BCS simulated top 25 rankings ahead of Week 7

[TNVOLFN]

I hear this sentiment a lot. Is it nostalgia? Because having an undisputed (well, majority) National Champion has been the goal of both the BCS and the CFP.

I'm curious why everyone believes the bowls played around the BCS still mattered and the bowl games played around the CFP don't. Those bowl games had zero outcome for the BCS Champ just like they don't have any bearing on the CFP Champ.

Its literally the exact same scenario except the CFP has 2 more teams. Now maybe next year one could argue that the best teams are in the playoffs, so the bowls aren't as fun to watch without the heavyweights in them. But that hasn't been the case thus far.

They could put a bronzed turd on a trophy and if the Vols won it, I would be ecstatic.

This is a great question and you make a great point. I would say it's definitely more of a cultural change and perception among the players that bowls don't matter. Christian McCaffrey sat out a bowl game and it started a domino effect.

I was disgusted by it, then I got to see it up close and personal with a young man who had the opportunity to make life changing money for he and his family; totally changed my perception.

 

[VOLfrombama]

This is a great question and you make a great point. I would say it's definitely more of a cultural change and perception among the players that bowls don't matter. Christian McCaffrey sat out a bowl game and it started a domino effect.

I was disgusted by it, then I got to see it up close and personal with a young man who had the opportunity to make life changing money for he and his family; totally changed my perception.

Agreed. Even If it were the CFP, and a player still sat out due to his draft projection, I still wouldn’t be mad. Yeah it would help us if they played, but that young man has invested thousands of hours and he has an opportunity of a lifetime so who are we to judge him?

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

Texas beats Alabama and Alabama is raked in front of Texas. Sounds about right.

I was hoping someone would oversimplify things.

 

[sechamp2012]

Because the people helping them navigate the NFL draft tell them to. It’s really that simple.

It won’t happen in the 12 team playoffs no one will sit out. Then there will be semis & ultimately a Championship Plenty of top games to watch instead of these watered down lower bowls that have grew for money grabs.The teams from 13th and lower no one will care but their fans. Those on these teams will probably sit out but their nothing more than scrimmages for TV ad money. When Bowls mattered there where just the Rose, Sugar, Cotton, Orange and they added Citrus,Peach & Fiesta. After that it just got insanely watered down with every city wanting to host a Bowl until it meant literally nothing. JMO

 

[feathersax]

I will say it, I miss the BCS. I like the playoffs, but bowl games and the entire season mattered more. Also, the crystal ball is superior to the golden cone!

I echo your sentiment. Alas, those days are gone, along with 10-ten SEC, coferences with reasonable geograpy, regional rivalires, etc.

 

[VolJarhead]

I can explain why I enjoyed the old bowl system. Having split national championship or scenarios that didn't finalize things left conversation to enjoy and multiple fan bases the enjoyment of talking about how great their season was. Conference championships also mattered. If you didnt win your Conference then you didn't make the major bowl. The 1985 sugar bowl would have never happened and that is my favorite game in my lifetime.

 

[vavolfan6]

Same with the four team playoff. Lose one game and you’re depending on the champions of the other four P5 conferences and Notre Dame to lose a game. Otherwise you’re getting left out of the playoffs.

And that's why the 4 tean playoff was simply an upgrade over the BCS, but never the final solution. 12 team playoff is much better.

 

[bigorangepoppa]

Texas beats Alabama and Alabama is raked in front of Texas. Sounds about right.

That shouldn't surprise you much. We beat LSU, Alabama, then LSU beat Alabama, but look who ended up being ranked higher, and Saban begging for a playoff spot.

 

[Boston Vol]

And that's why the 4 tean playoff was simply an upgrade over the BCS, but never the final solution. 12 team playoff is much better.

I disagree but I’m sure you have your reasons. To me the 12-team playoff kills any remaining importance of the regular season. I don’t think a team that loses 2 games should be in contention for a national title. To me the best example is the 2005 USC-ND game. That game, played in the third week of October, decided who played into national championship game. Under a 12-team format, that game means nothing except whether USC would have been the one or two seed.

 

[aRmo]

I will say it, I miss the BCS. I like the playoffs, but bowl games and the entire season mattered more. Also, the crystal ball is superior to the golden cone!

I agree! Once we move to a 12 team playoff. they need to create the Crystal Cone or something. I dont care for the current design of the national championship trophy. NOW DO NOT MISTAKEN THAT FOR ME NOT WANTING ONE FOR OUR PROGRAM. that is all.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

What are you talking about? Tennessee's season would be hypothetically over with the old BCS system. One loss and your season is over. No chance at winning a championship. No opportunity to improve.

Now, though we lost one game, we have the opportunity to make adjustments, change our approach, and become a better overall team and still have the chance of competing for a national championship.

It will only improve with an expanded playoff. Your season won't be over after one loss. It won't be about teams being perfect from day 1 as much as improving over the course of the season, vying for premium playoff positioning, and being the best version of yourself by season's end.

Teams won the NC in the BCS era with one loss. You are wrong. The expanded playoffs won’t be better.

 

[vavolfan6]

I disagree but I’m sure you have your reasons. To me the 12-team playoff kills any remaining importance of the regular season. I don’t think a team that loses 2 games should be in contention for a national title. To me the best example is the 2005 USC-ND game. That game, played in the third week of October, decided who played into national championship game. Under a 12-team format, that game means nothing except whether USC would have been the one or two seed.

And you can look at it that way, but I think what will happen is that more games in the regular season will have playoff implications and therefore there will be more meaningful football games every weekend. Maybe the one marquee game will have slightly less significance. But the fringe top 25 teams will be fighting for a chance to sneak in the playoffs.

The difference between seeding will be monumental as well. Just as in basketball, the path to the championship will be much easier.