Pros and Cons with the new playoff system

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Con: Tulane ranked 17 with an 9-2 record after beating a bunch of nobody’s and losing to the only two power teams they played. I’d argue not only the gophers but nearly every other team ranked behind them beat better teams.
 

Easy.
Get the bowls out of the payoffs entirely.
They don’t belong.
 

GophersInIowa said:
So this year is revealing a potential big flaw in the system. As it stands right now, the #5 seed will have an easier game in the second round than the #1 seed (assuming the #5 seed wins the first game). Right now, Ohio St would play Arizona St and then Boise St. Oregon would have to face the winner of ND and TN. I still think the bye is an advantage but not by a lot in a scenario like this.

An easy change would be to reseed 1-8 after the first round games.
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There’s no reason Boise should get bumped to #4. There doesn’t need to be any special exemptions for conference champions. That’s a relic of the Power-5 era.
 


Another report/insight to what might come in 2026.

SEC and B1G get 4 spots each.

Gets muddy after that. I'd go to 14 spots and give B12 and ACC each 2. Then it's Notre Dame and top G5. If ND is bad, 2 G5 programs.

Top 2 in B1G/SEC advance to bracket, ACC and B12 have 1v4 and 2v3 for their two spots in the bracket.

Conference Championship weekend becomes all play in games.
B1G and SEC would have their 3v6 and 4v5 teams play for their 3rd and 4th spots.
B12 and ACC would have their 1v4 and 2v3 for their two spots. (They could automatically qualify the #1 and have 2v3 for the 2nd spot)

 


MaxyJR1 said:
Another report/insight to what might come in 2026.

SEC and B1G get 4 spots each.

Gets muddy after that. I'd go to 14 spots and give B12 and ACC each 2. Then it's Notre Dame and top G5. If ND is bad, 2 G5 programs.

Top 2 in B1G/SEC advance to bracket, ACC and B12 have 1v4 and 2v3 for their two spots in the bracket.

Conference Championship weekend becomes all play in games.
B1G and SEC would have their 3v6 and 4v5 teams play for their 3rd and 4th spots.
B12 and ACC would have their 1v4 and 2v3 for their two spots. (They could automatically qualify the #1 and have 2v3 for the 2nd spot)

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Are the other conferences who have votes in how the CFP is formatted really going to go for both the B1G and SEC getting 4 spots each? I get that the B1G and SEC hold a lot of power, and could always threaten to mutually break off and do their own thing, but is that really enough to get something like this approved?
 

Taji34 said:
Are the other conferences who have votes in how the CFP is formatted really going to go for both the B1G and SEC getting 4 spots each? I get that the B1G and SEC hold a lot of power, and could always threaten to mutually break off and do their own thing, but is that really enough to get something like this approved?
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I heard this morning that the B1G/SEC really hold all the power and would likely automatically get the 1 and 2 seed every year in any format.

The selling point is the Top team from the B1G and SEC get the bye and the Top B12 and ACC would get a home game.
 
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Taji34 said:
Are the other conferences who have votes in how the CFP is formatted really going to go for both the B1G and SEC getting 4 spots each? I get that the B1G and SEC hold a lot of power, and could always threaten to mutually break off and do their own thing, but is that really enough to get something like this approved?
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Yes.
 

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I love the current 12 team set up with 4 first round byes for the 4 highest rated conference champs. I don't care that they aren't the 4 highest rated teams. Win your conference or transfer to a weaker one if you don't like it!

I think the SEC & B1G want to change things because the other conferences are getting too much exposure and that might help those conferences future TV contracts and make them more powerful. When is the last time there was so much interest in the ACC, Big 12 and G5 championship games? Those conferences were basically forgotten in the 4 team playoff. Non-P2 conferences got five teams into the CFP! I think it's so fun seeing the new blood, but I'm sure the P2 will do everything in their power to ruin it. They don't want a truly national sport with real parity. It's a shame.

Watching Arizona State, SMU and Boise State compete in the CFP is probably the closest we'll get most years to seeing how a team like the Gophers might fair.
 



SeaBee_Gopher said:
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I love the current 12 team set up with 4 first round byes for the 4 highest rated conference champs. I don't care that they aren't the 4 highest rated teams. Win your conference or transfer to a weaker one if you don't like it!

I think the SEC & B1G want to change things because the other conferences are getting toomuch exposure and that might help those conferences future TV contracts and make them more powerful. When is the last time there was so much interest in the ACC, Big 12 and G5 championship games? Those conferences were basically forgotten in the 4 team playoff. Non-P2 conferences got five teams into the CFP! I think it's so fun seeing the new blood, but I'm sure the P2 will do everything in their power to ruin it. They don't want a truly national sport with real parity. It's a shame.

Watching Arizona State, SMU and Boise State compete in the CFP is probably the closest we'll get most years to seeing how a team like the Gophers might fair.
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Could not agree more. The argument goes both ways. Join a weaker conference if you want a better path to winning a 'Conference Champion Auto Bid'.

4 guaranteed bids for both the B1G and SEC is pathetic and embarrassing. I'm fine with any conference getting as many at large bids as they are deemed worthy of getting in any particular season. However, being guaranteed multiple bids is a joke and will chase me from the playoffs already.

The only teams I plan on watching in this years playoffs are Arizona St, Boise St, Indiana, and SMU.

