The McShay Show – Episode Summary: "The Case for South Carolina, Alabama’s Lifeline, and Other CFP Rankings Reactions"

Release Date: December 4, 2024

In this compelling episode of The McShay Show, Todd McShay and co-host Louis Riddick delve deep into the latest College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings, sparking intense discussions about team exclusions, ranking criteria, and potential playoff matchups. Here's a detailed breakdown of their conversation:

1. Introduction to the CFP Rankings Shake-Up

The episode kicks off with Todd McShay addressing the recent upheaval in the CFP rankings. South Carolina's exclusion, alongside Miami and Ole Miss, serves as the primary catalyst for today’s discussion.

Todd McShay [01:56]: "Wow. College the College Football Playoff rankings are in. Miami is out. Ole Miss is out. South Carolina is out. That to me is the jumping off point here."

2. Understanding the Committee's Rationale

Todd highlights comments from Ward Manuel, the chair of the CFP committee, emphasizing that the current cluster of teams (Alabama at 11, Miami at 12, Ole Miss at 13, and South Carolina at 14) is unlikely to change based on upcoming conference championship results.

Todd McShay [02:30]: "Essentially, if SMU beats Clemson, Alabama gets the last at-large bid over Miami. And it also means that Miami, as you're looking at the College Football Playoff rankings here, we'll get to the whole list in a second."

3. South Carolina's Discontent and Case for Inclusion

Louis Riddick passionately argues for South Carolina's rightful place in the playoff conversation, critiquing the committee's decision-making process and highlighting South Carolina's strong performance despite key injuries and penalties.

Louis Riddick [05:40]: "If I'm South Carolina, I'm furious. And I think there's a strong argument for taking Alabama over South Carolina, or at least there is an argument."

He further underscores that South Carolina's losses were against respectable teams, contrasting them with Alabama's tougher losses.

Louis Riddick [06:55]: "You look at South Carolina, you get into the Devils and the details, right? You look at that loss to LSU and their quarterback doesn't play the second half and they lose a tough one."

4. Evaluating Alabama’s Position and the Lifeline Concept

The hosts dissect Alabama's ranking, questioning the committee's emphasis on head-to-head results over other performance metrics like strength of schedule and record against top teams.

Todd McShay [08:35]: "Our rankings reveal show the other night or sorry, in our Saturday night reaction show to all the games. I said I just don't know how in good conscience the committee can put that Miami defense in the College Football Playoff."

Louis concurs, expressing confusion over Miami's inclusion despite their losses.

Louis Riddick [10:52]: "I don't know why Miami's even in the conversation either. I don't understand why."

5. Strength of Schedule vs. Strength of Record

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the metrics used to rank teams. Todd emphasizes the importance of both strength of schedule and strength of record, advocating for their utilization in determining playoff spots.

Todd McShay [16:17]: "Strength of schedule for Indiana is, is better 10 spots better at 65 than SMU 75. So it would have been easy for the committee to put Indiana at 8, but they didn't. They put SMU at 8."

Louis agrees, stressing that conference strength should not overshadow individual team performances.

Louis Riddick [27:35]: "It's a power two conference football college football landscape at this point. Sorry, it is, there's just, it's the, it is the SEC and then it's the Big Ten and then it's, it's everyone else."

6. Potential Playoff Matchups and Implications

The hosts speculate on how the playoff bracket might unfold, considering various scenarios based on upcoming conference championships. They explore possible rematches and highlight intriguing matchups that could shape the playoffs.

Todd McShay [43:35]: "Donovan Jackson against James Pierce. Yeah. You talk about NFL matchups. Let's do some NFL matchups here."

Louis Riddick [44:55]: "Penn State gets in the five seed. Playing Boise State in the quarterfinals is so on brand for them."

7. Comparing Personal Rankings with Committee Rankings

Todd and Louis reveal their own rankings, which notably differ from the CFP committee's list. They prioritize South Carolina and critique the committee's focus on conference champions over overall team performance.

Todd McShay [31:05]: "Our rankings reveal show the other night or sorry, in our Saturday night reaction show to all the games. I said I just don't know how in good conscience the committee can put that Miami defense in the College Football Playoff."

Louis Riddick [33:36]: "Yeah. I don't get [Miami's inclusion]."

8. Future Outlook and Upcoming Shows

Wrapping up, Todd and Louis tease future episodes, including live coverage of the ACC Championship and discussions with guest David Pollock. They express anticipation for how the remaining conference games will influence the final playoff selections.

Todd McShay [52:35]: "We have Clemson now. We had him on the very first show, right? We had him the very first show."

Louis Riddick [54:02]: "Appreciate you, man."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Todd McShay [01:56]: "Wow. College the College Football Playoff rankings are in. Miami is out. Ole Miss is out. South Carolina is out."

• Louis Riddick [05:40]: "If I'm South Carolina, I'm furious. And I think there's a strong argument for taking Alabama over South Carolina."

• Todd McShay [08:35]: "I just don't know how in good conscience the committee can put that Miami defense in the College Football Playoff."

• Louis Riddick [16:17]: "Strength of schedule for Indiana is, is better 10 spots better at 65 than SMU 75."

• Todd McShay [31:05]: "Our rankings reveal show... I just don't know how in good conscience the committee can put that Miami defense in the College Football Playoff."

Conclusion

Todd McShay and Louis Riddick provide a thorough and spirited analysis of the current CFP rankings, challenging the committee's decisions and advocating for teams like South Carolina. Their blend of expert insight and passionate debate offers listeners a nuanced perspective on the evolving landscape of college football playoffs.

*For those interested in the intricacies of college football rankings and playoff implications, this episode is a must-listen. Stay tuned for more in-depth analysis and discussions in upcoming episodes of The McShay Show.