SEC/Big10 Pushing for 16 Team Playoff

[MountainManHawk]

Good read here by Mandel regarding the ongoing CFP expansion absurdity. He puts primary blame on Pettiti:

That’s a good article and I agree with Mandel’s take on things. Giving the top 2 seeds a double bye and having the first weekend be just 16 vs 13 and 14 vs 15 is a dumb idea. I really hope they don’t settle on that model, those aren’t the games anyone was hoping to see when they announced an expanded playoff.

I guess they are just really trying to protect the conference champ and make it that much harder for the Boise States of the world to make it to the last 4 teams, but it sets up a bunch of games fans aren’t interested in, and as we saw last year, the long layoff isn’t necessarily a good thing for the top teams, it might actually be better to just keep playing.

 

[KidSilverhair]

A 16 team playoff that isn’t simply a five-round straight-up bracket is so dumb only the big money-addled brains of the SEC/B1G could envision it.

Let’s take a playoff system that was originally slanted to favor blue bloods/big conferences in the first place and make it even more slanted towards them. More AQs from the B1G/SEC? No seeding bump for winning a “lesser” conference? More byes for the big boys, rougher roads for the little guys? Come on, man, just split off into your glorified NFL-lite super conference of 24 teams or whatever, we all know you want to.

 

[MountainManHawk]

A 16 team playoff that isn’t simply a five-round straight-up bracket is so dumb only the big money-addled brains of the SEC/B1G could envision it.

Let’s take a playoff system that was originally slanted to favor blue bloods/big conferences in the first place and make it even more slanted towards them. More AQs from the B1G/SEC? No seeding bump for winning a “lesser” conference? More byes for the big boys, rougher roads for the little guys? Come on, man, just split off into your glorified NFL-lite super conference of 24 teams or whatever, we all know you want to.

I agree with all of that. I also think it could backfire on them a bit. Partly because the fans will be annoyed and partly because I kind of wonder if the long layoff will make the teams rusty. Especially because it sounds like the top 2 teams won’t play in the conference championship game anymore and instead they are going to have #3 play # 6 and so on.

So Oregon or Michigan or whoever wins is going to not play from Thanksgiving until December 28 and then they will face a team that’s been having games every week.

Based on last year it seems that having a home playoff game first round is really the best situation to be in.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

This format is being pushed by the B10, which then wants to use their 4 picks to then set up a play off games in conference. So the # 1 & 2 teams play in the championship game, then #3 and #6 along with #4 and 5 also play. The # 1 and 2, along with the two winning teams would get the leagues 4 guaranteed slots. Under this plan, the playoff would have 3 slots open to be at large slots and if the B10 had either the number 3 or 4 team knocked off by the lower seed, they would push for that team to get into the playoff because of what they had did during the season. Easier to get one of those teams in that lost in the playoff than the # 5 and 6 teams that would not have as good as resume. It would also make the league more money, selling the rights to broadcast those other two conference games during championship weekend.

 

[Kettes]

This format is being pushed by the B10, which then wants to use their 4 picks to then set up a play off games in conference. So the # 1 & 2 teams play in the championship game, then #3 and #6 along with #4 and 5 also play. The # 1 and 2, along with the two winning teams would get the leagues 4 guaranteed slots. Under this plan, the playoff would have 3 slots open to be at large slots and if the B10 had either the number 3 or 4 team knocked off by the lower seed, they would push for that team to get into the playoff because of what they had did during the season. Easier to get one of those teams in that lost in the playoff than the # 5 and 6 teams that would not have as good as resume. It would also make the league more money, selling the rights to broadcast those other two conference games during championship weekend.

Here's the problem, outside of Oregon, tOSU and Michigan (Indiana was a complete outlier), the B1G is totally mediocre to very bad. Getting 4 automatics is such a power grab.

Sorry Iowa, you suck. Suck it.

 

[NWICY]

I’m not sure why this was agreed do, unless there was some sort of handshake deal from the B10/SEC for more auto-bids for B12/Acc or something in 2026

Accepting a handshake deal from the P2, is as worthless as the guarantee from a NYC Rolex street salesman.

 

[NWICY]

Maybe there aren’t good excuses, but there are good reasons to have 3 protected rivalries: they have three rivalries.

LOL Nebby is a made up rivalry. I'll agree with the other 2.

 

[theshadow]

The CFP management committee is 11 members -- 10 conference commissioners plus Notre Dame AD.

Their decisions are subject to review by the CFP board -- again, 11 members, but in this case it's one university prez/chancellor from each conference plus Notre Dame.

