Post Reply to Rock's House

This is not a vent board or any other kind of therapy. Before you hit the POST button, ask yourself if your contribution will add to the level of discussion going on.

Important notes on articles:

Handle:
Password:
Subject:

Message:

HTTP Link (optional):

Poster's Email (optional):

 


Post being replied to

FCS jumped from 4 to 16 teams in its first eight years. by No Right Turn on Red

It stayed at 16 teams for the next twenty-four years before going to 20 and 24 teams over the next three years, where it's been since. There are only ten automatic bids, so fourteen at-large teams make the playoffs, with the top eight teams getting first round byes.

The playoffs work well for FCS, but teams also only play an eleven or twelve game regular season (depending on the calendar year) with no conference championship games. That doesn't necessarily mean it would work for FBS, especially if FBS refuses to budge on conference title games, as they are very different animals.

For an 8-team playoff to work, you either need to have no auto-bids or throw a bone to the Group of Five. The first might be the best option, but isn't happening, as the Power-5 will want auto-bids for their champions. While the Group of Five would likely be happy with two or three at-large spots (depending on where ND slots in a given year), it's unlikely the Power-5 will be satisfied with no possible at-large bids.

I'm not sure FBS could agree on 12-team playoff for much of the same reasons. There's no way the Power-5 would agree to autobids to all ten leagues, leaving just two at-larges for them to fight over. Similarly, I'm not sure the Group of Five would be satisfied not having more than one autobid.

A 16-team playoff would allow for autobids for all ten leagues and six at-larges. If conference championship games were eliminated, I could get on board with this. (I could get on board with about any scenario that eliminates conference title games.) Eliminating conference title games means each conference has to set a policy on how their champion is decided, meaning it would be increasingly unlikely that a low ranked team from an inferior conference division could steal an auto-bid.