Question for those in favor of not expanding playoff field

[The_Joker13]

Maybe this aspect has been already brought up, but let’s say Iowa loses this Saturday to Penn state and then still somehow finds itself in Indy at the end of the year. Now with 2 loses, Iowa is almost certainly left out of playoff discussion. If we go to 8 teams and every P5 champ gets in, there’s still a lot to play for even with 2 loses on the season. Thoughts?

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

The only thing I like about an 8 team playoff is that there’s no way anyone left out could reasonably complain about being the best team. Everything else about it I don’t like.

 

[jhawkinaz]

5 power conference champs and 3 at large ( 1 from a non-power 5 conference) is where we are heading. I don't know all the contractual limitations that limit how soon it can happen.....but it will happen. It has to.

 

[ichawk24]

It doesn't improve the playoff to have lesser teams in it.

The original series and the contracts are 12 years in length. I don't know how breakable they are.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

The only thing I like about an 8 team playoff is that there’s no way anyone left out could reasonably complain about being the best team. Everything else about it I don’t like.

People bitch about not getting into the NCAA basketball tournament. There is no way to eliminate the complainers.

I kind of like 8. P5 all get in plus 3. If you don't win your conference, you can't be seeded higher than 6th.

The conference championships would be like tournaments. You could lose all your non-conference games, but win your conference, you're in.

I don't care about a bunch of people deciding who the best is. I like making teams play for it - like basketball.

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

People bitch about not getting into the NCAA basketball tournament. There is no way to eliminate the complainers.

I suppose. With 8 teams though, any complaints about being left out become laughable.

 

[Herkmeister]

Personally, I think college football is on a slippery slope.

If they expand the playoff, the regular season loses importance. If that happens, say goodbye to the interest. The conversation is what makes college football great.

As for the same teams being there year after year; when Sabin leaves Bama will settle down. Look at Urban Liar struggle at OSU. It's a cycle. Always has been, always will be.

Teams like Iowa, we get a little thrill now and then. And it's super fun. I hope our thrill intensifies by Saturday evening.

 

[Half-Full Hawk]

I would not complain about 8 teams, and certainly it would excite more fan bases and keep more teams in the hunt for a longer period. Probably would work in our favor too. But I also like the drama with 4 teams and all the jockeying for that last position, the endless speculation, and the fact that each team is (should be) pretty damn good. I'm not pining for more rounds of playoffs, like Bama vs. Wazzu. I think 4 teams is good - more generous than the chosen 1 v. 2 BCS match-up of the past, while not including every P5 champ for the sake of inclusiveness. I can live with that. What I really don't get is why some people want 16 or 24 teams in the playoffs. Talk about diluted, about cheapening the season, and some terrible match-ups.

 

[j0nnyhb_Prime]

I like 4. Best regular season in all of sports. Keeps every fan interested in games across the nation vs just regional interest (if win your conference you are in - don’t care about rest of the country). Built in controversy with one conference getting screwed (controversy keeps people interested).

My $,02 .... I could be OK with 6 teams, maybe but not 8.

 

[Herkmeister]

I would not complain about 8 teams, and certainly it would excite more fan bases and keep more teams in the hunt for a longer period. Probably would work in our favor too. But I also like the drama with 4 teams and all the jockeying for that last position, the endless speculation, and the fact that each team is (should be) pretty damn good. I'm not pining for more rounds of playoffs, like Bama vs. Wazzu. I think 4 teams is good - more generous than the chosen 1 v. 2 BCS match-up of the past, while not including every P5 champ for the sake of inclusiveness. I can live with that. What I really don't get is why some people want 16 or 24 teams in the playoffs. Talk about diluted, about cheapening the season, and some terrible match-ups.

STUDENT ATHLETES: Playoffs are for money. They have enough money now. What would you do to improve the facilities of these colleges? It's over the top now.

Please take that respectfully Half Full, just my opinion.

My point is, how much money is enough to make off the sweat of these kids?

 

[Half-Full Hawk]

No offense taken at all... but I don't know what you mean. I prefer 4 teams, no more expansion needed. Are you saying the same?

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Personally, I think college football is on a slippery slope.

