If the 24-team playoff existed since 2014

Mississippi State Appearances:
In 2014, we would have been the No. 7 seed. We would have hosted Arizona/LSU.
In 2017, we would have been the No. 23 seed. We would have traveled to Miami.
In 2018, we would have been the No. 18 seed. We would have traveled to Texas.
In 2022, we would have been the No. 22 seed. We would have traveled to Penn State.

That's four playoff appearances and three awesome trips/experiences for the fanbase.

"But a 7-5 team is going to make the playoff"
This is extremely unlikely. The only 5 loss team to finish in the top 24 of the CFP final ranking was Northwestern in 2018, who finished 8-5 after losing the Big Ten Championship Game. Without the Championship game, they would have been an 8-4 team.

"8-4 teams shouldn't make it either"
In 11 seasons, there would have been 25 8-4 teams (including Mississippi State three times) in the playoff. Only one (Auburn, #14 in 2016) would have hosted a playoff game. An average of about 2 per season, with 2 seasons having zero.

"It will be the same 8-10 teams every year"
If the 24-team model had been in play since 2014, 80 different teams would claim a playoff appearance, and only two (Alabama and Ohio State) would have appeared in all 11 seasons. Every SEC team would have made at least one appearance. Kansas, Maryland, Nebraska, Purdue, Rutgers, Boston College and Cal are the only Power 4 teams that would have never made it.

"I don't like Group of 5 teams making it/More need to make it"
Until there is a proper split of college football, I don't think you can completely keep them out. Both Army and Navy would have made an appearance, that's cool. Regionally, Memphis and Troy would have made an appearance. In both 2019 and 2020, five teams from Group of 5 would have qualified, so there is certainly an opportunity for them that does not exist in a 12 team model

OG Goat Holder said:

Correct. I don't know why, but people mistakenly say that any basketball team in the tournament can win the national title. Historically, that's not true.....a basketball title is just as elusive as a football title.

What a right-sized tournament gives is hope and a path......no matter how difficult......and that's all anyone has ever wanted.

Click to expand...

There will be an upset or two in this format that will capture the nation's attention. Someone like Boise State goes on the road and beats Tennessee, then wins at Notre Dame to make the semifinal.

But there will be a team like Coastal Carolina, who would have been the No. 12 seed in 2020. They would have hosted Texas and got wrecked.

And every November 1, there will be at least 50 teams with a legitimate shot at the playoff. It will be the best month of sports.