Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[KidSilverhair]

If a single conference is getting 4 or 5 teams in the CFP there is no need to have a 12 team playoff. The conference schedule has already separated the wheat from the chaff.

I’m resigned to multiple SEC teams making the playoff, but dammit, it just doesn’t seem right to me.

Okay, you’re saying you want the BEST teams in the playoff, but by assuming the SEC is already ahead of the rest of CFB you’re making an assumption that tilts the criteria. I’ve always been of the opinion that if you want in the playoff, you gotta prove it by winning your conference. Now, that doesn’t fit into a 12-team play-off scenario, but I’m sorry - if you can’t win your conference (or heck, even your division), what gives you the right to argue you’re the best team in the whole damn country? You can’t even win your 14-team group, yet you say you’re in the running for the best team in the nation?

Thats just me. I know my opinion has lost the argument.

My ideal playoff is 8 teams - the P5 champions, plus the top ranked G5 champion and maybe 2 wild cards. Actually, the ideal situation might be just six teams (P5 champs plus one G5) but I recognize 8 teams works better than 6 in a tournament scenario. Say that eliminates a Georgia or an Alabama that loses the SEC championship … too bad, win the game if you want to play for a natty.

 

[Gunnerclone]

I’m resigned to multiple SEC teams making the playoff, but dammit, it just doesn’t seem right to me.

Okay, you’re saying you want the BEST teams in the playoff, but by assuming the SEC is already ahead of the rest of CFB you’re making an assumption that tilts the criteria. I’ve always been of the opinion that if you want in the playoff, you gotta prove it by winning your conference. Now, that doesn’t fit into a 12-team play-off scenario, but I’m sorry - if you can’t win your conference (or heck, even your division), what gives you the right to argue you’re the best team in the whole damn country? You can’t even win your 14-team group, yet you say you’re in the running for the best team in the nation?

Thats just me. I know my opinion has lost the argument.

There are definitely years when the SEC has 3-4 of the Top 12 teams in the country. I don’t have a problem with it.

 

[RustShack]

I think the amount of SEC schools making it will be determined a little by luck of the schedule that year. Obviously only playing 8 conference games will help, but if Oklahoma gets a draw of Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, and LSU all in one year, odds are they lose enough to not make the Top12. I think they will try to limit how many good teams play each other, but some years will be harder than others there.

 

[HFCS]

If a single conference is getting 4 or 5 teams in the CFP there is no need to have a 12 team playoff. The conference schedule has already separated the wheat from the chaff.

I really see the wisdom of this...but then you also can't say you're selecting the 6-7 at large bids as "the best teams available" because that's just how it'll shake out with SEC plus OU/UT.

With that in mind it'd be better to extend more autobids to more G5 conferences.

 

[KidSilverhair]

There are definitely years when the SEC has 3-4 of the Top 12 teams in the country. I don’t have a problem with it.

But how do you determine “best”? Cause you feel like it? Like they look like the best team? Let’s prove it on the field - you lost your conference, too bad, wait til next year.

Its like when they picked Ohio State over TCU (even though Ohio State had that horrible loss to Va Tech) - just because Ohio State ended up winning the championship, that doesn’t prove they were the “best” team. It’s all about how you determine who gets the chance to play, and you’re never necessarily gonna end up with the “best” team. That’s why I’d say a conference championship as a requirement to enter the playoff is a measurable point of access to determine the “best” team. Having two SEC teams in the natty - including a team that couldn’t even win its own division, for crissake - gives conference membership way too much credit.

JMO, that’s all. Nobody’s put me in charge of the CFP.

 

[Gunnerclone]

But how do you determine “best”? Cause you feel like it? Like they look like the best team? Let’s prove it on the field - you lost your conference, too bad, wait til next year.

So like a 10-2 Tennessee with a close home loss to Bama and close road loss to UGA that doesn’t even sniff the CCG is a no for the playoff because????

 

[Gonzo]

They should've capped the playoff at 8. Auto bids for 5 P5 conference champions, 1 spot for highest ranked G5 conference champion, and 2 at-large spots for the highest ranked non P5 champions. Having all these at-large bids is just going to lead right back to people b*tching about conference biases.

 

[Jer]

People need to brace themselves to be pissed about the SEC. Not only have they been really dominant at the top of their league, but they're actually getting stronger. LSU now has a better chance of being consistently Top 5. I truly believe Texas has the potential to be in the mix (I'm a lone believer that Sark is slowly changing the culture one class at a time) and OU is going to be good. Texas A&M COULD be good, but I think GF sucks as a coach.

People love to hate the SEC, but they have some damn great games every year. Not saying they have all the good teams in the land, and they certainly have a bad bottom half, but their Top tier is elite.

