I've come to the acceptance that each school needs 12 regular season games and is comfortable with no more than a title game and a four team playoff. The shortening of a regular season slate to add playoff games would hurt each school's windfall. Meanwhile, this isn't the NFL. I don't believe it is right to add an extra week for playoffs when a lot of knowns are settled during the regular season.
The problem IMO is that we have glamorized conference title games of which half the time features a school that isn't even deserving of being there. The creation of "divisions" has also eroded long standing rivalries in order to create new modern ones that make little sense in college football lore. No conference feels those effects more than the Big Ten where a nine game setup ensures that a football player will never play one cross division team if they are in school for four years.
Last year the conference title games were legit, but this year we are looking at best at seeing a 9-3 Utah, a 9-3 Iowa and a 9-3 Virginia have the spotlight while probably debating which one loss team from Michigan, Oklahoma or just for fun Wazzu is deserving of the fourth playoff spot. Oh and btw Oklahoma and West Virginia will likely be squaring off only eight days after meeting in Morgantown.
I personally believe college football needs to be streamlined across the entire country and believe the elimination of conference title games would benefit everyone including the SEC. Creation of nine game conference seasons using one division. Each team can have up to two permanent rivalries. That will still allow a decent cycling of other opponents in massive 14 league teams.
How would an eight team playoff work? I'm uncertain if the logistics would be difficult, but I would like to see the designation of 6-8 NFL stadiums around the country to be used as potential first round playoff sites. Indy and Atlanta would be guarantees. DC, Charlotte, St Louis, Texas, Bay Area, SoCal/AZ or something of that order. Not every stadium would be utilized. It would be based on desired location and the NCAA working with the NFL on availability in the early spring before each season. Each school would note their top two preferences if receiving a "home" bid prior to the season. All five conference champions plus three at larges including an undefeated mid major if they are in the top 12. If this were to happen this weekend we would see the following....
12 UCF at 1 Bama (Atlanta)
8 Wazzu at 2 Clemson (Charlotte)
6 Oklahoma at 3 Notre Dame (Indy)
5 Georgia at 4 Michigan (DC)
The contrarian in me will note though that the four team playoff will in theory be a success if Bama, Clemson, Notre Dame all go undefeated. At the point if you can only fit one of Michigan, Oklahoma or Wazzu then it is irrelevant as one could say they should have gone undefeated.
With that said, I believe we are really losing out on a potential dynamite first weekend in December in favor of trying to see if the 17 team in the country can upset a top 5 school. Really doesn't make sense from where I sit..
The problem IMO is that we have glamorized conference title games of which half the time features a school that isn't even deserving of being there. The creation of "divisions" has also eroded long standing rivalries in order to create new modern ones that make little sense in college football lore. No conference feels those effects more than the Big Ten where a nine game setup ensures that a football player will never play one cross division team if they are in school for four years.
Last year the conference title games were legit, but this year we are looking at best at seeing a 9-3 Utah, a 9-3 Iowa and a 9-3 Virginia have the spotlight while probably debating which one loss team from Michigan, Oklahoma or just for fun Wazzu is deserving of the fourth playoff spot. Oh and btw Oklahoma and West Virginia will likely be squaring off only eight days after meeting in Morgantown.
I personally believe college football needs to be streamlined across the entire country and believe the elimination of conference title games would benefit everyone including the SEC. Creation of nine game conference seasons using one division. Each team can have up to two permanent rivalries. That will still allow a decent cycling of other opponents in massive 14 league teams.
How would an eight team playoff work? I'm uncertain if the logistics would be difficult, but I would like to see the designation of 6-8 NFL stadiums around the country to be used as potential first round playoff sites. Indy and Atlanta would be guarantees. DC, Charlotte, St Louis, Texas, Bay Area, SoCal/AZ or something of that order. Not every stadium would be utilized. It would be based on desired location and the NCAA working with the NFL on availability in the early spring before each season. Each school would note their top two preferences if receiving a "home" bid prior to the season. All five conference champions plus three at larges including an undefeated mid major if they are in the top 12. If this were to happen this weekend we would see the following....
12 UCF at 1 Bama (Atlanta)
8 Wazzu at 2 Clemson (Charlotte)
6 Oklahoma at 3 Notre Dame (Indy)
5 Georgia at 4 Michigan (DC)
The contrarian in me will note though that the four team playoff will in theory be a success if Bama, Clemson, Notre Dame all go undefeated. At the point if you can only fit one of Michigan, Oklahoma or Wazzu then it is irrelevant as one could say they should have gone undefeated.
With that said, I believe we are really losing out on a potential dynamite first weekend in December in favor of trying to see if the 17 team in the country can upset a top 5 school. Really doesn't make sense from where I sit..
