A Playoff in the Works?

by Paragon SC on Jul 20, 2007 1:11 PM PDT in USC Football Comment 2 comments

I have been pretty ambivalent about a College Football play-off for a number of reasons. I like the way the system is now, when it works, because there is always some argument to keep things humming in the off-season so I am not inclined to favor a Plus-1format. But, there are times when the plus one format seems a bit intriguing, 2003 or 2004 would have been a great opportunity for a Plus-1 but since then things have hummed along nicely. The possibility of a lower seed beating a favorite has always had some appeal to the masses.

I guess I don't go nuts over it because in the end those that control the situation will do as they see fit and we as fans won't have a choice but accept it.Tuesdays New York Post has an interesting article on the possibility of a play-off.

Sources in several conference offices, athletic directors and television networks told The Post that support is steadily growing for a "Plus-1," format in which there will be a national championship game following the playing of two "semifinal games."

The first title game could be played in 2011.

"There haven't been any official discussions among conference commissioners, but the overwhelming sense is that that's where we're headed," one conference source said. "There's simply too much money at stake and there's been too much debate with the current system."

Under the new format, the top four teams would be seeded, probably using a voter/computer formula similar to the current BCS system and a sixth major bowl game would be created.

The four top-seeded teams would play in two "semifinal" games, using the existing bowls - Orange, Sugar, Rose, Fiesta and the current BCS title game on a rotating basis - with the two winners meeting in a newly created bowl. Theoretically, it would leave less argument over who's No. 1.

I'm not buying into that last line, as #5 would surely have something to say about it. The whole computer thing still leaves a lot to be desired as it has changed, seemingly almost every year. If they can actually fix the system to get the right teams into the title game then there would be no need to have a Plus-1 format.

Then there is Jim Rome's take. From our friends at Student Body Right. (Taken in its entirety)

...Let me pick up the discussion once again about the NCAA possibly adopting a modified plus one playoffs and that we might even get it by 2011. Eeeeeasy NCAA ... no need to be so hasty or to rush into anything. It's not like anyone has a problem with the current BCS set up or is clamoring for a playoff or anything. Or has been for the last 20 years. And let me address the raps against a playoff: one, it will render the regular season meaningless.

Wrong.

Sure, the regular season means something now: but a playoff that determines a true national champion, on the field, means a whole lot more.

Two, it would kill the bowl system as we know it. Fair enough ... far be it for me to get behind anything that would jeopardize those 30 bowl games, 27 of which no one cares about anyway. So, I guess score one for that side.

And finally, even if you have a final four, there will still be a debate over who you're leaving out of the playoff. Fine, better to debate who's number five every year, then who's number one. Better to know that we're getting the four best teams every year than praying that there are no more than two unbeatens or teams with one loss, and that if they did lose, they lost early enough to actually have a look at the title.

Look, I get that university presidents aren't about determining a champion on the field of play, but rather about getting paid. Fine: adopt the plus one: you'll get paid even more and the rest of us will be one big step closer to what we want ... a true national champion.

Gotta love Romey and his irreverence. But, he does make some fair points

I'm inclined to leave it as it is, but I also realize that it is out of my hands so it will be interesting to see how it goes

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8 teams would be better

There are sometimes going to be scenarios where more than 4 teams have a legitimate claim to playing in the National Championship Game. In 2004 there were 5 undefeated teams going into the bowls. All 5 of those teams had a legitimate claim at playing in the championship game, so the winner of that 4th spot would have been important. With an 8 team playoff, every team that showed during the regular season they were good enough to win the NC would have a shot. The 9th team could complain, but during the regular season they showed they weren't the best. Every now and then a team with a couple losses will win the championship, but at least they will have earned it on the field.

by SuperBruinMan on Jul 20, 2007 4:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Its just going to shift the controversy to who ends up in the #4 spot. There's going to be a couple teams with 1 loss every year that are going to go all Les Miles on the BCS if their team doesn't get in. But hey, at least the #1 team won't get left out again.... probably.....

by frak on Jul 20, 2007 11:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs