How this season changed my mind on a 12 team playoff

[VOLS INC.]

Not for the reason you may be thinking.

How some of these voters vote is pure insanity. I get that the CFP committee doesn’t have Lou Holtz and that Midwest troll that had us ranked behind LSU the day after we spanked them in Death Valley. But just watching this weekly, I don’t trust human beings to pick the 4 best teams to play for the title.

Yes. I know they are going to pick the 12 best teams in our next version of the playoffs. The difference is the teams that are left out of those playoffs most likely have 3 losses or more. That’s on them!

Point is, because our Vols have been so active in the polls this year, I’ve seen with fresh eyes just how ridiculous some of these voters and committee members can be. Let the kids decide it on the field. I’m all in for a 12 team playoff.

 

[Stephen Gray]

Not for the reason you may be thinking.

How some of these voters vote is pure insanity. I get that the CFP committee doesn’t have Lou Holtz and that Midwest troll that had us ranked behind LSU the day after we spanked them in Death Valley. But just watching this weekly, I don’t trust human beings to pick the 4 best teams to play for the title.

Yes. I know they are going to pick the 12 best teams in our next version of the playoffs. The difference is the teams that are left out of those playoffs most likely have 3 losses or more. That’s on them!

Point is, because our Vols have been so active in the polls this year, I’ve seen with fresh eyes just how ridiculous some of these voters and committee members can be. Let the kids decide it on the field. I’m all in for a 12 team playoff.

I honestly think an algorithmic approach like the BCS but in a playoff context instead of just one game might be the fairest approach. Even so, I wonder if the drama that results from controversial decisions by human voters is actually good for the sport in terms of all of the discussion it just generates. All of the articles, tweets, bar discussions, forum posts and so on have to get people super engaged and has to be worth a lot of money. It doesn’t go away with a non-human approach but it may or may not end up being less profitable.

 

[VAWL FAN]

Not for the reason you may be thinking.

How some of these voters vote is pure insanity. I get that the CFP committee doesn’t have Lou Holtz and that Midwest troll that had us ranked behind LSU the day after we spanked them in Death Valley. But just watching this weekly, I don’t trust human beings to pick the 4 best teams to play for the title.

Yes. I know they are going to pick the 12 best teams in our next version of the playoffs. The difference is the teams that are left out of those playoffs most likely have 3 losses or more. That’s on them!

Point is, because our Vols have been so active in the polls this year, I’ve seen with fresh eyes just how ridiculous some of these voters and committee members can be. Let the kids decide it on the field. I’m all in for a 12 team playoff.

I can't wait for the 12 team playoff.Sixteen would be the preference but beggers can't be choosers.

 

[rdk4121]

You can still look up the simulated BCS rankings. In it for this week you had Ohio state only slide to 4th place, still ahead of USCw. Then you had us behind Alabama at 7th. So honestly probably worse than what the committee will do Today. USCw should absolutely be ahead of Ohio state. The distance between us and Bama was greater than the gap between us and Penn State, which is pretty weird to me as well.

 

[JoAllan]

This season…….just like basically every other season (once you get to the end) simply proves……you DONT need 12 teams.

4 is definitely enough.

Literally not ONE single team outside of the current top 4 has any real argument to be in the playoff. If USC were to lose someone who has NO business whatsoever in the playoff will be in the playoff.

There is absolutely NO need for the 12 team playoff it’s literally absurd.

OSU just got rolled at home……should they get rewarded with a playoff spot? And Michigan was without their best player.

Tennessee just got absolutely throttled by SC.

Bama has 2 losses, one to Tennessee (who doesn’t belong) another to LSU who just got beat again……and Bama didn’t really beat anyone.

P-ST played 2 good teams……and lost both times.

Washington got beat by a 3-9 team and have another loss.

Clemson has no good wins and lost twice to 8-4 teams

LSU has 3 losses and 1 was to a 5-7 team

Tulane lost to UCF and Southern Miss a 6-6 mid team.

Literally ONLY the current top 4 belong.

Playoffs and tournaments are amazing. However for college football…….I think it will become a show. Not to mention when terrible teams find one win in the season during their championship and beat a good team……..BAM their in.

 

[JoAllan]

Don’t get me wrong……..I’ll love it when Tennessee gets in……and I would love it if it was a 12 team playoff this year because Tennessee would get in.

just saying NO team except the current top 4 deserves to be in. Everyone had their opportunity and everyone blew it……and not barely or lightly……they all blew it HARD!!

 

[lukeneyland]

Not for the reason you may be thinking.

How some of these voters vote is pure insanity. I get that the CFP committee doesn’t have Lou Holtz and that Midwest troll that had us ranked behind LSU the day after we spanked them in Death Valley. But just watching this weekly, I don’t trust human beings to pick the 4 best teams to play for the title.

Yes. I know they are going to pick the 12 best teams in our next version of the playoffs. The difference is the teams that are left out of those playoffs most likely have 3 losses or more. That’s on them!

