NEW COLLEGE PLAYOFF
~ A PROPOSAL ~
STEP 1 - ELIMINATE THE BCS
The BCS was designed to produce a clear #1 vs. #2 matchup, but in addition to not doing that very well (see: Auburn 2004) it's also screwed up the whole bowl system. Allowing the bowls to return to their traditional conference affiliations, geographically-based pairings and laissez-faire approach to tourism will do two important things:
  • Strengthen the individual bowl economies by removing BCS constraints
  • Create better games for the television market then the uninspired yearly parade the current BCS "Draft" system provides
STEP 2 - 8 TEAM PLAYOFF
The weekend that Conference Championships are determined and Bowl Games are awarded, an NCAA Selection Committee (similar to Basketball) would select and rank an 8 TEAM BRACKET (6 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS + 2 AT LARGE TEAMS):
  1. ACC
  2. Big East
  3. Big 10
  4. Big 12
  5. PAC 10
  6. SEC
  7. AT LARGE
  8. AT LARGE
NOTE: If (as in 2004) more than 2 teams prove significantly worthy of an At-Large Bid from other conferences like C-USA, WAC, MWC or an independent by their higher ranking/better record over a team from an "Automatic Bid" Conference, the Selection Committee should have the ability to include such teams if deemed appropriate.
 
A 2-WEEK PLAYOFF results in a FINAL 2
  • Playoff-loss teams continue to their bowl game, while the HIGHEST-RANKING REMAINING TEAM'S BOWL GAME doubles as host for the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
  • The scheduled Bowl opponent of the team hosting the championship would SWAP BOWLS with the lower-ranked playoff team. They would/should get a cut of the playoff payout as compensation.
  • This plan not only provides a chance for two weeks of the most captivating, compelling sport ever televised, but in essence also creates an ANNUAL LOTTERY for the bowls, as the location of the championship game will be determined yearly by teams on-the-field performance.
STEP 3 - CROWN A REAL CHAMPION
  • For the FIRST TIME EVER, College Football could have its champion decided by something more substantial than OPINION.
  • For the FIRST TIME EVER, College Football could join EVERY OTHER COLLEGIATE SPORT in crowning a legitimate on-field champion.
  • For the FIRST TIME EVER, College Football could finally live up to its ultimate potential instead of having its results brokered by those who don't care about the fans and players.

1 or 2 extra games from 8 teams over two weekends in December would transform the current deadly boring lull before a string of questionable BCS-created games into an electrifying month culminating in a showcase event that would rival March Madness.
IF WE HAD A PLAYOFF THIS YEAR...
  1. OKLAHOMA (BIG 12)
  2. FLORIDA (SEC)
  3. USC (PAC 10)
  4. PENN ST. (BIG 10)
  5. UTAH (AT LARGE)
  6. BOISE ST. (AT LARGE)
  7. VIRGINIA TECH (ACC)
  8. CINCINNATI (BIG EAST)

WHICH

GIVES

US...
W E E K 1
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8
CINCY (8) @ OKLAHOMA(1)
VA TECH (7) @ FLORIDA (2)
BOISE ST (6) @ USC (3)
UTAH (5) @ PENN ST (4)
(ALL CONCERNS REGARDING TEXAS' EXCLUSION FROM THIS LIST SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO BIG 12 OFFICES.)
NOTE: 50% OF ALL "HOME" TICKETS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO VISITING FANS THE WEEK BEFORE THE GAME, ALLOWING FOR A UNIQUE PLAYOFF ATMOSPHERE.
W E E K 2
THE REMAINING 4 TEAMS ARE RE-SEEDED (1 THROUGH 4)
TEAM 4 @ TEAM 1
TEAM 3 @ TEAM 2
THE HIGHEST-RANKED WINNER (TEAM 1) SERVES AS HOME TEAM IN THEIR BOWL GAME, WHILE THEIR SCHEDULED OPPONENT SWAPS BOWLS WITH THE LOWER-RANKED WINNER (TEAM 2), WITH ALL INVOLVED SCHOOLS RECIEVING TRAVEL AND OTHER COMPENSATION AS WELL AS HAVING 2 WEEKS TO MAKE SUITABLE ADJUSTMENTS.
IF WE HAD A PLAYOFF LAST YEAR...
  1. OHIO ST (BIG 10)
  2. LSU (SEC)
  3. OKLAHOMA (BIG 12)
  4. USC (PAC 10)
  5. WEST VIRGINIA (BIG EAST)
  6. VIRGINIA TECH (ACC)
  7. AT LARGE
  8. HAWAII (AT LARGE)

WHICH

GIVES

US...
W E E K 1
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8
AT LARGE (8) @ OHIO ST (1)
HAWAII (7) @ LSU (2)
VA TECH (6) @ OKLAHOMA (3)
WEST VIRGINIA (5) @ USC (4)
POSSIBLE AT LARGE TEAMS: GEORGIA (10-2), MISSOURI (11-2), KANSAS (11-1)
(CONSIDERING GEORGIA'S DISMEMBERMENT OF HAWAII THAT YEAR IN THE SUGAR BOWL, IN RETROSPECT THEY WOULD SEEM TO HAVE BEEN WORTHY OF INCLUSION, AND YET IF THIS SYSTEM HAD BEEN IN PLACE AT THE TIME, MIZZOU OR KANSAS WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN CHOSEN INSTEAD. WHEN WILL THE SEC DOUBTERS EVER LEARN?...)
IF WE HAD A PLAYOFF IN...
2006 ?
2005 ?
2004 ?
GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT
who thought of this?