Easiest coaching paths to the playoff

[GoSooners]

Why Ohio State isn't number one on this list I don't know. Their schedule couldn't get any easier unless they are Baylor. And why is Texas number one? They have no path. Okay that's coming from a Sooner fan/Texas hater. But Charlie Strong is at least two years away from anything, if he lasts that long. And why is ESPN writing this article in the first place? Notice no SEC teams in the top 5? It just looks to me like another creative way for ESPN to pimp the SEC. I'll give them an A for effort.






Ranking the coaching paths to playoff

February, 27, 2015 Feb 27
9:00
AM ET

By Heather Dinich | ESPN.com


If you asked Mike Leach, odds are he'd probably tell you his job at Washington State is a wee bit more difficult than he might have expected when he was first hired. And it won't be long before Wake Forest fans start to realize just how remarkable Jim Grobe's tenure was in Winston-Salem.

For a variety of reasons -- namely money, scheduling, academics, facilities and recruiting -- the path to the College Football Playoff is simply easier for some Power 5 coaches and nearly impossible for others. Here's a look at the top-10 easiest coaching paths to the playoff, starting with the easiest, and the 10 most difficult coaching jobs:

EASIEST COACHING PATHS TO THE PLAYOFF

1. Texas
One of the wealthiest, most visible brand-name programs in the country wants for nothing -- and unlike Florida State, it doesn't have to navigate through a conference title game. Right now it's in a catch-22 situation. Texas has to win to own the state in recruiting again, but it has to get the recruits to win.

2. Florida State
The Noles can own and have owned the ACC, with Clemson being their most difficult hurdle. The combination of first-class facilities, in-state recruiting and available salary money makes this one of the most desirable jobs for a coach aspiring to reach the playoff.

3. Ohio State
The East Division isn't easy, but it's manageable, and the Big 33 recruiting turf and financial security -- along with the incredible support and facilities -- puts this brand-name program on the fast track to the playoff. It's easy to sell the program that has been the flagship of the conference for more than a decade.

4. Oklahoma
With no conference title game to trip over, the Sooners have one of the easiest paths to the playoff, not to mention the facilities and financial resources to recruit players and pay coaches.

5. Clemson
It's on par with the SEC as far as recruiting and facilities, but has an easier league to navigate. The program has the resources and salaries needed to recruit and coach a top-four team.

6. USC
When this storied program is at full strength -- without scholarship limitations and postseason penalties -- there's nothing in the way of a top-four ranking. Its pipeline of players to the NFL is proof.

7. Notre Dame
The Irish control their strength of schedule and can now sell an ACC bowl lineup to recruits.

8. Georgia
The Bulldogs have owned the state, and while Florida has to contend with FSU (and dreadful facilities), Georgia has had the upper hand in the series against Georgia Tech. Everything is in place for a title run.

9. Alabama
The program oozes money and tradition, luring the best players in the country. It's ranked low because of a grueling SEC West schedule and conference title game to navigate through.

10. LSU
Much like Alabama, the Tigers are the epitome of SEC success, able to cherry-pick recruits and pay for the best coaches in the country. The biggest obstacle is LSU's own conference schedule.

MOST DIFFICULT COACHING PATHS TO THE PLAYOFF

1. Vanderbilt
There's no school in the country with more of an uphill battle to the playoff than Vandy. The stringent academic requirements are a big reason the program can't recruit the elite athletes necessary to compete with the top teams in the league -- which is why it never will.

2. Wake Forest
The smallest school in the BCS had one historic Orange Bowl run, but that was an anomaly, not the trend. It's not the best program in the state, let alone the Atlantic Division.

3. Washington State
The Cougs are the Pac-12's most isolated, rural program, making recruiting difficult -- the heart of Wazzu's troubles over the past 11 straight losing seasons. It also doesn't help to be looking up at Oregon in the North Division.

4. Colorado
After nine straight losing seasons, the Buffs have faded into irrelevance, and they're competing in a South Division that's on the upswing, led by USC and Arizona. The coaching turnover, subpar recruiting and lack of investment in facilities have made the past decade a disaster.

5. Indiana
The Hoosiers have been stuck in a rut of mediocrity and are outpaced when it comes to facilities and coaching hires. Equally as problematic is IU's place in the East Division, alongside heavyweights Ohio State and Michigan State.

6. Kansas
The program has always been overshadowed by its hoops counterpart and hasn't been relevant in football since its 2007 Orange Bowl appearance.

7. Purdue
The fans have lost interest -- and apparently so have the recruits -- but the program also hasn't had the financial backing it needs to stay on pace with the rest of the conference.

