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re: Most coddled team of all time, Notre Dame or Bama?
Posted on 11/19/25 at 10:52 am to Roguestein
Posted on 11/19/25 at 10:52 am to Roguestein
I asked Grok.
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The Five Most Coddled College Football Teams
Expanding on the concept of "coddled" teams—those perceived to receive undue advantages like lenient scheduling, favorable officiating, conference protections, and media leniency—I've drawn from ongoing fan debates, social media rants, and analyses up to the 2025 season. These rankings reflect the most frequently cited culprits in discussions, often tied to blue-blood status and structural perks in the expanded 12-team playoff era. Here's the top five, with reasons backed by common critiques:
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
As the ultimate independent (with a cushy ACC tie-in for five games a year), Notre Dame curates the softest schedules in major college football, dodging full conference slogs while securing automatic playoff consideration. Recent gripes include alleged ACC referee favoritism—e.g., extended fields or phantom calls in games against Pitt and Miami—allowing them to stay undefeated longer than warranted. Their NBC media bubble and "golden dome" aura amplify this, making them untouchable despite occasional flops.
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Big Ten bends over backward for the Buckeyes with the league's easiest paths: multiple early cupcakes, protected crossovers, and avoidance of late-season road marathons against rivals like Oregon or Penn State. In 2025, their slate (e.g., Akron, Marshall, and a rested matchup vs. a depleted Michigan) has drawn fire for being a "gauntlet of bye weeks," yet they're playoff locks. Low penalty yards and coach Ryan Day's job security despite big-game chokes scream conference coddling.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The SEC's flagship gets "ref magnet" treatment, with viral clips of ignored holdings or late flags in wins over Oklahoma and Tennessee fueling bias claims. Their recruiting dominance and Saban-era hangover ensure top-5 hype regardless of early stumbles, and the conference's playoff auto-bid structure shields them from true accountability. Even in a post-dynasty dip, media narratives portray losses as flukes, not systemic issues.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Big Ten favoritism hits hard here too, with schedules padded by FCS foes and intra-conference breather games (e.g., avoiding Ohio State until the finale). James Franklin's insulated tenure—despite repeated rivalry failures—and suspiciously low sack/pressure rates (tied for fewest in the league) suggest protective officiating. In 2025, their two playoff wins have fans howling about "Happy Valley handouts," positioning them as eternal contenders without elite risk.
LSU Tigers
SEC refs allegedly gift-wrap games for the Bayou Bengals, with 2025 complaints peaking over non-calls in blowouts against Florida and Ole Miss (e.g., unpenalized roughing amid their league-leading QB pressures). Brian Kelly's NIL-fueled roster rebuilds get endless ESPN love, despite inconsistent defenses, and their schedule skips brutal SEC West rematches. It's the classic "tiger blood" halo: aggressive play rewarded, mistakes forgiven.
Honorable mentions include Clemson (ACC scheduling perks) and Miami (coastal bias claims), but these five dominate the "spoiled rotten" discourse. With the playoff's growth, expect more whining about how these programs game the system.
—————
The Five Most Coddled College Football Teams
Expanding on the concept of "coddled" teams—those perceived to receive undue advantages like lenient scheduling, favorable officiating, conference protections, and media leniency—I've drawn from ongoing fan debates, social media rants, and analyses up to the 2025 season. These rankings reflect the most frequently cited culprits in discussions, often tied to blue-blood status and structural perks in the expanded 12-team playoff era. Here's the top five, with reasons backed by common critiques:
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
As the ultimate independent (with a cushy ACC tie-in for five games a year), Notre Dame curates the softest schedules in major college football, dodging full conference slogs while securing automatic playoff consideration. Recent gripes include alleged ACC referee favoritism—e.g., extended fields or phantom calls in games against Pitt and Miami—allowing them to stay undefeated longer than warranted. Their NBC media bubble and "golden dome" aura amplify this, making them untouchable despite occasional flops.
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Big Ten bends over backward for the Buckeyes with the league's easiest paths: multiple early cupcakes, protected crossovers, and avoidance of late-season road marathons against rivals like Oregon or Penn State. In 2025, their slate (e.g., Akron, Marshall, and a rested matchup vs. a depleted Michigan) has drawn fire for being a "gauntlet of bye weeks," yet they're playoff locks. Low penalty yards and coach Ryan Day's job security despite big-game chokes scream conference coddling.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The SEC's flagship gets "ref magnet" treatment, with viral clips of ignored holdings or late flags in wins over Oklahoma and Tennessee fueling bias claims. Their recruiting dominance and Saban-era hangover ensure top-5 hype regardless of early stumbles, and the conference's playoff auto-bid structure shields them from true accountability. Even in a post-dynasty dip, media narratives portray losses as flukes, not systemic issues.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Big Ten favoritism hits hard here too, with schedules padded by FCS foes and intra-conference breather games (e.g., avoiding Ohio State until the finale). James Franklin's insulated tenure—despite repeated rivalry failures—and suspiciously low sack/pressure rates (tied for fewest in the league) suggest protective officiating. In 2025, their two playoff wins have fans howling about "Happy Valley handouts," positioning them as eternal contenders without elite risk.
