tute79 wrote:
It appears that every one of these sources is indicating (probably due to "off-the-record" comments from knowledeable surces in the meetings),
that in 2014 the BCS will be replaced by a 4-team playoff. Sounds like a fine starting-point.
I really like suggestions by former SEC commish. Roy Kramer that the 4 entires to the semi-finals each must be conference champions.
Like many viewers, I hated the LSU-Alabama re-match, since it seemed unfair that LSU had to beat them a second time, and Alabama (although having one loss
(by 3 points to LSU)) HAD THEIR CHANCE and wound up winning neither their conference nor division, while Oregon and Oklahoma State had done both.
Let's say this suggestion gets traction..... well what does "MUST BE CONFERENCE CHAMPION" mean to independents such as Notre Dame, Army, and BYU ?
the writing may be on the wall, that they need to join a conference to be relevant.
Rumor has BYU in continuing discussions with the Big XII... maybe invitations to Louisville and BYU may happen once Neinas's replacement takes office.
Navy is set to join BE FB in 2015. Army acts like they can't compete at that level. Well, what level then ? They want to be FBS.... BE FB is morphing into CUSA FB,
and Army had a very bad experince there.... would they consider the MAC, as Temple's replacement ?
Notre Dame is watching BE replace top 50 schools with CUSA schools.... If BCS AQ's disappear, BE FB champ will NOT be ranked in the top 4 most of the time.
Wouldn't it behoove Notre Dame to play FB in a conference with a legitimate shot at the playoffs ?
Wherever they go, they will pllay 9 conf. games, and have room for 3 OOC games.
In the B1G, Notre Dame can play Michigan, MSU, Purdue in conference, and play USC, Navy, and one other OOC game.
In the ACC, Notre Dame can play Pitt and Boston College in conference, but would lose at least 2 of their 5 big rivals.
The 800 lb. gorilla in the room in these BCS discussions is: HOW DO THEY SPLIT UP THE MONEY ????
Is it solely based on appearance in the 4-game playoff (gonna have some unhappy campers) ?
Will each conference get some share (does WAC FB remain in existence, just to collect BCS money for "exisitng"?) ?
I would like to see:
AQ's done away with....
Big XII adds Louisville and BYU (12)
Boise St. and SDSU re-neg and return to MWC-CUSA.
Big East add from Temple, ECU, Marshall, Army, UMass.
ACC add UConn, Notre Dame (16) and split North-South, undoing "the zipper".
WAC FB teams absorbed into MWC-CUSA and Sun-Belt.
BE BB teams leave BE and form new conference with some A-10 schools.
No new FBS teams without a conference invitation.
Written beautifully.
I'd like to see your "I like to see" list happen. In a 4 team playoff, your have 2 format choices, the top 4 ranked teams, regardless of conference or the top 4 ranked conference champions with 1 exception. Considering the B1G and PAC want to insure their inclusion in the playoff, I think what you will get is the top 4 ranked among the conference champions
and Notre Dame.
By the way, if using the conference champion rule this past year, you would have had
#1 LSU vs. #10 Wisconsin and #3 Oklahoma State vs #5 Oregon. Other league champions were ACC- #15 Clemson, MWC- #18 TCU, CUSA- #21 Southern Miss, Big East- #23 West Virginia, Sun Belt-Arkansas State, MAC-Northern Illinois and
the Notre Dame champion- Notre Dame (8-4).
Excellent points about Notre Dame. I hope the conferences force the Irish into a conference if they want to be a part of the playoffs but don't think that will happen. It's not right that Notre Dame is counted as a conference of 1. The 2014 College Football Playoff selection committee chooses the SEC champion, the Big XII champion, the PAC champion and the last spot goes to the Notre Dame conference champion. Who knows maybe the PAC, B1G or Big XII champion possibly getting locked out of the playoffs by the Notre Dame champion is what it will take to get them to stand up to Notre Dame. One thing for sure they better have it figured out before the playoff proposal is finalized. If not, Notre Dame will always have an unfair advantage in scheduling (if they choose to water it down) and the Irish may never get in a conference.