24 team bracket-FCS...future of FBS?

NavyCat88

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Nov 22, 2011
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ESPN just announced the FCS bracket. No doubt FBS is at least looking at a playoff structure beyond 4. What would a 8, 16, or even a 24 team playoff mean for FBS? Would it open the door to the WMUs and Boise St type teams? CFB FBS regular season is the best thing in sports today IMO. Would expanded playoffs devalue the FBS regular season intensity/quality?
 

bthaunert

Heisman
Apr 4, 2007
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24 would never happen. With the conference title games and a 12 week season, I could never see that. The playoffs would till late January. I could see 8 with the 5 Power 5 champions, highest ranked non Power 5 conference champion and 2 at-large teams comprising the field. I would also do the 1st round at the home stadium if the Higher seeded teams and the semifinals and finals at neutral sites.
 

UKWildcats#8

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Jun 25, 2011
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24 would never happen. With the conference title games and a 12 week season, I could never see that. The playoffs would till late January. I could see 8 with the 5 Power 5 champions, highest ranked non Power 5 conference champion and 2 at-large teams comprising the field. I would also do the 1st round at the home stadium if the Higher seeded teams and the semifinals and finals at neutral sites.

This is 100% what will happen IMO.

I 100% disagree with the notion a non-power 5 team should AUTOMATICALLY be let in each year as they are often not deserving (like this year as Boise ST and WMU are not even close to top 8 teams). I believe the Non-power 5 team should have to be voted on by the committee to be top 8 worthy to get in. That said, I agree with you that they will have to cater to them to let them in no matter what.

On a lesser extent I feel the same way about a 100% guarantee of all 5 power 5 champs, although most seasons each conference champ will be ranked in the top 8 at year's end IMO...so no big deal there.

I agree on first round hosting. Just make those games around the week of Xmas...kids are out of college so no conflict there. I think 8 is just right.
 

bthaunert

Heisman
Apr 4, 2007
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This is 100% what will happen IMO.

I 100% disagree with the notion a non-power 5 team should AUTOMATICALLY be let in each year as they are often not deserving (like this year as Boise ST and WMU are not even close to top 8 teams). I believe the Non-power 5 team should have to be voted on by the committee to be top 8 worthy to get in. That said, I agree with you that they will have to cater to them to let them in no matter what.

On a lesser extent I feel the same way about a 100% guarantee of all 5 power 5 champs, although most seasons each conference champ will be ranked in the top 8 at year's end IMO...so no big deal there.

I agree on first round hosting. Just make those games around the week of Xmas...kids are out of college so no conflict there. I think 8 is just right.
I also disagree with the non Power 5 auto bid, but like you, feel it's going to happen.
 

NavyCat88

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Nov 22, 2011
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I'm a believer in earning your way in, but I think some non-P5 appearances in an expanded playoff might keep outside parties (e.g. Congress) from trying to influence the process.
 

TotesMcGotes

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Aug 31, 2015
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we need a 12 team playoff... NFL style. 10 FBS divisions... all conference champs get in. 2 at large bids. top 4 overall seeds (conference winner or otherwise) get a bye in round 1. all problems solved. even ND can get in on at large bid, but they would benefit from joining a conference.

the two teams in the championship would play either 3 or 4 postseason games. (depending on if they had a bye). if you think its too many games, drop the 12th regular season patsy and play 11 games....
 

rick64

Heisman
Jan 25, 2007
23,393
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A 6 or 8 team playoff would be the best scenario considering the length of the regular season and conference championship games.
 
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bthaunert

Heisman
Apr 4, 2007
29,518
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we need a 12 team playoff... NFL style. 10 FBS divisions... all conference champs get in. 2 at large bids. top 4 overall seeds (conference winner or otherwise) get a bye in round 1. all problems solved. even ND can get in on at large bid, but they would benefit from joining a conference.

the two teams in the championship would play either 3 or 4 postseason games. (depending on if they had a bye). if you think its too many games, drop the 12th regular season patsy and play 11 games....
We all know going to an 11 game schedule is not going to happen as that would be a major financial hit to many programs.
 

gojvc

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Feb 5, 2005
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You could have a 16 team playoff. All 10 conference champions plus 6 at large teams. A committee will seed the teams just like the NCAA Tournament and all games up to the final will be played on the home field of the higher seeded team so the regular season is still VERY important.
 

WildCard

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May 29, 2001
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The "problem" with a playoff of more than 4 teams (maybe 8 teams absolute tops) is that (1) early games would be played on home fields (2) it would require dismantling or significantly restructuring the bowl picture and (3) it would almost certainly shorten the current 12 game + conference playoff scheduling model.

Playing on someones home field is a horrible disadvantage to the visitor especially if there is a considerable travel distance involved. And would an undefeated Toledo team get to host a game with a 3 loss BIG or SEC team? Probably not.

