The least controversial college playoff...

[baeksu]

And yes I'm assuming that OU wins, which is certainly not a given.

But the easy solution is just taking all four conference champ. It is the least controversial decision.

Yes you'll have some 2-loss teams in and some 1-loss teams out. But taking the conference champs legitimizes the conference championship games and essentially gives us an 8-team playoff by using the games that are already played rather than adding more games after the fact. A conference championship is a very tangible reason to use.

I can't imagine that there aren't voices on the committee pointing this out, either.

 

[OUSOONER67]

And yes I'm assuming that OU wins, which is certainly not a given.

But the easy solution is just taking all four conference champ. It is the least controversial decision.

Yes you'll have some 2-loss teams in and some 1-loss teams out. But taking the conference champs legitimizes the conference championship games and essentially gives us an 8-team playoff by using the games that are already played rather than adding more games after the fact. A conference championship is a very tangible reason to use.

I can't imagine that there aren't voices on the committee pointing this out, either.

Its a noble idea but winning a CCG is not what should get you in the playoffs. The playoff Committee's job is to get the 4 best teams in there. Conf Championship Games are just that, Crowning a Conference Champ.
Watch them put bama in even though bama will not win its Conference.

 

[veritas59]

And yes I'm assuming that OU wins, which is certainly not a given.

But the easy solution is just taking all four conference champ. It is the least controversial decision.

Yes you'll have some 2-loss teams in and some 1-loss teams out. But taking the conference champs legitimizes the conference championship games and essentially gives us an 8-team playoff by using the games that are already played rather than adding more games after the fact. A conference championship is a very tangible reason to use.

I can't imagine that there aren't voices on the committee pointing this out, either.

Except there are 5 "Power 5" conferences.

 

[OUSOONER67]

Go to 8 teams would be a good start. Should have been that way from the beginning.

 

[OUSOONER67]

The guys calling the OU game today did their predictions for the CFP even after the Bama game was over. They had Clemson, OU, Auburn and you guessed it Bama. I know they are not on the committee but thats just how overhyped the SEC is.

 

[baeksu]

Except there are 5 "Power 5" conferences.

Obviously yes there are. But leaving the 5th place team out due to losses and schedule strength is less controversial than leaving out multiple conference champs and then putting in someone like Bama (didn't even win their division) or 2-loss Miami (if they don't win their conference).

 

[baeksu]

Go to 8 teams would be a good start. Should have been that way from the beginning.

Terrible idea.

 

[OUSOONER67]

Terrible idea.

No more terrible than yours.

 

[baeksu]

No more terrible than yours.

You're wrong. An 8-team playoff will have just as much controversy and arguing, and jilted teams with legit arguments about why they should be in. And conference championship games suddenly turn into meaningless scrimmages. The ACC and SEC champ games next week, for example, would be little more than preseason games since both teams are already in regardless of result. It would turn into the boring crap we see in the NFL in week 17.

 

[BillyRay_rivals31072]

You really think going from 4 teams to 8 teams is a terrible idea? That implies you think the current system with 4 teams in a world that has 5 power conferences is better. God almighty......

 

[OUSOONER67]

You're wrong. An 8-team playoff will have just as much controversy and arguing, and jilted teams with legit arguments about why they should be in. And conference championship games suddenly turn into meaningless scrimmages. The ACC and SEC champ games next week, for example, would be little more than preseason games since both teams are already in regardless of result. It would turn into the boring crap we see in the NFL in week 17.

8 teams, take the 5 Conference Champs and the 3 best teams that did not win their Conference. This year Bama would benefit from that and 2 other teams in a similar situation would as well.

You're wrong. An 8-team playoff will have just as much controversy and arguing, and jilted teams with legit arguments about why they should be in. And conference championship games suddenly turn into meaningless scrimmages. The ACC and SEC champ games next week, for example, would be little more than preseason games since both teams are already in regardless of result. It would turn into the boring crap we see in the NFL in week 17.

You're wrong.

