The Case For A College Football Playoff

[SuperDuck]

Actually, there are MANY reasons why there should be a playoff in D1 college football, but I want to address the biggest objection - University Presidents would never allow it.

Okay, besides the Pac-12 vs Big-10 Rose Bowl affiliation, which could be worked around, here are my thoughts:

There are 120 FBS teams. Of those 120 teams, only 16 would participate in a playoff (at the most).

The University Presidents have ZERO issues with their school sending their team to a Bowl game, correct? Well, then that would reduce the number of President's with a problem to 8 and the odds of their team being there EVERY YEAR would be slim, at best.

Next, there's been talk of a "Plus One" game happening and many UP'S have been more open to this idea, but that would add one additional week to the season. With a "real" playoff instead, we'd now be down to 4 teams.

Now we'd be to the point where all Bowl game and Plus One scenarios have played out, but there would still be 4 teams left in a national semifinal. Now we're talking about a LUCRATIVE amount of cash that would be paid to these four schools. The UP'S would really have a problem with this?

Finally, the following week would be the championship game. Once again, the money would be a HUGE winfall for the 2 remaining schools, but the UP'S have a problem with this?

How many consecutive years could a school be expected to make it into the playoffs, let alone into the semi's, etc? But if they did the schools athletic departments (and other departments) would benefit greatly. How could the University possibly have an issue with 80-90 athletes having to make up a couple weeks worth of Finals tests in exchange for what could potentially be several million dollars?

Now, these are the leaders of some of the largest institutions in our country, so there's no doubt that they can do the math. My question to them would be, "what are you hiding, Sir?" or better yet, "how much are they paying you, Sir?"

I'm just in disbelief that this hasn't happened yet.

Thoughts?

[spinseeker]

Timing is the only problem in your scenario. It's not realistic to expect fan travel on a weeks notice for the games. Not only that, but look at the situation with the PAC 12 ccg next week. The UO has had to presell tickets AND print and mail them before the berth is even solidified. If UO loses this week that is a lot is time and money wasted this year. What will fans do in following years if it's questionable?

Those are current issues with a home game. Add in travel and lodging arrangements for an away/neutral game and it gets tougher.

Now that I'm thinking about it, this may be why the visiting team for the CCG doesn't get as many tickets as I was expecting they would.

[SuperDuck]

Timing is the only problem in your scenario. It's not realistic to expect fan travel on a weeks notice for the games. Not only that, but look at the situation with the PAC 12 ccg next week. The UO has had to presell tickets AND print and mail them before the berth is even solidified. If UO loses this week that is a lot is time and money wasted this year. What will fans do in following years if it's questionable?

Those are current issues with a home game. Add in travel and lodging arrangements for an away/neutral game and it gets tougher.

Now that I'm thinking about it, this may be why the visiting team for the CCG doesn't get as many tickets as I was expecting they would.

Nope. In a playoff scenario conference championship games would have to be eliminated. Not every conference has a championship game so they'd have to be eliminated in order to have a level playing field.

Teams would have to play a 9 game conference schedule and 3 non-conference games each year. One of these could be an FCS team. Also, everyone would have to have one bye week during the season.

As far as tickets and travel go, the games would have to be played at the home of the higher seed until the national semifinals or final eight. Somehow the current BCS Bowls and possibly the Cotton Bowl would have to be included.

I don't profess to have all of the answers, but I know that it's done at every level in every sport other than FBS football, so to me there really is no excuse. If they wanted it to happen they're smart enough to find a way.

[Dr.Plompy]

There are two major roadblocks to a playoff in college football: standardization, and money.

[SuperDuck]

There are two major roadblocks to a playoff in college football: standardization, and money.

Actually, I just read an article on Rivals a few days ago that said a playoff would be worth as much as $720 million annually! That's by far more money than what the BCS Bowls are currently paying. The revenue from TV advertising would be an insane amount and would grow each year.

Also, the "best of the rest" of the Bowl games could still be played. There'd still be nine ranked teams #17-#25 that would be involved and some other good interesting inter-conference matchups.

[DmoneyDuck]

If the FCS can make it work, then the FBS should be able to as well

[Dr.Plompy]

So what you're saying is, it eliminates the constant refrain of "We've never had a champion in college football", and it makes everyone a $#!*load more money in the process, but we're still not going to have a playoff.

Thank god the BCS is so logical, huh?

[spinseeker]

Actually, there are MANY reasons why there should be a playoff in D1 college football, but I want to address the biggest objection - University Presidents would never allow it.

Okay, besides the Pac-12 vs Big-10 Rose Bowl affiliation, which could be worked around, here are my thoughts:

There are 120 FBS teams. Of those 120 teams, only 16 would participate in a playoff (at the most).

