I just wanted to go back and see what the matchups would have been. I think 8 is the best number personally. It's one extra game for the final 2 than they play now. There can be some real debate on 4/5 including with teams that did everything they possibly could still being left out. You don't get the same debates for 8/9. This will give the group of 5 elites a shot too. I also think the first round of the playoff should be on campus. No automatic bids, use the same ranking system and just put the teams out there. Here's what each playoff would have looked like since 2014;
2014:
#8 Michigan State at #1 Alabama
#7 Mississippi State at #2 Oregon
#6 TCU at #3 Florida State
#5 Baylor at #4 Ohio State
2015:
#8 Notre Dame at #1 Clemson
#7 Ohio State at #2 Alabama
#6 Stanford at #3 Michigan State
#5 Iowa at #4 Oklahoma
2016:
#8 Wisconsin at #1 Alabama
#7 Oklahoma at #2 Clemson
#6 Michigan at #3 Ohio State
#5 Penn State at #4 Washington
2017:
#8 USC at #1 Clemson
#7 Auburn at #2 Oklahoma
#6 Wisconsin at #3 Georgia
#5 Ohio State at #4 Alabama
2018:
#8 UCF at #1 Alabama
#7 Michigan at #2 Clemson
#6 Ohio State at #3 Notre Dame
#5 Georgia at #4 Oklahoma
2019:
#8 Wisconsin at #1 LSU
#7 Baylor at #2 Ohio State
#6 Oregon at #3 Clemson
#5 Georgia at #4 Oklahoma
2020:
#8 Cincinnati at #1 Alabama
#7 Florida at #2 Clemson
#6 Oklahoma at #3 Ohio State
#5 Texas A&M at #4 Notre Dame
Way more diversity and some really intriguing matchups. Just look at the right side teams and you see the repetitiveness. Also, despite doubling the games, we would have actually avoided a conference game in every first round so far except once (2016 UM v OSU). Though, I'm sure they would have altered the rankings to avoid the Michigan/Ohio State immediate rematch. Plus, we would have made it twice.
The end results may have all ended up the same but... I have no doubt this would be way more fun and intriguing. You also wouldn't throw your hands up on the season after losing one game. Would also expand the amount of people who give a damn with more spots up for grabs going down the stretch.
2014:
#8 Michigan State at #1 Alabama
#7 Mississippi State at #2 Oregon
#6 TCU at #3 Florida State
#5 Baylor at #4 Ohio State
2015:
#8 Notre Dame at #1 Clemson
#7 Ohio State at #2 Alabama
#6 Stanford at #3 Michigan State
#5 Iowa at #4 Oklahoma
2016:
#8 Wisconsin at #1 Alabama
#7 Oklahoma at #2 Clemson
#6 Michigan at #3 Ohio State
#5 Penn State at #4 Washington
2017:
#8 USC at #1 Clemson
#7 Auburn at #2 Oklahoma
#6 Wisconsin at #3 Georgia
#5 Ohio State at #4 Alabama
2018:
#8 UCF at #1 Alabama
#7 Michigan at #2 Clemson
#6 Ohio State at #3 Notre Dame
#5 Georgia at #4 Oklahoma
2019:
#8 Wisconsin at #1 LSU
#7 Baylor at #2 Ohio State
#6 Oregon at #3 Clemson
#5 Georgia at #4 Oklahoma
2020:
#8 Cincinnati at #1 Alabama
#7 Florida at #2 Clemson
#6 Oklahoma at #3 Ohio State
#5 Texas A&M at #4 Notre Dame
Way more diversity and some really intriguing matchups. Just look at the right side teams and you see the repetitiveness. Also, despite doubling the games, we would have actually avoided a conference game in every first round so far except once (2016 UM v OSU). Though, I'm sure they would have altered the rankings to avoid the Michigan/Ohio State immediate rematch. Plus, we would have made it twice.
The end results may have all ended up the same but... I have no doubt this would be way more fun and intriguing. You also wouldn't throw your hands up on the season after losing one game. Would also expand the amount of people who give a damn with more spots up for grabs going down the stretch.
Last edited:
