One Playoff Idea

by John Berkowitz on Jan 9, 2009 9:35 PM PST Comment 17 comments

Another college football season is over and once again the BCS failed to crown a true national champion that everyone can agree on. Utah, USC and Texas all say that they should have played Florida for all the marbles.

Take Utah they went through the season undefeated then dominated Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Texas only had one loss and beat the team that played Florida for the national championship during the regular season. USC had a lapse against Oregon State but at the end of the year it was quite obvious that talent wise they were probably the best team in the country.

Florida on the other hand came away with the title. They won the SEC title which just happens to be the toughest conference in the country and they did what they had to do beating Oklahoma in the BCS title game.

There are some that say that is the true charm of major college football because with so many bowl games half the team go out on a winning note rather than ending the season being eliminated in a playoff. Half the fun most people say is arguing in front of the water cooler the day after the game about who was best. They say having a playoff would remove that mystique.

More and more fans would like to see a playoff of some kind even if it is only a plus one format after the January 1st bowl games are completed. Vote for the two best teams left standing and let them play a week later for the title. Sounds good but who would you pick this year when Florida, Utah, USC, and Texas were all deserving?

Using the four New Years day bowls as a starting point or quarter final may be the most logical way to start. Play four games on New Years Day. Two more games the week after and crown a champion two weeks after New Years.

What that does is give eight teams an even shot at the title without killing the big bowls. In fact you make them all more interesting because they are worth more. Rotate the three extra games among the major bowl sites and everyone is happy because they end up adding more TV money to the coffers.

The Pac 10, Big 10, SEC, Big 12, ACC, and Big East all have automatic berths in the bowls currently. That leaves two at large spots. One problem it does create is that under the current arrangement ten teams are now playing in BCS bowl games which gives schools in the MWC, WAC, and C-USA a chance to qualify. Shrinking the pool to only four games will probably cut them out once again. You have to figure Notre Dame will return to its former glory one of these days and suck up one of those at large spots more often than not.

Perhaps you give the top conferences automatic bids to the New Years bowls and have a couple of play in games for the two at large spots. That would open the door for four more teams to participate which would be two more than at present.

Proposed Format

Championship Game (Pasadena)

Semi Final Game (Phoenix)

Semi Final Game (Fort Lauderdale)

Rose Bowl - Pac 10 vs Big Ten

Orange Bowl - ACC vs Big East

Sugar Bowl - SEC vs At Large

Fiesta Bowl - Big 12 vs At Large

Play in Game

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Comments

Although your proposal looks impressive I think a few changes are needed. I think it is abundantly clear that the Pac 10 would have a distinct advantage playing in the championship location. Therefore I propose that both semi finals and the championship games should rotate annually so that a geographic location doe not become an advantage or disadvantage.

Also with the SEC and Big 12 vs. at large are you assuming that the SEC and Big 12 are the superior conferences? On most occasions the “at large” would probably be the likes of Boise State, Utah, TCU, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, or any other non traditional power house and how would Notre Dame fit in if they were ranked No.1 at the end of the regular season? Sure they wouldn’t love the idea of being an “at large”.

Also-Also, how would this affect the recruiting period. Most of this would occur during the dead period, but many schools schedule visits after the dead period. I like it but the semis and championship venues should rotate, and how would Notre Dame feel about at large and ranked No.1? Problems would arise.

by crazidawg on Jan 9, 2009 10:04 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I am pretty sure the Pac Ten and Big Ten would never give up the Rose Bowl.

The semi final games and championship games would have to rotate on an annual basis.

The rest is open for debate and that is why I started the post so we could all get together and refine the thing.

You bring up great points and all point to the reasons it probably will never happen.

by John Berkowitz on Jan 9, 2009 10:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

John - You are reading my mind, this is definitely the best playoff system

Everybody gets a shot, it’s put up or shut up. Every game of the season counts, lose your conference and you are out. 2 at large bids with play in bowls would be awesome.

Crazi – the teams playing would have enough good publicity to out weigh any recruiting disadvantages.

"Bow Down to Washington"
"Kick the tires and light the fires!"

by Lear Pilot on Jan 9, 2009 10:26 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Notre Dame would never allow themselves to be an “at large” and have to play either the SEC or Big 12 in the Sugar or Fiesta Bowls, especially if they were ranked in the top 3 at seasons end. They’d demand the easiest road to the championship. So would the SEC champion and the Big 12 champion. But the Pac 10 and Big 10 would be fine with the pairings, along with the ACC and Big Easys.