 

[soonermade]

My rankings as of right now:

#1 Clemson
#2 OU
#3 Wisconsin
#4 Auburn

 

[veritas59]

You really think going from 4 teams to 8 teams is a terrible idea? That implies you think the current system with 4 teams in a world that has 5 power conferences is better. God almighty......

They'd certainly need to shorten the season if they went to 8, and I don't see that happening for the obvious reason. MONEY. It would also finish the job of killing the bowls.

A couple of years ago when we got mauled by Clemson in the playoff, Stoops said that we would have had a hard time fielding a team for the next round had we won that game. And we didn't even play a conference championship game that year. Without a shortened season, you're looking at 16 games if you make it to the end. But if you shorten the season to get down to a max of 14 games, then you can only play 10 in the regular season + CCG + QF + SF + NC game. I just don't see the people running the business side of things ever going for this.

I'd prefer them to consolidate to 4 power conferences of 14-16 teams each and take each of the conference champs for the playoffs rather than expand to 8 teams.

 

[OUSOONER67]

No matter how it is done and even with what it is now there is always going to be controversy. I read earlier that Saban is already campaigning for his team to be in despite losing to a 2 loss team today. He said with all that his team accomplished this season they should be in. I wish he would tell me what they accomplished.
They may still get in with some help but as it is right now he thinks they should be in.

 

[baeksu]

8 teams, take the 5 Conference Champs and the 3 best teams that did not win their Conference. This year Bama would benefit from that and 2 other teams in a similar situation would as well.

You solve nothing, do not lessen any controversy, make at least three of the five conf. champ games into glorified scrimmages, and extend the season even longer. As others have noted above, there are problems that come from this. This is not the NFL and these are not professional athletes. They actually do things like go to class and take final exams and whatnot.

And even in a system like the one you propose, you could have undefeated teams left out and 3-loss teams getting in over 2-loss teams that beat them head-to-head.

None of these extended playoff solutions address the problem.

 

[OUSOONER67]

You solve nothing, do not lessen any controversy, make at least three of the five conf. champ games into glorified scrimmages, and extend the season even longer. As others have noted above, there are problems that come from this. This is not the NFL and these are not professional athletes. They actually do things like go to class and take final exams and whatnot.

And even in a system like the one you propose, you could have undefeated teams left out and 3-loss teams getting in over 2-loss teams that beat them head-to-head.

None of these extended playoff solutions address the problem.

Who cares, not my poblem to deal with. Send your great proposal to the Committee.

 

[baeksu]

Who cares, not my poblem to deal with. Send your great proposal to the Committee.

Thank you for caring enough to take the time to post that you don't care.

What I suggested is not much different than what you suggested. I'd rather make the conference champ. games essentially an extension of the playoffs but with less forgiveness for screwing up during the regular season, and you'd rather give out more mulligans and make it easier for a 3 or 4 loss team to get in the playoffs, which would suck.

 

[OUSOONER67]

Thank you for caring enough to take the time to post that you don't care.

What I suggested is not much different than what you suggested. I'd rather make the conference champ. games essentially an extension of the playoffs but with less forgiveness for screwing up during the regular season, and you'd rather give out more mulligans and make it easier for a 3 or 4 loss team to get in the playoffs, which would suck.

You lose me when you call me "wrong" and my idea "terrible." After that I just don't care to give my opinion when you are clearly the one with the best idea and the only one that matters. Like I said write the CFP Committee and see what they have to say about it. Nothing I say will matter anyway.

 

[baeksu]

I'd prefer them to consolidate to 4 power conferences of 14-16 teams each and take each of the conference champs for the playoffs rather than expand to 8 teams.

I think that would be ideal. I just don't know how it would happen.

 

[baeksu]

You lose me when you call me "wrong" and my idea "terrible." After that I just don't care to give my opinion when you are clearly the one with the best idea and the only one that matters. Like I said write the CFP Committee and see what they have to say about it. Nothing I say will matter anyway.

I can think you're wrong and still respect your opinion and think about points that you bring up. We cheer for the same team and want the same thing - a clearer, less-controversial system that doesn't throw the baby out with the bath water when it comes to what's best about college football. So we have more in common than otherwise. If it bothered you or was hurtful for me to say you're wrong then I'm sorry.

