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1 week 1 day ago I think they're being dragged, kicking and screaming

Remember, not that long ago, Jim Delany (and most of the B1G ADs and Presidents) were adamantly opposed to any kind of playoff whatsoever.

So I doubt there's some back-room consensus that 8 is best, but we have to slow-walk our way there. Quite a few of the decision-makers adamantly oppose it.
1 week 1 day ago I prefer 8 teams, as well

However, I was limiting the analysis to things that actually have a chance of happening. It's overwhelmingly clear that we aren't getting an 8-team playoff this time. I do believe we'll have one eventually.

And once you're at 8 teams, I think you've solved the problem, as long as you don't corrupt it with too many autobids. I can't remember a #9 team that had a credible argument that they were the best in the country. So with an 8 team event, you'll surely be getting everyone that belongs.

But if you do that, you have to accept the possibility that a #8 team will get hot at the end of the season, and win it all.
1 week 1 day ago There's a crucial point that Wetzel omits

Most of the other major conferences object to campus playoff games. Even if the Big Ten favored it, they would be outvoted.

I also think there is considerable truth to the statement that campus playoff games would undermine the viability of the Rose Bowl, because it would become a contest between playoff losers.

In other words, if the Big Ten or Pac-12 champ were in the top four, it could only go to the Rose Bowl by losing its playoff game. Now, if you're anti-bowl, as Wetzel is, maybe you don't see that as detrimental. If the Rose Bowl withers on the vine, so to speak, who cares?

But if you think the Rose Bowl has value, I can understand the reluctance to turn it into a consolation game.
1 week 1 day ago There's a crucial point that Wetzel omits

Most of the other major conferences object to campus playoff games. Even if the Big Ten favored it, they would be outvoted.

I also think there is considerable truth to the statement that campus playoff games would undermine the viability of the Rose Bowl, because it would become a contest between playoff losers.

In other words, if the Big Ten or Pac-12 champ were in the top four, it could only go to the Rose Bowl by losing its playoff game. Now, if you're anti-bowl, as Wetzel is, maybe you don't see that as detrimental. If the Rose Bowl withers on the vine, so to speak, who cares?

But if you think the Rose Bowl has value, I can understand the reluctance to turn it into a consolation game.
3 weeks 1 day ago You're not asking the right questions

Of course every game counts!

But if (in last year's example) you choose #10 Wisconsin over #2 Alabama, then you're giving much more significance to Alabama's only loss, than you're giving to Wisconsin's two losses to lesser opponents.

And ironically, you would accept Oregon in the playoff, merely because they won a weaker league, when they also lost to LSU, and by a much wider margin than 'Bama did.

I would agree with you that among comparable teams, a squad that won its conference ought to have priority. I can understand the outrage when #2 Alabama, who already had their shot against LSU, gets the bid over #3 Oklahoma State, who hadn't yet played the tide, and won their league to boot.

But would you really argue that (say) a 20th-ranked conference champ ought to have priority over a 2nd-ranked non-champ?

Seriously?
3 weeks 1 day ago That case is pretty simple

The top four get in. All they're saying is that a conference champ in the top six can leapfrog a non-champ rated higher. But if the top six are all champs (which is exceedingly unlikely), then the top four get in.

It's a compromise between those who just want the top four, and those who want conference champs regardless of ranking. No one disputs that if the top four happen to have all won their leagues, then they all get in. It's the wild cards that people argue about.

Obviously, this leaves open the question of how the top four are determined. The existing system will probably be scrapped. Almost everyone agrees that the Coaches' poll shouldn't be part of it: it's an obvious conflict of interest.

However you do it, someone is going to be #5.

I don't have a serious issue with this. I can't remember many years when a #5 team (by any reckoning) had a serious claim that they ought to be #1. In most years, four is enough to ensure that no one with a legitimate claim is left out. I'd personally prefer an 8-team playoff, but it's clear we're not getting that this time, and practically any form of playoff is better than what we have.
3 weeks 1 day ago That's an unnecessary compromise

I am reasonably certain they won't select the participants by committee. They'll have a ranking system, as they do today. It won't be the same ranking system, as just about everyone agrees that the coaches' poll needs to be scrapped. But it'll be some kind of numerical ranking system, probably with a mix of computers and human voters, as today.

Once you have that, then you just take the top four teams. The whole point of a playoff is to let the four best teams settle it on the field. If you've got auto-bids for conference champions, then one day you're going to have an 8-4 team playing for the title, because they managed to pull off the upset in their conference championship game, despite a mediocre regular season.

Last year, UCLA could have won the Pac-12 with a 7-6 record.

If conference champions get auto-bids, then there needs to be a ratings floor, to ensure a conference with a very weak champion doesn't get to play for the championship, when clearly better teams are sent to consolation games. So, for instance, we might say that a conference champ has to be rated at least 6th, to ensure that any team in the playoff has at least a plausible claim that they belong there.
3 weeks 1 day ago The real issue with campus semi-finals

The real problem, I think, is that they turn the major bowls into consolation games. It may be popular in the blogosphere to say "Screw the bowls," but the conference commisssioners and presidents are clearly not going to do that.

It also makes it difficult for the bowls to sell tickets, because there would be an extra week or two in the schedule during which the bowls wouldn't know who would be playing, as they waited for the outcome of the semi-finals.
5 weeks 3 days ago The most important fact about the QB competition

The most important fact about the QB competition, is that Al Borges thinks Devin Gardner is #2.

I agree that if the spring game were the only data point available, you might think Gardner was #3.

But Borges has much more data to work with: 15 practices, rather than just one. If he says Gardner is the clear #2, then you have to believe he knows what he is talking about.
9 weeks 3 days ago No way it's a permanent move

Most teams want to work at least 3 guys at every position. You clearly need a starter and a backup, and at any time one of the three could be lost due to an injury or off-the-field issue.

QB is such a complex position that there is no way a guy can be ready it if he spends significant time at another position. That is why Denard Robinson never saw very many snaps at RB or WR, despite a constant drumbeat from fans wanting it to happen.

Even if Bellomy had pushed Gardner down to 3rd string (which is doubtful in itself), they couldn’t possibly be so sure of it that they would stop repping Gardner at QB. And if Gardner gets sufficient work at QB, he isn’t going to have much time to practice as an every-down WR.

Of course, if (as is likely) Gardner is still the No. 2 QB, then they definitely can’t afford to stop repping him at QB.

My guess is that they are using the spring to try things out. They still like the idea of putting Robinson and Gardner on the field at the same time (which they toyed with last year), and they are using the spring as a laboratory to put in a few wrinkles. Those plays will never be the bread & butter of the offense, and as the season gets closer Gardner will spend most of his time practicing at QB.
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