I disagree. That would exactly being my point.
The rules of who wins the title, or playoff slot, is predetermined before you start playing any game.
Doesn't matter WHEN you win or lose, or when others win or lose.
It's the final, bottom line accumulation of the season whether you win all the early ones and lose all the late ones. Or lose all the early ones and win all the late ones. The games all count the same no matter when you play them.
I guess the term "backing into" a slot is just used as some slight to a team that "wins" at the end of the season and therefore gets a slot they're "not really entitled to" or something like that.
Maybe it's my jaded view of sportswriters and pundits who make it sound like it's not earned.
P.S., note Texas will be playing KU today; both WVU and OU already have that "W" on their records for this year. But WVU and OU haven't played each other until today. Texas has already played them both (league leaders, like Texas), splitting those games.
Last edited: Nov 23, 2018