Sources: SEC, Big Ten building momentum to further expand College Football Playoff to 14 or 16 teams

[Richie O]

Sources: SEC, Big Ten building momentum to further expand College Football Playoff to 14 or 16 teams

The conferences are pushing to assign multiple automatic qualifiers per league, with as many as four each for themselves. In short, a plethora of changes are on the table.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[The Spin Meister]

Crap. Cut it to eight.

TV ratings dropped each game. Too many.

Too hard for fans to travel to that many.

Of course, league officials and school admin love it……not only free travel but get paid/wined&dined plus lobby and schmooze with stars and big shots.

Competes with NFL playoffs…..big looser!

Quit being greedy, self-aggrandizing, pompous idiots.

 

[knickslions]

Crap. Cut it to eight.

TV ratings dropped each game. Too many.

Too hard for fans to travel to that many. Of course, league officials and school admin love it……not only free travel but get paid/wined&dined plus lobby and schmooze with stars and big shots.

Competes with NFL playoffs…..big looser!

Quit being greedy, self-aggrandizing, pompous idiots.

Ya it was watered down enough this year. 8 is all they need

 

[LMTLION]

I personally think this is an effing awful idea as it waters everything down as previously indicated in this thread. I would prefer 8 teams in the CFP and a 12 game regular season format that incorporates the Conference championship game as the 12th game. We should be eliminating one of the Kent / Villanova type OOC games in favor of a 10th conference game that can serve as the championship game for two of the teams and an end of the year conference tournament type of game for the other teams in the conference. By eliminating the 13th week and possibly starting the season a week earlier, we can have the national championship game around New Year’s . This also allows for an early January orderly transfer portal window and eliminates the impossible task of college football competing with the NFL.

 

[LandoComando]

Crap. Cut it to eight.

TV ratings dropped each game. Too many.

Too hard for fans to travel to that many. Of course, league officials and school admin love it……not only free travel but get paid/wined&dined plus lobby and schmooze with stars and big shots.

Competes with NFL playoffs…..big looser!

Quit being greedy, self-aggrandizing, pompous idiots.

We'll never have less....it doesn't even make sense to reduce it. Need 24...all conference winners....and all games at the higher seed until the title game

 

[PurposePitch]

Expansion to 16 is a good idea ... but I'd rather they implement it differently than it appears they're doing.

I'm anti-exclusionary elitism, so that mention about having 4 guaranteed teams for each of the Big 10 and SEC is nonsense. I want diversity. I want potential cinderellas. Yeah, yeah ... we know ... the Big 2 conferences will wipe the floor with those other conference teams. Blah, blah, blah. Don't care. I want those teams in other conferences to have the opportunity to compete and prove themselves. I want them to be able to market themselves as "hey, we have a shot at the playoffs, and you'll get your chance to go up against these top teams." More potential playoff slots gives them the best opportunity to recruit toward that end. I want talent spread out, not consolidated. Expanding playoff spots, but then increasing the presence of Big 10 and SEC teams is the opposite of that.

They also need to make the season more condensed, as I've said before. If they aren't going to chop off a regular season game (they won't), then they need to eliminate/limit any "bye weeks" and get rid of the CCG, and space the playoff games closer together in time. The season already starts early enough (too early, really), so no need to push it back even more.

 

[roswelllion]

I personally think this is an effing awful idea as it waters everything down as previously indicated in this thread. I would prefer 8 teams in the CFP and a 12 game regular season format that incorporates the Conference championship game as the 12th game. We should be eliminating one of the Kent / Villanova type OOC games in favor of a 10th conference game that can serve as the championship game for two of the teams and an end of the year conference tournament type of game for the other teams in the conference. By eliminating the 13th week and possibly starting the season a week earlier, we can have the national championship game around New Year’s . This also allows for an early January orderly transfer portal window and eliminates the impossible task of college football competing with the NFL.