LSU Tigers
SEC refs allegedly gift-wrap games for the Bayou Bengals, with 2025 complaints peaking over non-calls in blowouts against Florida and Ole Miss (e.g., unpenalized roughing amid their league-leading QB pressures). Brian Kelly's NIL-fueled roster rebuilds get endless ESPN love, despite inconsistent defenses, and their schedule skips brutal SEC West rematches. It's the classic "tiger blood" halo: aggressive play rewarded, mistakes forgiven.
Honorable mentions include Clemson (ACC scheduling perks) and Miami (coastal bias claims), but these five dominate the "spoiled rotten" discourse. With the playoff's growth, expect more whining about how these programs game the system.
1
Posted on 11/19/25 at 10:56 am to jangalang
I agree south carolina is cuddled
Posted on 11/19/25 at 10:59 am to Diamondawg
Yep.. coming off back to back AP National Championships.. preseason #1, went undefeated and finished 3rd
Posted on 11/19/25 at 11:04 am to Roguestein
Kind of apples to oranges. Notre Dame is the national media darling, Alabama is not, but they have a lot of folks In Birmingham looking out for them. Their fans know it too. They just like to play dumb.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 12:23 pm to Roguestein
Historically Notre Dame is one of the most coddled teams, maybe in competition with USC.
Alabama on the other hand is one of the least coddled teams. In fact, the majority of times college football has changed when it comes to national championships is in attempts to prevent Alabama from winning national championships. This started back in the 1960s when the civil rights movements and all that was in it's peak.
In 1964 Alabama wins the National Championship, but loses it's bowl game. Now it wasn't at all uncommon for the NC team to do this as the game was an exhibition and a full month after the NC was awarded. Notre Dame didn't even play in bowl games at this time.
So they decided to change it because Alabama won it.
In 1965 Alabama was not #1 at the end of the season when the NC was previously awarded. However, Alabama goes on to win it's bowl game and ends up #1.
This pissed them off, so they go back to awarding it before the bowl games in 1966. Alabama goes undefeated but it doesn't matter because Notre Dame and Michigan St tied in a game and then didn't play in a bowl game.
Eventually the AP goes to full time after the bowl games, but hte Coaches poll does not. Until you guess it - Alabama wins their NC but loses in a bowl game. Not a problem when other teams do it, huge problem when it's Alabama. Alabama of course still goes on to win multiple more national championships under the new format.
Then you have the USC/Rose Bowl/Pac10/Big10 hijacking of things. Most people wanted #1 and #2 to play at the end of the year. But they refused to allow anyone else to play in the Rose Bowl and they refused to play in any other bowl game but the Rose Bowl.
So in 1992 everyone got together to form the Bowl Coalition to put #1 and #2 against each other when possible. AKA when a Big10 or Pac10 team wasn't #1 or #2. Alabama goes on to play Miami, is predicted to get crushed but instead blows them out, winning the NC. Other teams go on to do the same until finally the Pac10 and such has to give in and we get the BCS.
The SEC had been pushing for a plus 1(4 team playoff) since Auburn got left out. But again the Pac, Big10 and Big12 block it. Until what? 2011 and Alabama and LSU lock up the BCS. Then suddenly we get the push for 4 team playoffs.
So as a matter of history, college football has in many cases changed over and over in an attempt to prevent Alabama from winning national championships.
You take Notre Dame or USC and put them in the same history and we're still talking about AP Polls and bowl games that are played after national championships are awarded.
Alabama on the other hand is one of the least coddled teams. In fact, the majority of times college football has changed when it comes to national championships is in attempts to prevent Alabama from winning national championships. This started back in the 1960s when the civil rights movements and all that was in it's peak.
In 1964 Alabama wins the National Championship, but loses it's bowl game. Now it wasn't at all uncommon for the NC team to do this as the game was an exhibition and a full month after the NC was awarded. Notre Dame didn't even play in bowl games at this time.
So they decided to change it because Alabama won it.
In 1965 Alabama was not #1 at the end of the season when the NC was previously awarded. However, Alabama goes on to win it's bowl game and ends up #1.
This pissed them off, so they go back to awarding it before the bowl games in 1966. Alabama goes undefeated but it doesn't matter because Notre Dame and Michigan St tied in a game and then didn't play in a bowl game.
