I think it is darn-near certain the playoffs expand.

[The-Hack]

I heard/watched some older talking head blather on and on that “the BIG is better than the SEC,” defending the damn-near certainty that IU will bump a 10-2 SEC team from the playoffs.

Right!!!!!

That jerkwad was simply speaking to his mid-western cronies and the mid-western viewers.

When the SEC gets only three teams in, and the BIG four, in the South, all the kings’ horses and all the kings’ men will soon see to it that sh!t don’t happen again!!

I’d bet we’ll be at 24 teams within 5 years.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

I heard/watched some older talking head blather on and on that “the BIG is better than the SEC,” defending the damn-near certainty that IU will bump a 10-2 SEC team from the playoffs.

Right!!!!!

That jerkwad was simply speaking to his mid-western cronies and the mid-western viewers.

When the SEC gets only three teams in, and the BIG four, in the South, all the kings’ horses and all the kings’ men will soon see to it that sh!t don’t happen again!!

I’d bet we’ll be at 24 teams within 5 years.

Someone on the UGA board, I think it was there, posted a list of where the committee came from and connections to conference. There were 7 with connections to Big10 and one with SEC connections who is the AD at Virginia. I didnt check for accuracy but how could the SEC reps let that happen.l

As for expansion of our current model, I can't believe we didn't go with 16 teams. If we expand much pas 16 I think we may need to cutback on regular season games. As it is, a team playing in confconfence championship game and not getting a bye will play 17 games. Will teams lose players to academics playing that late in spring semester? But as it is now SEC may be faced with getting 2 teams in, 3 if UGA wins SEC. I think SEC teams with 3 losses are out. All those big 10 connections makes me nervous. I think half the SEC beats indiana. But osu, indiana Oregon and PSU are all in 100%.

 

[Deeeefense]

I don't necessarily think the solution is expanding the field, rather they committee needs to rely much more on computer rankings which are much more accurate at ranking teams in consideration of the strength of the opponents they face.

 

[BlueBallz]

It doesn’t matter how much it gets expanded, there will always be those complaining that 2-4 deserving teams didn’t get in. Just look at the basketball tournament.

 

[bballcat4]

I heard/watched some older talking head blather on and on that “the BIG is better than the SEC,” defending the damn-near certainty that IU will bump a 10-2 SEC team from the playoffs.

The SEC is so strong top to bottom that several very good SEC teams will have 3 losses every year. This will knock out 2-3 SEC teams every year of the current format.

We beat Ole Miss
Vandy & Okla beat Ala
Aub beat TxAm

Two of those three teams would have made 12 team CFP if they played in any other league. I think it will be rinse & repeat every year.

However, I do believe the new format has added to the excitement. Nor will I be surprised if a non-conference champion wins the CFP. I can easily see the loser of SEC and B10 championship winning the whole thing. The #5 seed may have easiest road and I’m guessing the loser of Ore-vs-OSU gets that coveted seed.

 

[3632]

There’s no reason not to expand to 16. Every other level of football has that without the money for the best travel accommodations. 24 seems a bit much.

 

[bthaunert]

Someone on the UGA board, I think it was there, posted a list of where the committee came from and connections to conference. There were 7 with connections to Big10 and one with SEC connections who is the AD at Virginia. I didnt check for accuracy but how could the SEC reps let that happen.l

As for expansion of our current model, I can't believe we didn't go with 16 teams. If we expand much pas 16 I think we may need to cutback on regular season games. As it is, a team playing in confconfence championship game and not getting a bye will play 17 games. Will teams lose players to academics playing that late in spring semester? But as it is now SEC may be faced with getting 2 teams in, 3 if UGA wins SEC. I think SEC teams with 3 losses are out. All those big 10 connections makes me nervous. I think half the SEC beats indiana. But osu, indiana Oregon and PSU are all in 100%.