The University Presidents have ZERO issues with their school sending their team to a Bowl game, correct? Well, then that would reduce the number of President's with a problem to 8 and the odds of their team being there EVERY YEAR would be slim, at best.

Next, there's been talk of a "Plus One" game happening and many UP'S have been more open to this idea, but that would add one additional week to the season. With a "real" playoff instead, we'd now be down to 4 teams.

Now we'd be to the point where all Bowl game and Plus One scenarios have played out, but there would still be 4 teams left in a national semifinal. Now we're talking about a LUCRATIVE amount of cash that would be paid to these four schools. The UP'S would really have a problem with this?

Finally, the following week would be the championship game. Once again, the money would be a HUGE winfall for the 2 remaining schools, but the UP'S have a problem with this?

How many consecutive years could a school be expected to make it into the playoffs, let alone into the semi's, etc? But if they did the schools athletic departments (and other departments) would benefit greatly. How could the University possibly have an issue with 80-90 athletes having to make up a couple weeks worth of Finals tests in exchange for what could potentially be several million dollars?

Now, these are the leaders of some of the largest institutions in our country, so there's no doubt that they can do the math. My question to them would be, "what are you hiding, Sir?" or better yet, "how much are they paying you, Sir?"

I'm just in disbelief that this hasn't happened yet.

Thoughts?

This was the point of my first post. The CCG this year was just an example of the problems having a game the following week would present.

You would probably need two weeks between games. The lower divisions and basketball can make it work because it's generally less than 20,000 fans. It is quite a bit harder to plan for 60k-100k fans at a neutral site. I just think 1 week could hurt more than help.

[SuperDuck]

Actually, there are MANY reasons why there should be a playoff in D1 college football, but I want to address the biggest objection - University Presidents would never allow it.

Okay, besides the Pac-12 vs Big-10 Rose Bowl affiliation, which could be worked around, here are my thoughts:

There are 120 FBS teams. Of those 120 teams, only 16 would participate in a playoff (at the most).

The University Presidents have ZERO issues with their school sending their team to a Bowl game, correct? Well, then that would reduce the number of President's with a problem to 8 and the odds of their team being there EVERY YEAR would be slim, at best.

Next, there's been talk of a "Plus One" game happening and many UP'S have been more open to this idea, but that would add one additional week to the season. With a "real" playoff instead, we'd now be down to 4 teams.

Now we'd be to the point where all Bowl game and Plus One scenarios have played out, but there would still be 4 teams left in a national semifinal. Now we're talking about a LUCRATIVE amount of cash that would be paid to these four schools. The UP'S would really have a problem with this?

Finally, the following week would be the championship game. Once again, the money would be a HUGE winfall for the 2 remaining schools, but the UP'S have a problem with this?

How many consecutive years could a school be expected to make it into the playoffs, let alone into the semi's, etc? But if they did the schools athletic departments (and other departments) would benefit greatly. How could the University possibly have an issue with 80-90 athletes having to make up a couple weeks worth of Finals tests in exchange for what could potentially be several million dollars?

Now, these are the leaders of some of the largest institutions in our country, so there's no doubt that they can do the math. My question to them would be, "what are you hiding, Sir?" or better yet, "how much are they paying you, Sir?"

I'm just in disbelief that this hasn't happened yet.

Thoughts?

This was the point of my first post. The CCG this year was just an example of the problems having a game the following week would present.

You would probably need two weeks between games. The lower divisions and basketball can make it work because it's generally less than 20,000 fans. It is quite a bit harder to plan for 60k-100k fans at a neutral site. I just think 1 week could hurt more than help.

I respectfully disagree.

Having two weeks between games would double the length of the playoffs from one month to two months. The time it would take for a playoff is one of the UP's biggest sticking points. That is unless you mean a one week break between the end of the regular season to the start of the playoffs? I could see doing that, but could also live without it.

Also, an extra week would give playoff teams more time to prepare. We've seen that not be in Oregon's favor in the past.

[spinseeker]

I just don't think you will be able to draw the ticket sales two weeks in a row at a neutral site game without knowing who will be in the game for only 6 days. I guarantee you that will be a major sticking point. They would either need more time between the games than 1 week, or semifinal games held at home stadium of one of the contestants.

All the tv money would be there and then some, but they still consider ticket sales the main indicator of success and they will need to accommodate for that.

[JIDuck97]

I just don't think you will be able to draw the ticket sales two weeks in a row at a neutral site game without knowing who will be in the game for only 6 days. I guarantee you that will be a major sticking point. They would either need more time between the games than 1 week, or semifinal games held at home stadium of one of the contestants.

