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Conference post-season - Impact on National post-season
Posted on 5/20/24 at 10:54 am
Posted on 5/20/24 at 10:54 am
It was, originally, that the SEC Championship Game (football) had HUGE consequences regarding the national title game.
For example, the very first one - 1992 - if Florida beats Alabama, then Alabama doesn't go on to play (and beat) Miami for the national title.
Other times, like 2012 and 2023, the SEC title game was basically a play-in game where the winner gets into the championship game/tournament.
Now, however, there are two major factors that alter its impact on getting into the national championship:
1. The top 2 teams get in. There are no "spoiler" possibilities (like in 1994, where a 12-0 Alabama - if they beat Florida - has a case for #2, or 2001 where LSU 100% cost Tennessee a shot, or 2005 where Georgia cost then-#3 LSU a potential shot). The winner now gets in, but barring a very rough SEC season, the loser likely gets in as well.
2. Expansion of the playoffs - with 12 teams, it's estimated that the SEC will send 3 teams every year (once again, barring a very rough year for the SEC). This means that you're likely looking at multiple seasons where at least one team who did not play in the game making alongside the winner and loser of the game.
Taking all that into account, is the SEC Championship Game still the most impactful on the post-season, out of the following four:
SEC Championship Game (Football)
SEC Basketball Tournament
SEC Baseball Tournament
SEC Softball Tournament
I'm curious how everyone feels these are ranked, going forward, on their post-season impact.
For example, the very first one - 1992 - if Florida beats Alabama, then Alabama doesn't go on to play (and beat) Miami for the national title.
Other times, like 2012 and 2023, the SEC title game was basically a play-in game where the winner gets into the championship game/tournament.
Now, however, there are two major factors that alter its impact on getting into the national championship:
1. The top 2 teams get in. There are no "spoiler" possibilities (like in 1994, where a 12-0 Alabama - if they beat Florida - has a case for #2, or 2001 where LSU 100% cost Tennessee a shot, or 2005 where Georgia cost then-#3 LSU a potential shot). The winner now gets in, but barring a very rough SEC season, the loser likely gets in as well.
2. Expansion of the playoffs - with 12 teams, it's estimated that the SEC will send 3 teams every year (once again, barring a very rough year for the SEC). This means that you're likely looking at multiple seasons where at least one team who did not play in the game making alongside the winner and loser of the game.
Taking all that into account, is the SEC Championship Game still the most impactful on the post-season, out of the following four:
SEC Championship Game (Football)
SEC Basketball Tournament
SEC Baseball Tournament
SEC Softball Tournament
I'm curious how everyone feels these are ranked, going forward, on their post-season impact.
3
Posted on 5/20/24 at 10:59 am to skrayper
Most times it was a game for Bama to avoid and make it to the national championship game
Posted on 5/20/24 at 11:50 am to skrayper
The biggest impact it could have I think would be football if the team that wins is 9-3 (say they lost a non-con but won a 6-2 tie breaker) and went from going on the road in the first round to getting a bye in the playoff altogether.
SEC softball and baseball since any decent team makes the field, little effect. Basketball, a chance to take a 20-10 NIT season and turn into something special with a run.
SEC softball and baseball since any decent team makes the field, little effect. Basketball, a chance to take a 20-10 NIT season and turn into something special with a run.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 12:11 pm to ukraine_rebel
quote:
SEC softball and baseball since any decent team makes the field, little effect. Basketball, a chance to take a 20-10 NIT season and turn into something special with a run.
I'm inclined to agree. If I had to say, now it's:
Basketball Tournament
SEC Championship Game
Baseball/Softball Tournament
In ranking of importance to making the NCAA post-season. #1 and #2 definitely used to be swapped around prior to this upcoming year.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 12:15 pm to skrayper
The SECCG is mainly about seeding now.
Win and you get a first round bye (as only conference champions can get byes). Lose and you're playing in the first round.
That makes it still have some meaning, but much less than it had before. If the playoff had 8 or 16 teams, the SECCG would mean almost nothing. But with 12, winning means you get an extra week of rest before the playoff.
Win and you get a first round bye (as only conference champions can get byes). Lose and you're playing in the first round.
That makes it still have some meaning, but much less than it had before. If the playoff had 8 or 16 teams, the SECCG would mean almost nothing. But with 12, winning means you get an extra week of rest before the playoff.
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