Point is, because our Vols have been so active in the polls this year, I’ve seen with fresh eyes just how ridiculous some of these voters and committee members can be. Let the kids decide it on the field. I’m all in for a 12 team playoff.

There’s pros and cons to either approach but this current model really rewards teams for playing weak opponents and punishes Tennessee for playing tough opponents almost every week

 

[Jeff Clark]

Not for the reason you may be thinking.

How some of these voters vote is pure insanity. I get that the CFP committee doesn’t have Lou Holtz and that Midwest troll that had us ranked behind LSU the day after we spanked them in Death Valley. But just watching this weekly, I don’t trust human beings to pick the 4 best teams to play for the title.

Yes. I know they are going to pick the 12 best teams in our next version of the playoffs. The difference is the teams that are left out of those playoffs most likely have 3 losses or more. That’s on them!

Point is, because our Vols have been so active in the polls this year, I’ve seen with fresh eyes just how ridiculous some of these voters and committee members can be. Let the kids decide it on the field. I’m all in for a 12 team playoff.

I'm for a 16 team Playoff like in FCS.

 

[VolPack22]

This season…….just like basically every other season (once you get to the end) simply proves……you DONT need 12 teams.

4 is definitely enough.

Literally not ONE single team outside of the current top 4 has any real argument to be in the playoff. If USC were to lose someone who has NO business whatsoever in the playoff will be in the playoff.

There is absolutely NO need for the 12 team playoff it’s literally absurd.

OSU just got rolled at home……should they get rewarded with a playoff spot? And Michigan was without their best player.

Tennessee just got absolutely throttled by SC.

Bama has 2 losses, one to Tennessee (who doesn’t belong) another to LSU who just got beat again……and Bama didn’t really beat anyone.

P-ST played 2 good teams……and lost both times.

Washington got beat by a 3-9 team and have another loss.

Clemson has no good wins and lost twice to 8-4 teams

LSU has 3 losses and 1 was to a 5-7 team

Tulane lost to UCF and Southern Miss a 6-6 mid team.

Literally ONLY the current top 4 belong.

Playoffs and tournaments are amazing. However for college football…….I think it will become a show. Not to mention when terrible teams find one win in the season during their championship and beat a good team……..BAM their in.

They don’t need 14 teams in the NFL playoffs but they do it because of money. I don’t have an issue with 12 teams getting in.

Top 4 teams get a 1st round bye
Seeds 5-8 host seeds 9-12
Top 4 seeds host the winners from 1st round
4 teams remaining play on neutral field for semis/NC

 

[JoAllan]

They don’t need 14 teams in the NFL playoffs but they do it because of money. I don’t have an issue with 12 teams getting in.

Top 4 teams get a 1st round bye
Seeds 5-8 host seeds 9-12
Top 4 seeds host the winners from 1st round
4 teams remaining play on neutral field for semis/NC

I mean I get it

However we already know who the top 4 teams are. We definitely know which 4 teams earned/deserve to be in.

I just believe what we have seen shows, that it’s “not needed” to find a true champion…….or because someone might get left out.

Washington got beat by a 3 win team and that’s not their only loss………we will see a lot worse make the playoff.

If folks “want” it that’s fine. If it’s about money or whatever that’s fine too…….however let’s not turn on the heat and say it’s summer. Because a 12 team playoff isn’t “needed.” Nor are a bunch of deserving teams being left out. Nor has it been hard to find a true champion……..folks just want to expand it……..mostly for money and prestige.

 

[THEONLYTENISEE]

8 teams max.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

8 teams max.

8 or 16 but not 12. NO reason for anybody to get a bye and a week to rest. Way too much potential for inequity in the 4 v 5 discussion for example. Everybody deserves the same opportunity to excel or even get injuries. If you do give them the week off they should not be allowed to practice till their fist game week, but even then a free week to heal is just not right. 1 v 16 and 2 v 15 is reward enough. 8 should cover the deal and save a week and a game for the field.

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

Not for the reason you may be thinking.

How some of these voters vote is pure insanity. I get that the CFP committee doesn’t have Lou Holtz and that Midwest troll that had us ranked behind LSU the day after we spanked them in Death Valley. But just watching this weekly, I don’t trust human beings to pick the 4 best teams to play for the title.

Yes. I know they are going to pick the 12 best teams in our next version of the playoffs. The difference is the teams that are left out of those playoffs most likely have 3 losses or more. That’s on them!

Point is, because our Vols have been so active in the polls this year, I’ve seen with fresh eyes just how ridiculous some of these voters and committee members can be. Let the kids decide it on the field. I’m all in for a 12 team playoff.

Make it a conference champioms only tournament. Then its truly decided on the field. If you arent good enough to win your conference, how the hell can you be the best in the nation for that season?


Anything else and its still just a bunch of nerds deciding who gets a chance to get hot and win an end of the season tournament.

 

[EZE]

Make it a conference champioms only tournament. Then its truly decided on the field. If you arent good enough to win your conference, how the hell can you be the best in the nation for that season?


