advantage of the Orange Bowl in deference to two games on a neutral site. That is an entirely different dynamic.

Sure some of our best teams could run the table. But 5 times? I doubt it. There would be the same obstacles we failed plus additional possibilities like Washington 1991 and Notre Dame rematch in 1989, plus so many times against Florida State.

Those second meetings with Florida State are what is being ignored throughout this thread. In 1987 it's not going to be one home game against Oklahoma. You've got Florida State more than eager for a second try after blowing the 19-3 lead during the regular season.

I'll take what we have.
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I'll take what we have too.
Plus 88 and 01 because if replay existed, we won those.
 
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