So how long until the playoff expands to 8?

[CusefanATL]

6 years.

The current arrangement calls for two 6-year cycles. If things go well (e.g. Lots of $$$ is shared by (mostly) the P-5) then greed and/or common sense will drive them to 8 teams. Then it's just a question of when. It's either 6 or 12 years. Greed will drive them to 6.

I saw some talking heads talk about the 6 yr deal wasnt worth the paper it was written on and they could change it at any time.

for whatever thats worth... maybe the paper i just wrote it on... which is a server somewhere - which per word/page is probably cheaper than paper.

 

[omniorange]

I think we need more data, but what does an 8 team playoff mean to last week's games - FSU vs GT, OSU vs Wiscy, and Oregon vs Arizona?

There is a lot of money invested in the conference championship games and in keeping the regular season meaningful. Still think the P5 conferences regard those championship games as their Elite 8 (er 10) and this is another reason I think the Big 12 will likely have to expand to 12 and have a championship game.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[CusefanATL]

I think we need more data, but what does an 8 team playoff mean to last week's games - FSU vs GT, OSU vs Wiscy, and Oregon vs Arizona?

There is a lot of money invested in the conference championship games and in keeping the regular season meaningful. Still think the P5 conferences regard those championship games as their Elite 8 (er 10) and this is another reason I think the Big 12 will likely have to expand to 12 and have a championship game.

Cheers,
Neil

I dont think it does much to the conf champ. GT still doesnt make it, OSU gets in bc they won - a loss knocks them out, wiscy doesnt get in, ariz doesnt get in.

 

[omniorange]

I dont think it does much to the conf champ. GT still doesnt make it, OSU gets in bc they won - a loss knocks them out, wiscy doesnt get in, ariz doesnt get in.

If you don't think attendance, interest, and ratings for those games are not negatively impacted by an 8-team playoff, then imho you haven't thought it through properly.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[PhatOrange]

I think we need more data, but what does an 8 team playoff mean to last week's games - FSU vs GT, OSU vs Wiscy, and Oregon vs Arizona?

There is a lot of money invested in the conference championship games and in keeping the regular season meaningful. Still think the P5 conferences regard those championship games as their Elite 8 (er 10) and this is another reason I think the Big 12 will likely have to expand to 12 and have a championship game.

Cheers,
Neil

I think last weeks game would have shaken out seeding for 8 teams, as well as maybe helped a team get in. GT, Wiscy and Arizona were all sort of 'bubble' teams. Had they won it may have bumped them into the top 8.

Big 12 is going to have to expand. Completely agree. The 'system' is going to be the cause for more expansion which is amusing.

 

[CusefanATL]

If you don't think attendance, interest, and ratings for those games are not negatively impacted by an 8-team playoff, then imho you haven't thought it through properly.

Cheers,
Neil

interest and especially ratings wont change at all. But who cares even if they do?

The 8 team playoff would more than make up for that with interest and ratings.

Attendance is another story - but thats the issue with having a conference championship at a neutral site. I doubt any of the conf champs sold out with the exception of the SEC - which is within driving distance of almost every school. And Atlanta is the base for almost all alums

 

[AAM62]

I think there will have to be some form of compensation to players or the season gets cut short before any expansion happens.

 

[omniorange]

interest and especially ratings wont change at all. But who cares even if they do?

The 8 team playoff would more than make up for that with interest and ratings.

Attendance is another story - but thats the issue with having a conference championship at a neutral site. I doubt any of the conf champs sold out with the exception of the SEC - which is within driving distance of almost every school. And Atlanta is the base for almost all alums

The conferences themselves obviously care. There is a reason why it took forever (1998) to get the BCS up and running fully with all major conferences a part of it. And then it took another 15 years to get it to expand to 4.

And to think the conferences don't care about their individual conference championship games? To me you are thinking like a fan, not like the people who are in power would think.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[cpatrocks]

If you don't think attendance, interest, and ratings for those games are not negatively impacted by an 8-team playoff, then imho you haven't thought it through properly.

Cheers,
Neil

I think that an 8 team playoff where the 5 Conf Champs get an automatic bid with 3 at large bids would have made last weekend EVEN MORE interesting. If the only way for a team like Florida State to guarantee a spot in the playoff was to win the game, nothing would have changed for them. However, GA Tech's side of things becomes alot more interesting if now they have a chance at the Playoff. The more upsets that happen (even though we didn't see any upsets this weekend) the more interesting things would get.

Imagine if Bama has lost to Missouri. Missouri would be in and now we would have to see if a 2 loss Bama could somehow take one of the 3 at large bids. To me this sounds like a Sports Radio broadcasters wet dream.

 

[shantydaze]

Interest and attendance at CCGs is an interesting question. I would hazard to guess that interest and viewership would increase as it would mean both teams in CCG would have something to play for. Attendance is a different story. Depending where the quarterfinals were being played (campus site, neutral site), it would be a lot to ask fans to travel to four different games to see a team crowned champion. At least in basketball, some of the early games are played in the region the school is located. This would not happen in the bowl system as there are not a lot of big bowls in the midwest and northeast.