If they expand the playoff, the regular season loses importance. If that happens, say goodbye to the interest. The conversation is what makes college football great.

Agree to a point. Agreed-upon point being that college basketball's regular season is a snooze-fest.

But, if you put a premium on winning the conference, perhaps it could make those championships relevant again. P5 champs get in, and at least 1 non-P5, leaving only 2 slots, at most, for a P5 that doesn't win their conference.

I would sure like to see the interest, excitement and drama return to the conference champs.

 

[Big Hawk D-Port]

I guess I miss New Years Day being Wall to Wall college football that all mattered. New Years Day has lost a significant amount of its luster.

As far as Iowa being left out... if you earn it, then great. But if we loose to PSU and Wisconsin it’s hard to say you’re the best college football team.

 

[LaQuintaHawkeye]

If we go to 8 teams and every P5 champ gets in, there’s still a lot to play for even with 2 loses on the season. Thoughts?

So you're okay with 3 SEC teams getting in?

 

[Hawkeyeinsoutherncalifornia]

It would not only make it more exciting and longer lasting it would be great for revenue for the schools in the playoffs .. 4 teams is just way too little of a pool of teams...so I agree and hope that they expand the field to 8 as that would be perfect.. hell, even 10 would be awesome...

 

[Gonzo Bloor]

People who say an 8-team playoff would render the regular season meaningless baffle me. As if it's easy to finish the regular season as a conference champion or ranked in the top-10 which is likely what it would take for one of the three at large bids. It's hard as hell and wouldn't hurt the regular season at all. And It's a lot easier to justify leaving the #9 team out of a chance to win the title than it is leaving a #5 conference champion out.

 

[DougFHawkeye]

If it stays at 4, I'd prefer the 4 highest ranked P5 conference champs make the field.

 

[Herkmeister]

If it stays at 4, I'd prefer the 4 highest ranked P5 conference champs make the field.

The deliberation is the key. It's what creates the interest.

I mean, look at us. We're engaging due to this stupid game.

 

[CAhawki]

If they expand to 8... the number of teams with a veef to get in quadruples. Keep it at 4. Most teams play in a defacto quarterfinal anyway

 

[waterboy4582]

If they expand to 8... the number of teams with a veef to get in quadruples. Keep it at 4. Most teams play in a defacto quarterfinal anyway

This. Sometimes more isn’t better.

 

[HoustonHawkeye]

STUDENT ATHLETES: Playoffs are for money. They have enough money now. What would you do to improve the facilities of these colleges? It's over the top now.

Please take that respectfully Half Full, just my opinion.

My point is, how much money is enough to make off the sweat of these kids?

I am assuming you have never played sports. I don't care about the extra game, I want to win a championship. 8 teams gives us a greater chance of getting in. It would not reduce fan interest. I still watched the IA/Neb game even though we weren't going to the Rose Bowl or NCG.

I still watched our bowl game. Other teams bowl games are strictly for entertainment. If I have nothing more important to do, I will watch them. I do not go out of my way to watch Alabama play, ever! But if there is a B1G team in the game, I would more likely watch it. So 8 teams is better. But I wouldn't want automatic conference bids. If there was an 8-4 team that won there conference championship, I don't think they deserve to go. Let the committee decide who the best 8 teams are...preferring conference champions over a marginally different team from another conference.

 

[HerkyFan]

Maybe this aspect has been already brought up, but let’s say Iowa loses this Saturday to Penn state and then still somehow finds itself in Indy at the end of the year. Now with 2 loses, Iowa is almost certainly left out of playoff discussion. If we go to 8 teams and every P5 champ gets in, there’s still a lot to play for even with 2 loses on the season. Thoughts?

The Hawks playing for the Big 10 Championship is always the goal regardless of the CFP. If our floor for winning the Big 10 title is the Rose Bowl then sign me up.

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

I like 4. Best regular season in all of sports. Keeps every fan interested in games across the nation vs just regional interest (if win your conference you are in - don’t care about rest of the country). Built in controversy with one conference getting screwed (controversy keeps people interested).

My $,02 .... I could be OK with 6 teams, maybe but not 8.