Those numbers are off:

BIG
Warde Manuel - Michigan AD
Kelly Whiteside - Rutgers grad
Will Sheilds - Nebraska grad

SEC
Gary Pinkel - former Mizzou HC
Mack Rhodes - former Mizzou AD
David Sayler - worked at UGA
Carla Williams - former UGA athlete and former administrator at UGA and Vandy
Hunter Yurachek - AD at Arkansas

BOTH
Mike Riley - former Nebraska HC. Played at Bama

 

[gamecockcat]

If they expand, will they please eliminate a bunch/all the no-name bowls. I haven't watched any bowl game that UK isn't in other than the major bowls in 10+ years. They're going to become CFB equivalent of the NIT tournament and we all know how much excitement that generates.

 

[Boz]

Why add another SEC game to go to 9? I don't understand it.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

No telling what lengths theyll chase trying to prove the sec isnt the dominant conference.

Instead they should take their current situation as a win and shut up. Top to bottom the sec is by far the best. But for every game being a war, the playoffs would be dominated by sec teams.

 

[truebluewildcat]

Folks the whole idea of expanding playoffs was to get more teams thus more fan bases/demographics involved.

The goal wasn’t specifically for more SEC teams.

IU deserves to be in there.

Also some of you have to break away from the sec tribalism. There is good football in other conferences. This year specifically SEC cant bully people into special treatment. When your best teams are losing to UK, Vandy, Oklahoma…it’s a wrap you’re not as good as you think you are.

 

[3632]

Folks the whole idea of expanding playoffs was to get more teams thus more fan bases/demographics involved.

The goal wasn’t specifically for more SEC teams.

IU deserves to be in there.

Also some of you have to break away from the sec tribalism. There is good football in other conferences. This year specifically SEC cant bully people into special treatment. When your best teams are losing to UK, Vandy, Oklahoma…it’s a wrap you’re not as good as you think you are.

This is what flies in the face of people lamenting UK with the current environment and NIL etc. this current landscape has more parity than we’ve ever had yet there are people going ‘why would you expect us (stoops) to do anything…NIL…etc’

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Those numbers are off:

BIG
Warde Manuel - Michigan AD
Kelly Whiteside - Rutgers grad
Will Sheilds - Nebraska grad

SEC
Gary Pinkel - former Mizzou HC
Mack Rhodes - former Mizzou AD
David Sayler - worked at UGA
Carla Williams - former UGA athlete and former administrator at UGA and Vandy
Hunter Yurachek - AD at Arkansas

BOTH
Mike Riley - former Nebraska HC.

Played at Bama

They certainly were. But when Carl left she wasn't on great terms. She was an assistant AD over something and wasn't happy because she thought she was going to be the new AD and we went outside for the new one.

 

[gojvc]

I heard/watched some older talking head blather on and on that “the BIG is better than the SEC,” defending the damn-near certainty that IU will bump a 10-2 SEC team from the playoffs.

Right!!!!!

That jerkwad was simply speaking to his mid-western cronies and the mid-western viewers.

When the SEC gets only three teams in, and the BIG four, in the South, all the kings’ horses and all the kings’ men will soon see to it that sh!t don’t happen again!!

I’d bet we’ll be at 24 teams within 5 years.

The day the playoff went to four it was a 100 percent certainty it would eventually go to 16. I’m not sure it will expand past that but it will for absolute certain go to 16.

 

[truebluewildcat]

Agree with the inevitability of further expansion. The numbers in terms of ratings for the season will most likely dictate it.

More fan bases/regions with hope at making playoffs I think will make this season one of the most watched and lucrative. Add 4 more to make 16 it just grows that equation .

Expands the casual interest which is just as if not more important than the die hards.

 

[Jeff Sykes]

Indian is a joke. If they had played UGA's schedule they would be a .500 team. If they are going to reward Indiana for playing only one good team then the SEC needs to stay at 8 league games and allow the teams to schedule 4 cupcake games every year.

