The 2014 college football season kicks off in less than a week and this year marks the debut of the new 4 team college football playoff. While I believe the CFB playoff is a big step above its BCS predecessor, I still believe there is more room for improvement before we have another mess on our hands.
A 4 team playoff isn't nearly enough to determine a true post-season champion, and I believe this system will quickly draw criticism which compares to that of the "top 2 teams" BCS method. There are 5 major conferences in the nation, and It's only fair that the championship winner from each of the major conferences should get a bid into the playoffs. Aren't we trying to prove which conference is the best in the nation each year anyways? This is up for debate every year and will continue to be if a conference champion is left on the outside looking in. The best of the best need to be put up against each other to honestly answer this question effectively.
Of course there is a conundrum we have to solve here with at least 5 teams needing a spot in a 4 team playoff. That's why I, along with many others, propose an 8 team playoff system. This type of system guarantees each top conference champion a spot in the playoffs, and gives 3 other really good teams a chance at college football glory. But how will it work? Well, I think there are a couple of different methods that could be used to determine how this system would work.
Of all the proposals I've heard from around the web I believe this is how I would like to see the 8 team playoff seeded:
5 seeds guaranteed to each of the major conference champions.
2 seeds guaranteed to the next best records of major conference teams or independents. (3 seeds if 1 non-major conference champion is not ranked Top 12)
1 seed from the best conference champion from the“Group of 5"- AAC, MWC, C-USA, MAC & SunBelt or an independent. (Determined by strength of schedule, W/L record, etc…) (0 seeds if not ranked in the Top 12)
I think this is the best method of seeding because it features not only the best from each of the major conferences, but features the next 2 best teams from the major conferences or an independent team. It also gives 1 team from a non-major conference a chance to “bust” into the playoff bracket. Some may disagree with the 1 non-major conference champion getting in, but I think it is only fair for what could be a great team to have a chance in the playoffs. Having a top 12 exception clause for the “Group of 5” should calm down the naysayers, as it will weed out those teams that don’t have a strong strength of schedule or multiple losses.
I think the next question to be answered is how the major bowls would be addressed. Again, I think there are multiple methods that could be used, but here are the two proposed methods that I think could work.
This method below features all 6 of the major bowls in the quarterfinals and semifinals, and they would continually rotate every year just like they do now in the 4 team playoff method. The Final game would be played at a major stadium as it’s own venue just like it is now in the 4 team playoff method.
The next proposed method below has 4 of the major bowl games played in the quarterfinals and the remaining 2 being played by ranked teams 9-12. Again, the bowls would continually rotate every year. The semifinals and finals would then be played at one or two major stadiums kind of the like final 4 in basketball.
Of these two methods, I am more fond of the latter version. I like the idea of 4 major bowls being used in the quarterfinals, and the other 2 major bowls being used for those who didn't quite make the playoff. I think having the semi-finals and finals being played at one or two remote locations will make for great football competition and an enjoyable viewing experience.
Some might argue that playing 2 additional post-season games is too many, but I disagree. Most schools have there semesters completed by the middle of December, so there should be plenty of time for the student-athletes to get there final exams complete and start preparing for their CFB post-seasons.
Now that the bowls have been addressed some might say that there is one more loose end to clean up: The playoff selection committee. I actually agree with cutting this loose end to a point. That point being the 4 team playoff method. It seems to me that the selection committee has been set up to fail because there will always be two or three teams who feel they deserve to be there, and most of the time those teams do deserve to be there. I think the selection committee will quickly draw more hateful criticism than the BCS computers could ever imagine. This is another clear reason why the 8 team playoff system is the better option with a selection committee, and I am proponent of that committee if it's selecting 8 teams.
I am looking forward to the new college football playoff, and I am hopeful for the addition of 4 more teams. What do you think? Do you agree? Do you disagree? How do you think the college football playoff should be run? #BeHeard with your comments below and let us know!
- Nick H
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