 

[cpatrocks]

Interest and attendance at CCGs is an interesting question. I would hazard to guess that interest and viewership would increase as it would mean both teams in CCG would have something to play for. Attendance is a different story. Depending where the quarterfinals were being played (campus site, neutral site), it would be a lot to ask fans to travel to four different games to see a team crowned champion. At least in basketball, some of the early games are played in the region the school is located. This would not happen in the bowl system as there are not a lot of big bowls in the midwest and northeast.

If attendance is a serious concern, the simple answer would be to let the higher ranked team host the game.

 

[SmilinBob]

If attendance is a serious concern, the simple answer would be to let the higher ranked team host the game.

The PAC did that and changed back to a neutral place.

 

[omniorange]

I think that an 8 team playoff where the 5 Conf Champs get an automatic bid with 3 at large bids would have made last weekend EVEN MORE interesting. If the only way for a team like Florida State to guarantee a spot in the playoff was to win the game, nothing would have changed for them. However, GA Tech's side of things becomes alot more interesting if now they have a chance at the Playoff. The more upsets that happen (even though we didn't see any upsets this weekend) the more interesting things would get.

Imagine if Bama has lost to Missouri. Missouri would be in and now we would have to see if a 2 loss Bama could somehow take one of the 3 at large bids. To me this sounds like a Sports Radio broadcasters wet dream.

This assumes an auto bid for the conference champ in an era where divisions are still in play. Will the P5 (not to mention ESPN behind the scenes) go for that and risk a 7-5 team upsetting the 12-0 or 11-1 other divisional champ for immediate inclusion in the CFP? I realize that a lot was made of rewarding those teams who won a true conference championship game, but that factor was still tertiary to record and SOS.

To avoid the 7-5 team upsetting the 12-0 or 11-1 team in the CCG is another reason why I see the divisional requirement eventually going away so that conferences can set up their championship game to ensure (as much as possible) the two best teams compete.

We are a long way away from expansion to 8. And we haven't even gotten to the other big fly in the ointment on this topic - the top qualifier from the G5 - in or out? Don't think the P5 conferences want to have that debate in the current climate. It is any easy one to avoid with 4, but much harder to exclude them in an 8-team playoff.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[SU68]

I hope they never go past 4 teams. The threat of a P5 champion NOT being selected like BU/TCU due to strength of schedule will force the football factories (read SEC) to eliminate their cupcake-at-home games and add other P5 teams in away/neutral site games (read Florida).

 

[CusefanATL]

The conferences themselves obviously care. There is a reason why it took forever (1998) to get the BCS up and running fully with all major conferences a part of it. And then it took another 15 years to get it to expand to 4.

And to think the conferences don't care about their individual conference championship games? To me you are thinking like a fan, not like the people who are in power would think.

Cheers,
Neil

who is saying no right now?

ACC - has never sold out a conf champ game so nothing would change other than the possibility of lville/clemson/miami helping become a 2 bid league.
Big 12 - hell to the freaking no
Big 10 - maybe?
Pac 12 - why would they say no?
SEC - hell to the freaking no - the sec champ wont lose a smidgen of attendance, support or love and they'll get 2 or 3 teams in every year.

 

[SmilinBob]

I hope they never go past 4 teams. The threat of a P5 champion NOT being selected like BU/TCU due to strength of schedule will force the football factories (read SEC) to eliminate their cupcake-at-home games and add other P5 teams in away/neutral site games (read Florida).

Bama played WV as their only P5 while Mississippi St played 0. I doubt the SEC has to worry about OOC schedules as absolutely no one talked about any SEC schools OOC or the fact they played only 8 conference games. Is it possible the pundits and committee would parse Mississippi St's OOC schedule if they had only one loss? I don't know.

 

[omniorange]

who is saying no right now?

ACC - has never sold out a conf champ game so nothing would change other than the possibility of lville/clemson/miami helping become a 2 bid league.
Big 12 - hell to the freaking no
Big 10 - maybe?
Pac 12 - why would they say no?
SEC - hell to the freaking no - the sec champ wont lose a smidgen of attendance, support or love and they'll get 2 or 3 teams in every year.

So far, to my knowledge, the FBS coaches have favored expanding the playoffs to 8 teams. But the only conference commissioner who has supported it somewhat is Swofford. But then, he knows an ACC team being left out is more likely than any other conference, despite what happened this year. If the ACC turns it around in football, I bet he changes his tune.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[sufandu]

Why should teams 5-8 play for a national championship? I think this is the perfect system. For half of the BCS years we knew who the 2 best teams were. They should be playing for the national championship. For the other half of those years, we knew who the best 3 teams were. They should be playing for the national championship. This system guarantees that those who truly deserve to play for a national championship do.

You really think that an 8 seed will win 3 games in a row against top 7 teams and take the trophy? That's optimistic, and probably not lucid thinking.

This year proved otherwise. Teams 5 and 6 both have arguments that they are better than at least one of the top 4. 8 teams is the perfect number.