Expand the tourney one final time to 20 teams with ALL of the conference champions getting auto bids and the remaining 11 teams being at large teams. Seed the teams 1-20 with four First Round games (13 versus 20, 14 versus 19, 15 versus 18, and 16 versus 17). Would think it would satisfy almost everyone for these reasons:

1. The B1G and SEC will get their 4+ bids virtually every year, though it won't be guaranteed.
2. Notre Dame will be in almost every year along with the other Blue Bloods.
3. ALL the conference champions get a bid.
4. First round matchups will often be G5 Conference Champions versus 'Last at large' P5 teams. Thus, will probably get some competitive games along with having the 'little guy' versus the 'big guy' narrative.

A 20 team tourney this year would look something like this:

1 Oregon
16 South Carolina/ 17 Army

8 Tennessee
9 Boise St

5 Notre Dame
12 Arizona St

4 Penn St
13 Ole Miss/ 20 Jacksonville St

3 Texas
14 Clemson/ 19 Ohio

6 Ohio St
11 Alabama

7 Indiana
10 SMU

2 Georgia
15 Miami (FL)/ 18 Marshall

I adjusted the seeding a little bit on a few teams so teams from the same conference could not meet until the Quarterfinals.
 
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Are top picks really going to gamble by playing multiple playoff games and risking injury?
 

Gophers2Omaha said:
Could not agree more. The argument goes both ways. Join a weaker conference if you want a better path to winning a 'Conference Champion Auto Bid'.

4 guaranteed bids for both the B1G and SEC is pathetic and embarrassing. I'm fine with any conference getting as many at large bids as they are deemed worthy of getting in any particular season. However, being guaranteed multiple bids is a joke and will chase me from the playoffs already.

The only teams I plan on watching in this years playoffs are Arizona St, Boise St, Indiana, and SMU.

Expand the tourney one final time to 20 teams with ALL of the conference champions getting auto bids and the remaining 11 teams being at large teams. Seed the teams 1-20 with four First Round games (13 versus 20, 14 versus 19, 15 versus 18, and 16 versus 17). Would think it would satisfy almost everyone for these reasons:

1. The B1G and SEC will get their 4+ bids virtually every year, though it won't be guaranteed.
2. Notre Dame will be in almost every year along with the other Blue Bloods.
3. ALL the conference champions get a bid.
4. First round matchups will often be G5 Conference Champions versus 'Last at large' P5 teams. Thus, will probably get some competitive games along with having the 'little guy' versus the 'big guy' narrative.

A 20 team tourney this year would look something like this:

1 Oregon
16 South Carolina/ 17 Army

8 Tennessee
9 Boise St

5 Notre Dame
12 Arizona St

4 Penn St
13 Ole Miss/ 20 Jacksonville St

3 Texas
14 Clemson/ 19 Ohio

6 Ohio St
11 Alabama

7 Indiana
10 SMU

2 Georgia
15 Miami (FL)/ 18 Marshall

I adjusted the seeding a little bit on a few teams so teams from the same conference could not meet until the Quarterfinals.
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I agree 3-4 auto bids would be a joke. I’m concerned about expanding it more because these are young men and most of them still aren’t getting paid that much to beat up their bodies. The longer the season the more likely injuries become some of which will last a lifetime. Plus, many of them are actually pursuing degrees. I love the entertainment, but there has to be a limit.

I actually think your idea would work if they eliminated conference championship games. Why have one if both teams will get in anyway especially in the P4. I know they don’t want to eliminate them because they earn a lot of money, but your idea would probably generate even more because you’d get intriguing, unique matchups and a lot more underdog scenarios. Again, I think this is exactly why the B1G and SEC and wider P4 won’t go for it. It is not in their best interest to increase the visibility of lessor leagues.
 





SeaBee_Gopher said:
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I love the current 12 team set up with 4 first round byes for the 4 highest rated conference champs. I don't care that they aren't the 4 highest rated teams. Win your conference or transfer to a weaker one if you don't like it!

I think the SEC & B1G want to change things because the other conferences are getting too much exposure and that might help those conferences future TV contracts and make them more powerful. When is the last time there was so much interest in the ACC, Big 12 and G5 championship games? Those conferences were basically forgotten in the 4 team playoff. Non-P2 conferences got five teams into the CFP! I think it's so fun seeing the new blood, but I'm sure the P2 will do everything in their power to ruin it. They don't want a truly national sport with real parity. It's a shame.

Watching Arizona State, SMU and Boise State compete in the CFP is probably the closest we'll get most years to seeing how a team like the Gophers might fair.
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Ours in Indiana.

We need an up year and an easy schedule (see Indiana).
 

2 games in, CON is pretty uninteresting football.

Can the Ohio State University make it 3 for 3 for the Big 10* tonight?





*Universities with Big 10 Men's Hockey.
 

Looks like they can make it an eight team playoff. The talent looks pretty weak once you get out of the top eight. Atleat so far unless Clemson turns this around.
 

Gopher Mac said:
Looks like they can make it an eight team playoff. The talent looks pretty weak once you get out of the top eight. Atleat so far unless Clemson turns this around.
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Indiana (Boise State) - Oregon
Tennessee - Georgia
Ohio State - Texas
Notre Dame - Penn State

Get rid of Indiana and that would be legit with home games. I know they have to appease the non power 4 so throw Boise in there. Perfect.

Obviously it's moving to 16 so irrelevant.
 

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