8. Iowa State
Not only is there not much in-state talent, but the Cyclones have to share it with rival Iowa.

9. Kentucky
The program has made a renewed financial commitment recently and has demonstrated that bowl eligibility is a reality, but Kentucky has to win the SEC East before it can be taken seriously as a playoff contender.

10. Syracuse
There's a sense of apathy surrounding the program, which is stuck in the ACC's stronger Atlantic Division with FSU, Clemson and Louisville. There's not enough depth on Syracuse's roster to overcome injuries -- or the schedule.

 

[rolltide]

FSU has to be #1

when you look at the number of all-conf players vs rest of conference, # draft picks vs rest of conference, recruiting rankings it's silly how far ahead they are of all other ACC teams including Clemson

texas has a legit team in OU that will always challenge their recruiting ranking. FSU has none...Clemson great recruiting in 2015 but previous ranks were in the teens while FSU top 10 for 8 straight recruiting seasons

Harbaugh will have UM in top 10's with OSU while State Penn will always be in top 15 from here on out

right now it's just too easy for FSU. beat clemson and whatever atlantic scrub they play in acc title game and basically assured of the playoffs

 

[GoSooners]

FSU has to be #1

when you look at the number of all-conf players vs rest of conference, # draft picks vs rest of conference, recruiting rankings it's silly how far ahead they are of all other ACC teams including Clemson

texas has a legit team in OU that will always challenge their recruiting ranking. FSU has none...Clemson great recruiting in 2015 but previous ranks were in the teens while FSU top 10 for 8 straight recruiting seasons

Harbaugh will have UM in top 10's with OSU while State Penn will always be in top 15 from here on out

right now it's just too easy for FSU. beat clemson and whatever atlantic scrub they play in acc title game and basically assured of the playoffs

This year OSU and FSU are probably running neck and neck. I believe Harbaugh will do good things at Michigan. But I think it's going to take a couple of years to get it going. If we're talking about future schedules then I would also put FSU at number one. Although I don't think their in-state rival Florida will be down forever. And eventually they'll have to get around to playing Notre Dame again.

 

[BigdaddyQH]

I think all will agree that the ACC is the weakest conference, in the eyes of the Committee, and that is all that counts. Had Florida State NOT run the table, they would not have made the final four of college football. The Big 12 will continute to be punished by the Committee for trying to take the easy way out and not scheduling a CC game. That leaves the Big 10, Pac 12, and SEC with the easiest ways in beause it is highly unlikely one team from both the ACC and Big 12 go undefeated in the same year, and the other three get more recognition and respect than those two conferences.

 

[GoSooners]

I think all will agree that the ACC is the weakest conference, in the eyes of the Committee, and that is all that counts. Had Florida State NOT run the table, they would not have made the final four of college football. The Big 12 will continute to be punished by the Committee for trying to take the easy way out and not scheduling a CC game. That leaves the Big 10, Pac 12, and SEC with the easiest ways in beause it is highly unlikely one team from both the ACC and Big 12 go undefeated in the same year, and the other three get more recognition and respect than those two conferences.

Mathematically, the Big 12 probably has the best chance of making the Playoff since they play one less game and so has the best chance of going undefeated. But as we've seen before in round robin conferences (Pac-10), it can be very difficult to go undefeated when you have to face the same 9 teams every year. But it's been virtually impossible to get through to the Big 12 brass on this subject since very few of them are football connoisseurs like we are. Most are educators looking at the bottom line as far as football revenue is concerned. The thing that befuddles me is their lack of foresight in looking at the future of the conference. They have their piece of the pie now and everybody's happy (well nearly everybody). Eventually those TV contracts will expire. That's when they'll be up shit creek unless we have conference realignment. It all makes me wish we still had the Big 8. Back then you had just 7 teams to beat every season, along with 3 cupcakes and one major or mid major opponent. Those were the good old days.

 

[BigdaddyQH]

I would think that the Big 12 would hve learned it's lesson from the Pac 12. When the Pac 12 was the Pac 10, the ONLY team to make it to the Championship game was USC and that was because they were undefeated both years they made it. THe year that they had one loss, but was voted #! by BOTH the AP and the Coaches poll, they still did not make it. LSU and OU went that year. Now I realize that we are talking 4 teams instead of two here, but the handwriting is still on the wall. People that I have talked to, familiar with the situation, say that some of the Committee members will go out of their way to look for an excuse to eliminate the Big 12 Champion from the final four unless they are undefeated, becaause of the lack of a conference championship game. They reason that if their conference champs have to go through it, why should the Big 12 get a break. They are right.

