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I know we go through this every single year and we just go round and round talking past each other and arguing about this pro and that con and then 12 months later we end up right back where we started—complaining about the Florida Gators. But when even the President-Elect of the United States is being asked to weigh in on the matter—instead of, you know, talking about the gigantic asteroid that will destroy us all—I think it's time we just put an end to the college football playoff debate once and for all. That's why I'm going to solve the whole freakin' thing, right here and right now, because (as usual) the world would be better off if everyone just listened to me.
Nov 17, 2008 12:30 PM
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I know we go through this every single year and we just go round and round talking past each other and arguing about this pro and that con and then 12 months later we end up right back where we started—complaining about the Florida Gators. But when even the President-Elect of the United States is being asked to weigh in on the matter—instead of, you know, talking about the gigantic asteroid that will destroy us all—I think it's time we just put an end to the college football playoff debate once and for all. That's why I'm going to solve the whole freakin' thing, right here and right now, because (as usual) the world would be better off if everyone just listened to me.
Here is the college football playoff system that should implemented immediately, per my specific instructions:
• Eight seeded teams. 16 is too many, four is not enough. It adds exactly two weeks to the current season length and even then, only two schools will have to deal with the maximum number of games. Move the first round closer to Christmas and the whole thing can end about the same time it does now.
• All games played at neutral sites. Regional preferences can be given to higher seeds, but all sites are determined in advance. The traditional big four bowls can get in on the action or not, it doesn't even matter.
• Six "power" conferences receive automatic bids. They have the most money invested and the most at stake, so this will keep them quiet.
• Remaining two teams and order of seeding determined by committee. I think I've seen this done elsewhere ... oh, right ... in every other NCAA sport. Seems to work reasonably well (i.e., better than the alternative.)
Now comes the most important rule of all. This is the key to the whole thing, because I think this simple restriction solves almost every objection there is to eliminating the current BCS one-game system. Ready?
• In order to be eligible for the playoffs, you must win your conference championship (in whatever way that is determined.)
The number one objection to a playoff is that it diminishes the importance of the regular season. This would be true if at-large second-place teams were allowed to participate. But this rule makes regular season (conference) games even more important than they already are. You simply cannot afford a slip against a conference foe, because that is your only route to the national title. If you can't win your conference, you're not a national champion.
It also has the added benefit of making non-conference games more interesting. Overall record means nothing, so the incentive to schedule four pasties who you can beat by five touchdowns has been removed. The disincentive to leave your home state and challenge another powerhouse on the road is also removed. In fact, it is now to your advantage to play the best opponents possible, because the rewards (financial and tactical) far outweigh the penalty for losing (because there isn't one.)
The final two spots would be given to the best two champions that aren't from the major conferences, as determined by the committee. (In most years it will be obvious who those teams are, but occasionally someone will get shafted. It's unavoidable in any scenario.) This adds a Cinderella element that everyone loves, even while generally giving the top two teams an easier road to the final. Besides, what is the point of even having a MAC, if a team can go 12-0 and not get a least a chance to win a national title?
(Oh, and what about independents like Notre Dame? Screw them. This isn't 1940 and tiny Midwestern private schools don't get to call the shots for the entire country anymore. Join a conference and shut up.)
So now your conference season is better than it used to be. Your non-conference season is better than it used to be. Your postseason is better than it used to be. More teams are now involved in the national championship picture. College football gets to pick its champion the way every other sport on the planet does and best of all—everyone will finally shut up about it. Well, that and President Obama won't have to mobilize the national guard to settle a damn football game. He can devote his energy to solving the baseball steroid problem instead.
Why College Football Needs the BCS [4th and Fail]
Obama needs to back off playoff push [No Joshin']
Chair of BCS committee not on board with Obama's playoff idea [ESPN]
The BCS Committee politely disagrees with President-elect Obama [Examiner]
Send an email to Dashiell Bennett, the author of this post, at dashiell@deadspin.com.
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