Baker has mixed feelings on the future of the College Football Playoff
As college football continues to undergo change, there could be different changes to the College Football Playoff system, in terms of what teams are guaranteed spots from each conference.
One of the models gives the Big 12 two guaranteed spots, and gives other power conferences like the SEC and Big Ten, as they could have some influence on who’s who in the CFP.
Baker said he’s not totally against them having some influence if it means the Big 12 gets two teams into the playoff.
“Being guaranteed two, there’s some security in that. Our average over the last 10 years, if you pull Oklahoma and Texas out. So we’ve had an analytics company that’s run the numbers. So we know what our number would be with our current league composition, and it would have been 2.2. But 2.2 means some years you get three, some years you get one. So having at least two ensures that you always have at least two. And so the years you get three, it’s gravy,” Baker said.
Last season, Arizona State made the CFP from the Big 12, and WVU has never made a CFP in the history of the playoff.
Baker says what would happen is there could be a playoff effect at the end of conference play with teams near the top of the conference playing each other for the right to get one of the automatic qualifiers.
“The problem is with each one beyond two, it’s a multiple of two, and here’s why. On that third spot, you’re going to have two teams play for that spot on championship weekend. So your champ game participants, one and two, are going to play for your championship and for seeding. But you’re probably going to give them those first two AQs.But then, your third AQ, you can have three and six play for that. And your fourth AQ, you can have four and five play. So in essence, you create a wildcard-type game, and you have six teams in,” Baker said.
Baker added the idea for the playoff comes from trying to find ways to properly distribute revenue and give all teams equal access to the playoffs.
“We have a look in there and the whole premise was that we would have an opportunity to build up football in the Big 12 and maybe earn a more proportionate revenue share during the look in. Well, if they’re able to do that, then they’ve cooked the books. And so I think even though some people would look at it and say, gosh, you guys are idiots, you could have guaranteed yourself always two, and you might have more some years. I just think, one, America doesn’t want it, it’s not fair. To me, it just goes against everything that sports is about. I think you earn it on the field,” Baker said.
Baker added that not all conferences are on the same playing field in terms of scheduling, which also creates unfair disadvantages to different conferences.
“But then also, when I look at it, even though in the five plus 11, the SEC could get six or seven teams in, I get it. And how we land on these metrics is really important, and there’s a big difference between eight conference games versus nine or nine power four games versus 10. Those things should all be weighed heavily. But I just think when you look at the totality of it, the 4-4-2-2 should be a nonstarter for the Big 12 and ACC,” Baker said.
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