 

[packer2012]

I kind of glanced at the story, and thought....... this crap is not worth reading. The reason all the teams on the second list have tough roads to the championship is because...... THEY ALL SUCK OUT LOUD....... !!!!!!!!

Maybe who sucks the least is Kentucky. They are double-dead because they face the SEC. And....... nobody in Kentucky gives a shit about a football game!

 

[GoSooners]

I would think that the Big 12 would hve learned it's lesson from the Pac 12. When the Pac 12 was the Pac 10, the ONLY team to make it to the Championship game was USC and that was because they were undefeated both years they made it. THe year that they had one loss, but was voted #! by BOTH the AP and the Coaches poll, they still did not make it. LSU and OU went that year. Now I realize that we are talking 4 teams instead of two here, but the handwriting is still on the wall. People that I have talked to, familiar with the situation, say that some of the Committee members will go out of their way to look for an excuse to eliminate the Big 12 Champion from the final four unless they are undefeated, becaause of the lack of a conference championship game. They reason that if their conference champs have to go through it, why should the Big 12 get a break. They are right.

I think your talking to the wrong people. The Big 12 has a much stronger presence on the committee since Luck stepped down and Kirby Holcutt came in from Texas Tech. From what i heard, the committee never had Luck's full attention since he had been looking for a job elsewhere, and this was just a stopover for him. Plus he never was a Big 12 guy. Holcutt is a member that now has TRUE Big 12 ties having been AD at TT and associate director at Oklahoma. There were many things that swayed the committee last year. But some of it had to do with Oliver Luck and a strong southern influence like Manning having to step down because of illness. I didn't have a big argument with Ohio State getting in. The argument I had was the stupid rankings. They had TCU at #3 in the country the week before the vote and #5 the week after. They need to be a little more consistent of where they rank teams from week to week. You don't do your job and win your games each week, and then drop 2 spots in one week for no apparent reason. That makes no sense.

 

[BigdaddyQH]

Manning was a strong SEC influence, NOT a Big 12 influence. Why people think that the Big 12 is connected to Southern Football is totally beyond me. You do NOT have a Southern team in the conference. Certainly Texas teams are not considered Southern teams, and they are as far South as the Big 12 gets. The Big 12 is closer to a Midwestern Conference than a Southern Conference. Their football is nowheres near the excellence of the SEC , Big 10, and Pac 12 teams, so they will suffer for that. The fact is that the cards have been dealt, and the Big 12 is going to be forced to play the hand that they dealt themselves. Bottom line. If my conferene champ loses one game and wins their CC game, and th4e Big 12 conferene champ also loses one game, the Big 12 conference champ is odd man out. At least 10 of the members of the ommittee feel that way, and 10 is enough to rule the day. I believe I told you last sreason that the Big 12 would be odd man out unless they had a team that went undefeated. I was told then, just like I have been told recently. That is the way it is. Big 12 fans can either dream up these ridiculous scenarios, or just admit the truth and do something about it. I know you would much rather see the Big 12 do something about it, but unfortunately for all of us, the Big 12 is about greed first, athletics second.

 

[GoSooners]

Manning was a strong SEC influence, NOT a Big 12 influence. Why people think that the Big 12 is connected to Southern Football is totally beyond me. You do NOT have a Southern team in the conference. Certainly Texas teams are not considered Southern teams, and they are as far South as the Big 12 gets. The Big 12 is closer to a Midwestern Conference than a Southern Conference. Their football is nowheres near the excellence of the SEC , Big 10, and Pac 12 teams, so they will suffer for that. The fact is that the cards have been dealt, and the Big 12 is going to be forced to play the hand that they dealt themselves. Bottom line. If my conferene champ loses one game and wins their CC game, and th4e Big 12 conferene champ also loses one game, the Big 12 conference champ is odd man out. At least 10 of the members of the ommittee feel that way, and 10 is enough to rule the day. I believe I told you last sreason that the Big 12 would be odd man out unless they had a team that went undefeated. I was told then, just like I have been told recently. That is the way it is. Big 12 fans can either dream up these ridiculous scenarios, or just admit the truth and do something about it. I know you would much rather see the Big 12 do something about it, but unfortunately for all of us, the Big 12 is about greed first, athletics second.

You should stay out of this conversation, your just not very well informed. Manning is friends with Art Briles. And TCU and Baylor AREN'T midwestern teams, and have never been considered such. Manning definitely would have had a voice on the committee being an actual ex college player who I believe would have been a strong influence on the committee if he had stayed.. I think his opinion would have been swayed much more towards the Big 12 than it would have the Big 10. Other than that, your just spitting out the same old thing in every post. "The Big 12 needs to go undefeated, odd man out" blah blah blah. Okay, we heard you. Now go away...