NCAA Football Playoff: Is It Gone Before It Began? - RaychelSnr's Blog

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RaychelSnr's Blog

NCAA Football Playoff: Is It Gone Before It Began? Stuck

Posted on June 1, 2012 at 12:37 PM.

(7)

Some may call it posturing. Some may call it a bunch of rich men trying to make decisions that are apparently beyond their ability.

I call it a college football playoff debate.

Last week, Larry Scott defiantly pronounced the new Big XII/SEC bowl deal has put the +1 idea back on the table. In a report from both the Big Ten and Pac 12 meetings, it appears both conferences members agree that's the most viable path forward.

Just this morning, new Big XII commissioner Bob Bowlsby was observed disagreeing with current interim commissioner Chuck Neinas on the format of college football's postseason, saying he preferred a plus one as well.

And of course, just yesterday the SEC coaches agreed it was the top four teams or bust for them in any playoff scenario.

So what has happened to our four team playoff? Is it about to die before it was even began?

My gut says with power and money consolidating amongst the top four conferences, the odds of a Plus One are definitely getting higher. Why? Because the Rose Bowl and the Big XII/SEC Champions Bowl will be defacto semifinals many years and it's already a conference champions model.

Personally, I'd almost prefer the plus one at this juncture for that same reason. Let's have a big New Years Day Bowl game in Pasadena, Dallas/New Orleans, Miami and other places and then let's have a bigger game afterwards to decide the National Champion. Just pick the two best teams on January 2 and have them play for the big crystal football on January 9 or 10. Seems reasonable to this guy and a step up from where we are at.

Logistically it's a bit more of a nightmare for fans sure, but I know there would be a contingent of 10,000+ fans from schools about to play for a National Title along with their existing bowl destination -- unless those schools aren't that serious about football.

A plus one isn't a playoff for sure, but it's not the old system either. It's something in between that just might fit the mold of the college game pretty ok. The college game which, for better or worse, is built upon human perception as much as it is on how the games are actually played out.

What do you think? Would you prefer a plus one or an actual four team playoff? What format for the playoff would you choose?

Comments

# 1 rudyjuly2 @ Jun 1

I kind of like how the plus 1 preserves the Rose Bowl but a 4 team playoff is probably better. I wouldn't have a problem with either one.

# 2 Retropyro @ Jun 1

I've always preferred the idea of a plus one. I know I'm one of the few "traditionalists" left that likes the idea of bowl season over out right playoffs, so to me a plus one set up is a bit of a middle ground.

# 3 FroznYogurt @ Jun 1

I still want the playoffs. I can't stand the bowl system.

# 4 Retropyro @ Jun 1

Stewart Mandel did a nice little write up today. I kind of like his Three Plus One set up.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...&sct=hp_t11_a0

# 5 K0ZZ @ Jun 1

Honestly it ultimately needs to be bumped up to an 8 team playoff, and if the league expands towards 160 teams, than bump it up to 16, 8 teams with each conference champion (that have to meet conditions that are set in stone, such as out of conference victories, records, etc.) so that a 6-6 UL-Lafayette wouldn't get in over an 11-1 Florida squad, but so that a 10-2 NIU Husky squad has a chance at the title just as much as a 9-3 PAC12 champion does. Any higher than 8 is overkill, just not enough teams and extends the post season too long.

# 6 rockchisler @ Jun 2

I completely agree RudyJuly2..WORD FOR WORD...

# 7 tril @ Jun 2

personally based on the apst several years
a 2 round playoff system with bowl games included would be the ebst bet.
thats just the top 4 teams
1vs4
2vs3.
the controversy would be limited to #5 team but anything lower than a 5 sedd IMO does not need to compete for a national championship.

or you can have a systme where its
the #1 and #2 ranked teams get a one week bye and #3,#4,#5,#6 play to advance.
basically a 3 round system. anything more would be too long of a post season for college football.
If a playoff system is ever introduced Id also limit the regualr season to 10 maybe 11 games.