Is a 4-team playoff the best model?

I say 8 teams, however: Power 5 conf champions are in. That makes conf play and conf championships relevant, but also allows for great non conf match-ups, as the power 5 conf teams are not eliminated with a non conf loss or even 2. That leaves 3 at large bids for the non power 5 teams to get in, or other power 5 teams that are deserving, but not conf champs, like OSU this year. This would also allow for keeping the traditional bowl tie ins. Pac 12 v Big Ten is the Rose, SEC v ACC in Orange, Big 12 v at large in the Cotton. Winners play in the Fiesta and Sugar Bowls. Then the Championship game.

This system would preserve the relevance of conf play, bring back the tradition and reward of the major bowl match-ups, and deliver an undisputed and deserving champion.

Get rid of the playoff. Go back to pre BCS era. Reduce total number of bowl games. Profit.

And I would also make it a rule that if you lose your Conference Championship game, you'd be eliminated from playoff contention entirely. That would eliminate the problem in the OP.

I hate the idea that all ALL P5 conference champs get in. Take a look at the P5 conference winners the last ten years. There are some VERY undeserving (occasionally u ranked) teams that would be included in the playoffs. If we're going to use that model, you should have to be ranked in the top ten.

because it keeps OSU out this year.

I have been an advocate of an 8 team playoff with first round homefield advantage for some time.

6 team playoff would be the worst imo. In a playoff that small it doesn't seem right to give out byes. Push it to 8 or keep it at 4

8 teams is perfection.

You get the P5 champions, 2 elite at-larges, and the top G5 team for political correctness reasons.  

All worthy teams are accounted for, but at the same time it does not dilute the regular season which is the most compelling aspect of college football.

There will also still be plenty of drama over who gets the at large spots for those who like to argue for a living.

Everybody happy.

 

I think 8 is the obvious choice. Make the Big 12 start a conference championship game and the team that wins their power 5 conference championship is in. Home field advantage, seeding, and wild cards decided by a committee. Then the semis and finals are done like they are now.

I know it will diminish some conference championship games of both teams will get in no matter if they lose, but I think that's a price you have to pay for a better system.

128 team double elimination tournament.  Original seedings based on random draw out of a derby hat.  That part is very important.  Final 3 rounds to be played in London.

You don't need to expand beyond 4 if you make it so that only conference champions are eligible. Then the CCGs become the first round of the playoff and every game in the regular season remains relevant. Plus fuck Notre Dame.

Tell me how Michigan is ranked and what our record is any given year, and I'll tell you how many playoff spots there should be.  Easy peezy.

That aside, I think four is fine.  Any team that would have been an AP/USA Today (UPI) national champion ought to be able to make the top four, so it doesn't seem unfair to me that teams like Notre Dame get excluded. 

Plus, after four games, you start expanding the season to a point where it would start to interfere with academics too much.  I mean, except for at North Carolina, MSU, Ohio State, etc.

8 - Team Playoff

 

5 - P5 Conference Champions (Pac12, Big10, Sec, Big12, Acc)

 

3 - At Large Teams

 

You should have to be a conference champion to claim a spot.. to me that only makes sense. Then you have 3 At Large teams, so you can get your Notre Dame's, Houstons, Memphis type teams in when they're doing good.

 

One rule would be that you can't have more than 2 teams from the same conference in the playoffs.. So that keeps everything fair and the commitee can't put more SEC teams in just because SEC.

There will always be an argument for more. It often is about money. But there also is something about them being students. And there is something about what it does for fans who have to choose where to go . . . who can go to a conference championship, along with a semifinal and the national championship game?

I don't think you can howl over injustice if you're left out as the #9 team. The #5/6 team has a point, but #9 does not. If it's 8 teams I think we're a lot happier about the borderline. Plus the games DO matter a lot for seeding. Being 6 vs. 8 is a big difference (would you rather play #1 or #3 in most years)?

Four is a great number. In August & September everyone complains about the poor level of OOC schedules. Last year the committee taught us that strength of schedule actually means something by leaving TCU and Baylor out. Going forward I bet those teams schedule better OOC games. This year we learned you better have one of the top four records by leaving Stanford out. Is anyone upset by that? I haven't heard many arguments that two loss Stanford deserved to be in over any of the top four teams. I don't understand the idea that all P5 conferences deserve a place at the playoff table. Win your conference and do so playing a tough OOC schedule while having one of the top four records. The rest will sort itself out.

4 teams for the exact reason you've stated.

There is a reason college football is the most exciting season in all of sports- each game is almost like sudden death. That's changed a bit even with the playoff. Keep it at 4.

Initially I thought 8 team was perfect. I thought about it more this year and come to the conclusion that 4 is a good model. It makes every game mean so much more during the regular season. I'm not a fan of 6 teams with a bye. As it is, we wait a month for the playoffs to begin.

I think they should have each playoff spot be the conference winners of the top 4 conferences. Determine the top 4 conferences by having a power index that ranks them all based on collective success of each conference's teams.

Then after determining the top 4 teams, seed them based on resume.

That is pretty much how this year's playoff went anyway. It would also force Notre Dame and BYU to join conferences

it should be 8 or 16..Like ALL the other divisions..If they can do it so can Div 1

No hate the committee BS. Make it 8. Put emphasis on winning conference. If you win the conference you are in. And then you have three teams decided by formula.

No top

but a bye is too big of an advantage.  Leave it at 4.  Besides, I don't like the idea of a team losing its last game and still having a chance of getting in.  8 is too many, it would include 2 loss teams which lessens the importance of the regular season.

I'm fine with it.  I always want the national champion to be a team that had a great overall season.  I don't want the playoff to get so large that a merely good team can sneak in.