I have gone full circle on this. I never thought we needed more than 4 as IMO the "best team" won almost every year. Having watched this year the regular season was extremely exciting IMO, especially the SEC with so many team having 2 losses. IMO 8 won't work if you still are going to invite every conference winner and highest ranked Group of 5.

That only leaves 3 teams which likely would be 1 from B1G, 1 from SEC and 1 from ACC/Big12, ND. Does Mountain West get automatic? If so that makes it even worse.

There is no way for the SEC and B1G with the size and level of competition they would be happy with 2. If you did this, is it automatically the CC and runner up. If not why have a CC. Many would like that but that is a whole lot of revenue.

Having said that you can for sure make a case that by the time you got to teams 10-11-12 those teams were less than competitive. Going to 16 only makes that worse. I would stay with 12 and only change the byes as follows
top 4 ranked teams BUT no more than 2 from any conference AND you must at least be in the conference championship game. This year for example you could make the case that tOSU could have should have been in the top 4. However if you ranked them in the top 4 after finishing 4th in the B1G starts to again make it look like an eye test.

 

[LandoComando]

I have gone full circle on this. I never thought we needed more than 4 as IMO the "best team" won almost every year. Having watched this year the regular season was extremely exciting IMO, especially the SEC with so many team having 2 losses. IMO 8 won't work if you still are going to invite every conference winner and highest ranked Group of 5.

That only leaves 3 teams which likely would be 1 from B1G, 1 from SEC and 1 from ACC/Big12, ND. Does Mountain West get automatic? If so that makes it even worse.

There is no way for the SEC and B1G with the size and level of competition they would be happy with 2. If you did this, is it automatically the CC and runner up. If not why have a CC. Many would like that but that is a whole lot of revenue.

Having said that you can for sure make a case that by the time you got to teams 10-11-12 those teams were less than competitive. Going to 16 only makes that worse. I would stay with 12 and only change the byes as follows
top 4 ranked teams BUT no more than 2 from any conference AND you must at least be in the conference championship game. This year for example you could make the case that tOSU could have should have been in the top 4. However if you ranked them in the top 4 after finishing 4th in the B1G starts to again make it look like an eye test.

You had me completely on board until no more than 2 in each conference. Why are we valuing winning in weak conferences? Had Ohio State beat Michigan last year no one is convincing me an 11-1 Penn State shouldn't be in the playoff. I'm all for all conference winners but that's why we need 24 teams or 2 levels in FBS.

 

[chalkstream1]

Expansion to 16 is a good idea ... but I'd rather they implement it differently than it appears they're doing.

I'm anti-exclusionary elitism, so that mention about having 4 guaranteed teams for each of the Big 10 and SEC is nonsense. I want diversity. I want potential cinderellas. Yeah, yeah ... we know ... the Big 2 conferences will wipe the floor with those other conference teams. Blah, blah, blah. Don't care. I want those teams in other conferences to have the opportunity to compete and prove themselves. I want them to be able to market themselves as "hey, we have a shot at the playoffs, and you'll get your chance to go up against these top teams." More potential playoff slots gives them the best opportunity to recruit toward that end. I want talent spread out, not consolidated. Expanding playoff spots, but then increasing the presence of Big 10 and SEC teams is the opposite of that.

They also need to make the season more condensed, as I've said before. If they aren't going to chop off a regular season game (they won't), then they need to eliminate/limit any "bye weeks" and get rid of the CCG, and space the playoff games closer together in time. The season already starts early enough (too early, really), so no need to push it back even more.

Expanding it and trying to include small revenue, small market programs is a nice idea that isn't feasible because they don't have the nil cash to pay the top kids. "A chance at the playoffs" isn't going to convince some 4 star kid to attend said cinderella hopeful unless they have a few hundred k to toss their way.

 

[Obliviax]

Works for me. In fact, it makes sense. No byes.

 

[LandoComando]

Expanding it and trying to include small revenue, small market programs is a nice idea that isn't feasible because they don't have the nil cash to pay the top kids. "A chance at the playoffs" isn't going to convince some 4 star kid to attend said cinderella hopeful unless they have a few hundred k to toss their way.

