He's one smart dude -- Connor speaks on CFB

[B.A.R.]

The last 6 months the more we learn about this guy the more brilliant he becomes. He's going to explode in the next decade in football in some fashion.

Very smart guy.

Open this up and read in full. Very astute. Take any biases and leave them at the door imo.

Enjoy.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1874240237116727335

 

[twinkie13]

it’s generalizing again though Bar……I hate to keep bringing it up but take LSU. What more more can you do when you schedule USC/UCLA?

 

[KJ]

If it doesn't mention anyone other than SEC or big 10 I'm not reading unless convinced to

Whole thing is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy bigger than those two "super" conferences. Tell me not to hit snooze Reno and I'll read it.

 

[s--k]

I thought twitter had a character limit?

The problem with unbalanced schedules has only gotten worse with the super-sized conferences.

18 teams in the ACC, they play 8 conference games so they aren't playing 9 other teams in their own league every year! ACC team's only play 47% of their league each year

Big Ten has 18 teams, they do play 9 conference games, but that only means they play 53% of their league.

SEC has 16 teams, 8 conference games, teams only play 53% of their league each year.

The Big Xll has 16 teams, 9 conference games, but they still miss 6 league opponents each year - playing 60% of your league foes it's not good enough.

This is going to lead to more and more teams who's success is based on who they DON'T play within their league instead of who they actually beat.

I hate these conferences. It is a joke honestly. The system has been built to maximize revenue that is all it is. For the schools, for the conferences, for the media partners. If a 20 team league will make more money they will do it no matter what the ramifications of that might be. Talk of fairness and competitiveness and whatever else anyone else wants to talk about doesn't matter. All that matters is making the most money everyone can and the final product matters not so long as they are bringing in that money.

Major college football needs a real independent commissioner to make decisions for the sport and college athletes. Sometimes, the best thing is to put the emphasis on competitive balance and not revenue, but you think that is ever going to happen when the TV/media companies run the sport? It has only gotten worse as the opportunity to make more money has increased and honestly it means it is going to continually get worse.

It is all pretty much fucked and complaining about it won't change anything. I think the sport is pretty much ruined.

 

[s--k]

College football is the most unique sport in the world, considering there are 130+ teams, and teams only play one game per week. The only solution is to take the arguments out, and do a real playoff. The FCS has the answer — no need to slowly inch toward the answer or try to reinvent the wheel.

The FCS has something that the FBS does not, smaller conferences across the board (and a better way of selecting the playoff participants).

The Big Sky and MVFC plays 72.7% of their league. CAA plays just 57% of their league (CAA is going from 16 to 14 teams next year). Big South/OVC plays 100%, Ivy plays 100%, NEC 100%, Patriot 100%, Pioneer plays 80%, Southland plays 87.5%, SoCon plays 100%, UAC plays 100%

But conference size is still an issue. EVERYONE complains about the size of the CAA and their unbalanced schedule. Five teams went 6-2 in that league and among those top 5 teams each only had 1 or 2 (or none) games against the other top 5 teams.

Illinois State got into the playoffs, finished 4th in the MVFC, they did not play 2 of the top 3 teams in their league and the one team they did play, NDSU blew them the fuck out. Had Illinois State played the other two top teams in their league they likely would've went 0-3 vs them and not made the playoffs themselves.

The problem is conference size, conference size, conference size, conference size and teams not playing against everyone in their league. Solve that problem, go back to smaller conferences, eliminate conference championship games, get the top 1-2 teams from every league into a playoff and everyone is going to be much happier with how the system operates and how the process works. But it will make less money, so the schools, conferences and media partners ain't never doing it.

 

[KJ]

I thought twitter had a character limit?

The problem with unbalanced schedules has only gotten worse with the super-sized conferences.

18 teams in the ACC, they play 8 conference games so they aren't playing 9 other teams in their own league every year! ACC team's only play 47% of their league each year

Big Ten has 18 teams, they do play 9 conference games, but that only means they play 53% of their league.

SEC has 16 teams, 8 conference games, teams only play 53% of their league each year.

The Big Xll has 16 teams, 9 conference games, but they still miss 6 league opponents each year - playing 60% of your league foes it's not good enough.

This is going to lead to more and more teams who's success is based on who they DON'T play within their league instead of who they actually beat.

I hate these conferences. It is a joke honestly. The system has been built to maximize revenue that is all it is. For the schools, for the conferences, for the media partners. If a 20 team league will make more money they will do it no matter what the ramifications of that might be. Talk of fairness and competitiveness and whatever else anyone else wants to talk about doesn't matter. All that matters is making the most money everyone can and the final product matters not so long as they are bringing in that money.

Major college football needs a real independent commissioner to make decisions for the sport and college athletes. Sometimes, the best thing is to put the emphasis on competitive balance and not revenue, but you think that is ever going to happen when the TV/media companies run the sport? It has only gotten worse as the opportunity to make more money has increased and honestly it means it is going to continually get worse.

It is all pretty much fucked and complaining about it won't change anything. I think the sport is pretty much ruined.

The sport likely peaked when Michigan and Nebraska split the national title. At least for a decade and a half or so they ended up with a national championship game based on the regular season for the most part.

Now it's simply shit and money, pick the order. If we couldn't gamble it would be relegated to a club sport.

 

[KJ]

The FCS has something that the FBS does not, smaller conferences across the board (and a better way of selecting the playoff participants).

The Big Sky and MVFC plays 72.7% of their league. CAA plays just 57% of their league (CAA is going from 16 to 14 teams next year). Big South/OVC plays 100%, Ivy plays 100%, NEC 100%, Patriot 100%, Pioneer plays 80%, Southland plays 87.5%, SoCon plays 100%, UAC plays 100%

But conference size is still an issue. EVERYONE complains about the size of the CAA and their unbalanced schedule. Five teams went 6-2 in that league and among those top 5 teams each only had 1 or 2 (or none) games against the other top 5 teams.

