I still think the best option is get auto bids by power 5 Conferences with 3 At Large bids as well.
There is far more money in a playoff scenario. That would bring your must watch games (minus alma maters) to 7.
This year might also have been the PERFECT year to do it.
My seeding would go as follows.
1. Alabama vs. 8.Washington
2. Clemson vs. 7. Georgia
3. Notre Dame vs. 6. UCF
4. Oklahoma vs. 5. Ohio State
1. Alabama vs. 8. Washington (Hypothetical Location: New Orleans)
In this scenario the very first game you get is the best team from the "best conference" vs an incredibly maligned yet still potent power 5 Conference Champion, who is in based on their autobid and seeded due to their low ranking among the polls. Would Washington pull off this upset? Probably not. But I garuntee this game is better than Washington vs Ohio State, and with an opportunity to still play either Oklahoma or Ohio State, followed by a National championship against either Clemson, Notre Dame, against SEC rival Geogia or the biggest underdog to make it, UCF, the stories just get better.
2.Clemson vs 7. Georgia (Hypothetical Location: Phoenix)
Two percieved powerhouses go toe to toe. Georgia is perceived by some in the south as maybe the second best team in football. Even though they lost to LSU and Alabama, they are thought of by many as a very tough and physical team. Clemson meanwhile hasn't played a particularly close game all year and looks every bit ready to prove that it belongs right with 'Bama and further from the rest of the pack
3. Notre Dame vs UCF (Hypothetical Location : Philadelphia)
The battle of No conference vs small conference champion. This game has all the makings of everyone asking if the other team is real or not. Right now, nobody really knows, and after this game that might still be the case. If Notre Dame wins, they would play the winner of Clemson/Georgia and beat a "real team" The same might also be true for UCF, but UCF as an extreme underdog and unlikely story is going to hold that nations attention for as long as it's in the playoff. If they manage somehow, someway to beat Notre Dame, then beat or play competively with Clemson/Georgia it will continue to erode the bias of conference superiority.
4.Oklahoma vs. 5. Ohio State (San Diego)
The two likely best teams outside of Clemson and Alabama get to prove whose better. Similar to Clemson and Georgia, this puts two heavy weights together and we get to see who comes out on top. There is bad blood with the histories of OSU beating Oklahoma 45-24 in 2016, only to lose to them a year later and have Baker Mayfield plant a flag in Columbus. This year would be the ultimate rubber match.
This year might also have been the PERFECT year to do it.
My seeding would go as follows.
1. Alabama vs. 8.Washington
2. Clemson vs. 7. Georgia
3. Notre Dame vs. 6. UCF
4. Oklahoma vs. 5. Ohio State
1. Alabama vs. 8. Washington (Hypothetical Location: New Orleans)
In this scenario the very first game you get is the best team from the "best conference" vs an incredibly maligned yet still potent power 5 Conference Champion, who is in based on their autobid and seeded due to their low ranking among the polls. Would Washington pull off this upset? Probably not. But I garuntee this game is better than Washington vs Ohio State, and with an opportunity to still play either Oklahoma or Ohio State, followed by a National championship against either Clemson, Notre Dame, against SEC rival Geogia or the biggest underdog to make it, UCF, the stories just get better.
2.Clemson vs 7. Georgia (Hypothetical Location: Phoenix)
Two percieved powerhouses go toe to toe. Georgia is perceived by some in the south as maybe the second best team in football. Even though they lost to LSU and Alabama, they are thought of by many as a very tough and physical team. Clemson meanwhile hasn't played a particularly close game all year and looks every bit ready to prove that it belongs right with 'Bama and further from the rest of the pack
3. Notre Dame vs UCF (Hypothetical Location : Philadelphia)
The battle of No conference vs small conference champion. This game has all the makings of everyone asking if the other team is real or not. Right now, nobody really knows, and after this game that might still be the case. If Notre Dame wins, they would play the winner of Clemson/Georgia and beat a "real team" The same might also be true for UCF, but UCF as an extreme underdog and unlikely story is going to hold that nations attention for as long as it's in the playoff. If they manage somehow, someway to beat Notre Dame, then beat or play competively with Clemson/Georgia it will continue to erode the bias of conference superiority.
