SEC/Big10 Pushing for 16 Team Playoff

[1SEIACLONE]

I'll be shocked if, whenever they land on a final CFP format, the SEC doesn't move to 9 conference games. Especially since ESPN is willing to pay them more $$$ to add a 9th game. I don't see the B1G agreeing to anything without everyone playing the same number of conference games.

Looks like the SEC is again looking into a 9 game conference schedule.

Is the SEC’s long football schedule saga almost over? What a move to nine games would mean

Here's what the format would look like, who each team’s opponents might be and what still has to happen to finalize a nine-game slate.

www.nytimes.com

 

[1UNI2ISU]

With a 16 team playoff you should have a fair amount of "fresh faces" every year but the SEC/B1G is setting that up to not happen. Honestly, What's even the point? At least in the NFL you have a salary cap to help level the playing field.

There's a very vocal voice here that's about to tell you the iron clad House Settlement is going to fix everything so we don't have to worry about that.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

There's a very vocal voice here that's about to tell you the iron clad House Settlement is going to fix everything so we don't have to worry about that.

Puppets

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Looks like the SEC is again looking into a 9 game conference schedule.

Is the SEC’s long football schedule saga almost over? What a move to nine games would mean

Here's what the format would look like, who each team’s opponents might be and what still has to happen to finalize a nine-game slate.

www.nytimes.com

Probably the have to if you open it up to that many autobids. SEC has to make some moves because if they have another performance like the last two years the shine is gonna wear off real quick

 

[StPaulCyclone]

needing more than even 2 auto bid is childish

Do they actually think a 16 team playoff would ever have less than 3-4 of their teams without auto bids?

Agreed. They’ve already stacked the deck, they shouldn’t need this too. It’s a position of weakness, which I could maybe understand for the B10 but not the SEC.

 

[LivntheCyLife]

They look at what Indiana did last year and work to be that.

Field a decent to good team, get a favorable schedule, finish in the top 4-6 and play in or for a playoff spot while getting richer by the year.

They aren’t historically good so they don’t have a fanbase that is unrealistic (outside of Nebraska). What’s not to like about that?

I guess if I had as strong of record like Indiana had last year, I'd be hoping to be able to play in a conference title game or having a chance to go to the Rose Bowl. Instead, because Oregon is in their conference now, the only postseason they got was a road game at Notre Dame.

It just feels to me like they are sacrificing a lot in terms of regional rivalries, possibly competing for a championship, a bowl game, or even the opportunity to play spoiler to a top ranked team to try to finish 3rd-6th in conference for a road playoff game.

I think a rational fan of these schools realizes that's likely the same quality of team, but is it as fun and bring out as much passion in the fanbase?

 

[ClubCy]

I guess if I had as strong of record like Indiana had last year, I'd be hoping to be able to play in a conference title game or having a chance to go to the Rose Bowl. Instead, because Oregon is in their conference now, the only postseason they got was a road game at Notre Dame.

It just feels to me like they are sacrificing a lot in terms of regional rivalries, possibly competing for a championship, a bowl game, or even the opportunity to play spoiler to a top ranked team to try to finish 3rd-6th in conference for a road playoff game.

I think a rational fan of these schools realizes that's likely the same quality of team, but is it as fun and bring out as much passion in the fanbase?

That’s where you have to draw a line in the sand.

One side is you and I, the fans. We just want to watch the team and hope they win and have fun watching it. We don’t gain anything monetarily.

The decision makers simply don’t care about regional rivalries or the traditional stuff. They care about what money comes in and if wins come even better.

 

[Clonehomer]

Why? The NFL has 44% percent of the league in the playoffs even with this proposal counting only P4 schools only 23% get into the playoffs. Wouldn't this make regular season matter more because you can survive one bad loss or maybe 2 good losses and still make it in?

If you went straight record and not a selection committee, then letting 44% of teams in keeps the regular season interesting. But the playoffs would be less interesting because of the talent disparity in CFB.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

I guess if I had as strong of record like Indiana had last year, I'd be hoping to be able to play in a conference title game or having a chance to go to the Rose Bowl. Instead, because Oregon is in their conference now, the only postseason they got was a road game at Notre Dame.

It just feels to me like they are sacrificing a lot in terms of regional rivalries, possibly competing for a championship, a bowl game, or even the opportunity to play spoiler to a top ranked team to try to finish 3rd-6th in conference for a road playoff game.

I think a rational fan of these schools realizes that's likely the same quality of team, but is it as fun and bring out as much passion in the fanbase?

