Hadn't seen this posted yet. Sorry if its a re-post. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2612789 As much as I can't stand him, he makes a good point. The SEC is such a strong conference that year in and year out, we end up beating each other. Rarely does an SEC team run the table and even then, another SEC team they beat is a rather formidable opponent that could beat anyone else in the country. If we keep seing a BCS championship game without an SEC team, I think it's perfect justification that unless there is a playoff system, the SEC will be denied a shot at the national title.
Yeah... It's a shame but the reality is, when ya got 117 teams, it's very hard to figure out who the best of them is even with a playoff system, muchless without one. It'll get worse before it gets better. Thats for sure.
If every conference had a championship game, it would be a lot closer to a playoff system than what we have now.
By seasons end, if you're not ranked at least 12, I think it's pretty safe to say you aren't the best team in the nation. So, the other 105 teams are relatively irrelevant in this debate. Plain and simple, a playoff system makes it much more likely that we get the true national champions.
So you're saying that by bowl season, that the top 12 teams according to the polls are the best 12 in the country? With all due respect, I have to disagree to that. Here's why... 1. USC (55) 11-0 1,615 2. Texas (10) 11-0 1,570 3. LSU 10-1 1,447 4. Penn State 10-1 1,430 5. Virginia Tech 10-1 1,332 6. Ohio State 9-2 1,276 7. Notre Dame 9-2 1,252 8. Oregon 10-1 1,144 9. Auburn 9-2 1,126 10. Miami 9-2 989 11. UCLA 9-1 942 12. West Virginia 9-1 932 13. Georgia 9-2 899 14. Alabama 9-2 758 15. TCU 10-1 740 16. Louisville 8-2 600 17. Florida 8-3 542 18. Texas Tech 9-2 512 19. Boston College 8-3 396 20. Michigan 7-4 340 21. Wisconsin 9-3 317 22. Clemson 7-4 225 22. Florida State 7-4 24 23. Fresno State 8-3 203 24. Georgia Tech 7-4 187 25. Iowa 7-4 91 Now.. Barring the fact that we know the outcome of the 2005 season... Above is the Week 14 AP poll for last season (the week before the SECCG with Georgia). So you're telling me that a 9-2 Texas Tech team (#18) doesn't deserve to be in the Top 12 as much as a 9-2 Notre Dame team who is #7 just because they're Notre Dame? Hell, for that matter Notre Dame wasn't even ranked in the top 25 in week 1 of the 2005 season, but by week 3 they were #10... At week 7 they had lost a game, and climbed back up into the top 10 again while TT was undefeated still and ranked behind them the whole time. This is just an example of the things that happen every year some are probably on even a wider range than that. I agree that for the most part a top 90 or even a top 50 team won't likely make it to the NC game. But to say they can't just because they're not in the top 12 is unfair because I wager that every year there's teams left out of the top 5, 10, 12, or 25 even, that rightfully deserve to have a shot at it.. ESPECIALLY in a playoff system. Unfortunately, untill someone can prove to the powers that be that there's more money to be made with a longer season, they won't go for it.
Currently, the college football system is a double elimination tournament that is cancelled before the end. The problem is coming up with a system that rewards winning conference champions without punishing a dominant team that happens to lose the wrong game. Either way, with a playoff, you eliminate the "perfection" standard college football currently has. As Nick Saban said after the 2003 SECCG when asked if LSU had done enought to be in the Sugar Bowl, "If we hadn't lost to Florida, we wouldn't be in this situation". I think a playoff would be better, but I am not sure how to make it happen. I think the magic number is 8 participants. GEAUX TIGERS (Gators Eat Boogers)
I see the only logical way to do a playoff with all the money and to keep every game crucial is to do a plus one with the setup they have in place already. However, I agree their needs to be a championship game in every conference. ND should be in the Big 10 already and I am sure some team could join the weak Pac 10. All the other details are too complicated for me but it could work. All people want to see an outright champion and this would solve most disputes IMO.
Why don't they just split Div I and make a playoff system from there? If more than half don't have a snow balls chance, just put them in their own division.