4.Oklahoma vs. 5. Ohio State (San Diego)
The two likely best teams outside of Clemson and Alabama get to prove whose better. Similar to Clemson and Georgia, this puts two heavy weights together and we get to see who comes out on top. There is bad blood with the histories of OSU beating Oklahoma 45-24 in 2016, only to lose to them a year later and have Baker Mayfield plant a flag in Columbus. This year would be the ultimate rubber match.
Don't get me wrong, I think some of the current bowl games will be fun, but I think this is better. The idea of underdogs winning,and proving perception to be wrong. You have more of that drama in an expanded playoff than you do without it.
This is my dream. That there is an 8 game playoff with the first round having a regional home field advantage as much as possible. I want Southern Teams to prove their metal in the elements of the north to prove they can adapt back to playing in excellent conditions and away from their indoor practice facility.
The spots would be chosen ahead of time to allow the games and venues to properly prepare for the playoff event similar to how it works now, only the regions now include cold weather venues.
This is my dream. That there is an 8 game playoff with the first round having a regional home field advantage as much as possible. I want Southern Teams to prove their metal in the elements of the north to prove they can adapt back to playing in excellent conditions and away from their indoor practice facility.
The spots would be chosen ahead of time to allow the games and venues to properly prepare for the playoff event similar to how it works now, only the regions now include cold weather venues.
Say a magical season happens, and Penn State led by Micah Parsons, Ricky Slade and Tommy Stephens, plays it's way to a 1 seed undefeated and looking every bit a deserving of a top seed though they survived a few close games to say Ohio State and Michigan State.
Alabama is loaded and started as Pre-Season favorites, but they trip in a game at Texas A&M and lose a crushing, competitive championship game by 10 points to Florida who has already lost 2 twice; once to Florida State or Miami, and once to LSU.
When it's all said and done, the landscape could look something like this
1.Clemson 13-0 vs 8. Michigan 10-2 (At Large) in SE US (Charlotte, Memphis, Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, etc.
2. Penn State 13-0 vs. 7. Alabama 10-2 in NE (Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Cleveland, New York, Boston etc.
3. Oklahoma 12-1 vs. 6. Houston 12-0 (Houston, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Chicago, Denver)
4. Standford 12-1 vs 5. Florida 10-2 (Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle)
In this particular scenario, Pittsburgh, Pa would get to see Alabama play in the snow against the Blue and White in what could be potentially a real "White Out" scenario.
To me this jumps off the charts with exciting match-ups and follow up match ups. Let's say PSU wins and has to play Oklahoma, followed by Clemson? If Clemson loses to Michigan, that means an underdog WILL come from the other side meaning Standford, Florida or Michigan could play for the title. The story lines become so much better, than championship, far more earned.
What this does is create so much more interesting conversations and stories. I also includes incentives for far more people to stay enthused about the game and their schools.
I understand that change is hard and slow. Logistics of so many things need to get worked out, but the system as it currently stands is simply not up to par, and we as fans, as well as the participating schools deserve a more fair and inclusive system.
Here's hoping that at the end of this playoff contract, we expand and finally get it right.
When it's all said and done, the landscape could look something like this
1.Clemson 13-0 vs 8. Michigan 10-2 (At Large) in SE US (Charlotte, Memphis, Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, etc.
2. Penn State 13-0 vs. 7. Alabama 10-2 in NE (Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Cleveland, New York, Boston etc.
3. Oklahoma 12-1 vs. 6. Houston 12-0 (Houston, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Chicago, Denver)
4. Standford 12-1 vs 5. Florida 10-2 (Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle)
In this particular scenario, Pittsburgh, Pa would get to see Alabama play in the snow against the Blue and White in what could be potentially a real "White Out" scenario.
To me this jumps off the charts with exciting match-ups and follow up match ups. Let's say PSU wins and has to play Oklahoma, followed by Clemson? If Clemson loses to Michigan, that means an underdog WILL come from the other side meaning Standford, Florida or Michigan could play for the title. The story lines become so much better, than championship, far more earned.
What this does is create so much more interesting conversations and stories. I also includes incentives for far more people to stay enthused about the game and their schools.
I understand that change is hard and slow. Logistics of so many things need to get worked out, but the system as it currently stands is simply not up to par, and we as fans, as well as the participating schools deserve a more fair and inclusive system.
Here's hoping that at the end of this playoff contract, we expand and finally get it right.
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