I'm in with the 6 team playoff. The 5 power 5 champs and one at large team. # 6 can't be from the P5s. ND, UCF, Fresno, Etc. 1 and 2 get byes, 6 plays 3, 5 plays 4. Easy peasy.

 

[Michael1969]

What would be best, but probably won't happen, is get Notre Dame to join a conference and have 4 16-team conferences, with each conference split into 2 8-team divisions and have the conference championship games become the quarterfinals to determine the final 4. Wish the NCAA would get involved and make a push to make this happen in the next 5 to 10 years. I'm just not sure adding another game to the season for these 8 teams is the right way to go (you'd be looking at a 16 game season for the 2 teams in the title game (12 regular season games, conference championship game, quarterfinals, semfinals and then the title game)...if you can somehow incorporate the conference championships as part of it, I'd be all for it.

 

[GarryO37]

Even with an 8 team playoff in your scenario Iowa could still get left out this year.

 

[MeetTheFerentz]

Maybe this aspect has been already brought up, but let’s say Iowa loses this Saturday to Penn state and then still somehow finds itself in Indy at the end of the year. Now with 2 loses, Iowa is almost certainly left out of playoff discussion. If we go to 8 teams and every P5 champ gets in, there’s still a lot to play for even with 2 loses on the season. Thoughts?

I'm not going to get into another tired argument about expansion of the CFP, but I can say with absolute certainty that playing for the B1G Championship and a Rose Bowl berth is still a heck of a lot to play for.

 

[HaydenHawk8]

But with the NCAA tournament if you win your conference your in.

I’ve nenver understood a system where conf champs get left out.

I would be in favor of cutting 1 non-conf game and playing an 11 game schedule. Then champ Saturday the weekend of Thanksgiving

Then have the first round be mid december. Then semi-final on New Years and NC the following week. It can be done,

 

[BubsFinn]

What we have now is most likely just a stepping stone to a larger playoff. I do believe it will eventually expand. It is going to take some time to transition from the bowl system into a true, expanded playoff. All the bowls have tie-ins with conferences, TV networks, sponsors, cities, etc. As the playoff expands, the bowls will begin to die out. Some will remain in some form (maybe as semi finals or quarter finals), but many will no longer exist.

 

[Herkmeister]

I am assuming you have never played sports. I don't care about the extra game, I want to win a championship. 8 teams gives us a greater chance of getting in. It would not reduce fan interest. I still watched the IA/Neb game even though we weren't going to the Rose Bowl or NCG.

I still watched our bowl game. Other teams bowl games are strictly for entertainment. If I have nothing more important to do, I will watch them. I do not go out of my way to watch Alabama play, ever! But if there is a B1G team in the game, I would more likely watch it. So 8 teams is better. But I wouldn't want automatic conference bids. If there was an 8-4 team that won there conference championship, I don't think they deserve to go. Let the committee decide who the best 8 teams are...preferring conference champions over a marginally different team from another conference.

I was a college athlete. But I was also a partner. I was a great partier and a so so athlete.

I had my shit together homie!!!!

 

[OutbackBowl2017]

Play offs should be 5 conference champs and three at large bids to the three best teams after that. Top four seeds host first round of games then go to the bowl games to finish it out. I’d love to see a Bama, GA, FL, or LSU team come north in December as an at large.

 

[ichawk24]

4x16 will never ever ever happen.

 

[anon_bb9wlf9kj42py]

The only thing I like about an 8 team playoff is that there’s no way anyone left out could reasonably complain about being the best team. Everything else about it I don’t like.

Honest question - which team was left out that could reasonably complain about being the best team?

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

I’d love a 24 team playoff. Will never happen.

 

[Titanhawk2]

Maybe this aspect has been already brought up, but let’s say Iowa loses this Saturday to Penn state and then still somehow finds itself in Indy at the end of the year. Now with 2 loses, Iowa is almost certainly left out of playoff discussion. If we go to 8 teams and every P5 champ gets in, there’s still a lot to play for even with 2 loses on the season. Thoughts?

Why would they be considered in the argument of best team? Is the idea just to have a playoff? The idea has always been in CFB to identify the best team at the end of the year, not just the winner of a mini tournament.