The bowl games are really "civic events" designed to bring money to the city without much regard to the actual quality and competitiveness of the game itself. IMO, there would be considerable resistance to something that substantially disrupts the current "conference partner" relationship.

I recognize that it will never happen but I have long believed the "best" playoff model would require a super division of 72 teams in 4 conference, each with 2 divisions of 9 teams. Only the 8 games (H and H) against your 8 division foes would count toward your divisional title. Schedule whoever and however you please with the other 4 games. The "first round" could be either a conference playoff or simply the start of an 8 team playoff. Any team not in the playoff picture would be eligible for bowl participation elsewhere.

Believe it or not, before the last couple of rounds of "conference realignment", it would have been possible to construct such a "mega-conference" structure with relatively little disruption to existing affiliations. It would have been done by dissolving the Big East and the BIG XII-II, merging those schools into the remaining 4 conferences and possibly relocating a few teams into a "new" conference.

Peace
 

Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
39,949
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Excitement exists because it is 4 and elite and every loss matters. Maybe we should hand out participation trophies to everyone and just call it a season.
 
Mar 23, 2012
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Every level of the sport has a playoff except FBS. Would require a shortening of the regular season unless the schools are really willing to agree extending the season even further into January to accommodate a 12-game regular season, conference title games, and a playoff. And will that mean the 6+-win teams not in the playoffs won't have any postseason games? That's going to be a tough pill to swallow for ADs and Presidents.
 

UKWildcats#8

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Jun 25, 2011
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The "problem" with a playoff of more than 4 teams (maybe 8 teams absolute tops) is that (1) early games would be played on home fields (2) it would require dismantling or significantly restructuring the bowl picture and (3) it would almost certainly shorten the current 12 game + conference playoff scheduling model.

Playing on someones home field is a horrible disadvantage to the visitor especially if there is a considerable travel distance involved. And would an undefeated Toledo team get to host a game with a 3 loss BIG or SEC team? Probably not.

The bowl games are really "civic events" designed to bring money to the city without much regard to the actual quality and competitiveness of the game itself. IMO, there would be considerable resistance to something that substantially disrupts the current "conference partner" relationship.

I recognize that it will never happen but I have long believed the "best" playoff model would require a super division of 72 teams in 4 conference, each with 2 divisions of 9 teams. Only the 8 games (H and H) against your 8 division foes would count toward your divisional title. Schedule whoever and however you please with the other 4 games. The "first round" could be either a conference playoff or simply the start of an 8 team playoff. Any team not in the playoff picture would be eligible for bowl participation elsewhere.

Believe it or not, before the last couple of rounds of "conference realignment", it would have been possible to construct such a "mega-conference" structure with relatively little disruption to existing affiliations. It would have been done by dissolving the Big East and the BIG XII-II, merging those schools into the remaining 4 conferences and possibly relocating a few teams into a "new" conference.

Peace

So what if the visitor is at a disadvantage? Finish in the top 4 and then you get the advantage maybe? They could do neutral fields for the quarterfinals but that is asking a lot for fans to have to travel to neutral sites up to 3 times in 2 weeks time.

And no, an undefeated Toledo would not get to host as they would be ranked 8th in the playoff due to lack of quality wins. Going back to my point above, an undefeated Toledo getting in the playoff over a 2-3 loss SEC or Big Ten is a joke in of itself but I again say they will have to give the non-power 5 that concession most likely. That said, I hope they tell them to go bleep themselves and remind them the POWER FIVE is all that really matters in FBS football!
 

Grumpyolddawg

Heisman
Jun 11, 2001
28,479
37,282
113
ESPN just announced the FCS bracket. No doubt FBS is at least looking at a playoff structure beyond 4. What would a 8, 16, or even a 24 team playoff mean for FBS? Would it open the door to the WMUs and Boise St type teams? CFB FBS regular season is the best thing in sports today IMO. Would expanded playoffs devalue the FBS regular season intensity/quality?

4 will always have a controversy about who gets in and who gets left out. Add teams means you add games to the season, 15 games to determine a champion is plenty. If we are going to 16 teams I think the regular season needs to drop a game or 2, we don't need a 17 game college season. But if the NCAA thinks they can make an extra dollar they will be all for it.
 
Sep 23, 2016
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8 is right. 1st round gets home game and the semis and finals on neutral sites. The bowls wouldn't be hurt because you're only taking 4 more teams away and teams with losing records are already getting bowl invites anyway.
 

TBCat

Heisman
Mar 30, 2007
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24 would never happen. With the conference title games and a 12 week season, I could never see that. The playoffs would till late January. I could see 8 with the 5 Power 5 champions, highest ranked non Power 5 conference champion and 2 at-large teams comprising the field. I would also do the 1st round at the home stadium if the Higher seeded teams and the semifinals and finals at neutral sites.
This. I think 8 is about right.