Ohio State is putting it to Illinois, which was expected.. What wasn't expected was that after Urban Meyer pulled JT Barrett to an ovation in the 2nd quarter in what is his last home game, Urban put Barrett BACK in the game in the 3rd quarter after Dwayne Haskins fumbled the ball and Illinois returned it for a TD. Then Barrett led Ohio State to a TD after a fumbled punt...
To me, some of that COULD be in consideration of how it looks to playoff voters.. Blowouts lead to good optics regardless what people say about the strength of opponents. Blowouts by Alabama and Clemson against obviously inferior opponents.. The thing that gets me is to achieve those "optics", you have to LEAVE STARTERS IN THE GAME when they would be great opportunities to let those reserves get some time and make mistakes or gain confidence of the success. Starters could get UNNECESSARILY HURT in the attempt to get a big lead to look good to playoff voters.
I hope like heck that we return to Nebraska game form and give Wisconsin all they can handle and more...It is a rivalry game and you never know how that goes, regardless of records.. But I will tell you that it is in Wisconsin's best interests to run up the score against us if they get the lead, even if that means to keep in the starters.. I agree that you can say "play better, recruit better" when one team is killing the other.. But in rivalry games, no one wants to be embarrassed and unnecessary injury by leaving starters in the game is a greater possibility with the turning and twisting of the team fighting to stay in the game. I just feel that is unnecessary. Wish the optics part would be reduced in the voters minds though they need some criteria to determine the best 4 teams so I realize that there has to be some subjectivity.
I know most would increase the playoffs in college to 8 teams.. Basically take in the top 10 teams.. It would make for good conference champions and top at-large teams..I would want the multiples of 4, 8, 16 so there is no bye weeks. I am still a bigger fan of 16 teams in the playoffs.. It brings the conference champion from the non P5 majors into the equation(Like UCF this year or Boise State in the past).. How this affects optics is that teams that were dominant in games like today could relax a bit a play backups without worrying about the optics of destroying teams... It would be an issue for the 16th, 17th, 18th ranked teams and I guess I would rather see that as those teams are less likely to have blowouts where there is a decision to sit the starters.
Just had to post to take my mind off today's loss.
To me, some of that COULD be in consideration of how it looks to playoff voters.. Blowouts lead to good optics regardless what people say about the strength of opponents. Blowouts by Alabama and Clemson against obviously inferior opponents.. The thing that gets me is to achieve those "optics", you have to LEAVE STARTERS IN THE GAME when they would be great opportunities to let those reserves get some time and make mistakes or gain confidence of the success. Starters could get UNNECESSARILY HURT in the attempt to get a big lead to look good to playoff voters.
I hope like heck that we return to Nebraska game form and give Wisconsin all they can handle and more...It is a rivalry game and you never know how that goes, regardless of records.. But I will tell you that it is in Wisconsin's best interests to run up the score against us if they get the lead, even if that means to keep in the starters.. I agree that you can say "play better, recruit better" when one team is killing the other.. But in rivalry games, no one wants to be embarrassed and unnecessary injury by leaving starters in the game is a greater possibility with the turning and twisting of the team fighting to stay in the game. I just feel that is unnecessary. Wish the optics part would be reduced in the voters minds though they need some criteria to determine the best 4 teams so I realize that there has to be some subjectivity.
I know most would increase the playoffs in college to 8 teams.. Basically take in the top 10 teams.. It would make for good conference champions and top at-large teams..I would want the multiples of 4, 8, 16 so there is no bye weeks. I am still a bigger fan of 16 teams in the playoffs.. It brings the conference champion from the non P5 majors into the equation(Like UCF this year or Boise State in the past).. How this affects optics is that teams that were dominant in games like today could relax a bit a play backups without worrying about the optics of destroying teams... It would be an issue for the 16th, 17th, 18th ranked teams and I guess I would rather see that as those teams are less likely to have blowouts where there is a decision to sit the starters.
Just had to post to take my mind off today's loss.