 

[southindycat]

The day the playoff went to four it was a 100 percent certainty it would eventually go to 16. I’m not sure it will expand past that but it will for absolute certain go to 16.

Yeah, I fully expect 16 soon, but don't see quality out at 24 to support that move.

 

[southindycat]

Indian is a joke. If they had played UGA's schedule they would be a .500 team. If they are going to reward Indiana for playing only one good team then the SEC needs to stay at 8 league games and allow the teams to schedule 4 cupcake games every year.

IU just got exposed and will probably get stripped naked in the playoffs.

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

Anyone who's really looking can see the SEC is much better top to bottom than anyone else. That said IMO the top tier SEC teams appear a bit down to me from past years. Bama has weakest defense I've seen em have in a decade. UGA has a weak O line( by their standards) and negligible running game. UT is inconsistent at QB. Texas has benefited from the most favorable SEC schedule I have ever seen and lost to only good team in conference they faced. I don't see them winning it this year. Unfortunately O State and Oregon look like the best teams to me.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Anyone who's really looking can see the SEC is much better top to bottom than anyone else. That said IMO the top tier SEC teams appear a bit down to me from past years. Bama has weakest defense I've seen em have in a decade. UGA has a weak O line( by their standards) and negligible running game. UT is inconsistent at QB. Texas has benefited from the most favorable SEC schedule I have ever seen and lost to only good team in conference they faced. I don't see them winning it this year. Unfortunately O State and Oregon look like the best teams to me.

Agree with your assessment of UGA and Bama, Texas too. Was ironic that a Texas fan called in to announce the longhorns dominated the conference their first year and will continue to do so. Takesxalot to beat a good team 2 times in one season, but I really hope UGA can pull it off against the conference killers.

 

[CatFanOverseas]

IU hasn't faced anyone with a pulse other than Ohio St. Fairly certain their SoS isnt even top 50 at this point. They will wilt in the playoffs

 

[3632]

Indian is a joke. If they had played UGA's schedule they would be a .500 team. If they are going to reward Indiana for playing only one good team then the SEC needs to stay at 8 league games and allow the teams to schedule 4 cupcake games every year.

they are currently ahead of smu for the p4 ‘in’ teams with sos. And of course Boise and Tulane

 

[The-Hack]

When your best teams are losing to UK, Vandy, Oklahoma…it’s a wrap you’re not as good as you think you are.

No.

It’s clear proof of the depth of talent and competitiveness.

Just compare IU’s recruiting classes to the “bottom” half of the SEC. They might have competed on even terms with Vandy who has averaged about 40th, but we, Oklahoma, Arkansas, South Carolina have been 15th to 30th about every year.

Just because all forests have trees that are short, and trees that are tall, does not mean all forests have the same median height.

The SEC is the Sequoia Forest, and IU chopped down a lot of midwestern maples.

 

[The-Hack]

It doesn’t matter how much it gets expanded, there will always be those complaining that 2-4 deserving teams didn’t get in. Just look at the basketball tournament.

True, but then the argument will shift to whether a two loss BIG team gets in over a 3 loss SEC team. Frankly, even at 16 teams, I don’t think the SEC should ever get 6 spots, but 4 or 5 would guarantee that anyone in the SEC that might have the depth and talent to catch fire has a shot.

 

[rick64]

I would take the 3 or 4 most respected polls and take the teams average ranking to get the top 12 teams and then seed them accordingly. Top 4 seeds get the bye.

 

[HeismaNole]

I heard/watched some older talking head blather on and on that “the BIG is better than the SEC,” defending the damn-near certainty that IU will bump a 10-2 SEC team from the playoffs.

Right!!!!!

That jerkwad was simply speaking to his mid-western cronies and the mid-western viewers.

When the SEC gets only three teams in, and the BIG four, in the South, all the kings’ horses and all the kings’ men will soon see to it that sh!t don’t happen again!!

