Ryan Day addresses if there is still incentive to schedule strong non-conference games with CFP expansion

Now that an expanded College Football Playoff is coming, Ryan Day debated whether or not teams should schedule strong non-conference games.

While the answer logically would be no, so the elite teams pad their records and guarantee at least an at-large bid to the playoff, Day thought the opposite. The ability to test your team and not be under as much pressure to lose one or zero games could entice better matchups.

At least, that’s how Day explained it.

“Yeah, I think now that you have a 12-team playoff for sure it does,” Day said. “I think that’s probably the biggest change. You know, coming forward is that you know, those games are going to matter, but at the same time, you can build up your team and you can learn from your team by challenging your team with non-conference opponents like that.

“But also knowing that you’ll have an opportunity to possibly make the 12-team as opposed to just the Final Four.”

Ohio State finished 11-1 this year, with its only loss coming to now-No. 1 Michigan. In a 12-team playoff, the Buckeyes would certainly be in the dance.

But this year, without a conference title and even with one loss, Ohio State is out. That wasn’t the case last year, but luck broke the team’s way a little bit.

“As you can see, it got really tight this year,” Day said. “So I think it’s going to be a whole different end of the season next year, but I think it’s great to challenge your team, find out where you’re at and grow as the season goes on.

“You know, we did that this year by scheduling Notre Dame, which I thought was great the last two years and we learned a lot about our team early in the season. But yeah, it’ll be much different next year. I think it’s a good thing.”

Of course the risk is scheduling those top games, say two of them, and losing both. With that, a playoff hungry team has to finish 10-2 at minimum to get consideration.

Will that be enough in a 12-team playoff? There’s certainly a better chance, but now more teams could hop into the pool.

Moving forward, Day could use those games to get back in the playoff and ultimately win that elusive national championship. It’s certainly been a string of close calls lately.