You're correct--it won't. But why are those programs in the same level? FBS is the only sport that isn't inclusive.

 

[wilbury]

The only odd thing I see here is the SEC going to 9 conference games. Most of the talking heads with inside knowledge felt that the SEC would never go to 9 and if the SEC and Big Ten wanted an arrangement to play each other during the regular season, the Big Ten would most likely drop back to 8 conference games to make it happen. If you stay at 9 and add an SEC opponent, I don't see anyone schedule one of your two remaining games with another power conference so that further isolates the ACC and Big 12.

 

[Hotshoe]

No reason to shrink it. Don't like it, then don't watch. No one says a word about basketball, only football, and there's no reason for that argument. 12 is fine, just get rid of the automatic seed due to Conference Championship winner. Wtf do people care if more teams are playing?

 

[The Spin Meister]

I have gone full circle on this. I never thought we needed more than 4 as IMO the "best team" won almost every year. Having watched this year the regular season was extremely exciting IMO, especially the SEC with so many team having 2 losses. IMO 8 won't work if you still are going to invite every conference winner and highest ranked Group of 5.

That only leaves 3 teams which likely would be 1 from B1G, 1 from SEC and 1 from ACC/Big12, ND. Does Mountain West get automatic? If so that makes it even worse.

There is no way for the SEC and B1G with the size and level of competition they would be happy with 2. If you did this, is it automatically the CC and runner up. If not why have a CC. Many would like that but that is a whole lot of revenue.

Having said that you can for sure make a case that by the time you got to teams 10-11-12 those teams were less than competitive. Going to 16 only makes that worse. I would stay with 12 and only change the byes as follows
top 4 ranked teams BUT no more than 2 from any conference AND you must at least be in the conference championship game. This year for example you could make the case that tOSU could have should have been in the top 4. However if you ranked them in the top 4 after finishing 4th in the B1G starts to again make it look like an eye test.

Too bad for leagues that got too big. They don’t deserve three teams in a playoff….which is supposed to be matching up the top teams to determine a championship. If you finish third in a league you didn’t earn it.

This isn’t basketball and March Madness where a small school can get two or three top players and compete. With 30 or more players smaller schools won’t challenge for titles.

Funny how having a bye screwed those teams over, just as I predicted. Not playing for almost a month puts a team at a major disadvantage. Perhaps that is the true motivation behind expanding to 16 and not having any byes.

The big boys realize that the long layoff is a big problem. Getting to play the #15-16 teams would be a nice warmup game before the real playoffs start in round two.

 

[roswelllion]

You had me completely on board until no more than 2 in each conference. Why are we valuing winning in weak conferences? Had Ohio State beat Michigan last year no one is convincing me an 11-1 Penn State shouldn't be in the playoff. I'm all for all conference winners but that's why we need 24 teams or 2 levels in FBS

Too bad for leagues that got too big. They don’t deserve three teams in a playoff….which is supposed to be matching up the top teams to determine a championship. If you finish third in a league you didn’t earn it.

This isn’t basketball and March Madness where a small school can get two or three top players and compete. With 30 or more players smaller schools won’t challenge for titles.

Funny how having a bye screwed those teams over, just as I predicted. Not playing for almost a month puts a team at a major disadvantage. Perhaps that is the true motivation behind expanding to 16 and not having any byes.

The big boys realize that the long layoff is a big problem. Getting to play the #15-16 teams would be a nice warmup game before the real playoffs start in round two.

Maybe I wasn't clear. I did not mean no more than 2 in the play offs I meant no more than 2 in the top 4 getting a bye. 24 is way too many,

 

[OzLion]

What I think they need to do is reduce the gap time between games. There was allot of excitement for the first round (the on site playoff games) and then it dissipated a little bit waiting till January 1st for the next set of games. Then I think were were long waits between those games and the semis and those and the final. That, and going head-to-head against the NFL, is what might have hurt TV ratings. Still, the playoff games drew much more interest for teams 5 - 12 than their bowl games (with opt-outs and all) would have drawn.

