interesting take against a D-1 play-off

Wolfman · Post by **Wolfman** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:21 pm

http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/t ... 040936.asp

give it a read !

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:26 pm

Great take. About what we expect from Wolfman, except it didn't include a tearfully boring anecdote about that time he lived in NY.

Schmeck · Post by **Schmeck** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:47 pm

The problem with that dude's point is that he thinks a college team could shut it down and lose that last two games of the season and still get in the playoffs, like the Colts did (or two out of three as the Colts.)

In a small field playoff (which is the only kind that has any chance of even being considered) one loss could still be devastating to a teams chances of making the field. So, that article is basically crap.

JayDuck · Post by **JayDuck** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:02 am

what Schmeck said.

The NFL is a league where roughly half of the teams make the Playoffs.

There are over 100 D1 Football teams and most playoff scenarios would have only 8, or at most 16 playoff spots.

Oregon missed the BCS (theoretical 8 team Playoff) with only 1 loss. We also had high profile programs like Va Tech, Auburn, Alabama, Miami, UCLA, etc...with only 2 losses. Good luck coasting through your last couple games and making the field.

No way does the regular season lose any luster like that guy says.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:13 am

Nothing earth-shattering from that piece. Claims that the regular season loses value with a playoff. I don't know, maybe rewarding 6-5 and 7-4 teams from major conferences by letting them play in bowl games sort of cheapens the season. That argument is weak claiming that the Namath Jets wouldn't beat the Unitas Colts in a best-of-three and says Villanova wasn't the best team when they won the national title. Simply put, in a tourament or playoff, you survive and advance. If you're truly the best team, you'll survive a playoff. Plus, it'll weed out any frauds.

JayDuck · Post by **JayDuck** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:28 am

"The best team doesn't always win a playoff"

When people bring that up it's about the dumbest argument you can make.

Yes, it's true that sometimes the "best" team might get upset and knocked out of a playoff. Playoffs are not about deciding who is "best". College Football is really the only major sport that is so concerned with "best" and that is why the polls are such a big deal.

Playoffs are about determining a WINNER. Maybe they aren't the best..it doesn't matter. They won it all. Nobody cares if they are the best.

Hell, the best team doesn't even always play for the championship in college football, let alone win it.

Schmeck · Post by **Schmeck** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:52 am

Another point against this guy's column is that even if a college team was somehow assured of a spot in the playoffs before their last game, they still wouldn't shut it down. Rivalry games and conference championship games would protect against that. This writer just doesn't have any understanding of the culture of college football.

Terry in Crapchester · Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:25 am

Schmeck is right. The largest field talked about is a 16-team playoff, and anything more than two losses would be fatal, even in that generous a field.

Another point to consider is that human polls are probably going to be part of the equation if and when a playoff comes into being. The pollsters invariably attach greater weight to a late-season loss than they do to an early-season loss. So there's a strong disincentive to tank late-season games in college football that would never exist in the NFL, even for an undefeated team.

Throw in the fact that the regular season doesn't end until the first week in December, finals in most schools occur shortly thereafter, and there will necessarily be a delay in the start of a playoff in any event. If coaches are worried about injuries, that's the time for your players to get healthy.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 2:19 pm

CBS Sportsline and I are on the same page...a playoff that includes everyone! 16 teams including all 11 conference champions and 5 at-larges. It's a beautiful thing...

http://www.sportsline.com/spin/story/9143923

I don't know about Ohio State beating Texas in the title game but the format is pretty much the one I've been trumpeting for a while now.

Terry in Crapchester · Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:34 pm

Shoalzie wrote:CBS Sportsline and I are on the same page...a playoff that includes everyone! 16 teams including all 11 conference champions and 5 at-larges. It's a beautiful thing...

http://www.sportsline.com/spin/story/9143923

I don't know about Ohio State beating Texas in the title game but the format is pretty much the one I've been trumpeting for a while now.

Given that they took Georgia over West Virginia in the first round, I think it's a pretty safe bet that they made these predictions before the BCS games were played. :wink:

That having been said, I see the benefit of this. One of the criticisms leveled against college football by some people is the lack of parity. This gives the upstarts the same stage as the big boys. The biggest reason why I advocate a 16-team playoff is the flexibility that field provides. Of course, being an ND fan, I'd like to maximize the number of at-large bids available, so if this ever comes into being, I like your suggestion about conference consolidation to eliminate one conference, although I think it's a longshot due to the turf protecting that would take place in that event (eliminating two conferences is not realistically feasible unless you're willing to eliminate some teams from Division 1-A, imho).