ESPN FBS tiers

[biggie]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/i ... 022-season


Tier 9: Plucky upstarts
"I can't promise I'll try, but I'll try to try."

Five teams: Kansas State, Louisville, Maryland, North Carolina, UCLA

Louisville QB Malik Cunningham is as electric as any player in the country. UNC's Josh Downs caught 101 balls last year. By leaving Nebraska, Adrian Martinez broke the curse put on him by the ghost of Bo Pelini, and he can finally blossom into a terrific player for Kansas State. Across the board, this tier is rollickingly fun. And yet, you can also count on them to completely collapse a few times a year. Don't ask too much, and you won't be disappointed.



Tier 10: The system is rigged
"Somehow I just never made it to the big time. ... Why not? ... Because I got knocked out 40 times in a row. That, and the politics. You know, it's all politics."

Eight teams: Air Force, Appalachian State, Army, Boise State, Coastal Carolina, Fresno State, San Diego State, UCF

Coastal Carolina went 11-2 last season. Its two losses came by a combined five points. It returns one of the nation's most prolific QBs in Grayson McCall. There's a reasonable path toward an undefeated season for the Chanticleers. App State has a schedule that mirrors Cincinnati's from 2021 with genuine tests against North Carolina and Texas A&M that, if they somehow won both, the Mountaineers would certainly be the talk of college football entering October. Air Force is favored to win every game it plays this season. This whole group represents some genuinely good teams from outside the Power 5, and yet, you can sum up their playoff chances as approximately zero. Why? Well, for one, any of them would likely lose to Alabama by 50. But also politics. It's all politics.

[BallantyneApp]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/i ... 022-season


Tier 9: Plucky upstarts
"I can't promise I'll try, but I'll try to try."

Five teams: Kansas State, Louisville, Maryland, North Carolina, UCLA

Louisville QB Malik Cunningham is as electric as any player in the country. UNC's Josh Downs caught 101 balls last year. By leaving Nebraska, Adrian Martinez broke the curse put on him by the ghost of Bo Pelini, and he can finally blossom into a terrific player for Kansas State. Across the board, this tier is rollickingly fun. And yet, you can also count on them to completely collapse a few times a year. Don't ask too much, and you won't be disappointed.



Tier 10: The system is rigged
"Somehow I just never made it to the big time. ... Why not? ... Because I got knocked out 40 times in a row. That, and the politics. You know, it's all politics."

Eight teams: Air Force, Appalachian State, Army, Boise State, Coastal Carolina, Fresno State, San Diego State, UCF

Coastal Carolina went 11-2 last season. Its two losses came by a combined five points. It returns one of the nation's most prolific QBs in Grayson McCall. There's a reasonable path toward an undefeated season for the Chanticleers. App State has a schedule that mirrors Cincinnati's from 2021 with genuine tests against North Carolina and Texas A&M that, if they somehow won both, the Mountaineers would certainly be the talk of college football entering October. Air Force is favored to win every game it plays this season. This whole group represents some genuinely good teams from outside the Power 5, and yet, you can sum up their playoff chances as approximately zero. Why? Well, for one, any of them would likely lose to Alabama by 50. But also politics. It's all politics.

the last line is why everyone hates ESPN. Gloss over all the blowouts to Ohio State and Notre Dame, but Cincy loses by 3 TDs to Alabama and suddenly its duh thats why G5 doesn't belong

[WASU 93]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/i ... 022-season


Tier 9: Plucky upstarts
"I can't promise I'll try, but I'll try to try."

Five teams: Kansas State, Louisville, Maryland, North Carolina, UCLA

Louisville QB Malik Cunningham is as electric as any player in the country. UNC's Josh Downs caught 101 balls last year. By leaving Nebraska, Adrian Martinez broke the curse put on him by the ghost of Bo Pelini, and he can finally blossom into a terrific player for Kansas State. Across the board, this tier is rollickingly fun. And yet, you can also count on them to completely collapse a few times a year. Don't ask too much, and you won't be disappointed.



Tier 10: The system is rigged
"Somehow I just never made it to the big time. ... Why not? ... Because I got knocked out 40 times in a row. That, and the politics. You know, it's all politics."

Eight teams: Air Force, Appalachian State, Army, Boise State, Coastal Carolina, Fresno State, San Diego State, UCF

Coastal Carolina went 11-2 last season. Its two losses came by a combined five points. It returns one of the nation's most prolific QBs in Grayson McCall. There's a reasonable path toward an undefeated season for the Chanticleers. App State has a schedule that mirrors Cincinnati's from 2021 with genuine tests against North Carolina and Texas A&M that, if they somehow won both, the Mountaineers would certainly be the talk of college football entering October. Air Force is favored to win every game it plays this season. This whole group represents some genuinely good teams from outside the Power 5, and yet, you can sum up their playoff chances as approximately zero. Why? Well, for one, any of them would likely lose to Alabama by 50. But also politics. It's all politics.

the last line is why everyone hates ESPN. Gloss over all the blowouts to Ohio State and Notre Dame, but Cincy loses by 3 TDs to Alabama and suddenly its duh thats why G5 doesn't belong

The article is written in the satirical style of Ryan McGee's Bottom 10 (By another author). We are in the Top 48 of 131 teams and there are 24 Tiers. And, along with Coastal, we are the highest of the Sun Belt programs.

[bigdaddyg]

I could not read the article because of the subscription. How many P5's are above us that should not be there? I feel like right now if we are considered anywhere from about 30-45 ranked that's about right. To be below 60 is ridiculous

[AtlAppMan]

The lopsided scores are nothing new in the CFP. The reality is there will be a couple of teams that stand above the rest and they will outmatch the other playoff teams.

Historical context for semi-finals:
2014-15: Oregon-Florida St 59-20
2015-15: Alabama-Michigan St 38-0
2016-17: Alabama-Washington 24-7
2016-17: Clemson-Ohio St 31-0
2017-18: Alabama-Clemson 24-6
2018-19: Clemson-Notre Dame 30-3
2019-20: LSU-Oklahoma 63-28
2020-21: Ohio St-Clemson 49-28
2021-22: Alabama-Cincinatti 27-6
2021-22: Georgia-Michigan 34-11

All of the above were 18 or more point spreads in final score. Not exactly like Cincinatti was an outlier but rather they did better than many team in the semi-finals vs a bunch of P5s. I will take App making it to CFP and losing by 21 in semi to Alabama or the eventual champion. At least you were there and most likely very deserving in the overall scheme of things.