bronxblue

September 2nd, 2022 at 3:19 PM ^

I figured this was inevitable.  I do hope they figure out a system that doesn't let ND and a 3-loss Big 12 or ACC team sneak in because they won their conference.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171747

xgojim

September 2nd, 2022 at 4:52 PM ^

The report in the Detroit News said that first round games would be staged at campuses.  Can't wait to attend a late December or January game at M Stadium (when M isn't one of the top four)!  Presumably someone in Green Bay or Buffalo will come up with winter weather football gear!

Joined: 11/03/2012

MGoPoints: 2325

lhglrkwg

September 2nd, 2022 at 5:29 PM ^

Theyre definitely going to cram as many bowl affiliations in as they can. Im guessing the finals and semi finals at best. I could live with that I guess if the first two rounds are on campus but if I was czar of football Id make it all home sites and then the title game is always the rose bowl at sunset

Joined: 07/03/2008

MGoPoints: 87934

drjaws

September 2nd, 2022 at 3:35 PM ^

took them long enough

d2 and d3 schools have been doing this forever. no reason d1 shouldn't

i assume they'll try to tie in the existing bowl games instead of giving the top ranked teams home games because the ncaa suck ass at doing things that are easy, normal, and well thought out 

Joined: 02/26/2014

MGoPoints: 46778

swalburn

September 2nd, 2022 at 3:40 PM ^

I hope we get some explanation on this 6 conference champion idea.  There aren't going to be six conferences worthy of an auto bid.  I'm not sure there is going to be four worthy of auto bids when all is said and done.  

The Big 10 and SEC could have kept expanding and told everyone to pack sand and made their own tournament.  I'm assuming there are a lot of dollars involved in this playoff that make it worthwhile for them.

Joined: 11/24/2011

MGoPoints: 8025

Mr. Elbel

September 2nd, 2022 at 4:43 PM ^

My thinking would be that it is a way to address getting in some teams from smaller conferences. If they're good enough to be ranked high enough to get in, there are enough teams now to let one or even two of them in, while still pretty much guaranteeing that larger conferences will get an auto-bid if their teams are actually good enough to earn it. This rule could be the first to go if major re-alignment comes anytime soon that eliminates any of the current P5 from existence.

Joined: 03/02/2014

MGoPoints: 21395

rob f

September 2nd, 2022 at 3:42 PM ^

If the ESPN+ article I just read is correct, none of the games will be played where they belong, on College campuses.

This. Really. Sucks.

Those who run things in the CFB playoff committee clearly are brain-dead idiots.

[Edit@3:50pm: then again, maybe my interpretation is incorrect, as I'm seeing other sources saying no decision has been made in the location of first-round games---only that the four 2nd round games AND the semifinals will be rotated among the 6 major Bowl Games.]

Joined: 11/11/2010

MGoPoints: 194671

The Geek

September 2nd, 2022 at 3:51 PM ^

This decision makes the regular season basically irrelevant. A 2 loss B1G or SEC team can potentially make the playoffs now. 
Part of the beauty of college football is every game is so important, and now that element of the game is gone. Eight teams would have been perfect. 

Joined: 09/08/2009

MGoPoints: 24819

WesternWolverine96

September 2nd, 2022 at 3:58 PM ^

for sure it minimizes the regular season just a bit...

 

but even in the NFL 1 loss makes a huge difference on your playoff chances and therefore each regular season game is important.

 

This is also the reason I don't watch NBA, NHL or MLB too much in the regular season.  Games just don't mean that much.

 

So I still think college football will be exciting in the regular season and superior to the NFL

Joined: 09/08/2019

MGoPoints: 12422

Amazinblu

September 2nd, 2022 at 4:50 PM ^

Hammer, excuse me - but, I need to call you out on your perspective of scheduling.  This is where the SEC is clearly superior to the B1G.

Let’s just take a look at week 12 this year.  While the B1G is in a “conference only” portion of their schedule - the SEC has a week of mostly - OOC powerhouses.  Just look at some of the non conference games the SEC has the guts to put on the calendar.. 

1. U Mass - a leading independent,

2. East Tennessee State,

3. New Mexico State,

4. UAB,

5. Western Kentucky, and

6. Austin Peay - playing Alabama.

You will never see the B1G have a schedule like that in November - NEVER.