L.J. – I understand the publicity the bowls offer the big programs. I threw that portion of my argument out because they’d probably have to extend the dead period and put signing day off a week, so that the disadvantaged schools can schedule last minute visits.

by crazidawg on Jan 9, 2009 10:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yes, but what about that little thing known as...

School. Especially coming from the UW perspective, we start right away, first week after New Year’s. This would disrupt study time, and yes… I have to throw this in: most players on the better teams need all of the study time they can get to qualify for the next season, even with all of the tutors and exemptions they’re given.

by jazzaholic17 on Jan 9, 2009 10:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Classes

You are extending the current season for one week for a handful of teams so it isn’t a huge obstacle. A consideration sure but not an obstacle.

by John Berkowitz on Jan 9, 2009 10:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Notre Dame

Maybe they would have to join a conference like everyone else.

by John Berkowitz on Jan 9, 2009 10:51 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Another proposal

Any playoff is better than what we have right now. I propose the BCS top 8 play right after the regular season is over. Top 4 get home games. The losers are free to go to a bowl game. Two of the four BCS bowls rotate every year for semi final playoff games. The remaining four go to BCS bowls playing each other – highest remaining rank vs lowest remaining rank & the two middle ranks vs each other; for example, 1 vs 4 & 2 vs 3. BCS Championship game played one week later, as it is now, at one of the BCS sites.

by russface on Jan 10, 2009 12:37 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Keep the Rose Bowl traditional

and no more special privileges for Notre Dame BS. I want to be able to go to the Rose Bowl with the Huskies as conference champions even if they aren’t in the NC picture.

by T9ODawg on Jan 10, 2009 7:33 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

exactly...

Notre Dame hasn’t done anything special in several years and the Rose Bowl is the ROSE BOWL!!! Personally, I could care less about the money but I know it’s what drives things. I just want New Year’s Day to be a hungover fest of college football again.

by hairofthedawg on Jan 10, 2009 4:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I like the idea John.

That is what I would do if I had any input…which I don’t. I like the Confernce Champion gets in because it makes the regular season still important. Also instead of having the tradional match ups I think you should seed the teams as they are ranked. It would keep a potential Number 1 and 2 playing each other in the first round.

by bigdave967 on Jan 10, 2009 8:21 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Keep the Rose Bowl Traditional II

I agree with Jack 100% on this and Notre Dame.

They have a standing offer from the Big 10 and Big East.

by John Berkowitz on Jan 10, 2009 8:50 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks John

I doubt ND ever joins a conference as long as one of the networks will broadcast all their home games.

One of the reason ND had a sweet BCS deal was the way they travel not to mention the huge national audience…ratings…the name of that game although the last few BCS games ND were in, they were embarassed…lol.

I remember the bus ride back from Pasadena to the hotel in Anaheim in 2001 and the riders making the driver find the Fiesta Bowl on the radio so we could root for the Beavs over ND. A great day, Dawgs win, the Beavs smack ND around and the ducks lost the Sun Bowl IIRC

Jack

by T9ODawg on Jan 10, 2009 11:20 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Dividing all the conferences in to 12 team leagues

One thing that would really help is dividing all the conferences into 12 team leagues so the conference championship games serve as the first pseudo games of any proposed playoff system.

by John Berkowitz on Jan 10, 2009 8:52 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

The format proposal is good.

One suggestion I would add is that the BCS end consideration in their equation of any polls that begin publishing before the sixth week of the season (whether you have a playoff or not). It seems to me that too many teams are handicapped by a low pre-season ranking by people who have no idea of what to expect from these teams. Far too often, the old “returning starters” is used to justify a preseason ranking and, I would surmise, that particular indicator has failed to be a leading indicator time and time again. Polls contributing to the BCS should not initiate until some reasonable body of work has been produced from which to judge.

"Greed is Good."
So is Rudy.

by Gekko Mojo on Jan 10, 2009 10:05 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Rose Bowl

I’d like to see the Rose Bowl revert to the pre-1947 tradition of inviting an “at large” team, or at least not have to take the Big 10’s sloppy seconds if their champion goes to the BCS championship game (i.e. Illinois).

If you can't get your Dick Enright, get your Dick Harter

by Old Ducker on Jan 10, 2009 2:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs