Seems like I have heard and/or read that many observers believe that due to the new playoff format, it will discourage teams from playing tough OOC games in the future. Maybe even Deboer of Bama said so?
Anyway, I took a look at the teams actually in the playoffs this year and can't see why that would be true. Clemson played Georgia and Oregon played Boise State, and all four are in the playoffs, and three have top four seeds! Texas played at Michigan, Penn State opened with a road game at West Virginia, Tennessee played a neutral site game vs. NC State, SMU played BYU, Notre Dame played at Texas A&M, and even Arizona State hosted Miss State, who was pitiful but ASU was supposed to be really bad as well, and it was the first SEC team to play in Tempe in 16 years. Only Ohio State and Indiana failed to play anyone outside their conference in a P4 league, but to be fair, OSU did play three of the other 11 playoff teams, two on the road.
Looking at the above, my take is that if you have a good team, it is not going to hurt you to play at least one tough OOC game a year, even a loss (Clemson, Boise State) is not going to prevent you from being in the CFP, based on this year.
Anyway, I took a look at the teams actually in the playoffs this year and can't see why that would be true. Clemson played Georgia and Oregon played Boise State, and all four are in the playoffs, and three have top four seeds! Texas played at Michigan, Penn State opened with a road game at West Virginia, Tennessee played a neutral site game vs. NC State, SMU played BYU, Notre Dame played at Texas A&M, and even Arizona State hosted Miss State, who was pitiful but ASU was supposed to be really bad as well, and it was the first SEC team to play in Tempe in 16 years. Only Ohio State and Indiana failed to play anyone outside their conference in a P4 league, but to be fair, OSU did play three of the other 11 playoff teams, two on the road.
Looking at the above, my take is that if you have a good team, it is not going to hurt you to play at least one tough OOC game a year, even a loss (Clemson, Boise State) is not going to prevent you from being in the CFP, based on this year.