I’d bet we’ll be at 24 teams within 5 years.

What? What’s the point of the regular season if you take in middle of the pack SEC teams? Ridiculous.

I also don’t think I have ever seen someone suggest the media wasn’t an absolute shill for the SEC. ESPN moved mountains to get Alabama into the CFP last year.

12 teams is already way too much. The regular season is pointless if you’re just letting three loss teams in. There is also no reason to have a conference title game when expanding the tournament. It’s unnecessary.

I’ve watched college football all of my life and I have never heard anyone suggesting the 9th-12th ranked teams had an argument for a championship.

 

[HeismaNole]

No.

It’s clear proof of the depth of talent and competitiveness.

This is absurd, man. Pure bias. The SEC is top heavy and that’s been the case for many years. That’s it. The East has sucked for like 15 years with Georgia as the exception.

Three SEC teams made the CFP in its entire existence- Bama and Georgia (twice), LSU once. There’s nothing special about the middle of the pack every year.

NIL/Portal takes away a big advantage of what programs like Bama was doing which was hoarding depth. That’s why you don’t see many undefeated teams going forward.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

You do realize there are 5-6 SEC teams that would be unbeaten playing in the ACC right?

 

[truebluewildcat]

No.

It’s clear proof of the depth of talent and competitiveness.

Just compare IU’s recruiting classes to the “bottom” half of the SEC. They might have competed on even terms with Vandy who has averaged about 40th, but we, Oklahoma, Arkansas, South Carolina have been 15th to 30th about every year.

Just because all forests have trees that are short, and trees that are tall, does not mean all forests have the same median height.

The SEC is the Sequoia Forest, and IU chopped down a lot of midwestern maples.

That’s all well and good but the playoffs were expanded to allow more variety of trees from a variety of forests to be gazed upon by more variety of eyeballs.

A couple Sequoias, couple maples, couple oaks, couple cedars, couple birch, couple conifers…

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

It's really an 11 team playoff considering ND a 1 man conference will always get in 2 losses taking up one of the spots. Also putting in teams like Boise State and calling them one of 12 best teams is ridiculous. There should be 8 teams in it. That's the MAX Imo number of teams with a legitame shot at winning it. 2 teameach from the BIG and SEC. ACC champion and 3 at large. The first round is about money and TV as no 9-12 has a chance of winning tourney.

 

[3632]

This is absurd, man. Pure bias. The SEC is top heavy and that’s been the case for many years. That’s it. The East has sucked for like 15 years with Georgia as the exception.

Three SEC teams made the CFP in its entire existence- Bama and Georgia (twice), LSU once. There’s nothing special about the middle of the pack every year.

NIL/Portal takes away a big advantage of what programs like Bama was doing which was hoarding depth. That’s why you don’t see many undefeated teams going forward.

Everything from draft picks to bowl records etc support any sec bias over the last 20 years. It’s so Danny kannellish to talk like it’s fabricated out of thin air. In this new era of football where rosters don’t stay loaded it remains to be seen whether that can really continue. But that is exactly what supports having more teams involved in the playoffs. Bama isn’t Bama but they’re good enough on a week to pick off Oregon. FSU has sucked under norvel but accidentally got good for one season because of hits in the portal. If they hadn’t lost the qb last year they were possibly good enough to pick up a win in a 12 team playoff.

 

[Thecycle27]

The solution is pretty simple. The SEC and even Big Ten don’t need more qualifiers than the ACC and Big 12. Keep in mind playoffs at all levels is never about the crowning the best team. The regular season has always told us the best team. This year is no different Ohio State is the best team. Talent wise and performance wise. NFL remember the Patriots losing the Giants? The Giants weren’t the best team.

The solution is move it to 16 teams. Each conference gets 4 AQ’s. That is plenty of teams for each conference and let it be settled on the field. The conferences figure out their own way of determining their 4 teams. Notre Dame force them in a conference or they take a spot away from the lowest ranked team. So year a conference may only get 3. To include the P5 teams they have a playin game with the 16th seed P4 team. Eliminate the conference title games.