 

[LandoComando]

What I think they need to do is reduce the gap time between games. There was allot of excitement for the first round (the on site playoff games) and then it dissipated a little bit waiting till January 1st for the next set of games. Then I think were were long waits between those games and the semis and those and the final. That, and going head-to-head against the NFL, is what might have hurt TV ratings. Still, the playoff games drew much more interest for teams 5 - 12 than their bowl games (with opt-outs and all) would have drawn.

This--if they would eliminate CCGs things would be perfect. Just play weekly as soon as the season ends.

 

[Nbergbuck]

Crap. Cut it to eight.

TV ratings dropped each game. Too many.

Too hard for fans to travel to that many.

Of course, league officials and school admin love it……not only free travel but get paid/wined&dined plus lobby and schmooze with stars and big shots.

Competes with NFL playoffs…..big looser!

Quit being greedy, self-aggrandizing, pompous idiots.

Things always move to the money. Look for it to stabilize at 16 teams or so. The problem is, given the nature of the game, players take a beating. Look for more injuries and more $$$ in pockets.

 

[LandoComando]

Things always move to the money. Look for it to stabilize at 16 teams or so. The problem is, given the nature of the game, players take a beating. Look for more injuries and more $$$ in pockets.

i really don't think it stops until 24 or FBS splits into two levels with playoffs of 16. Expanding to 24 doesn't add any games to what Ohio State played this year unless a 9-24 seed reaches a title game then there's 1 extra game.

 

[heckmans]

You're correct--it won't. But why are those programs in the same level? FBS is the only sport that isn't inclusive.

1. Football can't really be compared to basketball or other sports. Cant play as many games and football requires many more players. In basketball, a couple decent players at a mid-major can compete and make a run. That is not the case in football
2. The CFB landscape is evolving rapidly. I think there's no doubt that there needs to be some stratification.

 

[LandoComando]

1. Football can't really be compared to basketball or other sports. Cant play as many games and football requires many more players. In basketball, a couple decent players at a mid-major can compete and make a run. That is not the case in football
2. The CFB landscape is evolving rapidly. I think there's no doubt that there needs to be some stratification.

Compare it to FCS. A 24 team playoff with all conference winners is manageable. To be inclusive doesn't mean they have to win...they just deserve the opportunity.

 

[heckmans]

Compare it to FCS. A 24 team playoff with all conference winners is manageable. To be inclusive doesn't mean they have to win...they just deserve the opportunity.

I'm in no position to compare the relative competitiveness through FCS, but it's very obvious that the Sunbelt conference is closer to FCS than the SEC/B2G. There is no point in recreating early-season "payday" games in the FBS playoff. An NCAA reorg is required FBS and FCS is no longer enough.

 

[PSU4U]

Expansion to 16 is a good idea ... but I'd rather they implement it differently than it appears they're doing.

I'm anti-exclusionary elitism, so that mention about having 4 guaranteed teams for each of the Big 10 and SEC is nonsense. I want diversity. I want potential cinderellas. Yeah, yeah ... we know ... the Big 2 conferences will wipe the floor with those other conference teams. Blah, blah, blah. Don't care. I want those teams in other conferences to have the opportunity to compete and prove themselves. I want them to be able to market themselves as "hey, we have a shot at the playoffs, and you'll get your chance to go up against these top teams." More potential playoff slots gives them the best opportunity to recruit toward that end. I want talent spread out, not consolidated. Expanding playoff spots, but then increasing the presence of Big 10 and SEC teams is the opposite of that.

They also need to make the season more condensed, as I've said before. If they aren't going to chop off a regular season game (they won't), then they need to eliminate/limit any "bye weeks" and get rid of the CCG, and space the playoff games closer together in time. The season already starts early enough (too early, really), so no need to push it back even more.

