Rethinking the College Football Playoff: New Solutions for a Fairer Field
Once again, the CFP committee has failed to send the best twelve teams to the playoffs. The first round of the playoffs started off strong with the two best matchups of the weekend but after that, disaster struck. The group of 5 teams competed as hard as they could but still showed that they didn't belong. Most fans likely turned off college football during these games resulting in a drop of viewership. The talent gap along with the G5 teams being on the road caused the fans to criticize the playoff format. Many believe the format needs some more tweaking as the playoff could be much more competitive.
PROPOSAL #1
Group of 5 teams have proven to the committee and fans that they are not capable of winning a national championship. I believe the G5 teams deserve to have an opportunity to make the college football playoffs but, without an automatic bid. They will need to earn their way into a playoff spot by playing a “wild card” game.
Format:
Qualifying Power 4 Conference Champions get an automatic bid into the playoffs
Must be ranked inside the top 25 to qualify
Top 11 seeds make the playoffs
This includes the Power 4 Champions
Final rankings are released after the conference championship games
Wild Card/ Play in game for #12 seed
The highest ranked group of 5 champion will face off against the first P4 team outside of the Top 11 seeds (likely #12)
The game will be held the Friday following the conference championship games
The winner advances into the playoff field as the #12 seed
IF, a G5 team is ranked inside of the Top 11 at the end of the year they will be automatically placed into the playoff.
#12 vs #13 will then face off against each other for the wild card spot
This format allows the G5 teams to earn the right to play in the playoffs. In theory they will have to play an extra game than everyone else but, that's the cost of showing people you belong. This would allow the first round matchups to be as competitive as possible while giving the smaller schools a chance to make the field. The viewership and ratings for the wild card game could also help with revenue.
PROPOSAL #2
Since many fans and programs across the country feel the group of 5 teams don’t belong in the playoffs, what if they have their own playoff. We have an FCS playoff as well as a Division 2 playoff which helps crown a champion for each skill level. The group of 5 is starting to become a league of their own and can benefit by having a playoff.
Format:
Have their own rankings
Will be separate from the Power 4 and Independents
4 team playoff
Highest ranked (4) G5 champions
Schedule
#1 vs #4 will play 8pm (Friday after conference championship weekend, @#1 seed)
#2 vs #3 will play 8pm (Saturday after conference championship weekend, @#2 seed)
Championship will be hosted at a neutral site ( 8pm Friday before New Years’s)
If New Years and Christmas fall on a Friday the game will be moved to Saturday
Big Network
A prominent television network will broadcast these playoff games
In this format, fans will be able to witness another college football playoff with competitive and skillful football. This will give the group of 5 teams a “fair” chance as they will be able to compete for their own national championship. Many programs have moved up from the Group of 5 and this Championship can possibly pave the way to bigger conferences.
12 TEAM PLAYOFF CHANGES
As we know, the college football playoff decided to expand last season and we are still trying to find the best format. Many fans believe that the top teams in the playoff should earn more of an advantage.
New Proposal:
First Round and Quarter Finals are hosted on college campuses
All 12 teams will then play games at college campuses
Teams with first round byes will be able to host a playoff game
Schedule
Playoff begin the weekend after the conference championship games
National Championship will be at the Rose Bowl (One week after New year’s)
This gives each playoff team a chance at hosting a playoff game on their home fields. It will also make the conference championship games more meaningful as teams will be fighting for higher seeds. Starting the playoff earlier will also help programs navigate the crazy schedule. This will also allow teams to play sooner instead of a long layoff (25 days) that teams have now.
