BobbyJ_for3! said:
I hadn't thought of all those things, JonBoy, but no one says there can't be bowl games beside a playoff system. Furthermore, in my mind, playoffs should be top eight, thus making the matchups more desirable to spend money to see. Top eight seems enough to me, and maybe add a rule of letting any undefeated team in somehow, although that could be controversial.
But don't get me wrong, I would love to see a playoff system and I think the only way to make it exist is to have it coincide with the bowl season as well.
It's tough to agree on, but I think only having 8 teams involved is only going half way. There are 11 conferences and I think each conference champion should be represented in a true playoff. This gets rid of any mid-major debate since each conference has a chance. But in order to balance out the brackets, you need to add 5 more teams. Those 5 teams can be on an at-large basis and determined by the BCS formula. The BCS formula could also set the seedings as well. Lets look (based on last year):
#1 USC (Pac10) vs. #16 N. Texas (Sun Belt)
#2 Oklahoma (Big12) vs. #15 Toledo (MAC)
#3 Auburn (SEC) vs. #14 Pittsburgh (Big East)
#4 Texas (at-large1) vs. #13 Michigan (Big10)
#5 Cal (at-large2) vs. #12 Iowa (at-large5)
#6 Utah (MWC) vs. #11 LSU (at-large4)
#7 Georgia (at-large3) vs. #10 Louisville (Conf USA)
#8 V-Tech (ACC) vs. #9 Boise St. (WAC)
Look at that first round! Texas and Michigan! Georgia and Loiusville! Utah and Iowa! I mean there are some great match ups, no controversy. By doing this you have weeded out every team that does not deserve a national championship. You realize that every undefeated, one loss and two loss team is represented through the 5 at-large bids? (Only one exception being 2 loss Wisconsin)
The NCAA should make one extra weekend to do it the right way and have 16 teams play. Start the first round the weekend after conference championships and by the time the fourth week rolls around, it's the beginning of January and the tradition is still alive.
You would have 15 total games played through out the playoffs. You've got the Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl. So, in the first round you would have 4 different sites playing 8 games. I mentioned attendance could drop so you can sell tickets similar how the basketball tournement conducts its first round. Purchase a ticket to the first round and you have access to two games at that particular site. Of course, the ticket price would be higher to compensate for two individual games (the NCAA should get market analysis for this).
Round 2 you have four games, one played at each site. By this time, interest should be peaked lets look (assuming no upsets):
#1 USC vs. #8 Va Tech
#2 Oklahoma vs #7 Georgia
#3 Auburn vs. #6 Utah
#4 Texas vs. #5 Cal
If the first round is set on double games for one ticket, I'm sure there will be sell outs considering that each school will be given 'x' amount of tickets. So instead of a two way split, it would be a four way split. More people would have access to go to the second round.
By the time the 3rd round comes you've got two games (again no upsets):
#1 USC vs #4 Texas
#2 Oklahoma vs #3 Auburn
These two games will be flip flopped every other year. Year one: Fiesta and Orange. Year Two: Rose and Sugar. Definately not to worry about attendance any more.
Finally the Championship game and the site for the game will shift exactly how it is right now. First year Rose. Second year Fiesta. Third year Sugar. Fourth year Orange. Notice how the set up was in the previous round. You will never have one site "double dip" and get a third round AND a championship game.
All the while, you have the lower tier bowls playing and fans travelling to them, TV rights continue on, sponsers are happy. I know there won't be any importance behind them, but it's not like there is much importance right now. Well except of course for conference bragging rights.
Bring on the play off system and somebody contact the NCAA and get me a position on their developmental board!