Eventually the AP goes to full time after the bowl games, but hte Coaches poll does not. Until you guess it - Alabama wins their NC but loses in a bowl game. Not a problem when other teams do it, huge problem when it's Alabama. Alabama of course still goes on to win multiple more national championships under the new format.
Then you have the USC/Rose Bowl/Pac10/Big10 hijacking of things. Most people wanted #1 and #2 to play at the end of the year. But they refused to allow anyone else to play in the Rose Bowl and they refused to play in any other bowl game but the Rose Bowl.
So in 1992 everyone got together to form the Bowl Coalition to put #1 and #2 against each other when possible. AKA when a Big10 or Pac10 team wasn't #1 or #2. Alabama goes on to play Miami, is predicted to get crushed but instead blows them out, winning the NC. Other teams go on to do the same until finally the Pac10 and such has to give in and we get the BCS.
The SEC had been pushing for a plus 1(4 team playoff) since Auburn got left out. But again the Pac, Big10 and Big12 block it. Until what? 2011 and Alabama and LSU lock up the BCS. Then suddenly we get the push for 4 team playoffs.
So as a matter of history, college football has in many cases changed over and over in an attempt to prevent Alabama from winning national championships.
You take Notre Dame or USC and put them in the same history and we're still talking about AP Polls and bowl games that are played after national championships are awarded.
This post was edited on 11/19/25 at 12:24 pm
Posted on 11/19/25 at 12:54 pm to Roguestein
Notre Dame is coddled by the media. bama is coddled by the SEC officials.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 1:41 pm to Roguestein
quote:
What say you sRant?
You don't make quality posts.
This post was edited on 11/19/25 at 1:51 pm
Posted on 11/19/25 at 1:53 pm to Roguestein
Posted on 11/19/25 at 2:17 pm to Roguestein
I firmly believe that the Helmet Test influences the committee and the media, and they feed off each other.
That said, Notre Dame is the only team that the Helmet Test benefits more than Alabama.
That said, Notre Dame is the only team that the Helmet Test benefits more than Alabama.
This post was edited on 11/19/25 at 2:19 pm
Posted on 11/19/25 at 2:25 pm to Thorny
With Freeman as their coach ND starts the season in the playoffs. They have to lose three games to be out (maybe).
Posted on 11/19/25 at 2:30 pm to Roguestein
The coddled team that got left out of the playoffs last year? Coaches like Saban at big time programs before NIL didn't pay the players, the slime ball agents (who used "runners") to do their dirty work and the slime ball boosters did so.. I am guessing Saban and Alabama used to dominate your team every year so he still lives in your head rent free like he does every LSU fan??
Posted on 11/19/25 at 3:07 pm to Roguestein
Notre Dame is 5-3 all-time against Alabama...
Notre Dame had to "share" a National Title with Alabama despite beating them the same year...so Bama is more coddled...even when you beat them, it doesn't count to media and Gumps...see LSU.
Notre Dame had to "share" a National Title with Alabama despite beating them the same year...so Bama is more coddled...even when you beat them, it doesn't count to media and Gumps...see LSU.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 3:11 pm to Roguestein
Notre Dame being coddled is the reason why Alabama faked so many national championships in their media guide in 1983.
It’s definitely Notre Dame.
It’s definitely Notre Dame.
This post was edited on 11/19/25 at 3:11 pm
Posted on 11/19/25 at 4:54 pm to Roguestein
Notre Dame and Michigan are the top 2 easily
Posted on 11/19/25 at 5:06 pm to Roguestein
Texas
Posted on 11/19/25 at 5:13 pm to Roguestein
Both...Notre Dame overall, but definitely Alabama due to Saban's success
I think this has been the case the last 20 years, but Notre Dame looks like a different animal under Marcus Freeman. They look and play more physical.
quote:
Notre Dame who is always overrated and ranked too high.
I think this has been the case the last 20 years, but Notre Dame looks like a different animal under Marcus Freeman. They look and play more physical.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 5:46 pm to Roguestein
Two camps:
(1) Blue bloods
(2) everyone else, who want to be blue bloods
(1) Blue bloods
(2) everyone else, who want to be blue bloods
Posted on 11/19/25 at 5:52 pm to Audustxx
The entire SEC is coddled. But Notre Dame is absolutely the most coddled team in America.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 5:57 pm to Roguestein
138 post in 4-1/2 days..
Over 40
Post a day.
Post less
Over 40
Post a day.
Post less
Posted on 11/19/25 at 5:58 pm to captdalton
quote:
captdalton
You want to measure my feet for shoe size, and my dick for condom size?
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