Just another example of SEC leadership.  I know it’s tough to accept, but it’s true - it’s the same thing practically every year. 
 

P.S. - if there’s any uncertainty - my comment is intended to be sarcastic.

Joined: 01/22/2010

MGoPoints: 41350

DTOW

September 2nd, 2022 at 4:57 PM ^

Scheduling is where I really hope they put the screws to teams, and that would include us this year.  In a 12 team format, teams that schedule FCS programs or multiple low level FBS teams should get crushed.  If you want a chance at the playoff with 2 losses then at least 1 of those losses better be against a power program.  There is zero reason that Michigan's schedule should start the year with Colorado St., Hawaii, and UConn.  I'm not saying we should have to schedule 3 top 15 teams or something like that but what we have this year is garbage and should be considered offensive from a consumer perspective.  

Side note but somewhat related.  I don't understand why people are opposed to an expanded playoff field.  Do those people really want the chance to watch less quality teams play each other? I love Michigan and watch every game but I still watch a majority of the other big games each week as well.  Just as a football fan and a consumer, why would I be in favor of something that gives me less options at a lower quality?

Joined: 08/31/2013

MGoPoints: 6381

Amazinblu

September 2nd, 2022 at 5:09 PM ^

DTW, unfortunately, I agree with you.  Michigan’s OOC schedule this season is “weak”.  

It’s one of the reasons why I wish there was some criteria about conference championships in the playoff determination / selection.  

If conference champs were “auto bids” into the playoff, you could schedule challenging teams - and then - win or lose - know you had a path to the playoff by winning the conference.

My feeling about the playoff has always been eight teams.  I’m not a support of byes - because of the subjectivity associated with selecting the teams.  So, if the format is 12 teams, they could just as easily make it 16 teams.  16 will take the same amount of time as 12.

Go Blue!

Joined: 01/22/2010

MGoPoints: 41350

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

September 2nd, 2022 at 4:36 PM ^

I hate to seem like I'm singling you out personally, but I have to laugh at your last sentence just a little.  The vast majority of CFB fans claim to want a playoff, but each and every single one of them has a number they think would be perfect, and I've been saying for years now that the greedy fucks in charge will exceed that number eventually, whatever it is.  Anyone who thinks they'll stop at 12 is a naif.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 41586

Toasted Yosties

September 2nd, 2022 at 5:08 PM ^

100%. I’m often scheduling my weekends around watching every big game. I think this potentially could open up my weekends. The most decisive games in regards to who makes the playoffs are going to be between teams with a couple losses (where one more loss pushes them  firmly out of the playoff race). That’s just not as compelling to me. Elite teams are all but guaranteed to get in with a loss or two.

I’m also curious what this does to out of conference games. If I’m Michigan or the like, I can’t see why scheduling anybody with a pulse would be helpful in the playoff race. Why add another tough hurdle when getting out of the conference with two losses probably guarantees entry into the post-season? All in all, it’s hard for me to not see this greatly diminishing the regular season’s allure. 

Joined: 06/05/2013

MGoPoints: 9261

WestQuad

September 3rd, 2022 at 10:29 AM ^

100% correct analysis.   12 team playoff makes the regular season less meaningful and discourages scheduling tough opponents. Football is about man vs. man, team vs. team, my dad can beat up your dad.  You want to be the toughest team in your state and in your region (now conference) and in your country (bowl game).   Punt-Counter Punt talked about how College football was special because there were only 12 games.  Each one is special because like a heavyweight fighter everyone is looking to knock you out.  Back in the day making fun of Nebraska’s soft schedule was basically calling them a bunch of [wimps].  When I was in school Michigan played ND and [#1] FSU in our non-conference games.  You will not see that with a 12 game playoff.  
 

I love the safe-tribalism of college football.  I want to root for the big 10 in bowl games (not MD, USC, UCLA, Rutgers).  What’s the point of a bowl game when there is a playoff?  Do they create a football NIT?  
 

The goal should be to make the regular season and rivalries more important and to encourage the toughest matchups.  I honestly don’t care about the National Championship unless Michigan is in it. The Game is Michigan vs. OSU.  
 

College football will be like SuperBowl parties where no one knows anything about the teams and don’t care about the sport.

Joined: 07/22/2011

MGoPoints: 31150