The time is right for a college playoff system.This is an argument that takes place every year but there is always little or no progress that is made. If one were to look at the rankings right now almost every college football fan could predict who is going to be playing where in January with some certainty. That is what is wrong with system. If a play-off system were ever enacted it would almost bring an end to the college bowl system. As ESPN's Lee Corso would say, "Not so fast my friend." Let me lay it out for you.
I know everyone clamors that a plus one would work too but that opens up the door for some more arguing.
The National Championship game would float between the major bowl games as it does now. Meaning the Rose, Orange, Sugar and Fiesta would have a stake in this thing every year. But four bowl games is not enough. A fifth , sixth and seventh bowl would be needed. Let's say the Cotton Bowl is added along with the Holiday Bowl and Peach Bowl.
Here we go. Eight teams get in. Every team would have to be a member of a conference. Yes, that means almighty Notre Dame would have to join a conference.
These are the conferences that would be eligible to participate in the play-0ff system:
Big 10 Champion
SEC Champion
Big 12 Champion
ACC Champion
Pac-10 Champion
Big East Champion
Mountain West Champion
Conference USA Champion
Ranking would be used to seat the teams for the play-offs after they secure their perspective conference championship.
Below is an example of how it would unfold. I have just thrown teams in, so no arguing of why I didn't choose your team. These are the example teams that made it to the final eight with there made up ranking beside the team.
SEC CHAMPION: FLORIDA (#1)
BIG TEN CHAMPION: MICHIGAN (#2)
BIG 12 CHAMPION: TEXAS (#4)
PAC 10 CHAMPION: USC (#5)
MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPION: BYU (#7)
ACC CHAMPION: VA. TECH (#11)
BIG EAST CHAMPION: RUTGERS (#19)
CONFERENCE USA CHAMPION: LOUISVILLE (NR)
ROUND #1
2ND WEEK IN JANUARY:
WEDNESDAY NIGHT - HOLIDAY BOWL - USC (#5) VS BYU (#7)
THURSDAY NIGHT - COTTON BOWL - TEXAS (#4) VS VA. TECH (#11)
FRIDAY NIGHT - SUGAR BOWL - MICHIGAN (#2) VS. RUTGERS (#19)
SATURDAY NIGHT - PEACH BOWL - FLORIDA (#1) VS LOUISVILLE (NR)
RESULTS: USC BEATS BYU - VA TECH BEATS TEXAS - MICHIGAN BEATS RUTGERS - AND BY SOME STRANGE TWIST IF FATE LOUISVILLE UPSETS FLORIDA....GO AHEAD BEAT ME UP FLORIDA FANS...
ROUND TWO:
THIRD WEEK IN JANUARY
FRIDAY NIGHT: FIESTA BOWL - USC (#5) VS. VA. TECH (#11)
SATURDAY NIGHT: ORANGE BOWL - MICHIGAN (#2) VS LOUISVILLE (NR)
RESULTS: VA. TECH BEATS USC AND LOUISVILLE CONTINUES ITS CINDERELLA RUN
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. TO BE PLAYED ONE WEEK BEFORE SUPER BOWL.
SUNDAY NIGHT : ROSE BOWL - VA TECH VS. LOUISVILLE
The other bowl games could still be played because they really don't mean much anyway as long as the BCS is in place anyway. Everyone comes out a winner in this scenario. I know the complaints will come out about this that the season is too long and too much travel but let's keep the season to 10 games with conference championship games and it almost works out about the same.
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
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I like this idea. It makes too much sense! Never understood those against a playoff system when they say that it makes the season too long. My response is, look at college basketball and how long their season is with all the games they play. Also hate that most teams added an extra game a few years back that it essentially a garbage game. Florida has played the Citadel, FAU and will play FIU in this garbage game. Why not take that game and add it to a playoff?? I hate garbage games at the end of the season because nothing good comes out of it for most teams (other than a big payoff for the smaller school). It risks unnecessary injury before the conference championship game or rivalry game (FSU in Florida's case). As with most things, logic and common sense don't always prevail. It is the all-mighty dollar that speaks the loudest, right?
ReplyDeleteI've been saying this for years.
ReplyDeleteI'd like your blog alot more if you were ripping Booby Bowdown a new one for almost losing to a 1AA school! That's right, it's 1AA, D2, D1, you get the drift, lose the FBS/FCS crap and call them by their right names!
It all sounds really good! However, after speaking with a colleague of mine a question was raised. How will you appeal to the fans to get them to travel to all of these venues? Basically who would fill up these stadiums so the bowls still make their money?
ReplyDeleteThe fans would still come. The championship game would turn into a Super Bowl event...it would not matter which team was playing in it...yes would lock out some fans...most of the of top tier teams have fan bases around the country. Most games would probably sell out quickly even before teams were announced...just like bowl games tickets would be alloted to the teams but not as many...television revenue would also be higher..so more money could be charged to sponsors and advertisers...
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