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Moments after Florida's loss to LSU, where the game will be remembered for a thrown shoe, Gators' coach Dan Mullen was asked if the setback hurts his team's playoff resume. Mullen, never one to not give an opinion with a spice of sarcasm, he dropped this nugget:
"I don't have a vote on that. I'm not in the room. I know we've played 10 games. So I guess the best thing to do would have been to play less games because you seem to get rewarded for not playing this year in college football. "
Sore loser? Maybe. Angry after a loss like that? Sure. But a valid point? Absolutely.
When the ACC made the decision to not reschedule games for Clemson and Notre Dame, it gave its top two teams a week off before playing in the conference title game and it avoided any scenario where either could get upset. Was the ACC protecting the two teams and giving the league a better chance to get two teams into the playoff? Yes, and no one really complained. The argument was that both Clemson and Notre Dame have done enough to get the committee's attention and if Clemson-with Trevor Lawrence- beats the Irish and it's not a blowout, both would likely get in.
When the ACC made the scheduling choice it provided a nice written explanation but everyone knew what was going on. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey had his own spin about what the ACC did and talked about the spirit of competition in the SEC and they would try and schedule as many games as possible. But maybe Sankey should have thought about resting his top two teams as well.
As the SEC was scrambling to reschedule games, Alabama sat comfortably at number one and Florida was sitting sixth. But everyone agreed that a Florida win over Alabama would land them in the playoff and Alabama would likely still get in. So why make both play an extra game? Neither needed to improve their rankings in the eyes of the committee? The only that could ruin the scenario of getting both in was if one or both lost a game they didn't need. Well, Alabama blew out Arkansas but Florida lost.
Yes, Texas A&M could win this week and be waiting for the committee to pick them if Clemson or Ohio State loses this coming week. But the SEC could have had number one and number six meet in Atlanta. That won't happen. But Mullen's point is correct. The committee's ranking of Ohio State shows they didn't care the Buckeyes have played only five games. And what did the Big Ten do make sure Ohio State stayed in the playoff hunt? They even changed their own rules to allow the Buckeyes into their title game.
Maybe Ohio State would have won 10 games if they played five more like Florida played 10 games. But maybe they would have their LSU moment, like they did in recent seasons against Iowa and Purdue- losing games where they were a big favorite.
In the crazy 2020 season, protecting your own teams seems like smart business. The ACC did it. The Big Ten did it. Heck, even the American is prepared to do it. Cincinnati is the highest ranked team in the league and battling Covid issues. If they can't play their title game against Tulsa this week, they will be declared champions and would then lock down the major bowl bid as the highest ranked G5 champion.
The SEC point may not matter. Not sure Florida can beat Alabama, especially the way the Gators' defense played. But playing less in 2020 seems to have become an advantage for some conferences and teams and imagine if Florida played nine regular season games instead of 10...
Florida State was the surprising choice by McKenzie Milton. He will transfer to Tallahassee and play for a coach Milton never lost to in Mike Norvell. FSU was the first school to call Milton when he entered the transfer portal. Maybe there was not as strong of a market among major brands. Maybe few offered what Milton wanted to hear about playing time. Maybe staying in Florida was a key factor. Maybe a little bit of all that.
Milton says he looks forward to competing for a job and being part of a proud program with hopes to help get them back where they have been. Many have pointed out FSU's offensive line woes in the last few seasons. It's a valid point. Others point to a crowded QB room. I never felt Mike Norvell's quarterback in 2021 was on his roster this season. That includes freshman Chubba Purdy, who Norvell signed. If healthy, Milton can be a game changer. If he can get back to the level he played FSU is better today. He already has energized some fans who are thirsting for good news. No one knows, not even McKenzie, if he can take not just one hit but many over the course of a game and a season.
It will be awkward for UCF fans to watch Milton play in any other jersey, let alone one in the state. And the weekly comparisons between Milton's stats and Dillon Gabriel will fill the social media world.
If Milton wins the starting job, his first game as a Seminole? Notre Dame, September 5th in Tallahassee in prime time Sunday night of Labor Day Weekend...
Final thought: 7-eleven sells over 100 million hot dogs a year...