All the tv money would be there and then some, but they still consider ticket sales the main indicator of success and they will need to accommodate for that.

Dang. That must be why the pros don't make much money and team fans don't travel during the playoffs...

[spinseeker]

I just don't think you will be able to draw the ticket sales two weeks in a row at a neutral site game without knowing who will be in the game for only 6 days. I guarantee you that will be a major sticking point. They would either need more time between the games than 1 week, or semifinal games held at home stadium of one of the contestants.

All the tv money would be there and then some, but they still consider ticket sales the main indicator of success and they will need to accommodate for that.

Dang. That must be why the pros don't make much money and team fans don't travel during the playoffs...

Since I can sense the sarcasm I will respond. The pro teams are located in major cities and tend to have entire states as fans, including national fame. Whereas D1 teams may be located in smaller communities and have to share the state with many other universities.

It all comes down to numbers. The more fans you have, the higher the number of affluent people that can afford to take time off work and plan for those types of trips.

How many college teams charge NFL prices? NFL can afford to charge more because there fan base is enormously larger than any college team. Seems to me there is more than a week prior to the Super Bowl. I don't watch NFl though, so I could be wrong.

[spinseeker]

So, last years NFL schedule leaves two weeks from play offs to Superbowl. The NFL site didn't say where the playoff games were played. Are those neutral site or home games?

[bigfootlebowski]

Actually, there are MANY reasons why there should be a playoff in D1 college football, but I want to address the biggest objection - University Presidents would never allow it.

Okay, besides the Pac-12 vs Big-10 Rose Bowl affiliation, which could be worked around, here are my thoughts:

There are 120 FBS teams. Of those 120 teams, only 16 would participate in a playoff (at the most).

The University Presidents have ZERO issues with their school sending their team to a Bowl game, correct? Well, then that would reduce the number of President's with a problem to 8 and the odds of their team being there EVERY YEAR would be slim, at best.

Next, there's been talk of a "Plus One" game happening and many UP'S have been more open to this idea, but that would add one additional week to the season. With a "real" playoff instead, we'd now be down to 4 teams.

Now we'd be to the point where all Bowl game and Plus One scenarios have played out, but there would still be 4 teams left in a national semifinal. Now we're talking about a LUCRATIVE amount of cash that would be paid to these four schools. The UP'S would really have a problem with this?

Finally, the following week would be the championship game. Once again, the money would be a HUGE winfall for the 2 remaining schools, but the UP'S have a problem with this?

How many consecutive years could a school be expected to make it into the playoffs, let alone into the semi's, etc? But if they did the schools athletic departments (and other departments) would benefit greatly. How could the University possibly have an issue with 80-90 athletes having to make up a couple weeks worth of Finals tests in exchange for what could potentially be several million dollars?

Now, these are the leaders of some of the largest institutions in our country, so there's no doubt that they can do the math. My question to them would be, "what are you hiding, Sir?" or better yet, "how much are they paying you, Sir?"

I'm just in disbelief that this hasn't happened yet.

Thoughts?

One really good reason duck fans should want a playoff, CK speed concept, we would have an advantage every game except for the first, we can always schedule a patsy or two like the sec...If a playoff happens i bet we win a couple in the first few years of it, with talent and advantages of running it fast there is no team that can get ready that fast, so we will have advantage even against sec type teams, and if our talent increases watch out!

[SuperDuck]

I just don't think you will be able to draw the ticket sales two weeks in a row at a neutral site game without knowing who will be in the game for only 6 days. I guarantee you that will be a major sticking point. They would either need more time between the games than 1 week, or semifinal games held at home stadium of one of the contestants.

All the tv money would be there and then some, but they still consider ticket sales the main indicator of success and they will need to accommodate for that.

Dang. That must be why the pros don't make much money and team fans don't travel during the playoffs...

Since I can sense the sarcasm I will respond. The pro teams are located in major cities and tend to have entire states as fans, including national fame. Whereas D1 teams may be located in smaller communities and have to share the state with many other universities.

It all comes down to numbers. The more fans you have, the higher the number of affluent people that can afford to take time off work and plan for those types of trips.

How many college teams charge NFL prices? NFL can afford to charge more because there fan base is enormously larger than any college team. Seems to me there is more than a week prior to the Super Bowl. I don't watch NFl though, so I could be wrong.

The national semifinals and championship game would have to be played at a neutral site, preferably a BCS Bowl. All other games would be played at the home of the higher seeded team.

The NFL sells out playoff games every year, the Super Bowl, the NCAA Final Four and more.

As was already mentioned, it could be done if they wanted to find a way.