Never understood why the CFP committee has to meet starting in late October to assess the final four of the College football playoffs come January. It’s become more evident that it’s to maintain the power structure of Division I (FBS) football. The rich get richer. All others get left out to play in consolation games (inaccurately referred to as Bowl games) mostly for the good of TV ratings in late December after the Christmas specials fade out. The rich programs also continue get the best players among the current recruits as a result. They’d all love to play for a perennial winner. Understood.
How does Bama get top recruits every year? Well, it’s certainly not because Nick Saban has good looks!
Too much talk, need more action
With weeks left to play and upsets occurring like we’ve had this year, can’t the AP pollsters come up with a pretty good idea of the best four teams in college football? Apparently not (another thing we never understood is the coach’s poll. How do coaches, focused on only two teams, theirs and the upcoming opponent, evaluate weekly 128 other teams?). Media and fan discussions make good banter as to what teams are most deserving to make the playoffs.
However, it’s time to cut all the boring, useless hot air and make playoff system decisions based on what counts, game results for the current season. What difference does it make if “experts” feel that the second-place team in one conference “might” be better than a few first-place teams in others?
Playoffs =Tournament of Champions +
For this purpose, based on the current structure of ten FBS conferences and seven Independent teams, the ten conference winners get automatic bids into the playoffs (see FCS, D-2 and D-3 formats). The Independents, like the conference championship games, pare the two with the best records in a game played in Week 14. A committee comprised of the ten conference commissioners and one independent’s rep selects a twelfth team for the playoffs. A commissioner cannot vote for a team from his/her respective conference.
Better schedules, more competitive games to watch
Teams currently plan schedules to avoid comparable competition outside their respective conferences. Lose a non-conference game, and they fear being out of the consideration for the national title. This suggested scenario provides incentives for teams to upgrade their schedules. Only one champion from each conference now qualifies.
However, one second-place team gets an at-large bid. If they want to get that at-large bid, play and beat better competition relative to everyone else. No more FCS games on any FBS schedules. Let the Commissioners take a vote based on wins outside of each potential at-large’s conference play. This should provide more interesting inter-conference play than what we see now. A twelfth spot exists for a non-champion. Earn it.
New Expanded, College Football Playoffs
This Committee of Commissioners seeds the ten conference champs, the top Independent, and the one at-large team. That’ll stir enough banter and hot air among the masses. The Top Four teams selected get a first round bye. The other eighth play at the home stadium of the higher ranked team (again, see FCS, D-2, and D-3 formats). The next round will also be played at the home of the Top Four teams. Play the semi-finals on New Year’s Day on a rotational bowl basis as done now. Play the Championship game on a day to be determined. We like Saturdays because it’s college football.
We got to see one of the top Independents play this year when we ventured out to Provo, Utah to see No. 14 BYU play Virginia. If the NCAA adopted our proposal, they’d play Notre Dame in our proposed playoffs.
Let the “bowls” continue
All none-qualifying playoff teams can fill the other bowls. Or instead, let every team get a “consolation” game if they want one. Set up a committee do make up those parings. Every game gets televised these days as it is. There are so many bowls now, “everybody gets a trophy.” And in this case, an equal amount of practice time for the year.
Win, win, win, win, win
Collegefootballfan.com believes that a move to playoffs among predominantly conference champs will be more beneficial to parity in college football than ever before. This would help distribute talent more equally among the entire FBS membership. Rather than the best talent playing for almighty Power Five teams who currently overstock on talent, players may seek opportunities to play elsewhere to win a championship to get into the playoffs.
Rather than take a shot at getting beat out of a position and deciding to transfer elsewhere later, players can find a team where they can participate right away and more importantly, compete for a shot at the top in the playoffs. This will strengthen the rosters of many more teams than just the handful that dominate the top poll positions every year. It would be great to see more parity among more programs than we see now.
This plan is a win for everybody: schools, players, coaches, fans, media, and bowl committees.
