First off, this sucks.
CFP expands to 16 teams.
The SEC and Big Ten get four automatic berths apiece
The ACC and Big 12 – the other two Power 4 conferences – get two bids apiece.
The Group of 5 get one.
Three at-large bids, the only spots which Notre Dame would be eligible.
Personally I'd prefer to see the conference championships expanded and rolled into the playoffs.
SEC 1 v SEC 4
------------------------------ SEC 1/4 v SEC 2/3
SEC 2 v SEC 3
------------------------------ ------------------------------ SEC Champ V B12/G5/AtLrg1
B12 1 v B12 2
------------------------------ B12 Champ v G5/Atlrg1
G5 v AL 1
------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ championship: SEC/B12/G5/AtLrg1 v B1G/ACC/AtLrg2/3
ACC 1 v ACC 2
------------------------------ ACC Champ v AtLrg2/3
AtLrg 2 v AtLrg 3
------------------------------ ------------------------------ B1G champ V ACC/AtLrg2/3/4
B1G 1 v B1G 4
------------------------------ B1G 1/4 v B1G 2/3
B1G 2 v B1G 3
under this model, the conferences would be allowed to choose/seed their teams however they wish -- maintain tradition/regions/subdivisions, or just maximizing their top team's chance to advance while paying short shrift to the teams "earning" playoff spots.
We discussed this possibility a few months back, and in most years, if N.D. isn't among the 3 best unselected teams after you account for the teams listed in the auto-bid qualifiers, we aren't a legitimate playoff contender. Bottom line, if we are in the Top 12, we are almost certainly getting in. If we're outside of that, we are probably in one of those seasons where we really don't have room to complain.
What I don't particularly like is the Big Ten and S.E.C. being guaranteed double the number of automatic bids as the A.C.C. and Big 12. I doubt "fairness" was a big part of the discussion, but we have certainly seen years in recent past where the A.C.C.'s #3 and #4 were every bit as qualified as those of the Big Ten.
bowl games.
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separated college football and helped make it great.
Don't have any regard for where it seems to be haphazardly heading...
Just 4 teams. Earn your way in. Playoff invitations should be reserved for only the most elite teams.
Coffee is for closers.
ND will be just fine under any model, now that Jack is gone.
I'd say that 16 is still sending pretty close to the most elite.
The NFL analogy is perfect, because that's exactly what college football needs to avoid. Once upon a time, college football was unique amongst all major North American sports in that only the very best teams that proved it during the regular season could compete for a championship.
A sixteen team playoff will necessarily include three loss teams - give me a fucking break. We have very different definitions of 'elite'.
In the end, only the very best will win - those teams earning the top seeds. The lower seeded teams will be happy to collect their money and participation trophies, but nothing will change.
I hate it.
Get off my lawn!
No one is saying we should move towards what the NFL is doing with nearly half the league in the playoffs. I'm just trying to illustrate the huge difference between where they are compared to where we'll be with 16 (which is the max I think we should go to).
By comparison to what NFL does, CFB would need to put in about 58 teams for a comparable %...16 is not in the same Universe.
If you hate it that's fine, it's your perspective, but just know it's about your personal bias not anything quantitative about the level of teams getting into a 16 team Playoff
a 2 Loss, Non Big X winner
WON the whole enchilada last year. They would NOT have been INVITED the year prior.
PISSING on your lawn...
Last Year = WAS the BEST CFB playoff season we have EVER had...NO DOUBT.
GO IRISH GO !
Ohio State was seeded 6th in the final, pre playoff CFP rankings.
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which would have left ND "eligible" for only 1 of 16 spots, I'd say being eligible for 3 is much better.
I assume there are no ranking caveats for auto bids
If we are in top 12 we are in. 15th or so depends on how many teams below us get auto bids
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Common sense tells you that both the B1G and SEC will likely not have 4 worthy teams every year. And if they do, they will get in anyway. Trying to legislate worthiness is a fool's errand, but there are no lack of fools in either conference's decision-makers. I would easily argue that no auto bids would be necessary as there is no solid reason...other than greed and arrogance...that supports that opinion.
Also, auto bids do nothing to promote excellence in college football. Virtually every athlete worth his salt would support bids being earned on the field....every year....as is done in basketball. The SEC is just trying to bully and brag their way into the playoffs...and they have proven unworthy of any auto bids for the past two seasons. Earn it on the field!!!
Less than 2 is a given.
If ND is undefeated and ranked #1, they would be the top seed in the playoff.
If they were ranked #10, they would be the 10 seed.