Remaking the CFP Selection Process

[Biso]

I’m not convinced that is a bad thing. There should be a specific balance to the regular and postseason. In my opinion, the NFL has it just about perfect.

I don't know if I can agree with that. I realize that the NFL is more popular than college football, and probably always will be. But most of us who are diehard college football fans aren't really NFL fans, even though we love the game of football. Myself, I rarely ever watch an NFL game, and I know I'm not alone.

 

[volfan102455]

I don't watch NFL either. I watched when Peyton played but that was it. NFL doesn't have the excitement that college football does.

As for the playoffs, the more it is expanded, the more it becomes just a bunch of other games to be played.

 

[KoachKrab127]

I don't know if I can agree with that. I realize that the NFL is more popular than college football, and probably always will be. But most of us who are diehard college football fans aren't really NFL fans, even though we love the game of football. Myself, I rarely ever watch an NFL game, and I know I'm not alone.

I am a much bigger college football fan than NFL fan as well. I don't see a playoff ruining college football, though. I only see it making it better. I know many people disagree, but I would rather a championship be settled on the field and not the voting booth.

 

[KoachKrab127]

The difference between the NFL and CFB is one word - parity. The NFL has it (which is one reason why it's such a bore) and CFB doesn't. An 8-seed can get to the Super Bowl because there aren't any great teams any more, and there's usually little difference between that 8-seed and whoever they're playing. The old Pete Rozelle "on any given Sunday" line has become reality to the point that literally anyone can beat anyone.

The 12-team CFP is going to be a lot of blowouts on sterile neutral sites (one thing CFB should borrow from the NFL is having every game at campus sites until the championship game) until we get the final four teams that would likely have been there with the 4-team CFP. Except that we lose all the final month regular season drama we are having now.

The NFL playoffs has blowouts every single year. Even the super bowl has a blowout occasionally. I don't disagree that we might see more blowouts in the expanded college football playoff than the NFL playoffs, but I'm looking forward to an expanded playoff. You say we lose drama, well, I think you lose drama either way. Back in the 90s, we felt our season was over after a loss to Florida, and that was always in September. It felt like every game was meaningless after that, knowing we most likely wouldn't have a shot at a conference championship, let alone a national title. There was not much drama left at the end of those seasons either.

 

[vols40]

A playoff tournament is the format for every single sport, except FBS college football. So do you believe every other sport is wrong because the regular season games don't mean enough? Does the NFL have it wrong? Does the NFL regular season not matter enough? Should the NFL just have regular season games and then have polls to determine who plays in the Super Bowl instead of a playoff?

I understand people liking tradition. I like tradition too, but the traditional format of college football is wrong and way more controversial than a playoff.

Respectfully disagree. And if we are going down this road we as fans should demand the SEC stop robbing us with a meaningless "conference championship" game that now is only about adding more money to the conference but crowning a champ. And for me yes the NFL is way less appealing to me than college football. After 11 regular season games of college football a large majority of people can see who the best two teams are. I love the fact that Alabama may be eliminated from the NC game by losing late to Auburn but with a 56 team playoff all they have to do is get to 500 and they are in. Go Vols but count me out.

 

[vols40]

I am a much bigger college football fan than NFL fan as well. I don't see a playoff ruining college football, though. I only see it making it better. I know many people disagree, but I would rather a championship be settled on the field and not the voting booth.

Like the sec championship was last year? Only to have to pay the team you beat in a "championship game" again in 3 weeks? This is nothing like the NFL model you cited.

 

[vols40]

I agree from a tradition standpoint, but it will make the sport way bigger and and bring more viewers and revenue than ever before.

Quite frankly, I think a lot of attitudes will change if the Vols are left out this season.

Quite frankly if the Vols are left out I am big enough to realize that it's the Vols fault for being left out in this scenario. I just think the regular season and conference championship has to mean something

 

[vols40]

If the best two teams in the conference are not represented in the conference championship; it’s the conference’s own fault.

This is why the SEC is getting rid of divisions. The two best teams should play for the title.

I definitely agree with this especially in a scenario where you have a 2 loss west/east school and a one loss second place team of one division.

 

[vols40]

Which is exactly what ESPN and media corporations want. They have bought college football, bought the traditions, bought the pageantry, bought the fans, bought everything - but many people just haven't figured it out yet. They can't control regular season games arranged between colleges, but they can claim near total control of the playoffs they've placed at the end of the year.

