NFL MVP Chase and College Football Playoff Chase Updates 11/19/24

IN THIS ISSUE:

• NFL Playoff Chase

• College Football Playoff Chase

NFL MVP CHASE

(Data compiled from Stathead.)

I have not checked who leads the NFL in rushing, receiving, or in any passing statistic. I also haven't looked up any player's stats in losses. The NFL MVP Chase is only about players who made major contributions to team victories, and Saquon Barkley snatched the lead in the MVP Chase with another great game for the Eagles.

For those wondering, Joe Burrow is 32nd and Patrick Mahomes is 36th. Among the rookie quarterbacks drafted in the first round, Jayden Daniels is 16th (as shown above), Bo Nix is 38th, Caleb Williams is 45th, Drake Maye has yet to have a game that warrants inclusion on the list. Michael Penix has seen limited action as a backup to Kirk Cousins (10th on the list). J.J. McCarthy is out for the year due to injury.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

I have ranked all teams with eight wins or more in the following categories

• Wins

• Strength of Wins (SW):  how good, cumulatively, were the teams you beat

• Strength of Losses (SL): how good, cumulatively, were the teams you lost to

• Point differential in losses (L Pts): how many points a team is away from being undefeated

Most often, teams are tied with other teams in a particular ranking. (E.g. many teams are tied for 12th in wins because they all have eight wins.) The Total on the far right column is the sum of their rankings in the four categories, and teams are ranked in that order.

 

The point differential in losses can make a huge difference. For instance, if, this Saturday, Ohio State loses to Indiana by twelve, hardly a blowout, the Buckeyes could fall to where Alabama is in that ranking, as Alabama's two losses are by a combined 12 points. Losing by a blowout margin could prevent a team from reaching the 12-team playoff, and deservedly so. 

James Leroy Wilson writes The MVP Chase (subscribe). Thank you for your subscriptions and support! You may contact James for writing, editing, research, and other work: jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com.