Illinois State got into the playoffs, finished 4th in the MVFC, they did not play 2 of the top 3 teams in their league and the one team they did play, NDSU blew them the fuck out. Had Illinois State played the other two top teams in their league they likely would've went 0-3 vs them and not made the playoffs themselves.

The problem is conference size, conference size, conference size, conference size and teams not playing against everyone in their league. Solve that problem, go back to smaller conferences, eliminate conference championship games, get the top 1-2 teams from every league into a playoff and everyone is going to be much happier with how the system operates and how the process works. But it will make less money, so the schools, conferences and media partners ain't never doing it.

Closest thing to March Madness for football fans

The good news is at some point FBS will overvalue itself to everyday people and we simply won't pay to watch it

 

[s--k]

And to start, every P4 team needs to have the same amount of conference games. I’d argue that number needs to be 10, but 9 would be a good start (SEC & ACC). Whatever the number is, it needs to be the same all across the board.

I agree with Connor's points on the preseason ranking bias and I actually do not disagree with much he is saying.

I do however think he is missing the point that I see so glaringly, the conference size. And to this point of playing 10 conference games in a 18 team or 16 team league that really and literally solves absolutely nothing. Every conference should be 11 teams and then you play 10 conference games. The whole structure is wrong and you can not fix it as it is currently built.

 

[wiseplayer]

People are overreacting to them without taking in consideration of motivation. I wish I knew what I’m about to tell you regarding Alabama’s preparation leading into yesterday. There are people within that program I know who said their practices were more of a party atmosphere with music that was not the norm for their practices. Take it for what it’s worth but lack of motivation for almost an entire month and evaluating who the better conference is isn’t an accurate method.

 

[KJ]

People are overreacting to them without taking in consideration of motivation. I wish I knew what I’m about to tell you regarding Alabama’s preparation leading into yesterday. There are people within that program I know who said their practices were more of a party atmosphere with music that was not the norm for their practices. Take it for what it’s worth but lack of motivation for almost an entire month and evaluating who the better conference is isn’t an accurate method.

It's fair to say that using bowl games as a barometer for conference strength would make you someone I'd love to wager against lol

 

[majent]

Conference records vs other Conferences in bowl games one of the weakest arguments about SOS and SOC that there is.

Mismatched teams, player transfers, player opt outs, motivation or lack thereof of the players skewed to one side or the other, Coaches leaving or staying, and on and on and on.

I don't have a dog in the fight in the SEC vs B1G argument.

Elevate your plane to a 10,000 foot view and look down, and take out the biases either way.

The SEC had a down year this year, there is little question about it.

But if Oregon gets lauded as a johnnie-come-lately B1G flag bearer, then tex-ASS gets the same grace for the SEC.

 

[gps_3]

People are overreacting to them without taking in consideration of motivation. I wish I knew what I’m about to tell you regarding Alabama’s preparation leading into yesterday. There are people within that program I know who said their practices were more of a party atmosphere with music that was not the norm for their practices. Take it for what it’s worth but lack of motivation for almost an entire month and evaluating who the better conference is isn’t an accurate method.

They've had music at practice all season. Believe me, there is a long line of folks who blame that and De Boer wearing tee shirts for this season. I don't think there was an issue with preparation. The defense was pretty good (I know Michigan's offense isn't good) after being put in some horrendous situations (Michigan's average starting field position midway through the 2nd quarter was the Alabama 21). The issue was a QB that is very limited, panics, and facing a defense that while depleted, knew exactly how to defend him. There is also some chatter online about Milroe tipping plays based on his feet position, but I haven't gone back to look to see how accurate that is. But Michigan being able to blitz with no fear of the QB hitting a check down or a hot route was the story for the second time in the 365 days

 

[wiseplayer]

They've had music at practice all season. Believe me, there is a long line of folks who blame that and De Boer wearing tee shirts for this season. I don't think there was an issue with preparation. The defense was pretty good (I know Michigan's offense isn't good) after being put in some horrendous situations (Michigan's average starting field position midway through the 2nd quarter was the Alabama 21). The issue was a QB that is very limited, panics, and facing a defense that while depleted, knew exactly how to defend him. There is also some chatter online about Milroe tipping plays based on his feet position, but I haven't gone back to look to see how accurate that is. But Michigan being able to blitz with no fear of the QB hitting a check down or a hot route was the story for the second time in the 365 days

Are you at these practices? I’m talking to someone who travels with this team all year and is at every practice. These were not their normal practices.
Evaluating meaningless Bowl games is the equivalent of evaluating teams in week 18 of the NFL. It’s plain stupid.

 

[s--k]

He's making a bigger point than what happens in bowl games with W/L post season records. He is saying that Michigan was an undervalued team and Alabama was an overvalued team based on circumstances of scheduling. Had he made this case in advance of the bowl game as a suggestion to play on Michigan and against Alabama then I think his opinion would be better received as a 'I see this and as a result here is what may happen'.

I myself have taken something completely different from the tweets and how it applies to the entire playoff system people are living with right now.

 

[gps_3]

Are you at these practices? I’m talking to someone who travels with this team all year and is at every practice. These were not their normal practices.
Evaluating meaningless Bowl games is the equivalent of evaluating teams in week 18 of the NFL. It’s plain stupid.

I’m not at practice, but they have definitely had music all season. It may have been more relaxed for the bowl game than normal, but the music isn’t new. And I 100% agree on taking anything away from these bowls. With the amount of roster turnover every year, it means even less than it did