Desmond Howard offers a scenario where a 2-loss Florida team could make the Playoff
There are some legitimate scenarios where a second SEC team could make the College Football Playoff. Much of that depends on Notre Dame beating Clemson a second time, which would conceivably eliminate the Tigers. But ESPN college football analyst Desmond Howard outlined a path for the Florida Gators.
Even with a second loss, Howard explained on “College Football Live” this week how Florida plays against Alabama could determine their chances at the CFP.
“When you look at the firepower of the Florida Gators, watching them play offensively just excites you,” Howard said. “It jumps off the screen. You’re looking at Kyle Trask, he’s a legitimate Heisman contender, he might be the front-runner, him, Mac Jones, however you want to slice it. Kyle Pitts is another guy who’s just a special talent. … So when you look at Alabama you want to put someone on the field that you believe can match in a shootout with Alabama. And I think that would be the Florida Gators.”
Texas A&M is another SEC team that has given some people a theory to promote a second SEC team, but Howard said don’t count out Florida even if it loses in Atlanta.
“If they play a tough SEC Championship Game against Alabama, maybe take them into overtime, and let’s just say Clemson loses again to Notre Dame, I think you’re gonna see some people clamoring for Florida to get into the College Football Playoff final four,” Howard said. “So don’t count the Gators out even if they lose, if it goes into overtime, similar to what happened to Notre Dame and Clemson. Then people may say, ‘Hey, I think Florida is one of the top four teams in the country.”
Sorry, but I don’t think Florida would be in good standing if they lost a second time. Their resume is relatively weak compared to the other contenders. There is also the problem of Texas A&M still being ahead of them due to the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Have to agree. ESPN is trying hard to get people interested in the rankings show, but there isn’t much mystery. Florida loses, we are out.
I get it, but how can an All-SEC schedule be deemed “weak” when compared to the ACC schedule which also includes a cupcake game outside their division? This season, the ACC bent over to accept ND. But for that, the ACC would once again be a 1-team conference. Tell me what are 1-loss Miami’s signature Ws? Clemson’s signature Ws? Same with the Big10 – they’re another 1-team conference. Big12? PAC12? All filled with mediocrity. So why shouldn’t the SEC get 2 teams in? I’d take Bama, TA&M, UF and UGA over most teams.
The rest of the country does not accept the idea that Vanderbilt, Tennessee and South Carolina are “tough.” Agree the ACC sucks, but there is still doubt around the country if the SEC isn’t a top heavy league with plenty of easy outs.
I don’t think we get in with two losses or even deserve to but I wouldn’t call our schedule weak. We will have played two of the current top 5 teams and UGA is still a top ten team. When compared to the rest of the top ten it doesn’t look too bad.
Sorry to say this is not going to be the case. Even if it goes to triple OT where the rules basically make it coin flip now, there’s no way they put in a two-loss, non-conference champion unless there are a lot of Ls in the top ten this week.
Fifth* OT
That would be crazy exciting though. Really just hoping for a good game. The last two SEC chip games vs Bama were not very fun to watch after the first drive.
Off-topic a bit: The coin-flip determines who wins the game after the 5th OT period? This is probably the worst rule these idiots have ever come up with. Man up you p*****s!
I said its basically a coin flip as an exaggeration, because after 4 OTs they now have each team attempt a two point conversion until one gets in and the other doesnt. Lining both teams up on the two yard line just doesnt feel like football.
Florida won’t pass TAMU with two losses…
Especially with the head to head. I guess his thought process here is that it would make UF look like the better teams right now (like they can compete with Bama and therefore look like one of the best teams), but the committee has shown that the h2h outcome matters. A&M would for sure get in in this scenario.
Even as a Gator alum, I just don’t see it happening.
DH may be spending his off-camera time quarantined with those funky unfiltered cigarettes….
I wouldn’t want to go with two losses. We wouldn’t deserve it, for one. And secondly, we would’ve gotten those two losses because of a defense that has no business playing for a national title.
Exactly, they’ve got their shot at Bama. If they can’t beat them now, then they won’t beat them in the playoffs, so what’s the point?
Agreed. I mean I kind of see the point that since we lost to A&M by 3 and if we took Bama to OT and lost, then logically we’re somewhat in the area of the top 5 teams. But still, 8-2 and really 1-2 in our big games shouldn’t deserve a playoff spot
I don’t see it, in that case I think A&M or Cincy would be in. It’s as simple a scenario for us as possible. Win and you’re in, lose and you’re not. We’re one of 5 teams that control their destiny and I’m happy for the opportunity
Florida could very well get into the CFP if the scenario Howard describes occurs, but it is highly unlikely.
As a practical matter, there is going to be a tremendous amount of bias in favor of Ohio State, Clemson and Notre Dame if they each continue to play well. Alabama is in regardless.
I’m going to throw a hypothetical scenario out there cause no one seems to be considering this. Again Bama fans, just a hypothetical. Let’s go back to 2006. OSU held the #1 ranking the entire season. They were easily the most dominant team in the country with the Heisman winner at QB. Not only did a lot of people think Florida didn’t deserve to face them, but no one really gave them much of a chance. I’m not sure anyone picked the Gators to win except Gator fans and I think even most of us were skeptical. They take it to a different level and win 41-14. Let’s say that craziness happens again next week. Is Bama still in regardless?
I think they would be. Probably be looking at 1. Winner of Clemson ND, 2. Florida 3. Ohio State 4. Alabama. Unless maybe Clemson barely beats ND, and Alabama isn’t close. Then probably 1. Clemson, 2. Florida 3. Ohio State 4. Notre Dame
You make a good point. Everyone assumes it will be either a Bama blowout or at the very least be close (I feel the same way), but no one knows what will happen since, once the players hit the field, none of the speculation matters.
I think if that situation does happen, its:
1 Clemson
2 Florida
3 OSU
4 Bama/ND
Possibly ND if that game is close? They will likely try to avoid a back-to-back face off between Bama/UF or Clemson/ND.
Joe, as I recall, we also got the 2006 shot in part because the BCS didn’t see any point in an OSU vs. Michigan rematch. That 2006 BCS Championship game, as much as any other, started the discussion that SEC athletes were just different. Florida was noticeably faster across the board than OSU.
We’re not going to play great and have a repeat of this year’s Georgia game; Alabama is too good on offense and too well coached. But I do think that with some creative, well timed blitzes, pressure on Jones (who is only ~52% CMP when pressured to Trask’s ~60%), and a dose of luck we can outscore them. Our offense is good enough.
I agree, I think the only scenario involving a Gator win is one that will be close, but man would it be great to see a repeat performance of ‘06. I’ll never forget going from total disappointment after that first kickoff, to complete euphoria the rest of the way.
It was a euphoric experience, especially after the media coverage in the two weeks leading up to the game, which pretty much predicted the exact opposite outcome.