ALABAMA
The Clemson Tigers made it to the College Football Playoff by going undefeated and winning the ACC title. Their reward? A matchup against undefeated Notre Dame in the semifinals.
However, they didn’t spend much time prepping for the Irish, according to a tweet from SEC Network’s Cole Cubelic on Friday.
Per Cubelic, the Tigers spent only one week prepping for Notre Dame, treating it like a normal game week. Instead, they spent the rest of the month working on a plan for Alabama:
Spoke to a staff member at Clemson. Tigers prepped for Bama all bowl season & spent just one week on Notre Dame.
Had the confidence to spend much less time on ND & devoted most of December to Alabama. #NationalChampionship
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) January 11, 2019
Obviously, that was a bold strategy, but one that paid off. Alabama could have very well lost to Oklahoma, rendering all that prep work moot.
It worked out for the Tigers, though, and their plan for the Tide worked to perfection on Monday night. Next year, though, the Tide will be hungry for some revenge.
After watching the game, that isn’t surprising. But that’s what you get when you put a unworthy team in playoffs like ND.
Basically.
Exactly. That Clemson only needed a week to prepare, and then beat them the way they did, is clear evidence ND did not belong in the playoffs.
100%. ND needs to either join a conference or accept not being in any meaningful playoff conversation. Sure, they’re a huge tv draw since they have such a massive, aenemic fanbase but…
Oh wait… I forgot that’s all that matters to the committee. I guess they’re a perfect fit.
Bama made the playoff without being in a CCG. You saying they should have been left out of the playoffs? What’s the difference?
The schedules.
Nonsense. Also nothing to do with your original point. There are seasons when ND plays one of the toughest schedules in the country.
Alabama proved they belonged that year by winning it all. Unlike Ohio State and Notre Dame who didn’t put up a challenge to Clemson. Alabama was one of the 4 best teams 2 seasons ago and a conference championship isn’t a requirement, it’s just something they use to help evaluations. Idk why that pops up all the time about Conference champions.
I’m not saying that not being a conference champion should disqualify a team. I’m just saying that in my opinion, the consistency and accountability of being in a conference makes it easier to accurately evaluate them.
Also, I will admit that my own personal feelings may be clouding my judgement. I’ve lived in Chicago for the last 10 years so I have a lot more exposure to their fans than I’d like.
Total BS. I’m an SEC loyalist, but come on. ND’s defense looked a lot better than Bama’s against Clemson.
Can’t argue with you there.
That’s gutsy. Worked out, but gutsy.
we do the same thing… look at our conference…
tHe IrISH wEre PlaYoFf wOrThy.