So now that we know we will have a playoff in college football starting in 2014 there are still a bunch of questions left to answer.

 

1. Are we done seeing Conference expanding?

 

2. Big East will no longer have a lock spot to a major Bowl?

 

3. What does UL do?

 

4. Looks like ND will be able to stay independant.

 

5. How long before we hear we need an 8 team playoff? (which I have always supported)

 

I am sure there are many other questions out there. What are you thoughts?

So now that we know we will have a playoff in college football starting in 2014 there are still a bunch of questions left to answer.

 

1. Are we done seeing Conference expanding?

 

2. Big East will no longer have a lock spot to a major Bowl?

 

3. What does UL do?

 

4. Looks like ND will be able to stay independant.

 

5. How long before we hear we need an 8 team playoff? (which I have always supported)

I am sure there are many other questions out there. What are you thoughts?

From day one. 68 teams get into the basketball tournament and all we hear every year is whining about who was left out. A 4 team, 8 team, 16 team playoff does not change that for football.

From day one. 68 teams get into the basketball tournament and all we hear every year is whining about who was left out. A 4 team, 8 team, 16 team playoff does not change that for football.

 

FWIW, in Division I basketball there are 345 schools with 68 making the NCAA tournament. That means 19.7% of basketball teams make the big dance.

 

There are currently 124 teams in Division I football. An equal percentage to basketball would mean a 24 team playoff. I don't suspect the number will ever be that high, but I do believe those percentages will be brought up in the future, in particular from leagues that do not regularly qualify a top 4 team.

With the way the new playoff is setting up, I wonder if UL should just be independant in Football.

With the way the new playoff is setting up, I wonder if UL should just be independant in Football.

 

Scheduling is really difficult for independents. There are four independent programs - Army, Navy, BYU, and Notre Dame. All of those are unique programs that teams want to play. Army and Navy are good gets for many teams, but in particular smaller D1 programs who are assured a huge military crowd. BYU can draw a large religious crowd, especially in the west, which gives them many scheduling options. And of course Notre Dame can pack any house at any time.

 

As for Louisville (or most anyone else for that matter), I don't think there is huge demand from schools wanting them to visit. There is no religious or historical pull that makes them enticing. What would end up happening is they would play a wonky schedule, probably filled with also-rans, and their lack of strength would keep Louisville from being invited to the postseason.

This is a huge step in the right direction for the hypocrisy that is college football and #5 in CB's list is all that matters to me. We know this will be expanded, we just don't know when. I like the idea of 16 teams. I could live with 8 or something more than 16 but I think 16 is right. Then I would like to see 17 through 32 play in an NIT of sorts.

It’s been a long time coming.

 

I think if they expand in the future that 8 teams should be the maximum. With a 16 team playoff, there will likely be 4 loss and certainly 3 loss teams involved. I don’t believe a 4 loss or in most cases a 3 loss team should be in the playoffs.

 

Are the two semi-final games played as existing bowl games or in addition to the normal bowl game at that site?

It’s been a long time coming.

 

I think if they expand in the future that 8 teams should be the maximum. With a 16 team playoff, there will likely be 4 loss and certainly 3 loss teams involved. I don’t believe a 4 loss or in most cases a 3 loss team should be in the playoffs.

 

Are the two semi-final games played as existing bowl games or in addition to the normal bowl game at that site?

 

The semis will be a rotation of the current BCS Bowls, plus 2 more. The title game will be bid out like the Super Bowl is.

The semis will be a rotation of the current BCS Bowls, plus 2 more. The title game will be bid out like the Super Bowl is.

 

I can see Jerry Jones winning that bid each year.

I can see Jerry Jones winning that bid each year.

 

I wonder if there will be a stipulation on how many times you can host over a period of years? The only time the NFL went back-to-back was in Miami during Super Bowls II & III. Recently there was a three-year gap between Miami hosting the Colts/Bears Super Bowl and the Saints/Colts Super Bowl.

So now that we know we will have a playoff in college football starting in 2014 there are still a bunch of questions left to answer.

 

1. Are we done seeing Conference expanding?

 

No. While the BCS is effectively finished, the underlying power structure is as ingrained as ever. With these few spots available to only the top teams, a strong schedule is a necessity for an invitation. Schools will still be falling all over themselves to get into the top leagues. Only when there is a 16-team tournament with the winners of all major D-I conferences getting a bid will the pressure to be in a top conference end. So, effectively... never.

 

2. Big East will no longer have a lock spot to a major Bowl?

 

Not automatically. These "contract bowls" are exactly what I was talking about in the paragraph above. A shot at one of those or the playoff remains hugely important and is why the underlying power structure of college football hasn't changed and has actually become even more exclusive. They knew how badly fans wanted a playoff and used that advantage really astutely. They grabbed for this four-team playoff and pulled of a huge consolidation of power for the major conferences. Looking at how this effects teams not in their little tribe, this is truthfully MUCH worse than the BCS.

 

3. What does UL do?

 

Beg one of the big conferences to take us. It's been really disappointing watching UofL try like heck to build a football program over the last 25 years only to have this happen right after it feels like Louisville was in a good place. The last 10 years might as well not have happened as we're effectively right back in Conference USA as far as football is concerned.

 

5. How long before we hear we need an 8 team playoff? (which I have always supported)

 

Right now. I'd prefer something even more egalitarian, but I like just fine Guru's idea of a 16-team playoff with 17-32 in a sort of also-ran competition. Kill the bowls. Kill them where they sleep.

I'm actually a fan of 4 playoff teams and 4 teams only. IMO in football the best team usually wins. The #7 and #8 team will very rarely defeat the #1 and #2 teams so for me anything other than a 4 team playoff is a waste of time. Let's just get down to the nitty gritty.

I'm actually a fan of 4 playoff teams and 4 teams only. IMO in football the best team usually wins. The #7 and #8 team will very rarely defeat the #1 and #2 teams so for me anything other than a 4 team playoff is a waste of time. Let's just get down to the nitty gritty.

 

I'm of the opinion that the current state of college football is a product of the system. If you change that system and allow more teams access to the top levels of the sport, you'll see that talent spread out. To be certain, a small number of schools (especially those with renowned coaches) will be the cream of the crop, but I think that if you tweak the system in the right ways, this whole thing could shift toward a more balanced and compelling product.

I'm actually a fan of 4 playoff teams and 4 teams only. IMO in football the best team usually wins. The #7 and #8 team will very rarely defeat the #1 and #2 teams so for me anything other than a 4 team playoff is a waste of time. Let's just get down to the nitty gritty.

 

I'm with you. Make every game important.

I do not think the new system will have a big impact on conference realignment. It's still about revenue and power conferences = power TV $$.