Fact or Fiction: Texas A&M deserved to be in playoff
National recruiting director Mike Farrell and national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney tackle three topics daily and determine whether they believe the statements or not.
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1) The Aggies deserved better.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. It sure feels like the Aggies and Jimbo Fisher got screwed. But they didn’t win their division or conference and have a blowout loss to Alabama on their resume as well as some weak wins in which they struggled (Vandy, LSU, Vols) so they left themselves open to this. A second-place team in a Power Five division doesn’t get into the playoff unless they are Ohio State in the Big Ten.
Gorney’s take: FACT. What bothers me in this situation is that the committee rewarded Ohio State for not playing games and essentially penalized Texas A&M for playing games – and having one blowout loss to Alabama. Let’s get real, almost everybody gets blown out by Alabama. It used to be that playing your best football late helped your argument and the Aggies are definitely doing that now. The Buckeyes didn’t look dominant against Penn State, hung on to beat Indiana and looked average at best against Northwestern in the Big Ten title game. I know they were missing lots of players but others handily won games with depleted rosters. Texas A&M was lucky enough to not have a COVID-19 outbreak that would have canceled the Alabama game. But by playing it and losing it, the Aggies get penalized. I don’t like the idea here that by not playing games you have an easier path to get into the playoff than actually playing them.
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2) Bret Bielema can make Illinois a contender in the Big Ten West.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. I like the hire, I really do. I don’t think Illinois could have done better. But Bielema will be trying to do what he did at Wisconsin with lesser talent and it’s not going to work to the point fans want it to. The Big Ten West has some good teams and I can’t see Illinois jumping Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota or Northwestern on a consistent basis. He will recruit better than Lovie Smith but the results will be similar.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Bielema is from Illinois, he’s coached across the Midwest, he has NFL experience to sell to recruits and in 10 of his 12 head coaching seasons he’s had a winning record. I don’t think Illinois goes from cellar dwellers to immediately contending for Big Ten titles but Bielema has name recognition, a proven track record and he will be able to recruit players from the Midwest – the St. Louis area and other locales to come to Champaign. Illinois hasn’t had a winning season since 2012 and hasn't won 10 games in nearly two decades. Bielema has a lot of building to do but he’s a winner and he can make this team interesting.
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3) Ohio State will deserve to be a national champion if it goes 8-0.
Farrell’s take: FACT. I don’t truly agree with Ohio State having heaven and earth moved to win a Big Ten title or having it as a 6-0 playoff team but if the Buckeyes beat Clemson and Alabama will anyone care? A record of 8-0 sounds ridiculous for a national championship team but this is 2020. They will have earned it if they can get past the two juggernauts.
Gorney’s take: FACT. There are definitely issues along the way here like the conference adjusting the number of games Ohio State had to play to compete for the conference title and medical committee miraculously lowering the days from 21 to 17 right when the Buckeyes needed it most. We all know what’s going on here with the Big Ten. But if Ohio State beats Clemson and the Alabama-Notre Dame winner (presumably the Crimson Tide), then absolutely the Buckeyes should be recognized as national champions.
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