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Can we please dispel the “bye week” myth?!

Posted on 11/5/25 at 11:17 am
Posted by Bamafig
Member since Nov 2018
5640 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 11:17 am
You are NOT getting a bye week by winning your conference championship game! You are just swapping off weeks with the teams that didn’t win it. As a matter of fact, the reward for the losing team could just be an ADDITIONAL game. Are we all clear now?
Posted by Hugh McElroy
Member since Sep 2013
19242 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 11:18 am to
quote:

You are just swapping off weeks with the teams that didn’t win it.



huh?

I see now. I read "swapping off weeks with the teams that didn't win it" as "swapping off weeks with the team that didn't win it." (as in, the loser of the CCG). I was so confused.
This post was edited on 11/5/25 at 1:17 pm
Posted by 3down10
Member since Sep 2014
35401 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 11:19 am to
quote:

You are NOT getting a bye week by winning your conference championship game! You are just swapping off weeks with the teams that didn’t win it. As a matter of fact, the reward for the losing team could just be an ADDITIONAL game. Are we all clear now?


You get many weeks to rest up and prepare for the next game, aka a bye week.

You likely get an easier opponent than you would have gotten in the SECCG.

There is no myth, it's just the fact of the matter.
Posted by WG_Dawg
Member since Jun 2004
89353 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 11:24 am to
quote:

huh?


Win CCG:
-play a game in early December that other people don't
-Get a bye in first week of playoffs

No CCG:
-get a week off in early December while CCG participants play
-Play first round playoffs


OP is basically saying that you don't REALLY get an additional week off compared to others, it just comes later on. What would really suck is to play in a CCG, lose, then also have to play in the 1st round of the playoffs. In that case you basically aren't getting any of weeks ha.
Posted by Bamafig
Member since Nov 2018
5640 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 11:26 am to
The winner of the national championship will have played 16 games if they won their league. That’s the same number of games as those not playing for the league. The loser could potentially play 17 games to win the natty. Where is the “bye” in the sense of less games? Half the playoff field will be watching from home while you bang with another team for a marginal title. And then you watch them the next game.
Posted by jangalang
Member since Dec 2014
49180 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 11:26 am to
quote:

Can we please dispel the “bye week” myth?!

Yall lost a player to an indefinite suspension. The myth survives.
Posted by Bamafig
Member since Nov 2018
5640 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 11:33 am to
Your team will be one of those watching from home…as per usual. We might even sit out some players for the meaningless game on the plains, who knows.
Posted by 3down10
Member since Sep 2014
35401 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 11:37 am to
quote:

The winner of the national championship will have played 16 games if they won their league. That’s the same number of games as those not playing for the league. The loser could potentially play 17 games to win the natty. Where is the “bye” in the sense of less games? Half the playoff field will be watching from home while you bang with another team for a marginal title. And then you watch them the next game.


Everyone has a 12 game season too.

So I guess there aren't any bye weeks during the season either. Last week wasn't a bye week for Alabama at all I guess.



Posted by jangalang
Member since Dec 2014
49180 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 11:38 am to
quote:

Your team will be one of those watching from home…as per usual.

That's how bye weeks usually roll.
Posted by Bamafig
Member since Nov 2018
5640 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 11:40 am to
In Aubies case it’s called the off season or coaching search, depending on the year.
Posted by Chicken
Jackassistan
Member since Aug 2003
26222 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 11:42 am to
you don't want to make the SECCG and lose...you play more than anyone...
Posted by Che Boludo
Member since May 2009
21566 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 11:50 am to
The other big advantage IMO of playing the first week and missing the CCG: home field advantage in first round with a known opponent to prep for should you win and advance to the quarter finals.

Those among the top 4 likely played in a CCG and have to plan and prepare for 2 teams on essentially the same rest that the first round teams received (minus a CCG loser obviously).

Missing the CCG and being a 5 seed almost seems ideal. Hell, there is potential to slip into the top 4 without even playing in a CCG. Crazy system.
This post was edited on 11/5/25 at 11:53 am
Posted by AlaCowboy46
North Alabama
Member since Apr 2025
208 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 11:57 am to
quote:

Yall lost a player to an indefinite suspension. The myth survives.


That suspension will be lifted if they need him for the SECCG. Of course, if Alabama loses to LSU, Oklahoma, or Auburn, the suspension will last until their bowl game.
Posted by BuckeyeGoon
Member since Jan 2025
835 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 12:23 pm to
Notre Dame is the only team that can actually get a bye for the playoffs. They can go 12-0 in the regular season and not play again until the 2nd round.
Posted by Hugh McElroy
Member since Sep 2013
19242 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 1:15 pm to
quote:

Win CCG:
-play a game in early December that other people don't
-Get a bye in first week of playoffs

No CCG:
-get a week off in early December while CCG participants play
-Play first round playoffs



Ahhhh...I was comparing the winner of the CCG with the loser of the CCG, not the other playoff participants who didn't play in the CCG. So I was really confused.

Still be nice to win the SEC.
Posted by TideSaint
Hill Country
Member since Sep 2008
82517 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 1:18 pm to
quote:

Can we please dispel the “bye week” myth?!


All four teams who got a bye week last year lost in the quarterfinals.

Seems like it was more beneficial to host a home game and gain momentum.
Posted by southernboisb
Member since Dec 2012
9233 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 1:23 pm to
I remember when UGA beat Florida & went to the SECCG. Unfortunately, they lost.

But, somehow, Fl. got a better bowl than the Dawgs.
This post was edited on 11/5/25 at 1:24 pm
Posted by southernboisb
Member since Dec 2012
9233 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 1:27 pm to
In fairness, it’s about time BOTH CG teams are recognized in the post season.
Posted by Master of Sinanju
Member since Feb 2012
11847 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 1:29 pm to
A big advantage of the playoff bye has nothing to do with weeks off or player rest. It's one less elimination game you have to play. Being seeded directly into the second round is a big bonus, and one worth playing for.
Posted by southernboisb
Member since Dec 2012
9233 posts
Posted on 11/5/25 at 1:29 pm to
1 - WHO is NOT in their CG & ranked 5th?

2 - WHO wants to be known as winning a natty but not their conference?
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