Anything else and its still just a bunch of nerds deciding who gets a chance to get hot and win an end of the season tournament.

I could get behind a realignment to four conferences and then going to this format. Each conference could have two divisions with a conference championship game to determine who gets into the national four-team playoff.

This is essentially an eight game playoff, but it would be the fairest way to do it. Take the humans and their biases out of it.

 

[Nationdom]

I can't wait for the 12 team playoff.Sixteen would be the preference but beggers can't be choosers.

 

[ArmchairQB]

Ehh we’ll see how it goes. March Madness is a license to print money, and they don’t invite 64 teams, okay 68 teams, because any of them have a real chance to win it. You get crazy upsets early on and then after a couple weeks you’re basically down to the same bluebloods as any other year. Pretty much how I expect this to go too, on a different scale.

 

[ZZ13]

I’m a 16 team playoff fan just like FCS has done for a zillion years. But no committees. 100% settled on the field NFL style as follows:

4 conferences of 16 teams

Each conference has four team playoff to become conference champion

Four team playoff of those teams to become FBS champion

Relegation used to replace crappy teams in the conferences with better teams in waiting.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

Put me in the camp for a 16 team playoff. No byes and top 8 hosts the bottom 8 at home in the first round. Round 2 is played in 4 of the major bowls. Round 3 is played in the 2 remaining major bowls. Then the championship game is played in Hawaii.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

Make it a conference champioms only tournament. Then its truly decided on the field. If you arent good enough to win your conference, how the hell can you be the best in the nation for that season?


Anything else and its still just a bunch of nerds deciding who gets a chance to get hot and win an end of the season tournament.

Well if you are going that route just limit it to the winners of the SEC, ACC, BIG10, and Pac 12? No way winning any of those other conferences can be worthy of an automatic ticket to the party. Eliminates the need for any nerdy committee voting on anything. I mean it is not like any non conference champ has won March Madness right.

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

Well if you are going that route just limit it to the winners of the SEC, ACC, BIG10, and Pac 12? No way winning any of those other conferences can be worthy of an automatic ticket to the party. Eliminates the need for any nerdy committee voting on anything. I mean it is not like any non conference champ has won March Madness right.

Plenty have...but theyre simply a Match Madness champion. Nothing wrong with winning a tournament but in my mind a true national champion has won every tournament theyve been faced with in that season.

Division champ
Conference champ
National champ.

This team would have showm excellence all season and not just at the right time.that extra money

I think MLB was the last of the holdouts and didnt use wild cards. But the lure of all that extra money made choosing the watered down path easier to swallow and give up on true national champions.

And fans est it up...so its a win for everyone except old fogeys like me who prefer the team that has proven itself all year over the team that didnt.

The season is much more meanigful when every Saturday is a playoff game.

 

[rusty11]

Make it a conference champioms only tournament. Then its truly decided on the field. If you arent good enough to win your conference, how the hell can you be the best in the nation for that season?


Anything else and its still just a bunch of nerds deciding who gets a chance to get hot and win an end of the season tournament.

Only if there are no conference championship games. Otherwise it is like the basketball conference tourneys where the mid-majors get upset in their tourney and don't get it. Only this would be the big boys getting upset and left out. Imagine if LSU wins on Saturday. That would be ridiculous.

 

[Vanhalo]

Some teams get better as the season progresses.
Some teams get worse.
8 team playoff sounds good to me.
Conference champions get better seating.


When i was in high school my very first senior wrestling match was an exhibition match and I pinned my unknown opponent in 53 seconds.
I met the same guy again in the region and state tournament (18 wrestlers qualified back then).
In the 1st round of the state tournament... he beat a guy (future 2 time state champion) handily 11-5 who had pinned me 2 months prior.
I think football games are like wrestling matches....its all about the matchups and how the team progresses throughout the year.
This is why we play the games.

 

[Firebirdparts]

Team #4 has been slaughtered every single time. And that's clearly where we are every year. if we have 3 undefeated teams, it's pretty rare.

The BCS was actually plenty good enough.

Be careful what you wish for.

 

[sami]

I honestly think an algorithmic approach like the BCS but in a playoff context instead of just one game might be the fairest approach. Even so, I wonder if the drama that results from controversial decisions by human voters is actually good for the sport in terms of all of the discussion it just generates. All of the articles, tweets, bar discussions, forum posts and so on have to get people super engaged and has to be worth a lot of money. It doesn’t go away with a non-human approach but it may or may not end up being less profitable.

Exactly this. Everyone wants this foolproof scientific approach to ranking teams, which is a virtual impossibility due to the varying level of play in the conferences, but something tells me that the powers that be wouldn't want to give up all the endless talk, controversy, and media coverage that is the result of every Tuesday selection release building to the climactic final ranking for anything in the world.

The saying goes that "any publicity is good publicity", and that couldn't be more the case for CFB, as all the attention keeps it in the sports headlines far after the season ends.

 

[Vol8188]

If 3 losses is okay to be left out, why not 1 loss? That’s why I like the current system. It’s sudden death