In many ways it has never been better. We will still probably end up with a Georgia-Ohio State final game which is where we thought we would be Week 1. The playoff plus NIL and the portal as expected has leveled the playing field within each conference. The Big Ten is the only conference where the top is clearly better than middle or bottom. All the other conferences any team can win or lose on a given week.

The talent level inside these conferences is very similar. The biggest change is the gap in talent has been closed. The SEC still has the most talent but within that conference the gap has closed between Georgia-Alabama and the rest of the conference. Big Ten that gap hasn’t closed as much. The ACC the gap has closed. Big 12 every team is the same talent wise.

This is where all the talking heads get data twisted. This game of predicting the best teams is insane. All the talking heads now all have beating podcasts. Their win rate is at best 50 percent. The perception is talent is all that matters but really how do you accurately predict how that talent will perform? You can’t that is why the games have to be played. That is why teams records and losses do matter.

IU has been discussed a lot. They lost to an Ohio State who has the most talent in the country. IU only gave up 300 yards, to a loaded Ohio State offense. The talent difference is significant but game was going into half 7-7 if their kicker didn’t drop the ball. They should be in the playoff but SEC lovers will lose their mind because Alabama may get left out. Who got their doors blown off by Oklahoma. IU won’t get their doors blown off by anyone else in the field. They may even win a game with the right matchup. The committee has to stop playing predicting game when placing teams in playoff. Miami and SMU win out they both should get in. Clemson may get a back door if they beat South Carolina. Which I don’t think will happen but if they do they deserve it more than a three loss SEC team.

The fall out from this past weekend is crazy and exactly how I thought a playoff would impact the game. Teams inside the ACC have an easier path to the playoff and that is a good thing. The SEC willingly created a world where they will eat their own. A NFL playoff model is coming…..watch. Each power 5 conference should get equal AQ’s. Then let the games determine the title winner.