ACC Proposing Change to Conference Champ Game

[dan7800]

12 teams is too many IHMO. Sure it makes things fun near the end of the season, but we all knew going in there were only about 4-6 teams with a legitimate shot to win it. I've always thought that the magic number is 6. One for each conference champ, and 2 for at large.

If the top two teams in the nation are from the B10 and they play in the B10 championship game --- well the better team will prevail and move on.

A beautiful thing about college football was how important regular season games were.

 

[All4SU]

Why do we need to limit who has a chance to win a national championship? I understand the top teams will continue to win it. By why do we have to limit the playoffs to 9% of college teams? I’m not saying expand to 68. But at least open up spots to give the lower level teams a chance. Professional teams allow 40-50% of the teams into the postseason. Why do college kids who aren’t perfect only allow 9%?

Well, you kind of answered your own question - because they are college kids. Student athletes. At least that was the way it was supposed to work. Now they’re professionals, I guess. So who cares if they go to class at all? Just play football. Make some money. And go home when you’re 24 and your body is shot, and they can find a younger kid better than you.

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

Absolutely disgusting.

 

[longtimefan]

One fact that hasn't been emphasized enough--the two teams playing for the championship did NOT play in conference championship games.

Go to a 16-team bracket and eliminate the conference championship games.

 

[upperdeck]

Why do we assume there would be any market for a game that means nothing?

Will people travel just to see 2-3 teams play? Sure if its the local crew, but how many are traveling to watch SU play Lou for 2nd place. Only the people with money.

 

[AcAndAc]

One fact that hasn't been emphasized enough--the two teams playing for the championship did NOT play in conference championship games.

Go to a 16-team bracket and eliminate the conference championship games.

That is the problem... the conferences would have to GIVE UP revenue to do that. The only way I see that happening is if the playoffs went to 16, and the conferences were guaranteed spots at an equally lucrative level: 2 ACC min, 2 B12 min, 4 SEC, 4 B1G, 2 At larges, 2 G5. Think how that would have impacted this year: BYU, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Army?

 

[longtimefan]

That is the problem... the conferences would have to GIVE UP revenue to do that. The only way I see that happening is if the playoffs went to 16, and the conferences were guaranteed spots at an equally lucrative level: 2 ACC min, 2 B12 min, 4 SEC, 4 B1G, 2 At larges, 2 G5. Think how that would have impacted this year: BYU, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Army?

If the first 2 rounds were on the campus, the revenues would probably go up. Expect most of those 12 games to be played in huge stadiums. Those arenas would be full because the loyal, local fans could afford to attend 2 home games.

 

[David321]

Nearly every change seems to be more and more anti fan, anti common sense.

 

[upperdeck]

If the first 2 rounds were on the campus, the revenues would probably go up. Expect most of those 12 games to be played in huge stadiums. Those arenas would be full because the loyal, local fans could afford to attend 2 home games.

fans showing up hasnt been an issue so far with the 12 team.

of course having teams with huge fan bases helps.

 

[CdnGuy]

Go to 32 team playoff, like half a March Madness, nobody gets a bye, 5 weeks of play to crown a winner, any team with a 10 win season or better qualifies and no one is happy.

 

[Scooch]

Personally, I'd like to see all conference champ games ended and a 13th game of the regular season for everyone put in their place.

 

[JustPherU]

Nearly every change seems to be more and more anti fan, anti common sense.

Greed kills!

 

[UnknownOrange]

You got rid of Atlantic vs Coastal to avoid 12-0 Atlantic Team 1 beating 11-1 Atlantic Team 2 to go play 7-5 Coastal Team 1.

Now, in a world where the 2 best record teams play in the championship, you want to give 12-0 team a bye and have 11-1 play the 7-5 team?

I promise it’s not this hard. There are 12 playoff teams. Some years you get 2, some years you might get 1, and some you might get three! Sports are determined on the field, not in the commissioners office

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Personally, I'd like to see all conference champ games ended and a 13th game of the regular season for everyone put in their place.

Tell me more.

 

[Hokie Mark]

TBH, I can see both sides of this. As someone wrote earlier, the ACC is trying to make the best of a bad situation (created by the SEC & B1G cartel). I did write a blog post about this if anyone is interested in reading it...

Should ACC CG Format Change?

This blog is about ACC Football - past glory, what went wrong, and how to fix it and get back to the glory days again.

accfootballrx.blogspot.com

 

[Scooch]

Tell me more.

I think a 13th regular season game is inevitable. In the conferences never-ending, always-insatiable need for MOAR REVENUE they have to create more "inventory".

They've largely done that via expansion, but adding more games to sell to rights holders in the next frontier (see: the NFL).

Now, I don't think the Masters of Greed will nix conference champ games. But they'll certainly add another regular season game. Actually, I think they'll add 2 eventually. But they gotta start somewhere.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I think a 13th regular season game is inevitable. In the conferences never-ending, always-insatiable need for MOAR REVENUE they have to create more "inventory".

They've largely done that via expansion, but adding more games to sell to rights holders in the next frontier (see: the NFL).

Now, I don't think the Masters of Greed will nix conference champ games. But they'll certainly add another regular season game. Actually, I think they'll add 2 eventually. But they gotta start somewhere.

Interesting.

 

[Eric15]

Let’s just make it like a college basketball conference tournament. 5 games in five days.

 

[Eric15]

Why do we need to limit who has a chance to win a national championship? I understand the top teams will continue to win it. By why do we have to limit the playoffs to 9% of college teams? I’m not saying expand to 68. But at least open up spots to give the lower level teams a chance. Professional teams allow 40-50% of the teams into the postseason. Why do college kids who aren’t perfect only allow 9%?

College football is unique among all major sports in that the regular season has immense importance. It’s not just a means to an end like most other sports. I think expanding to 12 was the right move, but more than that just destroys what is the most special aspect of the sport. 8-4 teams don’t need to play for a national title.

Also, both the NFL and college playoffs are four rounds apiece. Once you go more than that I feel like it becomes a bit tedious and overly drawn out.

 

[FRANKIEFAN]

It's a good idea and helps the ACC get two teams. Just sucks if you are playing in this with no chance at a playoff berth.
Teams 5-8 having so much success this year strengthens the argument to go to 16.

If that happens the ACC needs to do whatever it takes to get 2 guaranteed every year.

 

[orangecuse]

Go to 24 teams. Scrap conference championship games. If your ranked, your worthy to have a shot at a title.

Top 8 teams get a first round bye. 5 weeks of extra football. Which is the same amount of weeks as it is now if you include the conference championship game.

Based on a quick google search, FCS has 24 teams, D2 has 28 teams, and D3 has 40 teams. Yet D1 with the most popularity and money/viewership just increased to 12 from 4!!!

Ah, well, those teams do not consist of dudes of true "student athlete" caliber as D1 teams. So, there's that.

 

[AcAndAc]

Could just give the conference and the #1 team the option of playing in the game (or not).

This year (and perhaps many years), SMU/ACC would have said "no thanks" and taken the autobid. Miami could have played Clemson to try to benefit Miami's at-large resume. Maybe it works to get Miami in... maybe it would not. Probably a safer risk than gambling on Clemson and SMU both making it... even though it worked in 2024.

If Syracuse ran the table in 2025... why would we want to have it play one more tough game to potentially lose? If that applies to Syracuse, why not to Clemson, Miami, FSU, etc.