Sports
Football Fans Angered After Playoff Committee Snubs Gophers
Despite staying undefeated and beating a top-four team, the Minnesota Gophers were ranked behind other one-loss teams.
MINNEAPOLIS — Apparently going undefeated and beating a top-four team in the nation isn't enough to completely impress the College Football Playoff committee.
The committee Tuesday released its latest rankings and slotted the Minnesota Gophers at No. 8. While on its face, No. 8 shouldn't be anything to complain about, football fans across the nation pointed out that the committee put Minnesota behind other one-loss teams including Utah, Oregon, Alabama, and Georgia.
Here’s the full #CFBPlayoff Top 25 rankings for games played through November 9. Is your team in? pic.twitter.com/dHN2YbhBs2
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) November 13, 2019
Many fans and analysts reacting to the new rankings opined that was unfair. However, others argued that a team like Alabama should get the benefit of the doubt.
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Rob Mullens specifically mentioned that Minnesota only played 1 conference team with a winning record prior to Penn State. The same is true of Alabama. I asked whether the committee compared Minnesota and Alabama H2H and he said he didn't know b/c he was out of the room.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) November 13, 2019
Then don’t even play the season. If they end up in the top-4 at the end, there’s no point to playing because nothing changed since August.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) November 12, 2019
Not everyone likes that logic, of course, arguing that Minnesota has a better win than almost every other team. NFL wide receiver Dez Bryant was among those unhappy with the Gophers' ranking.
Politics playing its part as usual... Minnesota deserves to be in front of all the one lost teams including Alabama..... https://t.co/6WEQP3EKWn
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) November 13, 2019
Most Gopher fans, however, say they are more focused on beating Iowa Saturday than what the rankings say.
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Just beat Iowa! #RowTheBoat
— Vincent Sommer (@VincentSommer) November 13, 2019
The Gophers' magical season continues
An appearance in the College Football Playoff is potentially on the line for the Minnesota Gophers this week as they prepare for Iowa.
Read more: Minnesota Gophers Play Iowa Hawkeyes: Kickoff Time, TV, Tickets
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