Even more reason to go back to the two best teams play for the national championship. As good as Georgia was last year they should not have played for the championship

 

[grandjason]

The fact is that the two best teams in the country, in my opinion, are not only in the same conference but the same division. Same story for the likely 3rd and 4th best teams. In that context, making conference championships automatic qualifiers makes very little sense to me.

Very true. In my opinion, this is THE reason why the SEC is moving away from divisions.

 

[volfan102455]

Quite frankly if the Vols are left out I am big enough to realize that it's the Vols fault for being left out in this scenario. I just think the regular season and conference championship has to mean something

So if an 8-4 Purdue team beats OSU/UM in the B10 championship game they should be considered for the playoffs even though they are not ranked in any poll?

 

[volfan102455]

Very true. In my opinion, this is THE reason why the SEC is moving away from divisions.

I wonder how this will impact the number of "out of conference" games the teams have each year. With 14 teams, soon to be 16, a team can't play every one of the other teams like the Big 12 (who really has only 10 teams) do. If they continue to play 8 or add a 9th, then may as well keep the divisions as it will seem a lot like that.

There will also probably need to be a balance with the schedules. Tennessee normally has 7 home games - fill the schedule up with SEC teams, that probably becomes 6.

I actually believe going away from the divisions will probably lead to less undefeated teams due to the grinding schedule most teams will have to play.

 

[vols40]

So if an 8-4 Purdue team beats OSU/UM in the B10 championship game they should be considered for the playoffs even though they are not ranked in any poll?

If by in you mean instead of those two yes

 

[cgrish]

With only 4 slots to fill; the committee really has an impossible task. Every year they are left hoping to avoid a catastrophic scenario.

I honestly believe that CFB will be better when power 5 conference championships are valuable. In my opinion, if you win a power 5 conference title; you should be an automatic qualifier for the playoff.

After conference titles are settled; I would seed the champions 1-5 and set a play-in game between the two highest ranked non-automatic qualifiers for the week after the conference championship games.

Automatic Qualifiers
#1- SEC Champion- Georgia
#2- Big 10 Champion- Ohio State
#3- Big 12 Champion- TCU
#4- PAC 10 Champion- USC
#5- ACC Champion- Clemson

Play-In
Tennessee 11-1
Michigan 11-1

In this format, the selection committee’s role would be ranking the conference champions and setting the play-in matchup. I think back on years where a non-power 5 team went undefeated but still missed the playoffs. The play-in would be their opportunity.

Just my opinion but I think the format is clear and fair.

It would depend on if you want the best teams in the playoff or conference champions. The best teams in the top 4 have not always been the conference champs in the major conferences. It has been a long time since a big 12 or pac 10 champ has been in the top 6 as far as the best team is concerned. Example a runner up in the sec is usually a much better team than pac 10 or big 12 champs

 

[cgrish]

I wished we’d stop putting value in “conference champs” in garbage conferences. There are 3-4 SEC teams that would be favored against TCU or USC.

Absollutely, if it is supposed to be for a national championship; at the current time the 4 best teams should be in the playoffs, regardless if they are a conference champ or not. Example in one case if LSU were to beat Ga. no way they should be in the playoffs over us. We drilled them on their home field.

 

[cgrish]

Quite frankly if the Vols are left out I am big enough to realize that it's the Vols fault for being left out in this scenario. I just think the regular season and conference championship has to mean something

On the other hand if the vols are left out and win out the regular season means nothing. Only 1 loss to the number one team in the country on their home field. This should mean much more than a conference champ from the weak conferences.

 

[vols40]

On the other hand if the vols are left out and win out the regular season means nothing. Only 1 loss to the number one team in the country on their home field. This should mean much more than a conference champ from the weak conferences.

You value perception over results. If the Vols get left out it will suck but there has to be value in results on the field and unfortunately the Vols did not get it done

 

[vols40]

On the other hand if the vols are left out and win out the regular season means nothing. Only 1 loss to the number one team in the country on their home field. This should mean much more than a conference champ from the weak conferences.

I absolutely value regular season wins and conference champs. Now if by some miracle the Vols get in I won't be upset

 

[90 Vol]

Are you serious? The AP and Coaches polls are way too political.

So is the CFP.