Shane Beamer states case for South Carolina to make College Football Playoff
Shane Beamer believes his South Carolina squad belongs in the College Football Playoff.
After a thrilling Palmetto Bowl win over Clemson, Beamer made the case for the Gamecocks to be included in the 12-team field. South Carolina entered Rivalry Week at No. 15 in the selection committee rankings. The Gamecocks are sure to be ahead of Clemson, which was No. 12 after Week 13, in Tuesday’s rankings.
“I do believe we deserve a spot in the 12-team Playoff,” Beamer said postgame. “I get it, the committee has a really tough job. They have to choose the 12 best teams. I get it, we’ve got 3 losses, I understand that.
“But it’s hard for me to sit there and say we’re not one of the 12 best teams in the country when you look at our strength of schedule, when you look at our wins on the road. I think we’re now 4-1 on the road this year in tough environments. We’re not going and playing in front of 20,000 people on the road like some teams do in this country. We go into hostile environments every single week. And our only loss on the road is a 2-point loss.
“We talk about strength of schedule, I think today is our 4th top-25 win with, I believe, the 12th-highest strength of schedule. I get it, there’s some very deserving teams out there, but if the committee’s job is to pick the 12 best teams… You tell me, on Selection Sunday, if South Carolina pops up on that bracket, I don’t know of any team excited about having to play this team the way we’re playing right now. That’s what I judge it on.”
Unfortunately, for Beamer and the Gamecocks, the committee is not simply selecting the 12 best teams. Five spots will go to conference champions. South Carolina will not play in the SEC Championship Game, so the Gamecocks are fighting for one of 7 at-large bids.
Due to the spots for champions and at-large bids, even being in the top 12 does not guaranteee a Playoff spot. In fact, Clemson was the first team out at No. 12 in the projected bracket, as No. 16 Arizona State was the highest-ranked Big 12 team (and projected as the Big 12 champion).
The Gamecocks can root for more chaos and rivalry week Saturday and in next week’s conference championship games.
Shane Beamer says South Carolina deserves to be in the College Football Playoff:
“We got 3 losses, I understand that. But it’s hard for me to sit there and say that we’re not one of the 12 best teams in the country.”
Mentions strength of schedule and road wins@GamecockFB pic.twitter.com/Dw5tkRd1ux
— Matt Dowell (@MattDowellTV) November 30, 2024
It is looking very questionable that a three loss team will make the playoffs, but if one does it will be Alabama
The one that got blown out by Oklahoma ???
Take your pick.., the one that beat Georgia…. The one that has national name recognition…. The one that the playoff committee has already shown that they value more than other three loss teams.
Lots of teams win at home. Bama has 0 quality road wins and has regressed with a loss to Vandy as the top team, a blowout last week and a mediocre game vs a garbage Auburn team. USCjr has improved with blowout road wins vs Oklahoma and Vandy and a huge road win vs a higher ranked rival who is playing a championship game next week. They almost beat Bama at home. Easy choice. Maybe Bama and USCsr can play each other in the Liberty bowl and we’ll call it the “Also Ran Brand Name Participation Trophy Bowl”.
At the half, Bama can hang a banner for beating Georgia
“Oklahoma stinks. They are 14th on this list. You consider that a “significant” win? sheesh. I’m not trying to “spin” anything. Just stating facts. Those three teams have not shown up against good teams on the road.”
Remember posting this about Oklahoma? I guess now they’re a good team?
I don’t know if he’s been watching, but clearly strength of schedule doesn’t mean a ton. However, his team has made the best case out of any 3 loss team in America
The committee just seems to make things up but yeah SoS is clearly not something they care about. It hurts SC that they don’t have the recognition from a big winning history (even a remote one) and they lost to two other 9-3 SEC teams that want in and have been more highly ranked.
The trick here is that no one knows how the committee will finalize the teams. We all have an idea and our own opinions, but we all will just have to wait and see. That includes Nick Saban, Lane Kiffin and Shane Beamer. It doesn’t stop any of the three from making their case. Our words here are futile unless we are choosing the teams.
Bama-Georgia, Mizzou, So Carolina, LSU, Auburn, Wisconsin,
L- Tenn, Vandy, Oklahoma
So Carolina – Mizzou, TAM, Clemson, UK, Vandy, Old Dom,
L – Alabama, Ole Miss, LSU
Its Bama NOT USC
I got 3 SEC teams going: UGA, Texas and Tenn. If a 4th does make it…tell me how SC should go over Ole Miss? Ole Miss routed SC at SC. SC’s signature win is Texas A&M. Ole Miss’s is UGA. Ole Miss has the better resume, period!
Well, if the committee solely looks at head to head and not unranked losses, strength of schedule and consistency, then yes, your teams will make it.
SEC teams that finish the regular season 10-2 or better should definitely be above any and all 9-3 teams. Strength of schedule is similar for all SEC teams. There are no free rides in this conference. No SEC team should be penalized for a loss in the SECCG… After all, you had to be one of the 2 best conference teams just to get there.
Starting your excuse path already, huh Bill? If UGA loses the SECCG they are behind Bama! Head to head matters, that was hammered on last year and the reason UGA was left out! USC lost to Ole Miss and Bama!
Why punish a team for a championship loss? The 2 best teams in the conference are in the championship game. Why leave one of the 2 best out?
SC is a 2* loss team. Committee/officials have to call a spade a spade and weigh LSU as NOT a loss. Fingers crossed we have some ball-knowers on the committee
In or out, we still went 9-3 with a number of HUGE wins, capped off by beating our hated rival in their own building.
Vegas had our win total at 5.5. People said Beamer was on the hot seat. Our QB wore funny glasses and was no good.
Now, we’re the hottest team in the country and 3 bad calls against LSU OR 2 points in Tuscaloosa from going to the playoff.
In or out, I’ll take it.