The committees only role is to seed the teams. Then let the games be played. It removes all this BS which conference is the best. The SEC created this problem for themselves.

The SEC problem is all the schools are investing heavily which means they all will have legit talent. They are going to take losses.

This year no one would be complaining with Texas, Georgia, Tennessee or Alabama-Ole Miss-South Carolina-Missouri because the tie breaking system would pick the 4th place team.

The idea that the national audience would watch the SEC or Big Ten if they broke away is ridiculous. Even their own fans would get tired of seeing Georgia-Alabama against Ohio State or Michigan every other year. The national audience wouldn’t watch.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Does anyone feel a team from the Big12 or ACC has a real shot at the NC? To fix the playoffs the Big and SEC leave NCAA for their own association and let what's left pick up the scraps. ND doesn't want in a conference, maybe the minor leagues will play them. SEC needs to add 2 or big drop 2.

 

[Thecycle27]

Does anyone feel a team from the Big12 or ACC has a real shot at the NC? To fix the playoffs the Big and SEC leave NCAA for their own association and let what's left pick up the scraps. ND doesn't want in a conference, maybe the minor leagues will play them. SEC needs to add 2 or big drop 2.

They can absolutely split apart and watch their viewership tank. The conference arrogance is going to burn them. Their viewership isn’t just SEC fans it is all these other weaker conference fanbases that watch because they have a rooting interest. Take that away see what happens.

Do you really think the end result would be any different if they spilt apart? Why would you risk losing a significant audience to come up with the same outcome. You just went through the conference slate. Do we really need to see them beat the shit of those teams again?

Again the playoff is a TV product it isn’t about the best teams winning it. They aren’t going to eliminate a significant audience. Why doesn’t Georgia fan even care? Makes no sense. You just won the conference. Now you want a to play these teams again to win what?

 

[HeismaNole]

Everything from draft picks to bowl records etc support any sec bias over the last 20 years. It’s so Danny kannellish to talk like it’s fabricated out of thin air. In this new era of football where rosters don’t stay loaded it remains to be seen whether that can really continue. But that is exactly what supports having more teams involved in the playoffs. Bama isn’t Bama but they’re good enough on a week to pick off Oregon. FSU has sucked under norvel but accidentally got good for one season because of hits in the portal. If they hadn’t lost the qb last year they were possibly good enough to pick up a win in a 12 team playoff.

This wasn't about FSU. They were absolutely one of the four best teams last year with an amazing defense; the only defense that shut down the Heisman winner and only gave up ONE TD in 2.5 games after Travis' injury. They got cheated to favor the financial interest of ESPN with the SEC. That's absolutely what occurred. Because there was no logic based off of the rankings post Travis injury and the games that occurred after. If Georgia beats Bama, Texas was going to be left out. They wouldn't have had to worry about getting an SEC team in at that point. But because Georgia lost, they had to get Bama in but they couldn't get Bama in without Texas. So magically, Texas jumps FSU despite FSU beating a higher ranked team in the conference title game than Texas did.

I'm a UK fan first and the bias for the entire conference is ridiculous. Again, this is an entire conference beating their chests off the accomplishments of a few schools but mostly Alabama.

Acting like Miss State or South Carolina deserve some accolades and are just somehow better than anyone else in the nation because they're from the SEC is so stupid. The SEC stuff started with Tebow. Once the CFP started, Alabama was responsible for 8 playoff appearances in 10 years. Georgia had three. LSU had one. It has been a top heavy conference for many years.

 

[HeismaNole]

Does anyone feel a team from the Big12 or ACC has a real shot at the NC? To fix the playoffs the Big and SEC leave NCAA for their own association and let what's left pick up the scraps. ND doesn't want in a conference, maybe the minor leagues will play them. SEC needs to add 2 or big drop 2.