 

[FerShizzle]

I think the amount of SEC schools making it will be determined a little by luck of the schedule that year. Obviously only playing 8 conference games will help, but if Oklahoma gets a draw of Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, and LSU all in one year, odds are they lose enough to not make the Top12. I think they will try to limit how many good teams play each other, but some years will be harder than others there.

Would hate to be Vandy in this scenario. You can’t limit the good teams playing one another without increasing the amount the good and bad teams play. Those bottom schools are now relegated to sparring partner status.

 

[KidSilverhair]

So like a 10-2 Tennessee with a close home loss to Bama and close road loss to UGA that doesn’t even sniff the CCG is a no for the playoff because????

They weren’t conference champions, would be my answer. You say the SEC is just tougher, therefore a second-place team should get more credit? I understand where you’re coming from, but that’s not my opinion.

I mean, apparently the regular season already proved Bama and Georgia are better than Tennessee in this scenario, why do the Vols get a second chance?

 

[KidSilverhair]

I just want the CFP to be a “tournament of conference champions,” not a “well, the SEC has the best teams, we should give them an extra chance to prove it” thing.

I recognize my opinion has lo$t the argument, that’$ fine, I’m not in charge here.

 

[06_CY]

My preference would be holding off on any rankings until after week 3 or 4. Let teams play some, then start ranking.

 

[HFCS]

Would hate to be Vandy in this scenario. You can’t limit the good teams playing one another without increasing the amount the. Good and bad teams play. Those bottom schools are now relegated to sparring partner status.

There were some Big 12 years where we had the OU/Texas rotation while Neb/KSU were still good and I'd just write the season off looking at the schedule. Before Baylor turned it around losing the Baylor win opportunity was more of a killer than anything.

 

[RonBurgundy]

I could accept the fact that 4 SEC teams will make the CFP12 playoffs if the following were implemented:

(a) Every conference plays 9 conference games.

(b) Every eligible team for CFP12 has played 10 P5 games.

ISU has been doing this for years, so not too much to ask every school to meet the same standard.

 

[HFCS]

I just want the CFP to be a “tournament of conference champions,” not a “well, the SEC has the best teams, we should give them an extra chance to prove it” thing.

I recognize my opinion has lo$t the argument, that’$ fine, I’m not in charge here.

I want that too, I haven't been arguing that I like 4/5 SEC teams...I'm just not shocked if a 12 team format ends up with that. I'm not going to try to spin that they aren't a huge % of the top 12.

 

[RustShack]

My preference would be holding off on any rankings until after week 3 or 4. Let teams play some, then start ranking.

Don’t the playoff rankings come out like week 8 or something?

 

[HFCS]

I could accept the fact that 4 SEC teams will make the CFP12 playoffs if the following were implemented:

(a) Every conference plays 9 conference games.

(b) Every eligible team for CFP12 has played 10 P5 games.

ISU has been doing this for years, so not too much to ask every school to meet the same standard.

Slotting one of their automatic wins late in the year is just smart. Any conference could do that regardless of how many games they play. I'm surprised more don't.

Gives a week off and pushes losses toward earlier in year where they "matter less".

Alabama was playing a messy game against Georgia Southern the week we knocked OK State out of title game late in season.

 

[RustShack]

I think playoff wins will also factor in, especially in the future. A conference like the Big12 just needs to get some playoff wins, especially against one of the SEC schools and that will help.

As they say, wining fixes everything.

 

[CascadeClone]

If a single conference is getting 4 or 5 teams in the CFP there is no need to have a 12 team playoff. The conference schedule has already separated the wheat from the chaff.

 

[isucy86]

I think the amount of SEC schools making it will be determined a little by luck of the schedule that year. Obviously only playing 8 conference games will help, but if Oklahoma gets a draw of Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, and LSU all in one year, odds are they lose enough to not make the Top12. I think they will try to limit how many good teams play each other, but some years will be harder than others there.

When conferences reach 20 or more teams, I think we will see divisions become popular again. That way in your example Alabama, Georgia, Texas and Tennessee can all promote their CFP selection based on their record and being an SEC division champ.

I have no doubt the Big10 and SEC added UT,OU,USC and UCLA because they feel football brands matter and each is building a conference that will consistently get 4 or 5 teams among the 12 team playoff.

With divisions (and they could change every 2 years) the conferences can limit games among their top 6-8 teams and manage schedules to balance SOS.

I don't struggle with the Big10 and SEC attempting to stack the CFP. But I agree having rematches is problematic, especially if a 2 or 4 team Conference Championship game(s) were just played.