ESPN's Mike Greenberg states why LSU deserves to be No. 1 in CFP rankings
Ahead of the Week 14 games, the College Football Playoff selection committee switched up the rankings, moving Ohio State to No. 1 and dropping LSU to No. 2. ESPN’s Mike Greenberg says the committee needs to reverse that move heading into conference championship weekend.
Greenberg believes it all comes down to resume.
“Ohio State may well be the best team in the country. Or maybe Clemson is. But that shouldn’t matter,” the ESPN host tweeted. “What LSU has accomplished this season is greater. That is what sports are supposed to be about. LSU should be number one until they lose a game.”
LSU’s offense has broken numerous team and conference records along the Tigers’ march to 12-0, which included wins over Texas, Florida, Alabama, Auburn and Texas A&M. Some media members have openly speculated the Tigers were dropped to No. 2 to try to prevent a postseason rematch with Alabama. Before UA’s Iron Bowl, the Crimson Tide were at No. 5 and figured to be in position to slide into No. 4 after conference championship weekend. Ohio State beat No. 10 Michigan on Saturday (56-27), a win more impressive (to most) than LSU’s 50-7 blowout of unranked Texas A&M.
If the Tigers move back up to No. 1, there may have been something to the “rematch theory,” or the committee members agree with Greeny.
Ohio State may well be the best team in the country. Or maybe Clemson is. But that shouldn’t matter. What LSU has accomplished this season is greater. That is what sports are supposed to be about. LSU should be number one until they lose a game.
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) December 1, 2019
Why is Ohio state not getting slammed for their defensive performance? Michigan got 400 yards offense and their offense is ranked worse than ole miss. Ole miss offense is higher ranked than any team ohio state has played
Now I’m worried. I actually agree with Greenberg.
Doesn’t bother me if LSU is one or two. They’ll prove who’s best on the field. This is perhaps the best Tiger team I’ve seen in my lifetime.
Playing the fourth seed will he a lot easier than the third. It makes a huge difference with prep time. Whoever finishes first will have a distinct advantage. Advantages are good.
This is the same guy who said LSU had no chance against Alabama.
In 2019, LSU has beaten 4 Top 10 ranked teams #9 TX, #7 FL, #9 AU, and #3 AL. While OSU has beaten #25 Michigan St. (now with a losing record), #13 Wisconsin, #8 Penn St., and #13 Michigan.
Ohio St. plays in the Big 10, where the talent level is much, much less than in the SEC. Not my opinion, but fact. Take a look at the 4-year Recruiting Rankings between the Conferences. AL is #1, GA is #2, LSU is #3, FL is #6, AU is #7, TX A&M is #8 (TX, the team LSU beat before their team was reduced to a MASH unit is #9). Eleven (11) of the SEC’s 14 teams are ranked in the Top 25. Almost every team in the SEC is loaded with numerous 4-5 Star players.
The Big 10, not so much. Ohio St. is #5, Penn St. #11, Michigan is #12, and Nebraska (5-7) is #20. That’s it for the Top 25.
Further proof of the talent differential, the NFL Draft. For the past 7 years straight the SEC had the most players taken in the NFL draft and it hasn’t been close. In 2019, the SEC set a record for players taken with 64… the Big 10 had 40. In 2018, the SEC had 53 taken, the Big 10 had 33 and on and on for 7 straight years.
More proof that the SEC is a better conference? Since 1998, when CFB decided to pit the #1 team against the #2 (hence no “Paper Titles”) the SEC has won 11 NC’s, the Big 10 (or should we say Ohio St.) 2. The SEC has won more than all other Conferences combined with TN, FL, AU, LSU, & AL winning titles and LSU, FL, & AL winning multiple titles.
Since the formation of the CFB Playoffs, the Big 10 won the inaugural event in 2004 but their teams have failed to even score in the Playoff, ever since. (Michigan St. in 15-16 and OSU in 16-17).
Let’s not forget the Ohio St. bowl record against the SEC is 2-10 with one of those OSU victories having to be vacated under a cloud of sanctions so, actually 1-10.
Everything tells us that the SEC is stronger than the Big 10 and that LSU has the Harder schedule but the Committee says that OSU has passed the “Eye Test” – preposterous!! The CFB Playoff Poll is a SHAM.