BCS

[mngolf19]

I'm doing my own playoff system.

Participants:

ACC winner - Virginia Tech
Big 10 winner - Ohio State
Big 12 winner - Oklahoma
Big East winner - West Virginia
Conference USA winner - Central Florida
Mid-American winner - Central Michigan
Mountain West winner - BYU
Pac 10 winner - USC
SEC winner - LSU
WAC winner - Hawaii
At large - Georiga
At large - Missouri
At large - Kansas
At large - Arizona State
At large - Florida
At large - Illinois

First round
#1 Ohio State vs. #16 Central Michigan
#2 LSU vs. #15 Central Florida
#3 Virginia Tech vs. #14 BYU
#4 Oklahoma vs. #13 Illinois
#5 Georgia vs. #12 Florida
#6. Missouri vs. #11 Arizona State
#7. USC vs. #10 Hawaii
#8. Kansas vs. #9 West Virginia

I agree 100% Harv.

[The Leaper]

16 Teams would be great, but it's unlikely to happen. But they could do 8.

8 teams is far less likely to happen than 16. The NCAA already uses the 16 team format in the lesser divisions. With 6 power conferences that hold tremendous sway in the decision, an 8 team format is going to draw a lot of controversy. All 6 major conference champions will have to go into the playoff...those conferences would not possibly accept a playoff system without that guarantee. Suddenly, a team like Georgia, Hawaii or Kansas would be left out altogether, because there are only 2 at-large bids.

[MadtownPacker]

That USC vs Hawaii matchup Harv dreamed up would be huge on the West coast.

[Harlan Huckleby]

you guys are thick.

there is no dispute that a 16 team tournament would be wet dreamy for fans.

[Carolina_Packer]

I think Harvey is right about the other bowl games. Just because you create this playoff, doesn't mean you have to lose the other bowl games. As for the argument that having a playoff would weaken the importance of the other bowl games...um, I'm sorry, but can you weaken the position of the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, NC?

Do you begrudge the cities the money they receive during the winter for these events? No, absolutely not! But, the current BCS championship does not affect the relative importance of the "lesser bowls", why would a slightly expanded playoff schedule that is a marriage of the exisitng bowls to a playoff format?

The interest in the smaller bowls comes from the fans of both teams and the cities and businesses that host and get an economic bump, the very hard core fan that is going to watch the lesser bowl games and the advertisers who buy TV time during those games. I don't think interest will be pullled away from the lesser bowls at all. Bowl games are like pizza and sex, even when they are bad, they still are somewhat pleasing.

[MadtownPacker]

you guys are thick.

there is no dispute that a 16 team tournament would be wet dreamy for fans.

Oh sorry to have an imagination. We will just be like you and act bitter about the shitty cards life has dealt us.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I'm hearing a little bitterness from you, Mr. Sunshine.

[The Leaper]

The six BCS conferences currently monopolize 95% of the pie.

If they go to a 16 team playoff system, they'll have to share the pie with the other schools. They don't want to do this, even if the pie is bigger.

That is precisely correct Harv. The greedy want to horde their small, little pie...and not let anyone else get a piece. Because of that, we are missing out on having a huge pie that everyone would benefit from.

That is why I wish true college football fans would unite and send a message to these greedy bastards by refusing to watch 2 of the 5 BCS games every year. We need a boycott!

If the ratings for even 2 of the BCS games plummeted to nearly nothing (and there are always 2 BCS games that aren't worth watching anyways) the greedy horde would start listening to playoff suggestions much more rapidly, because the next TV contract would suddenly be shrinking in value.

[The Leaper]

That USC vs Hawaii matchup Harv dreamed up would be huge on the West coast.

It would be huge anywhere. Does the east coast ignore a Stanford-UCLA matchup in March Madness? Of course not.

The fans demand a playoff...and if the NCAA went ahead with it the right way, the TV ratings and revenues would go through the roof.

[The Leaper]

First round
#1 Ohio State vs. #16 Central Michigan
#2 LSU vs. #15 Central Florida
#3 Virginia Tech vs. #14 BYU
#4 Oklahoma vs. #13 Illinois
#5 Georgia vs. #12 Florida
#6. Missouri vs. #11 Arizona State
#7. USC vs. #10 Hawaii
#8. Kansas vs. #9 West Virginia

SO TANTALIZING!

Granted, the first 3 games are probably blow-outs...but just the potential of a Central Michigan or Central Florida upsetting an OSU or LSU will make for compelling TV...just like March Madness.

The rest of the matchups are a college football fan's dream. Illini invading Norman? Hogs and Gators? Trojans and Rainbows?

How this is not already happening is just unreal. The NCAA white hairs are really a bunch of greedy sticks in the mud.

[The Leaper]

The interest in the smaller bowls comes from the fans of both teams and the cities and businesses that host and get an economic bump, the very hard core fan that is going to watch the lesser bowl games and the advertisers who buy TV time during those games. I don't think interest will be pullled away from the lesser bowls at all. Bowl games are like pizza and sex, even when they are bad, they still are somewhat pleasing.

I think you are right. A playoff will only impact Jan 1/BCS bowl games. It would have no impact on the lesser bowls IMO.

If done properly, I think you could even greatly minimize the impact to Jan 1/BCS bowls as well...by incorporating some into the playoff and allowing first round playoff losers to have a chance to play in the other Jan 1 bowl games (Outback, Cotton, etc.)

