This football season has potential to be a mess. Bear with me lifelong Big 12/SW conference fans, because I come from an SEC background and we all are very well acquainted with the Bama media bias.
So, a 1-loss LSU team plays Bama on 11/3 at Tiger stadium. If this game were to be played in bama, I'd say 100% Bama win. But things could get interesting in the real Death Valley (sorry clemson).
This CFP process will be very interesting and heated if LSU comes out with the W. That means it would likely be an LSU/UGA rematch for the conference title. In that scenario, does last year just repeat with Bama getting to bypass the championship (which would be a very lose-able game) and secure a spot in the playoffs?
I know this is layered in hypotheticals, but I really hate the favor that Bama gets based on talent of years past. In my mind, the current season should be the only factor in determining playoff bids. One may think that bama is the best team in the nation (which they may be, I am not denying that) but if they cannot make it to their conference championship, then they should not be given one of the four playoff spots.
I think one of two things possible changes should be made to make the playoff selection rely less on bias and more on defined guidelines:
1) If we stick to a 4-team playoff, establish a rule for only conference champions to be allowed. This allows more inter-conference matchups which helps eliminate conference bias. If you don't make it to the conference championship, then sorry and good luck next year. You know what is expected to get there, and you have to win in that manner to get there. This also would help the CFP committee in two ways: They don't become the hated target (except for deciding which conference is left out) because everyone is on the same page for requirements, and it decreases any possible outsider influence. While the BCS was a very imperfect system, everyone was at least aware of how teams were selected.
2) Expand to 8-team playoff system where every power 5 champ gets an autobid, and then the media can have all the bias they want in the 3 at-large spots. At that point I don't even care which conference gets favored so long as there are opportunities for teams from other conferences to earn their spot for the national title.
Thoughts?
Edit: Just thought of a third option.
3) 6 playoff bids with autobid to power 5 champs (no co-champs @BobBowlsby), with #1 and #2 ranked teams getting a bye week. They will then match up with the winners of #3 vs #6 and #4 vs #5 respectively.
So, a 1-loss LSU team plays Bama on 11/3 at Tiger stadium. If this game were to be played in bama, I'd say 100% Bama win. But things could get interesting in the real Death Valley (sorry clemson).
This CFP process will be very interesting and heated if LSU comes out with the W. That means it would likely be an LSU/UGA rematch for the conference title. In that scenario, does last year just repeat with Bama getting to bypass the championship (which would be a very lose-able game) and secure a spot in the playoffs?
I know this is layered in hypotheticals, but I really hate the favor that Bama gets based on talent of years past. In my mind, the current season should be the only factor in determining playoff bids. One may think that bama is the best team in the nation (which they may be, I am not denying that) but if they cannot make it to their conference championship, then they should not be given one of the four playoff spots.
I think one of two things possible changes should be made to make the playoff selection rely less on bias and more on defined guidelines:
1) If we stick to a 4-team playoff, establish a rule for only conference champions to be allowed. This allows more inter-conference matchups which helps eliminate conference bias. If you don't make it to the conference championship, then sorry and good luck next year. You know what is expected to get there, and you have to win in that manner to get there. This also would help the CFP committee in two ways: They don't become the hated target (except for deciding which conference is left out) because everyone is on the same page for requirements, and it decreases any possible outsider influence. While the BCS was a very imperfect system, everyone was at least aware of how teams were selected.
2) Expand to 8-team playoff system where every power 5 champ gets an autobid, and then the media can have all the bias they want in the 3 at-large spots. At that point I don't even care which conference gets favored so long as there are opportunities for teams from other conferences to earn their spot for the national title.
Thoughts?
Edit: Just thought of a third option.
3) 6 playoff bids with autobid to power 5 champs (no co-champs @BobBowlsby), with #1 and #2 ranked teams getting a bye week. They will then match up with the winners of #3 vs #6 and #4 vs #5 respectively.