This is actually old news everyone should have known this is coming it's been talked about for months on end. It will be in my opinion 16 teams with the Big Two getting four auto bids each. There are bigger things than this on the horizon, but this is part of the overall plan the Big Two have for college football. There will be one man atop the whole thing, I don't know what title they will give him but it probably won't be Commissioner, but he will have those powers. My best guess is what follows will be the two-state solution with the Big and SEC greatly expanded after 2030 and running everything no more NCAA.

 

[LandoComando]

I'm in no position to compare the relative competitiveness through FCS, but it's very obvious that the Sunbelt conference is closer to FCS than the SEC/B2G. There is no point in recreating early-season "payday" games in the FBS playoff. An NCAA reorg is required FBS and FCS is no longer enough.

And that's fine. I support breaking FBS into tiers but if it's not then a 24 team playoff like FCS is needed with conf champs

 

[LandoComando]

This is actually old news everyone should have known this is coming it's been talked about for months on end. It will be in my opinion 16 teams with the Big Two getting four auto bids each. There are bigger things than this on the horizon, but this is part of the overall plan the Big Two have for college football. There will be one man atop the whole thing, I don't know what title they will give him but it probably won't be Commissioner, but he will have those powers. My best guess is what follows will be the two-state solution with the Big and SEC greatly expanded after 2030 and running everything no more NCAA.

That'd be awesome

 

[PurposePitch]

1. Football can't really be compared to basketball or other sports. Cant play as many games and football requires many more players. In basketball, a couple decent players at a mid-major can compete and make a run. That is not the case in football
2. The CFB landscape is evolving rapidly. I think there's no doubt that there needs to be some stratification.

Yeah, a mediocre team from a mediocre conference like ... say ... the MAC ... could never compete with ... let's say ... the eventual Natty runner-up. I mean, what are the chances a team like, say, Northern Illinois, at 4-4 in the MAC, could go INTO South Bend and beat the Fighting Irish? Too many players, too much money and stuff.

I know, I know ... but that's not the playoffs ... that's only one game ... yada yada yada.

Exactly. And a better "mid-major" could pull an upset. And, yes, the NIL actually opens things up for more programs, as we've already seen. No, Toledo isn't throwing $4M at a 5-star to draw him there ... but they could work something out with the guys who would otherwise be riding the pine at bigger schools for a teeny bit of cash that they're probably not even getting, even at the bigger school (it's not unlimited payroll, and there are a ton of kids on each roster now), and enough of those kids, in the right circumstances with the right coaching, could challenge for a playoff win here or there.

And that's much more interesting than watching Ole Miss or Wisconsin sneak in to play OSU or Georgia. Yawn.

This consolidation into a Big 2 will be, once again, another step into blind professionalism that all the yokels support ... until they see what happens on the other end, and then they cry that this isn't like the college football they used to know and they don't like it. It's been happening for years, but the lemmings can't pull themselves out of the death spiral. Moths to a flame.

 

[dailybuck777]

If you are going to have a 24 team playoff, the regular season means virtually nothing. Might as well shorten the regular season and then have the playoffs. I think the 12 team playoffs is just about right because you will always get the approximately 8 teams who have some shot at winning. Of course, the byes, seedings, and times between the games need to be adjusted. In any instance, however, the conference championships mean nothing and should be eliminated.

 

[wilbury]

Yeah, a mediocre team from a mediocre conference like ... say ... the MAC ... could never compete with ... let's say ... the eventual Natty runner-up. I mean, what are the chances a team like, say, Northern Illinois, at 4-4 in the MAC, could go INTO South Bend and beat the Fighting Irish? Too many players, too much money and stuff.

I know, I know ... but that's not the playoffs ... that's only one game ... yada yada yada.

Exactly. And a better "mid-major" could pull an upset. And, yes, the NIL actually opens things up for more programs, as we've already seen. No, Toledo isn't throwing $4M at a 5-star to draw him there ... but they could work something out with the guys who would otherwise be riding the pine at bigger schools for a teeny bit of cash that they're probably not even getting, even at the bigger school (it's not unlimited payroll, and there are a ton of kids on each roster now), and enough of those kids, in the right circumstances with the right coaching, could challenge for a playoff win here or there.