[Carolina_Packer]

The interest in the smaller bowls comes from the fans of both teams and the cities and businesses that host and get an economic bump, the very hard core fan that is going to watch the lesser bowl games and the advertisers who buy TV time during those games. I don't think interest will be pullled away from the lesser bowls at all. Bowl games are like pizza and sex, even when they are bad, they still are somewhat pleasing.

I think you are right. A playoff will only impact Jan 1/BCS bowl games. It would have no impact on the lesser bowls IMO.

If done properly, I think you could even greatly minimize the impact to Jan 1/BCS bowls as well...by incorporating some into the playoff and allowing first round playoff losers to have a chance to play in the other Jan 1 bowl games (Outback, Cotton, etc.)

Well, your statement assumes that a 16 team playoff is doable. I don't see that happening (not that I personally wouldn't like to see it). Being realistic; offering what could happen vs. what would be great if it happened I think it's more likely that an 8 team playoff could occur. Let everything that exists happen...12 game schedule, conference championships, BCS standing being used to decide the top 8. Then slot those top 8 in the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar and Orange bowls and then the week after that have a two week final 4 chamionship. Under this system, all current bowls go on as planned, there is no watered down regular season argument when it comes to having a playoff, and it doesn't affect the other bowl games, which stand or fall on their own merit anyway. My idea merely allows for the current system to go on, which placates the establishment, and having the 8 team playoff format placates the fans who want a playoff, and to see even more of it decided on the field. As it stands now, the major bowls still factor into deciding the national championship, but not as much in a head to head way as it could if they used the 4 bowls to incorporate a head to head playoff. It would be cool to have 16 teams and each of the conference champs playing, but it's not likely.

You might say my idea doesn't change enough, but realistically it does enough to solve the current conundrum. It doesn't necessarily solve what to do with the Hawaais and Boise States of the world, but I'm not sure what you do about that. Like the bubble teams in the basketball Final 4, there are always going to be teams that feel like they were excluded. The BCS standings still decide everything, but the bowls are used as a playoff, head to head with the winners advancing. It could work, and create an even bigger pie to divide up without affecting the existing share anyone gets. It's not the best idea, but it's better than the existing system which has too much human decision making. The current system is too much like fantasy football in a rotisserie league.

[The Leaper]

Well, your statement assumes that a 16 team playoff is doable.

Of course it is doable. That has never really been the issue, although the people who make the final decision try to use that as a smoke screen to pull over our eyes.

If the NCAA can do a 16 team playoff in a lesser division...where there are still college athletes playing games on four weekends in December, through finals, through the holidays...and if the NCAA can think about expanding the playoff in the lesser division to 24 teams (now we are talking about FIVE weekends here)...why is a 16 team playoff in major college football not doable?

In fact, there is no doubt that it is doable. The people in charge might not want to do it for their own greedy reasons, but it is certainly doable.

Your suggestion actually is NOT doable. The Rose Bowl has its own contract with TV...which is why it is on ABC, not FOX. That contract runs through 2015...while the other BCS bowls only have contracts through 2009. If something were to happen after 2009, it would probably involve the bowls up for a new contract.

If a playoff happens, the Rose Bowl isn't likely to be part of it. They care less about the game and more about their parade, tradition and other activities.

[MadScientist]

With the extra games for the playoff teams, they might have to use some of the early bowl games as place holders for the first round of playoffs.

But then some 6-6 or 7-5 fifth place team from a big conference might not get into a bowl, and how terrible would that be.

Really the only problem is that a 16 team playoff will extend the season another week, if the big 4 bowls are still on New Years. Also, since we can't force New Years day to be on or close to a weekend, the date of those bowls will have to be changed. That change to tradition, and pushing the season back into the NFL playoffs will cause greater problems then anything else.

Still it would be good to see a real playoff system.

[Carolina_Packer]

Well, your statement assumes that a 16 team playoff is doable.

Of course it is doable. That has never really been the issue, although the people who make the final decision try to use that as a smoke screen to pull over our eyes.

If the NCAA can do a 16 team playoff in a lesser division...where there are still college athletes playing games on four weekends in December, through finals, through the holidays...and if the NCAA can think about expanding the playoff in the lesser division to 24 teams (now we are talking about FIVE weekends here)...why is a 16 team playoff in major college football not doable?

In fact, there is no doubt that it is doable. The people in charge might not want to do it for their own greedy reasons, but it is certainly doable.

Your suggestion actually is NOT doable. The Rose Bowl has its own contract with TV...which is why it is on ABC, not FOX. That contract runs through 2015...while the other BCS bowls only have contracts through 2009. If something were to happen after 2009, it would probably involve the bowls up for a new contract.

If a playoff happens, the Rose Bowl isn't likely to be part of it. They care less about the game and more about their parade, tradition and other activities.

I'm not saying doable as in you, I or anyone would like to see it, so it could possibly hapen. I'm completely talking about probable outcome, based on how things are setup and run under the current system and the current powers that be who control the machine. What would they be likely to agree to if the sentiment for a playoff won't die (and it won't). Is it more probable that they would go for an 8 team playoff or a 16 team playoff? Let the debate rage. It's encouraging that the BCS coordinator (also the SEC Commish) has said that they would entertain thoughts of a possible playoff format when the current agreement expires. It will be interesting to see if it stays status quo or changes. Whatever happens will have to be a hybrid of the polls and bowls system and a playoff. If you're going to marry the two, you're going to need compromise. Existing infrastrure and will to do something is going to be key.