Honestly, part of me wants to play the best. But when I think about it, I think I’d rather play someone in our area of quality. My thinking being I’d like to go into next season on our highest of highs.
If I could name our opponent it would be someone like KSU or OSU. A ranked team that if we play a great game and they make some mistakes it is a winnable game. A win would like that would be huge. Texas we would have no shot. But I would still rather play them than a team without its best player because even if we win I don't think it would do anything for us. "Yeah but they didn't have Caleb Williams."
And Toledo and Liberty 🫠🫠
What- I would love to play USC!!! We aren’t getting a Texas. Best we can get is a middle PAC team. I’d rather get the big name USC than an Oregon State or Arizona who are better teams this year but don’t have the name. OSU, Zona, Cal, UCLA will all do home and home series with UNLV but USC thinks they’re too good for us. We may never get another shot at USC on a somewhat neutral field. Win or lose sign me up for that opportunity.
I would respectfully disagree with this. When looking back at this team, perception is reality. USC carries a huge name recognition. Regardless of who is playing, getting a win in the first bowl game in ten years, would be the "icing on the cake". When recruiting time comes calling, I would much rather have a win against a P5 opponent than a loss. After a while, people tend to forget the details and will just look at the record.
Normally I would love to also but without their best player I think a win against them would be dismissed. A falling team that has lost 5 of 6 and oh on top of it they don't have their best player who happens to be their QB. I would rather play a team with less name recognition but more respect like OSU.
Most years, I would agree. But I really don't think very many teams would be unbeatable for us this year. Our offense has been pretty solid, and our defense has improved all year. USC started out the year very strong, but after the 3rd game, they haven't been particularly good at all.
That ND game broke them. It also scared me off of Williams for the number one pick. 3 INT's in the first half and it looked like 2 if not all 3 were because he misread the defense. He relies heavily on improv and plays breaking down can he build on his game similarly to how Lamar Jackson appears to have or is he yet another USC QB whose game doesn't work in the NFL.
To be fair. The gravy started like another ago 🤣🤣 but point taken!
Some of the reason why he relies on the improv is because his Oline is so bad. I was at the SC vs Oregon game two weeks ago and he was running for his life on every snap. He could have been sacked 20 times that game.
My friend and I have a joke that Williams doesn’t want to be #1 pick so he’s doing just enough to drop a spot or two
No doubt that a bad O line will create bad habits for a QB faster than any other aspect of the game.
I believe this vs USC is absolutely winnable.
I also would be nervous about him jumping in Mom’s lap and crying after a game. Makes me question his mental toughness. On the other hand nothing says Gen Z better than that.
Utah is no longer ranked but I would rather play them or anyone not missing their best player.
My bad. I saw Utah by a number by it on ESPN's bottom line, I guess it was the Women's BB team!?!
Utah is missing their two best players but has been all year.
Does that take into account that if either Oregon or Washington win out they should be in the Playoff making the Pac #2 their #1 for Bowl purposes so #5 would be the 6th team in the PAC.
Based on the current standing the 3 teams you mentioned are the most likely teams to end up in fifth place, but how do they decide which teams plays in the bowl if more than one teams ends up in a tie at the end of the season? Do they have the same tie breaker system as the MWC? 😁
Well just that Tulane and SMU both lose one of the next 2 games, and we are the highest rated G5 team so we play in the Fiesta bowl.. but not much other than that, lol
Well they both would have to lose this week. They will likely play each other for their championship game.
I’d prefer we play the best team that we have the best chance of beating. Winning is what matters most. Losing to a “full strength” team doesn’t trump beating a team without its top player. Folks aren’t going to remember who played only remember who won.
Next year the MWC gets to play #1 or #2 in the PAC! 😁
every team plays either #1 or #2 in the PAC!
Playoff rankings come out on TuesdaysCollege Football Schedule - 2024 Season - ESPN
The complete 2024 NCAAF season schedule on ESPN. Includes game times, TV listings and ticket information for all College Football games.www.espn.com
I was right! It looks like ESPN is still using last week's playoff rankings. So I was also wrong, but so were they!
Agree. They would have "opt outs" and not be motivated. They would be ripe for the picking