We tweeted!
In response to an article on-line this week, “CFP Rankings: what the committee got right and what they got wrong”, here’s our two cents below for what it’s worth. Sent a similar response to Herbstreit almighty this week about his insight regarding Cincinnati. We took a shot knowing that the current polling doesn’t matter. We guarantee that Alabama or Georgia will lose a game. Any takers?
Cincinnati TE Josh Whyle snags pass from Derek Ridder (9) for a 29-yard TD pass against UCF last season. Cincy continues to challenge this week for a CFP spot in January.
Our best game results of college football Week 11
Night visions, 3 for 3
We started hot! Pitt beat UNC by seven as predicted. Cincinnati did what it had to beating South Florida who hangs tight as of late, 45-28. Our game on Saturday night was tighter than expected, but we attended to see Wake prevail over NC State, 45-42, in a nail-biter.
Going down, we got the big one
Oklahoma met its match in Baylor, a Big-12 team that plays defense unlike the Sooners. With leading offensive Big-12 players, the Bears knocked them out of contention, 27-14. We can start thinking about CFP Orange Bowl tickets now, but only if Cincy gets in…Penn State missed out on beating Michigan who prevailed in State College, 24-17. We think this may have sealed James Franklin’s career in Happy Valley. More see he’s an inadequate game coach now. Not sure who else wants him now, but he’s probably good at selling cars…Purdue had knocked off Iowa and Michigan State, but Oho State was more prepared because of it. The “Spoiler-makers” put up 31 points, but State put up 59.
Close Encounters, not so fast were we
Ole Miss outdid Texas A&M, 29-19, despite losing to both Auburn and Alabama while the Aggies beat both, especially Bama, thankfully. We’ll be gauging the Rebels this weekend as we see a recent vanquished foe of theirs play this weekend…Not only was QB Brennan Armstrong, the nation’s passing yardage leader out for Virginia last Saturday against Notre Dame, but so was their top RB Mike Taulapapa. The Cavaliers didn’t have chance to keep it close though we hear ND held back in a 28-3 win.
Inspiration from above and elsewhere
San Diego State prevailed in a key MWC battle over Nevada, 23-21. We only got this one because we learned to never pick against our late buddy, Tom Ables, Mr. San Diego State, again…Alabama’s 59-3 victory over New Mexico State (1-9) inspired pollsters that this win should keep them No. 2 in the CFP. Read the accolades here regarding their win over the 128th ranked team in the nation.
In two weeks, the Aggies meet No. 129 UMass (1-9) who already defeated No. 130 UCONN (1-9). Bama will probably keep its eye on the results for future scheduling. Our local FCS favorite Austin Peay is already slated for their annual FCS charity event in Tuscaloosa next November.
What’s the chance of Alabama taking the last train to Clarksville and meeting Austin Peay at Fortera Stadium, home of the Govs? Hahaha!
WEEK 12: Previews of our top college football games
We venture to Lynchburg, VA Saturday to see Liberty (7-3) host a game for the first time. Their formidable visitor, the No. 22 Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (9-1) come in at the top of the improving SunBelt. Their nine-game winning streak includes a big win over 8-2 Appalachian State at home, but a one-point win over 2-8 Arkansas State on the road. We expect the better Cajuns to show up for this expected shoot-out. The home team is favored, and we should see another great game down to the wire. We look for the Cagins though to win by a field goal.
We saw The Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana defeat Texas State last year to go bowling as No. 17.
Night visions again
Memphis (5-5,2-4) at No. 17 Houston (9-1,7-0) on Friday night. The Memphis Tigers can be explosive, but the Houston Cougars have the stingier defense. They also have the incentive to meet Cincinnati for the AAC championship on December 4. Both have beaten 8-2 SMU in tight games. We look for this one to be the same as the Cougars prevail by a TD…
Air Force (7-3,4-2) at Nevada (7-3,4-2) for a tough MWC battle also on Friday night. The Falcons lost two close ones in conference play to Utah State and to SDSU. The Wolfpack lost two by two points to MWC foes Fresno and SDSU. Nevada is home and it will be their potent passing attack versus Air Force’s triple option to control the tempo. We look to the Pack to take this close one by three.
