posted Jan 9, 2007

Here’s a way to combine the BCS and a playoff. A 12 team system.

Take the winner from each of the 11 I-A conferences. Seed them by their BCS rank.
The 12th spot goes to either an independent school ranked in the top 12 (ex: Notre Dame) or, if none of the independents are ranked in the top 12, the highest ranked school that is not a conference winner. Seed the teams in the playoff by their BCS ranks with the top 4 schools getting a first round bye.

This way, during the season, all that matters is winning your conference. This makes intra-conference play much more exciting. If you’re in the SEC and feel that this conference is the toughest, fine…win it and then beat everybody else in the playoffs.
What is also does is give schools like Boise State an equal chance to get a shot at the title. If they’re exceptionally good and ranked high, they get a better seed and a better shot at winning. But even small schools from conferences like Conference USA and the Mid-American get a shot too if they can win their conferences. If they’re too weak, they get blown away in the first round.

This method adds at most four games to a schools schedule, the fourth being for a National Championship. Makes sense to me.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jan 9, 2007

Hi Alex,
I agree…the method I propose relies heavily on teams having to win their conference first and that does put teams in tough conference like the SEC at somewhat of a disadvantage. One thing I would say however is that the power shifts over time. I can remember when no body thought anyone outside of the Big 10 was worth a hoot and then it was the Pac-10 and just a few years ago the ACC with Florida State and Miami were the monster teams (look at them both this year) So, admittedly teams in the current tough conference do pay the price but, will they always be dominate? Every college team is just a couple bad recruiting years away from a down cycle.
…but I do see your point.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jan 9, 2007

The media and fans alike have been debating over whether Div 1-A needs a play-off. But something that gets me is this. I've read articles from US sources, I've read people's comments on here and elsewhere, but I've never seen any of them asking what the players themselves want. After all, they are in the centre of this, playing week after week during the regular season.

Does anyone know when a decision will be made regarding this debate? Surely the NCAA can't keep it off for much longer.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jan 9, 2007

All good points about playoffs and nothing will be resolved here. One thing that I will add to the mix is that a league (e.g. Prem) rewards consistency. I'd argue that playoffs reward the teams that can peak for some but not all of the time (albeit only 12-13 games). As Florida's experience has shown, depth is also part of mounting a title challenge as players are injured during the season.

Still, if it was going to come in, then a pool of top-ranked BCS teams to playoff is, IMO, the best way as it allows strong conferences to have more than one challenger in the mix.

Anyway, let's all see what BCS 'tweaks' are announced for the next season.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jan 11, 2007

To the comment made by sarcyspice (El Presidente) who responded to my comment, I would like to ask who watches those playoffs? Certainly the majority of Americans don't. Heck, more people watched the International bowl game than the Division II playoffs. Playoffs would take forever. Besides if there was a playoff, the rankings would only be whoever finished in the playoff spots, say the top 8 teams. That seems to demoralize more teams, as some of them with two losses could make the argument that they are not going to make it to the playoffs, so why should they create an upset. A playoff system would make another NFL, where coaches bring on their third string, and you see a bunch of high school games before the playoffs. If that's what America wants, I would rather watch hockey.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Mar 6, 2007

I always knew that you would end up in a job talking about sport for a living. I am very surprised, therefore, to see that that you have now also started talking about American Football. Quel est le beouf? Soup and salad down Chimes anyone?

add comment | complain about this comment