The entire point of the super conferences has been to lay the groundwork to abolish the NCAA which I'm in full support of.

In regards to the tournament, no, I don't think any of the Big 12 or ACC teams are going to win it all this season. Those Watson/Lawrence Clemson teams were absolutely an era that could win it and made three title game in four years but it's down now. Big 12 is completely gutted with Oklahoma and Texas gone.

The SEC/Big Ten have nearly 40 teams in a sport that has had very little parity so the chances are, they're going to win it.

 

[Tskware]

The corollary to the OP is that I think it is a near certainty that the bowl system will implode in short order. Once the playoffs got to 12, I think the Opt Outs in the remaining post season games will be epic, 20 and 30 players electing not to participate will be common, and at that point, fans and TV will not bother to show up either.

 

[3632]

This wasn't about FSU. They were absolutely one of the four best teams last year with an amazing defense; the only defense that shut down the Heisman winner and only gave up ONE TD in 2.5 games after Travis' injury. They got cheated to favor the financial interest of ESPN with the SEC. That's absolutely what occurred. Because there was no logic based off of the rankings post Travis injury and the games that occurred after. If Georgia beats Bama, Texas was going to be left out. They wouldn't have had to worry about getting an SEC team in at that point. But because Georgia lost, they had to get Bama in but they couldn't get Bama in without Texas. So magically, Texas jumps FSU despite FSU beating a higher ranked team in the conference title game than Texas did.

I'm a UK fan first and the bias for the entire conference is ridiculous. Again, this is an entire conference beating their chests off the accomplishments of a few schools but mostly Alabama.

Acting like Miss State or South Carolina deserve some accolades and are just somehow better than anyone else in the nation because they're from the SEC is so stupid. The SEC stuff started with Tebow. Once the CFP started, Alabama was responsible for 8 playoff appearances in 10 years. Georgia had three. LSU had one. It has been a top heavy conference for many years.

I understand but I’m also citing them as a legit example of a team that doesn’t go undefeated if they played in the sec but is good enough to get their shot in expanded playoffs.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

They can absolutely split apart and watch their viewership tank. The conference arrogance is going to burn them. Their viewership isn’t just SEC fans it is all these other weaker conference fanbases that watch because they have a rooting interest. Take that away see what happens.

Do you really think the end result would be any different if they spilt apart? Why would you risk losing a significant audience to come up with the same outcome. You just went through the conference slate. Do we really need to see them beat the shit of those teams again?

Again the playoff is a TV product it isn’t about the best teams winning it. They aren’t going to eliminate a significant audience. Why doesn’t Georgia fan even care? Makes no sense. You just won the conference. Now you want a to play these teams again to win what?

Are you serious? Only 2-3 teams in the little 2 have a fanbase that fills their stadiums. The cupcakes we all schedule don't watch.

I see no risk of dropping games that produce little interest, who you want to see Bama vs OSU or Bams vs Akron? I don't enjoy non competitive games.

UGA didn't win the conference, all it won was a chance to beat a top 5 team 2 times in a season, a very tough task

 

[The-Hack]

I'm a UK fan first and the bias for the entire conference is ridiculous. Again, this is an entire conference beating their chests off the accomplishments of a few schools but mostly Alabama.

If I were 15 years old, I would agree.

But more than half of BCS/Playoff championships THE LAST 28 YEARS have included 6 SEC teams, and with Oklahoma and Texas, it’s 8 of the current 16 membership, and WAY more than half the titles.

Top-Heavy?

Name a conference that isn’t? The BIG has TWO teams who have titles since the BCS/playoffs.

Now, that is Top Heavy.

Top Heavy?

Yes, in the 90’s, Top Heavy for Florida and Tennessee, in the 00’s, Top heavy for LSU and Florida, the 2010-15 era, top heavy for Auburn and Bama, and 2015-2024, Top Heavy for LSU, Bama and Georgia.