Going down?
No. 7 Michigan State (9-1, 6-1) at No. 5 Ohio State (9-1, 7-0) -Sparty’s hungry. They fell from ranks of the unbeaten at Purdue two weeks ago, 40-29. The Buckeyes bested Purdue at home, 59-31, last week. OSU put a lot of additional points on the board against lesser teams to climb back into things after they lost to Oregon. The Spartan defense will not be as forgiving to DJ Stroud and company. In front to the home crowd, the Buckeyes get it done by ten points at best.
No. 13 Wake Forest (9-1,6-0) at Clemson (7-3,5-2) – Though Wake has the supremacy here via the passing game led by Sam Hartman, their defense has the penchant of allowing opponents into games to create shoot-outs. Clemson’s defense has played well all season. Though its offense has not been what it’s been in the past, they’ve improved the past few weeks.
On top of that, the Tigers have held the whammy over the Deacs. WFU has not beaten the Tigers since 2008 and has not beaten them in Death Valley since 1998. It will be close because Wake will score as usual, but the Tigers will score more than they probably have all season. Clemson wins by a TD. Wake has to wait to win the Atlantic Division of the ACC when they trek to Boston College a week later. Looks as if they have no shot to make the playoffs even if they won both games, but we’ll be there. As pointed out previously, Clemson would probably be in if this was their record.
Wake Forest goes the way of their QB Sam Hartman (10) , but the Deacs need to shore up their defense in the future.
Down again
Iowa State (6-4,4-3) at No. 12 Oklahoma (9-1,6-1) poses the Sooners with another defense that is better than theirs. OU’s offense bails the Sooners out, but like in the case of their 27-14 loss at Baylor last week, the Cyclones are even stingier on defense than Baylor’s. Like the Sooners, the Cyclones come off a loss, but by three points to a fired-up Texas Tech in their coaching disarray. We look for the Sooners to go down once again as their defense is suspect against a team with a better defense whose offense can also put points up on the board. ISU wins by a TD.
Ready for the playoffs this year
SMU (8-2,5-2) heads to Nippert Stadium to face No. 5 Cincinnati (10-0,6-0) who is waiting for an opponent like this to show the CFP pollsters what it can do to make the 2021 playoffs. Luke Steckel has to have the Bearcats charged up for this one at home. The UC defense makes a difference against the pass-happy Mustangs averaging 498.5 passing yards per game with QB Tanner Mordecai. The Bearcats only allow 164 passing yards per game. If SMU has to go to their ground game which is limited, the Cats are even more unyielding. This is a game for them to shut down the schedule-critics. They will make the most of it. QB Des Ridder leads the offense to a 14-point + win in this one.
Why bother?
Georgia has looked head and shoulders above its competition this year. So why do they bother to order up a game at this time of year against FCS Charleston Southern? It’s evidently their built-in safety valve if something went wrong against the rest of the weaklings in the SEC they already beat this year. No doubt they have great defense, but an FCS team? They haven’t played any team this season currently in the Top 25. Come on, man! They could have at least scheduled a team from the SEC West as a non-conference game to prove their worthiness. of course, the SEC’s biggest fear is having only one team in this year’s playoffs!
by Steve Koreivo, ed. Author of “Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ’em all!” Click on the title to buy on Amazon!
Utah State stands at 8-2, 5-1 in the MWC. They can still win their two remaining MWC games, but their slate is void of any major wins. They fell to Boise and BYU. They didn’t play Fresno, San Diego State nor Nevada this year. Maybe next year for them to get consideration or they bolster their schedule. Of course in our proposal, if they win the MWC title game, they would make the playoffs.