If you find some Indiana fans I can promise you they were extremely excited with last years team regardless of playoff performance.

Last year was a big stepping stone that they hope to build off of, could just be a flash in the pan or could be a new era of better football in the near future. Indiana fans haven’t had a lot of hope in that field for awhile

 

[CYEATHAWK]

If it comes to that........just get rid of the old ranking system and just see how the season plays out.

Why should any team start with that type of advantage? That's like running a race and trying to catch someone who was spotted a large lead. It's BS. They get all the press all season because of their high ranking, more able to absorb a loss (trip), maybe two and still make the conversation (win the race). While everyone else who started from behind (outside the rankings) cannot make one mistake. Like I said........it's BS. Flushed the bowls......now flush the rankings.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Agreed. They’ve already stacked the deck, they shouldn’t need this too. It’s a position of weakness, which I could maybe understand for the B10 but not the SEC.

SEC is in a rough place with NIL being above the table now. The SEC fans still hate Texas and most of the SEC schools are pretty poor to be making payments. You’ve seen it the last couple years with how their teams have performed.

The SEC without satan, sorry saban, is a different animal entirely

 

[1UNI2ISU]

I'd trade the playoff for the traditional bowl system tomorrow. It was all good until the right people figured out that there was a ton of cash in finding a 'champion' and Nebraska/Michigan '95 provided the spark that the gasoline needed.

 

[cyclones500]

I'd trade the playoff for the traditional bowl system tomorrow. It was all good until the right people figured out that there was a ton of cash in finding a 'champion' and Nebraska/Michigan '95 provided the spark that the gasoline needed.

In retrospect, really all it needed was an "and 1" after the bowls.

That idea was floated/discussed/debated. Among arguments against it in some circles: student-athletes can't be expected to play 12/13 games. The horror!

I was in favor of a 2-team title game, although BCS had its limit/controversy. I liked expansion to 4, then supported going even higher, then I realized it'll only 4-plus-1 leagues and never be a full FBS inclusive (i.e., every team has a path to play for the title, like every other sports league system). Even if it went to 16 or 24, those programs have almost no chance. Now it's two conferences getting half the field guaranteed? Really no need.

 

[HFCS]

I'd trade the playoff for the traditional bowl system tomorrow. It was all good until the right people figured out that there was a ton of cash in finding a 'champion' and Nebraska/Michigan '95 provided the spark that the gasoline needed.

Back when there were 6 major conferences you could have had 6 auto bids and two at large with a stipulation that a non power team in top 8 could get in. It would have been a PERFECT 8 team playoff with any leagues that had CCGs effectively making it a 16 team playoff. Plenty of years the SEC would have still gotten 2 or 3 of the 8 teams if it was really that good.

Now it's an utter mess with these gigantic leagues and playing CCGs that won't even matter for B10/SEC.

 

[Clonedogg]

I say let's do it, only if they are automatically excluded from at-large bids.

 

[mj4cy]

If we can get more than one team in, I say go for it. Better to have somewhat of a seat at the table than be a 1 bid league.

 

[LivntheCyLife]

That’s where you have to draw a line in the sand.

One side is you and I, the fans. We just want to watch the team and hope they win and have fun watching it. We don’t gain anything monetarily.

The decision makers simply don’t care about regional rivalries or the traditional stuff. They care about what money comes in and if wins come even better.

This goes back to my original point. I get it for the TV execs and athletic directors as the decision makers. I understand it less for the university presidents/board of regents who you would think would be the ultimate decision makers.

 

[LivntheCyLife]

If you find some Indiana fans I can promise you they were extremely excited with last years team regardless of playoff performance.

Last year was a big stepping stone that they hope to build off of, could just be a flash in the pan or could be a new era of better football in the near future. Indiana fans haven’t had a lot of hope in that field for awhile

Sure, Iowa State fans are excited about last year too. That doesn't mean we wouldn't rather have a Big 8 title and a trip to the orange bowl.

 

[Rural]

We’ve only just begun on the deck stacking.

 

[Peter]

I think at this point it’s very clear those two conferences should just separate, that’s what’s happening and that’s what they want. nothing can really stop it. I’ve kind of accepted that college football that we all loved is near the end.

They will "let" the Big XII and the ACC field a few teams in the playoff for a while to try to establish their conference superiority. Once Campbell and ISU curb stomp a few of their precious little blue bloods, you will see an immediate push to move exclusively to a Big 10/SEC playoff.