And that's much more interesting than watching Ole Miss or Wisconsin sneak in to play OSU or Georgia. Yawn.

This consolidation into a Big 2 will be, once again, another step into blind professionalism that all the yokels support ... until they see what happens on the other end, and then they cry that this isn't like the college football they used to know and they don't like it. It's been happening for years, but the lemmings can't pull themselves out of the death spiral. Moths to a flame.

It's only more interesting if the underdog is competitive. If they get run out of the building like what's been happening in these playoff games, then it's not really better.

 

[wilbury]

If you are going to have a 24 team playoff, the regular season means virtually nothing. Might as well shorten the regular season and then have the playoffs. I think the 12 team playoffs is just about right because you will always get the approximately 8 teams who have some shot at winning. Of course, the byes, seedings, and times between the games need to be adjusted. In any instance, however, the conference championships mean nothing and should be eliminated.

I feel the same way.

People argue that more games matter as you expand the field but that's not really true. It just changes which games matter. With a smaller field, games like Ohio State vs. Oregon matter. With 24 teams, the top 10 games don't matter but Syracuse vs. Miami does.

 

[Obliviax]

I feel the same way.

People argue that more games matter as you expand the field but that's not really true. It just changes which games matter. With a smaller field, games like Ohio State vs. Oregon matter. With 24 teams, the top 10 games don't matter but Syracuse vs. Miami does.

Worth noting that tOSU and ND were seeded 8 and 7 respectively. Numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 all lost in their first playoff game. The semifinals were 5, 6, 7 & 8.

It is conceivable that restricting the playoff to 8 teams, especially if you are going to give auto-bids to lesser conferences, runs a big chance of leaving out very good teams.

I like 8 teams if the NCAA is real about who are contenders and who are pretenders. 16 if you want to continue to give auto-bids to teams that are in weak divisions. I didn't like the bye weeks even though PSU benefitted.

 

[dailybuck777]

It is conceivable that restricting the playoff to 8 teams, especially if you are going to give auto-bids to lesser conferences, runs a big chance of leaving out very good teams.

I agree with what you said 100%, which is why I favor a 12 team playoff. I would note that Ohio State was really seeded number six, but moved back in the seedings to accommodate conference champions.

 

[Obliviax]

I agree with what you said 100%, which is why I favor a 12 team playoff. I would note that Ohio State was really seeded number six, but moved back in the seedings to accommodate conference champions.

Alabama could well have won a Natty if they got hot like tOSU did. At the same time, GA was worthless without their QB (just like Fl State the year before).

I am not a fan of 12 because I don't like the notion of a bye week. Lots of teams got byes who simply didn't deserve them and I am not sure they helped anyway. AZ St, Boise and GA (without their QB) all should not have been rated that highly.

I'd go with 8 and get rid of the automatic bids/seeds. Or I'd go with 16 if they have to keep the auto-bids.

 

[dailybuck777]

Alabama could well have won a Natty if they got hot like tOSU did.

Their quarterback was no good. No way he has four good games in a row.

 

[Obliviax]

Their quarterback was no good. No way he has four good games in a row.

Probably true but they would have whooped AZ State, Boise, SMU, Clemson, Indiana, and GA.

 

[PurposePitch]

It's only more interesting if the underdog is competitive. If they get run out of the building like what's been happening in these playoff games, then it's not really better.

Some Big 2 squads were run out of the building, as well. (Lots of blow-outs when it was a 4-team process, as well). And ASU would count as one of the non-Big 2, in this eventuality (unless they were asked to join), and they fought, entertainingly, in their shoulda-been win.

 

[Obliviax]

Their quarterback was no good. No way he has four good games in a row.

So, here is what I would do.

I'd create a super conference with 8 divisions. Call them whatever you want and leave them with whatever conference. This is just for college football and no other sports because football is so unique in terms of the toll on the body and the revenue realized.