But falling into the NCAA basketball trap by eternally expanding the playoffs to try and make everyone happy is a less-than-awesome idea though. College football is unique among all sports in the its regular season is the best part about it. Turning it into some lesser version of the NFL would suck.

 

[OUSOONER67]

No worries. I just doubt that any changes they make would make it less controversial. There is always going to be controversy when you have a limited number of teams that get in. Who's to say a 3 loss team could not win it all if they got in. Some teams take an entire season to get on a hot streak and may have stumbled along the way because of injuries and dropped some games they might have won if not for a star player or two being hurt. Its not unrealistic that in the current format a 3 loss team could get in. Would be highly unlikely and a lot would have to happen for that to occur but it could happen. If you had 3 teams with two losses each and a third with 3 but won their CCG should they be left out because of 3 losses? Would they get in over a 2 loss team that did not win their Conference and should they? I don't know, I am sure it will all be tweaked or expanded at some point and even then people will complain about it.

 

[WhyNotaSooner]

I just want #8.

 

[OUgradJeff]

8 teams, take the 5 Conference Champs and the 3 best teams that did not win their Conference. This year Bama would benefit from that and 2 other teams in a similar situation would as well.


You're wrong.

This idea would lead to, from time to time, some teams playing for a third time in a single year (regular season, Conference Championship game & playoffs). Imagine that for a minute. That would be awful. Imagine having won the first two games that year only to lose the third for the NC...

 

[humblesooner]

I think that would be ideal. I just don't know how it would happen.

This has been my suggestion for several years. D1 becomes 64 teams. We have 4 Super Conferences, with names like North, South, East, West. Not goofy names like Big 12 with 10 teams or Big 10 with 12 teams. The quarter finals are the conference championship games and are played on campus or at a regionally located site. Conferences decide how to handle the quarters. Still play the first week of December. Take a few weeks off for finals. Christmas with semi-finals would be awesome. New Year's Day National Championship game anyone?
As for the other 50-60 teams currently in D1? Hello D2. Maybe use the European Futbal League relegation rules. Move 4 teams up and four teams down every year.

 

[Medic007]

FCS plays 11 regular season games and has a 24 team playoff. The idea isn't rocket surgery. What keeps this from happening in FBS is the stupid bowls that many teams end up losing money to play in.

A simple solution to have both a real playoff and the stupid bowl games is to shorten the regular season to 11 games plus the conference championship games. Use the FCS model to select the teams for the playoffs, then the rest of the pack can play their 12th game in a series of meaningless bowl games like we have now, except make sure the teams make money.

Anyone that argues that a 24 team playoff would be less interesting than the Western Sizzlin Salad Bowls or that CCG would lose value needs to turn in their fan card.

 

[BillyRay_rivals31072]

You solve nothing, do not lessen any controversy, make at least three of the five conf. champ games into glorified scrimmages, and extend the season even longer. As others have noted above, there are problems that come from this. This is not the NFL and these are not professional athletes. They actually do things like go to class and take final exams and whatnot.

And even in a system like the one you propose, you could have undefeated teams left out and 3-loss teams getting in over 2-loss teams that beat them head-to-head.

None of these extended playoff solutions address the problem.

And your idea of just including the conference champions does nothing to address the problem either. Like was already mentioned, there are 5 power conferences for 4 playoff spots. Then you have independents like Notre Dame. Then you have teams from non-power 5 conferences. If you JUST take power 5 conference champions, then you are literally saying the vast majority of Div-1 football programs in this country have zero chance of making the playoff. Sorry, but your idea is making things worse.

 

[jd1025]

I think we go back to the old bowl system then pick the top 2 it would be a play to win type of scenario for all that play in the new years day bowls

 

[Senior Sooner]

I think we go back to the old bowl system then pick the top 2 it would be a play to win type of scenario for all that play in the new years day bowls

That would surely improve the quality of the bowl games, which now seem to simply be a winter vacay for many undeserving teams...Many appear to be indifferent to whether or not they Win...They still got the trip as their Participation Reward...

