The byes are unhealthy! The byes are unhealthy!

Do your self a favor. For those who hear anyone speaking a couple of first-round bye within the Faculty Soccer Playoff being a drawback as a result of all 4 groups with a bye misplaced within the format’s inaugural season, smack them upside the top. Or, when you’re a pacifist, politely right them.

The byes aren’t unhealthy. You must need the bye. Ignore the outcomes of a format that is definitely flawed with the best way it awards the byes, however the byes themselves are nice.

Whereas the Relaxation vs. Rust debate is an never-ending thought train that may by no means really be settled, and there could possibly be some benefit to the concept of a staff being rusty, utilizing the Faculty Soccer Playoff quarterfinals as proof is flawed in itself as a result of there are many different justifiable causes for why the 4 groups with byes all misplaced.

Let’s go over them, we could?

1. The system is flawed

I’ve written about it already, and I am removed from the primary individual to say it, however by reserving byes for convention champions, you are not essentially rewarding the 4 greatest groups. Whereas we are able to — and do — argue about who one of the best groups are and how one can decide them, it is truthful to say most would agree that Boise State and Arizona State weren’t really two of the 4 greatest groups within the nation this season. 

That brings us to the following rationalization …

2. Two groups with byes had been double-digit underdogs

Boise State was an 11.5-point underdog towards Penn State. Arizona State was a 13.5-point underdog to Texas. Neither of their losses ought to’ve come as a shock as a result of each had been heavy underdogs with the playing cards stacked towards them.

The most important shock of their two video games was that Arizona State got here again within the second half and compelled the sport to double time beyond regulation earlier than in the end falling. Additionally, whereas Boise State ended up shedding by 17, it was a 3-point recreation late within the third, and Penn State scored on a 58-yard landing run within the last 5 minutes to make it a 17-point last.

You would argue that the bye was integral in Arizona State’s comeback effort towards a bruised and battered Texas, and it additionally helped Boise State dangle in there earlier than relenting late.

3. Georgia had a first-time starter at QB

Did Georgia’s offense solely rating 10 factors and switch the ball over a number of instances as a result of it was rusty, or was it as a result of Gunner Stockton was making the primary begin of his profession in a Faculty Soccer Playoff recreation towards the most effective defenses within the nation? Gee! I am undecided.

I do not say that to take something away from Notre Dame, which was clearly the higher staff within the Sugar Bowl, however anyone attempting to pin Georgia’s loss on an additional week of relaxation watched faculty soccer for the primary time of their lives after they put this recreation on.

If there’s any recreation the place there is a life like probability the bye was an issue, it was the Rose Bowl. Oregon went 13-0 this yr, had the week off after which bought smoked by an Ohio State staff that steamrolled Tennessee every week earlier than. Contemplating all of the questions surrounding Ohio State following its loss to Michigan, one can argue that the Tennessee recreation served as a wake-up name, and the Rose Bowl is not potential with out it.

One might argue that. They’d be incorrect, but it surely’s a free nation, and there aren’t legal guidelines towards it.

The reality is, Ohio State was the favourite to win the nationwide title earlier than the season began, and it has been the most effective groups within the nation all yr lengthy. When it performs its A-game, there aren’t many groups that may compete. For those who want proof of this, Oregon misplaced to the Buckeyes by 20!

For those who want extra proof, Ohio State is a landing favourite towards Texas in subsequent week’s Cotton Bowl. And if it will get previous the Longhorns, it’s going to be favored towards both Penn State or Notre Dame within the Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship, too.

Oh, and it was favored towards Oregon, too. Yeah, it wasn’t the bye right here, both.