2025 College Football Playoffs Discussion (12 Team Format)

[CincyInterloper]

If the objective is to incentivize universities to schedule interesting games, then playoff rankings should be based on ratings. It’s as simple as that.

 

[Gizmo]

If the objective is to incentivize universities to schedule interesting games, then playoff rankings should be based on ratings. It’s as simple as that.

you realize that's the current system, and 2 different teams are lamenting having scheduled those interesting games.....

 

[ochre]

Sark is right that there’s very little to gain for playing a tough ooc schedule and a lot to lose.
If OSU played directional Midwest school instead of Texas, they’d still be #1.
If Texas played directional Texas school instead of OSU, they’re likely in the playoff (having beaten OK).

 

[ochre]

the loss to OSU means a lot less than that loss I think.

 

[CMic]

View attachment 80557

 

[CincyInterloper]

you realize that's the current system, and 2 different teams are lamenting having scheduled those interesting games.....

Texas would be the third team in based on ratings. https://www.on3.com/news/college-football-tv-ratings-tracking-top-10-most-watched-teams-2025-season/

 

[Gizmo]

Oh, you meant TV ratings, not arbitrary ratings of teams.

 

[Zurp]

you can't schedule knowing how good a team will be, or will not be, that year.

You're not wrong, but I know that Akron, Kent State, and Toledo are never going to be a threat to a Buckeye team that deserves to be in the playoffs. Schedule teams like that and lose 2 or fewer games every year. Or, in the case of Notre Dame losing to Northern Illinois, you better not lose any more games after that.

My solution is just 12 10-team conferences. Play 9 conference games every season, winner take all. Play 3 OOC "warm up games" like the NFL for seeding and ticket selling purposes. You could schedule all marquee games that way, since they won't "matter".

Meh. No one wants to watch a game that doesn't matter. I mean, I'll still watch the Buckeye games. But who's watching Alabama vs. Clemson if neither team is helped or hurt by the result?

 

[Jaxbuck]

You're not wrong, but I know that Akron, Kent State, and Toledo are never going to be a threat to a Buckeye team that deserves to be in the playoffs. Schedule teams like that and lose 2 or fewer games every year. Or, in the case of Notre Dame losing to Northern Illinois, you better not lose any more games after that.


Meh. No one wants to watch a game that doesn't matter. I mean, I'll still watch the Buckeye games. But who's watching Alabama vs. Clemson if neither team is helped or hurt by the result?

My main point is that whatever an opponent does after you play them is out of your control and should have zero impact on your season from there.

What if their QB gets hurt, or a scum bag coach leaves in the middle of the night and takes his staff with him? Anything can happen after you beat a team, why would you possibly want to open the door for any of that to punish you? I am all for scheduling changes but that is not anything I ever want to see get implemented.