 

[Rush2112Sooner_rivals250647]

8 Team playoff should consist of
--5 P5 Champions (no more scenarios like tOSU last year), assuming a top 15 rating, otherwise conference loses it's spot.
--1 highest rated rated non-P5 team (like UCF this year), assuming a top 15 rating, otherwise loses this spot.
--2(+) at large, but no more than 2 at large from each conference (otherwise they'd just pick 2 at large SEC teams every year cuz, ya know, SEC is soooooo much better /end sarcasm). Sorry ND, but you're in this bucket. Join a damn conference if you want a better route.

 

[veritas59]

8 Team playoff should consist of
--5 P5 Champions (no more scenarios like tOSU last year), assuming a top 15 rating, otherwise conference loses it's spot.
--1 highest rated rated non-P5 team (like UCF this year), assuming a top 15 rating, otherwise loses this spot.
--2(+) at large, but no more than 2 at large from each conference (otherwise they'd just pick 2 at large SEC teams every year cuz, ya know, SEC is soooooo much better /end sarcasm). Sorry ND, but you're in this bucket. Join a damn conference if you want a better route.

Good post.

I think you mean no more than one at-large from any given conference. (Two max from a conference)

Not sure I agree about an automatic for a non-P5 just because they're in the top 15, though.

 

[soonerinlOUisiana]

The guys calling the OU game today did their predictions for the CFP even after the Bama game was over. They had Clemson, OU, Auburn and you guessed it Bama. I know they are not on the committee but thats just how overhyped the SEC is.

That's not terribly unfair, but I would go with this analysis (order has nothing to do with seeding):

Winner of UGA/Aubie
Winner of Clemson/Miami
OU if they beat TCU
Wisconsin if they beat tOSU

Add Bama if either OU or Wisconsin lose.
Add Bama and tOSU if OU and Wisconsin both lose.

Actually, even if Wisconsin loses, I am still not 100% comfortable sending an 11-1 Bama to the playoff over a 12-1 Wisconsin. Perhaps using the same reasoning as sending OU over USC to the BCS championship in 2003.

 

[62SackMonster]

This has been my suggestion for several years. D1 becomes 64 teams. We have 4 Super Conferences, with names like North, South, East, West. Not goofy names like Big 12 with 10 teams or Big 10 with 12 teams. The quarter finals are the conference championship games and are played on campus or at a regionally located site. Conferences decide how to handle the quarters. Still play the first week of December. Take a few weeks off for finals. Christmas with semi-finals would be awesome. New Year's Day National Championship game anyone?
As for the other 50-60 teams currently in D1? Hello D2. Maybe use the European Futbal League relegation rules. Move 4 teams up and four teams down every year.

The 4 super conferences is really the only way. Especially if your unwilling to go to 8. Right now they are awarding 2 loss teams over the 1 loss and no loss teams. It’s clear a big win holds more value than a loss. SEC will always be favored in these cases just like the big 10. There is no denying the cfp is really not working with the human element coming into play and their agendas. 4 super conferences with 1 outright champion solves all your problems

 

[iasooner1]

Can you imagine the $$$$$$$$ the bottom feeders like the majority in the 'major' conferences would pony up to be in the 64 ? There are more like 12-16 major football programs nationwide with 100+ popping their heads out once every 15-30 years or so...

 

[OUSOONER67]

One of the biggest gripes about the BCS was teams making it to the title game that did not win their conference. It is still happening with tOSU last year getting in the playoffs and could happen again this year with Bama.
Another gripe with the BCS was Coaches lobbying for votes like Mack Brown did in 2004-05 season.
Name recognition should also not be a factor during the selection process but it is even in the current format.

 

[BillyRay_rivals31072]

No, the biggest gripe about the BCS were the fans of teams that didn't make it to the title game found ways to gripe about what teams made the title game and how they were selected.

Prior to the BCS the main gripe were fans of teams that didn't make it into the title game found ways to gripe about being excluded from the title game and how the teams that made it were selected.

