Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs!



It is that time of year again when it becomes obvious that college football is in dire need of a playoff system. Here is my proposal for an eight team playoff.

1.) Every BCS Conference champion that finishes ranked in the top twelve of the BCS ranking is an automatic qualifier.

2.) The highest ranked non-BCS team is an automatic qualifier if they finish ranked in the top 12.

3.) The remaining spots are at-large and filled by the highest ranked BCS teams to not automatically qualify.

Here is what that would mean this year:

1.) Mizzou gets into the playoff if/when they win the Big 12 Championship game.
2.) Most likely no ACC team or Big East team makes the playoff.
3.) A non-BCS team (most likely Utah or Boise St.) makes the playoff
4.) Oregan St. probably misses the playoff b/c they won't break the top 12 even if they win the Pac-10

Assuming Mizzou wins the Big 12 (let's say over OU) and Florida wins the SEC, I think my proposal would result in the following eight team playoff:

1.) Florida (SEC champ - BCS rank #1)
2.) Texas (at-large - BCS rank #2)
3.) USC (at-large - BCS rank #3)
4.) Alabama (at-large - BCS rank #4)
5.) Texas Tech (at-large - BCS rank # 5)
6.) Penn St. (Big 10 champ - BCS rank #6)
7.) Utah (nonBCS automatic qualifer - BCS rank #7)
8.) Missouri (Big 12 champ - BCS #8)

That sets up some interesting first round matchups:

Florida v. Missouri
Alabama v. Texas Tech
USC v. Penn St.
Texas v. Utah

Even more interesting second round matchups

Missouri v. Texas Tech
USC v. Texas

And an all Big-12 (they way it should be) National Championship Game with Mizzou avenging its regular season loss

MIZZOU 42
TEXAS 35
....

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