And, because these decisions are unanimous (wink wink), we're left to believe that all 18 people not affiliated with the Big Ten and SEC are good with the direction this is heading.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Here's the problem, outside of Oregon, tOSU and Michigan (Indiana was a complete outlier), the B1G is totally mediocre to very bad. Getting 4 automatics is such a power grab.

Sorry Iowa, you suck. Suck it.

True, but they are going to sell the idea that a four loss team from the B10 is better than a 2 loss team from the ACC or B12. They want the extra money for the league that each slot will bring in.

 

[cykadelic2]

The CFP management committee is 11 members -- 10 conference commissioners plus Notre Dame AD.

Their decisions are subject to review by the CFP board -- again, 11 members, but in this case it's one university prez/chancellor from each conference plus Notre Dame.

And, because these decisions are unanimous (wink wink), we're left to believe that all 18 people not affiliated with the Big Ten and SEC are good with the direction this is heading.

Yep, the B10 and SEC control the CFP starting in 2026 including format and revenue allocation resulting from a "memorandum of understanding" signed by all of the FBS conferences that extended the CFP's television deal through 2031 (which was an effin joke with ESPN being the sole bidder).

And of course the reason why this happened was the SEC and B10 threaten separation and the other conferences couldn't afford that to happen.

 

[AlaCyclone]

At the end of the day, I really don't care about the CFP. What I do care about is Iowa State football, Big XII Football and ISU remaining financially secure as an athletic department. So, while I think it it would be totally groovy and very achievable for Iowa State to win the Big XII, I don't give a hoot about whether they have a first round bye, host a first round game or go on the road in the first round in the CFP. That just doesn't matter to me at all.

 

[Clonehomer]

At the end of the day, I really don't care about the CFP. What I do care about is Iowa State football, Big XII Football and ISU remaining financially secure as an athletic department. So, while I think it it would be totally groovy and very achievable for Iowa State to win the Big XII, I don't give a hoot about whether they have a first round bye, host a first round game or go on the road in the first round in the CFP. That just doesn't matter to me at all.

Completely agree at this point. I do wish they would fix the transfer situation where it’s free agency and the P2 schools are just a mix of transfers. That’s making CFB less and less desirable to me. I’ll watch the NFL if it’s going to be that way.

But the CFP are the same vein as the national wrestling tournament. I’ll watch the Big12’s all the way through but will only check in on the results of the national tournament because it’s not the same level of programs. The money that the Big10 poured into their programs was so far out of proportion to the rest of the nation that it ruined the sport outside of a handful of programs.

 

[Xerxes_]

Here's the problem, outside of Oregon, tOSU and Michigan (Indiana was a complete outlier), the B1G is totally mediocre to very bad. Getting 4 automatics is such a power grab.

Sorry Iowa, you suck. Suck it.

Yeah what has Penn State ever done in football?

And USC and Washington will never be good again.

 

[cytor]

Yeah what has Penn State ever done in football?

And USC and Washington will never be good again.

Ped State has done nothing in football for years, except for a pretty big scandal they should have been punished MUCH harder.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Yeah what has Penn State ever done in football?

And USC and Washington will never be good again.

I think he is saying that the B10 is very top heavy, and while schools like Penn. St. and USC have had great programs in the past, schools like NW, Purdue, and others are no better than many in the B12, but get an extra bounce in the rankings because they play in the B10. You could say the same about the SEC.

 

[cytor]

The B1G is loaded with bad weekly matchups most of the season. Same with the SEC. BTW.... SEC.... if you are so good, why aren't you playing 9 conference games? Frauds.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

The B1G is loaded with bad weekly matchups most of the season. Same with the SEC. BTW.... SEC.... if you are so good, why aren't you playing 9 conference games? Frauds.

Because one extra league game means half the conference gets another loss added to their record, instead of a nice fat W from a cupcake. The SEC has been very smart about getting the better teams to not have to play each other most years, which helps get more teams into the playoff and into better bowl games. We have a broken system when a school like ISU plays more P4 opponents during the regular season than schools like LSU and Alabama. Which is why we need a rule change to make the playoff you have to schedule at least 10 P4 schools during the regular season, if the SEC only wants 8 conference games that is fine, then go out and schedule 2 other P4 schools each season. Hell, I would even be for coming up with a list of the better say 10/15 P5 schools that you can schedule and count as a P4 opponent, schools like Boise, and few others. Come up with a list and update it every season.

 

[Gunnerclone]

 

[Frak]

I hope that they do eject. Good riddance. If they really think that everyone is going to watch their games after they alienate 3/4 of the country, they are in for a surprise.

 

[ZorkClone]

DeBoer is being such an asshat here. Maybe they don't get blown out by a bad Oklahoma team?