A Simple BCS Playoff System

[zorro]

Why is the following system not adopted?

Take the top 4 teams at this point in the year and shortly before or after Christmas, have a game where #2 plays #3, and another game where #1 plays #4. The winners of these 2 games would then play each other for the BCS Championship a couple of weeks later (a few days after New Year's Day as is currently being done). The other major bowls could be played as they are currently being played around New Year's Day.

It is simple, and it would not prolong the present college bowl season. And, IMHO, it would decide in a better manner and more definitvely who is the best college football team in the nation (and therefore who truly deserves to be champion).

How would this look this year? Well, Florida would play Michigan in one playoff game, and Ohio State would play LSU in the other one. The winners of these 2 playoff games would meet each other a couple of weeks later in the championship game! Would that be great or what?

That's my opinion. What's yours?

[maxim]

Ahhh, now you are forgetting that would put the preliminary round right in the middle of finals.

Remember... these are SCHOLAR-athletes... cough, cough...

Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, know what I mean?

With the notable exception of some schools. BC, Notre Dame come to mind, as do lots that are not often ranked.

[B.T. Justice]

Personally, I would love to see a playoff system in college football. However, I do not think that would be the end of the controversy. What about team #5? College basketball has a 65 team field and you still get teams saying they should not have been left out. (I don't think that the outcome of the tournament has ever been effected by who didn't make the tourney).
This is my point. How long will it take until the field is expanded from 4 to 8 to 16? Once it starts it will not soon end!

[Conveyor Belt]

I say adopt a playoff series just as is done in basketball, football, etc. Maybe they could extend the NFL season 4 games or stop the pre season crap just to make way for the college super bowl. Imagine having a Marshall-esque team in a bowl series... it excites the fans and creates interest in the sport and the players... now, it's like a good ole' boys club, where the same teams cycle in and out of popularity.

I don't like the current system. I'd prefer a bracketed system. I know you can't play back to back football games like you can baseball and basketball, but maybe they could put them on a 4-5 day rest between games to help speed up the process...

Anyhow, I don't think anything will change anytime soon...

[aaron]

From what I heard on the radio, it won't change to a playoff system because then the conferences will lose money. To be honest, I like the 1 through 4 idea because I don't really care about who's 15th in the nation, but basically it should be a coaches poll or something every year to decide if we do it. This year, it wouldn't be necessary, Michigan can't say they could've been No. 1, they played Ohio State and lost. The National Title should always be played by two teams in separate conferences.

[B.T. Justice]

Not sure I agree with the "always played by teams from a different conference", but you are right in that Michigan had their chance. I just don't see anyway to justify having the National Championship be a rematch.
As far as coach's polls go, they need to close the loop-hole that allowed the Ohio St. coach not to vote. They should not let that happen!

[Midwayman]

I see no reason for a rematch either. This is even more true with Michigan and Ohio State playing each other the last game of the season. Had they played early in the season and then the loser won out, I could understand it.

I think Florida is the more deserving team.

[Wayward]

I see no reason for a rematch either. This is even more true with Michigan and Ohio State playing each other the last game of the season. Had they played early in the season and then the loser won out, I could understand it.

I think Florida is the more deserving team.

Oh, and, welcome. Have you been here before? Your posting style strikes me as familiar.
Yes ... I agree, TheDoc. Very familiar syntax and structure. I do believe we've met Midwayman before. Perhaps during another incarnation. :smt102

[Conveyor Belt]

I see no reason for a rematch either. This is even more true with Michigan and Ohio State playing each other the last game of the season. Had they played early in the season and then the loser won out, I could understand it.

I think Florida is the more deserving team.

I think that in all playoffs they should automatically award the winner in the previous game an automatic victory... yeah, that makes sense to me!

[aaron]

It'd be great if football had 30 game seasons like basketball, but just because of the nature of the game and injuries involved, you can't. It's very possible to only be playing half of the same team you played at the beginning of the season.

[Conveyor Belt]

It'd be great if football had 30 game seasons like basketball, but just because of the nature of the game and injuries involved, you can't. It's very possible to only be playing half of the same team you played at the beginning of the season.

which is exactly the reason previous matches shouldn't be taken into consideration... IMO, having an enduring team is a testament to athletics and player conditioning. he who has the most starters left at the end of the season, wins!