 

[KnightSlayer]

Personally, I think college football is on a slippery slope.

If they expand the playoff, the regular season loses importance. If that happens, say goodbye to the interest. The conversation is what makes college football great.

As for the same teams being there year after year; when Sabin leaves Bama will settle down. Look at Urban Liar struggle at OSU. It's a cycle. Always has been, always will be.

Teams like Iowa, we get a little thrill now and then. And it's super fun. I hope our thrill intensifies by Saturday evening.

I disagree. It would encourage teams to play much stronger out of conference games. I think teams improve much more playing tough teams than playing a bunch of cupcakes. It shows you what you have and where you need to improve. By the time conference games roll around, your team is much better prepared to play their best football. It will also make conference games that much more intense knowing you can win and keep your playoff hopes alive or, you can knock a conference foe out of the playoffs.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

The idea that the regular season loses significance is not borne out by the playoff systems in multiple other sports at multiple levels.
More teams, up to a point, with a chance to win it all is what the majority of fans want to see.
I'd prefer 16 team playoff with the elimination of a non con regular season cupcake game to minimize scheduling difficulty. But an 8 team playoff has a lot of merit.

 

[HawkIDrummer]

8 seems reasonable (as in, it doesn't add another month to the season) and it would (should) eliminate the "we got left out" bitching.

Win your P5 title. It you're a solid 12-1 and only lose in the title game...you can get an at-large if you're worthy. The 3 at large also leave room for a UCF. That would seem to cover everybody fairly.

The down side...having ND with an automatic at-large any time they go 11-1 or 10-2.

It's also feasible that you could have multiple one loss teams from P5 arguing for the at large spots. Easy enough... eliminate those not making their title game (which could be IOWA this year, for example). After that, it would take 3+ upsets of undefeated teams in P5 title games to cause the logjam. Pretty unlikely.

 

[ichawk24]

The idea that the regular season loses significance is not borne out by the playoff systems in multiple other sports at multiple levels.

This is laughable. No ones gives a crap about college basketball regular season because it just doesn't matter.

NFL Weeks 16 and 17 are a joke. How would you like to watch Alabama/Auburn while Bama sits their starters?

Baseball has just about ruined their playoffs by adding too many teams. September is all about which 83 win team may make the playoffs, then no one watches the playoffs.

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

Personally, I'd like to go back to mid-late 80's where getting a bowl bid meant something. The nature of football is such that you either have incomplete information to try and pick a small pool of teams for a playoff or you add more teams to the playoff and and it becomes a tournament championship, not a regular season championship where you can have a team who's clearly not not best crowned "national champ" similar to NC state (and others) in basketball.

The only way to crown a champion who really is the best (or at least really, really close) is to play a series based playoff like baseball and NBA, which is obviously not feasible in football.

For those reasons, the whole NC thing will always be suspect in my mind, so why all the consternation? I personally liked the water cooler debates in pre-BCS. You still had debates with BCS, still get debates with the current playoff, and you'll get them if you expand the playoff. I can hear it now...."Team X isn't really a national champ, they just eked into the playoff and got lucky."

IMO, the quest for a true national champ combined with the extreme money grab, has made college football less interesting. Teams with a losing record getting a bowl bid? That makes me sick, but it's perfect for the snowflake "everyone gets a trophy" world we live it. Next it'll be every team gets a bowl bid and it's just a bunch of post season non-con games (wait, it already is).

 

[KnightSlayer]

This is laughable. No ones gives a crap about college basketball regular season because it just doesn't matter.

NFL Weeks 16 and 17 are a joke. How would you like to watch Alabama/Auburn while Bama sits their starters?

Baseball has just about ruined their playoffs by adding too many teams. September is all about which 83 win team may make the playoffs, then no one watches the playoffs.

Your comparisons just don't hold water. College basketball has ~30 regular season games, a conference tournament and then 20% of the schools make the NCAA tournament. Nearly half of all the P5 teams get into the NCAA tournament.

An 8 team NCAA football playoff would mean 6% of the teams make the playoffs. Most conferences would only have one team in the playoffs with a chance of a really good second team making it.