And in the current playoff system, teams that don't make it into the playoff (and even fans of teams that are in the playoff) find ways to gripe about what teams are in the playoff and how the teams that make it are selected.

Moral of the story....it's impossible to make everyone happy and give them nothing to gripe about.

 

[iasooner1]

Can you imagine the sheer horror to the kansas, iowa state, iowa, indiana, miss state, miss, arizona state, washington state types schools if ONLY the "top 10-15%" of current conference teams were granted as elites and all others shoved to some kind of D2 status ? TRUE Civil War would begin

 

[OUSOONER67]

No, the biggest gripe about the BCS were the fans of teams that didn't make it to the title game found ways to gripe about what teams made the title game and how they were selected.

Prior to the BCS the main gripe were fans of teams that didn't make it into the title game found ways to gripe about being excluded from the title game and how the teams that made it were selected.

And in the current playoff system, teams that don't make it into the playoff (and even fans of teams that are in the playoff) find ways to gripe about what teams are in the playoff and how the teams that make it are selected.

Moral of the story....it's impossible to make everyone happy and give them nothing to gripe about.

BCS was garbage. What we have now is not perfect but at least its better than the BCS.
A lot of legitimate gripes about both.

 

[Albany70]

They'd certainly need to shorten the season if they went to 8, and I don't see that happening for the obvious reason. MONEY. It would also finish the job of killing the bowls.

A couple of years ago when we got mauled by Clemson in the playoff, Stoops said that we would have had a hard time fielding a team for the next round had we won that game. And we didn't even play a conference championship game that year. Without a shortened season, you're looking at 16 games if you make it to the end. But if you shorten the season to get down to a max of 14 games, then you can only play 10 in the regular season + CCG + QF + SF + NC game. I just don't see the people running the business side of things ever going for this.

I'd prefer them to consolidate to 4 power conferences of 14-16 teams each and take each of the conference champs for the playoffs rather than expand to 8 teams.

Why would they have to shorten the season? Division II has had a large playoff for years and it seems to work just fine. The existing bowls would take in the added playoff games.

 

[veritas59]

Why would they have to shorten the season? Division II has had a large playoff for years and it seems to work just fine. The existing bowls would take in the added playoff games.

Because right now, they play 12 games. Add a conference championship game and that makes 13. A national quarterfinal is 14. Semi is 15, and the championship game is 16. Seems like a lot to me. I would think they would have to at least shorten the regular season to 11 games (as it used to be), especially in order to make it work with the bowl schedules.

The FCS has a 24 team playoff , with the first round being a "play in" and an 11 game regular season, so the finalists would play 15 games if seeded teams make it all the way and 16, if I'm counting correctly, if a play in team makes it to the final. But I don't think anyone outside of the top 4 teams has ever won it all.

16 games just seems like too many, especially with the attrition due to injuries during the season. And I think shortening the regular season by one game would be resisted by most of the member institutions because of the lost revenue from not having that game.

 

[humblesooner]

Because right now, they play 12 games. Add a conference championship game and that makes 13. A national quarterfinal is 14. Semi is 15, and the championship game is 16. Seems like a lot to me. I would think they would have to at least shorten the regular season to 11 games (as it used to be), especially in order to make it work with the bowl schedules.

The FCS has a 24 team playoff , with the first round being a "play in" and an 11 game regular season, so the finalists would play 15 games if seeded teams make it all the way and 16, if I'm counting correctly, if a play in team makes it to the final. But I don't think anyone outside of the top 4 teams has ever won it all.

16 games just seems like too many, especially with the attrition due to injuries during the season. And I think shortening the regular season by one game would be resisted by most of the member institutions because of the lost revenue from not having that game.

You're right about lost revenue. There are only two teams who would play 16 games and only 4 that would play 15 games. Everyone else loses a revenue game. (though a lot of Bowl games are losers for some schools. Extra practice is the benefit). You'd need to use Conference Championship games as the quarterfinals, while keeping the regular season at 12, in my opinion.