So I'd make 8 divisions. Four or whatever could be comprised on B1G and SEC schools. Then I'd introduce the concept of relegation. So lets say Purdue isn't one of the top 80 teams but NW is. If NW has a bad year or two, they get bumped. Purdue had two good years so they get moved into the 80 teams.

That way

• You can keep the integrity of the conferences for all other sports, and a shadow of it for football, but participation is an earned privilege.
• You make the regular season still count.
• SOS counts in terms of relegation.
• Crappy programs, going through the motions to get TV revenue, are hurt
• Up-and-coming teams get rewarded up and down the food chain
• 8 team championship run is earned and the playoffs limited to 3 games 8>4, 4>2, 2>1
• Start the 3-game session to end around Jan 1 and build the portal season around that so kids can x out and go to a new team by the time the spring semester starts.

 

[dailybuck777]

Probably true but they would have whooped AZ State, Boise, SMU, Clemson, Indiana, and GA.

Don't know about AZ, Indiana & GA. Lost to Michigan which had no offense, but the best defensive line by far in college football and overall a very good defense.

 

[ryoder1]

Yeah, a mediocre team from a mediocre conference like ... say ... the MAC ... could never compete with ... let's say ... the eventual Natty runner-up. I mean, what are the chances a team like, say, Northern Illinois, at 4-4 in the MAC, could go INTO South Bend and beat the Fighting Irish? Too many players, too much money and stuff.

I know, I know ... but that's not the playoffs ... that's only one game ... yada yada yada.

Exactly. And a better "mid-major" could pull an upset. And, yes, the NIL actually opens things up for more programs, as we've already seen. No, Toledo isn't throwing $4M at a 5-star to draw him there ... but they could work something out with the guys who would otherwise be riding the pine at bigger schools for a teeny bit of cash that they're probably not even getting, even at the bigger school (it's not unlimited payroll, and there are a ton of kids on each roster now), and enough of those kids, in the right circumstances with the right coaching, could challenge for a playoff win here or there.

And that's much more interesting than watching Ole Miss or Wisconsin sneak in to play OSU or Georgia. Yawn.

This consolidation into a Big 2 will be, once again, another step into blind professionalism that all the yokels support ... until they see what happens on the other end, and then they cry that this isn't like the college football they used to know and they don't like it. It's been happening for years, but the lemmings can't pull themselves out of the death spiral. Moths to a flame.

Neither solution is good. You want a MAC team in there or the 2nd tier B10/SEC team. Neither have any shot.

The reality is there are about 6 teams maybe, maybe 8 teams in any given year with any kind of realistic shot. This year it was OSU, ND, Texas, PSU, Georgia, Oregon maybe Tenn. It will be like that every year. 12 is too many and 4 is just a little too few.

I like having more teams because I like college football but the high seeds especially in a 16 team format (#s 9-16) have absolutely no shot whatsoever. When you introduce the home game first round process it becomes even more of a joke. Like the MAC winner ranked #16 has any shot vs #1 at their place. That also goes for B10 #5 or whatever ranked #16 playing #1 on the road.

 

[africamurphy]

Much ado about nothing, folks

This year, if there were 14 teams in, the SEC and Big Ten both would have had 4.

If they go to 14, the Big Ten and SEC (usually) will get the two byes.

The biggest problem with this year's system was that the byes for the 3rd and 4th best conference champs screwed with the seeding. Boise at 9 and ASU at 12 got byes.

This will be the change in 2025. And I hope it stays there. If they let bracket creep continue every two years, it will dillute the regular season considerably. This year, ratings were up in November as dozens of teams had playoff hopes...

 

[Katatonic]

Probably true but they would have whooped AZ State, Boise, SMU, Clemson, Indiana, and GA.

Wouldn't be too sure of that as Bama lost to an UM team with many of its top players sitting out, a team which IU beat

Bama also lost to Vandy (which had lost to GA St.) and got whooped by a mediocre OU team.