 

[SmilinBob]

So far, to my knowledge, the FBS coaches have favored expanding the playoffs to 8 teams. But the only conference commissioner who has supported it somewhat is Swofford. But then, he knows an ACC team being left out is more likely than any other conference, despite what happened this year. If the ACC turns it around in football, I bet he changes his tune.

Cheers,
Neil

If FSU lost one game they were out so Swofford has to remain behind the 8 team playoff.

 

[omniorange]

This year proved otherwise. Teams 5 and 6 both have arguments that they are better than at least one of the top 4. 8 teams is the perfect number.

Then who gets in as #7 and #8? Think #9 and #10 would say the system is perfect?

Now consider this scenario. GT upsets FSU, Wiscy beats OSU, and Arizona beats Oregon who gets in with an 8 team playoff?

There would be two 12-1 teams - Alabama and FSU; five 11-2 teams Oregon, Arizona, GT, Ohio State, Wisconsin; two 11-1 teams Baylor and TCU; and two 10-2 teams Michigan State and Mississippi State.

How is 8 any more perfect than 4 in that scenario?

Now throw in a potential undefeated G5 team or a guaranteed slot for the best G5 champion into the mix?

Still think it's perfect? No system is perfect and I'll let you in on a secret you may or may not know. It's not meant to be.

The system is meant to protect the P5, protect the regular season, to keep the G5 down, and to make the most possible in terms of $$$ while achieving those goals.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[omniorange]

If FSU lost one game they were out so Swofford has to remain behind the 8 team playoff.

Exactly. And that will remain the case until such time as the ACC's football perception (at least at the top) is strengthened. A return of Miami to its old self will help especially if two or three of Clemson, GT, VT, and Louisville remain solid Top 25 contenders. I'd include SU, Pitt, and UNC in that latter grouping but all three are a mess.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[sufandu]

Then who gets in as #7 and #8? Think #9 and #10 would say the system is perfect?

Now consider this scenario. GT upsets FSU, Wiscy beats OSU, and Arizona beats Oregon who gets in with an 8 team playoff?

There would be two 12-1 teams - Alabama and FSU; five 11-2 teams Oregon, Arizona, GT, Ohio State, Wisconsin; two 11-1 teams Baylor and TCU; and two 10-2 teams Michigan State and Mississippi State.

How is 8 any more perfect than 4 in that scenario?

Now throw in a potential undefeated G5 team or a guaranteed slot for the best G5 champion into the mix?

Still think it's perfect? No system is perfect and I'll let you in on a secret you may or may not know. It's not meant to be.

The system is meant to protect the P5, protect the regular season, to keep the G5 down, and to make the most possible in terms of $$$ while achieving those goals.

Cheers,
Neil

Did the system protect the regular season when one Ohio State blowout trumped their loss to VaTech, while teams TCU and Baylor each lost to superior teams as their only loss?

Your hypothetical scenario didn't happen.

I apologize for using the word perfect. I need to realize that people sometimes choose one little word instead of understanding the whole post. Ideal is a better word, and, yes, 8 would be ideal. I said that long before anyone seriously thought any playoff was a possibility.

 

[omniorange]

Did the system protect the regular season when one Ohio State blowout trumped their loss to VaTech, while teams TCU and Baylor each lost to superior teams as their only loss?

Your hypothetical scenario didn't happen.

I apologize for using the word perfect. I need to realize that people sometimes choose one little word instead of understanding the whole post. Ideal is a better word, and, yes, 8 would be ideal. I said that long before anyone seriously thought any playoff was a possibility.

My apologies for picking on the word "perfect". As for the word "ideal", the point of my posts is not to state what I believe to be ideal, but to try and present how I believe the P5 view the situation.

The regular season was protected by weighting the championship games when all other factors were basically equal. In essence, one can take the stance that the playoff already is 9 or 10 teams. It's just that the Elite 8 round is played championship week in the regular season instead of in January.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[BlazeOrange]

I'm in favor of 8 teams with P5 champs getting autobids. However, I don't see the incentive to schedule strong OOC games under this scenario. Winning the conference would be a much easier route to the playoffs than getting in the mix for three at-larges (two if a non-P5 is included), so teams would be less likely to risk not being at their best for conference games by travelling outside their region, playing tougher/more physical opponents, etc. You might see the rest of the conferences go to a nine game schedule because of this, maybe even ten eventually.

Interest and attendance in conference championship games could be diminished if one team is assured of a bid regardless of result. For example, if FSU was a little more dominant in going undefeated this season - some of their fan's would skip the championship and opt to travel for the playoffs. This could provide a slight home field advantage for the underdog teams.

On the initial question, I think the P5 will wait a bit before expanding, at least until the additional money and corresponding prestige between them and the non-P5 teams begins to show itself on the field. They don't want a potential autobid for the smaller schools to even be a consideration in an expanded playoff.

 

[cpatrocks]

All other stuff aside, I just think an 8 team playoff would be twice as fun to watch as a 4 team playoff.