Every year, there is talk of a play-off system for college football, and a play-off system would probably be a good thing. However, a play-off system only makes sense if all of the teams are on a more-or-less level playing field during the regular season, and if there is an objective way to determine at least some of the participants.
As it currently stands, the BCS conferences range in size from eight to twelve schools; three of the conferences have a championship game, and the other three do not; and Notre Dame is an independent school that gets special treatment under the BCS. So, the first change that should be made is a total realignment of the conferences, as that would help to balance out the inequities that exist in the current conference system. In addition, we should reduce the number of Division 1-A teams by eliminating schools that have no reasonable chance to compete for a play-off spot, much less a national championship.
In the posts that follow, I have laid out four separate proposals for realignment along with some good points and bad points of each proposal.
Assumptions.
1. All conferences will be of equal size.
2. Each team will play every other team in its conference every year.
3. Conferences will be arranged primarily by geography, with an attempt to preserve regional rivalries.
4. Teams that are dropped from Division 1-A will join Division 1-AA.
5. There will be twelve regular season games each year, with no bye weeks.
6. Each Division 1-A team must play at least half of its non-conference games against other 1-A teams.
7. There will be sixteen play-off teams in a four-round play-off format:
After each team listed below there is a "star" rating, which is my way of ranking the teams based on their likelihood to compete for a national championship. "Three-star" teams are those who are generally considered to be "in the mix" most seasons, and who have a relatively long history of success. Thus, some teams that have been "down" for a long time (like Notre Dame, 20 years and counting without a national title) still merit three stars, while some up-and-coming programs (Oregon, Missouri, West Virginia, for example) get only two stars each despite their recent success. "One-star" teams have shown no ability in the past to compete for a national title, although some (like South Florida and Rutgers) certainly have the potential to move into a higher category.
As it currently stands, the BCS conferences range in size from eight to twelve schools; three of the conferences have a championship game, and the other three do not; and Notre Dame is an independent school that gets special treatment under the BCS. So, the first change that should be made is a total realignment of the conferences, as that would help to balance out the inequities that exist in the current conference system. In addition, we should reduce the number of Division 1-A teams by eliminating schools that have no reasonable chance to compete for a play-off spot, much less a national championship.
In the posts that follow, I have laid out four separate proposals for realignment along with some good points and bad points of each proposal.
Assumptions.
1. All conferences will be of equal size.
2. Each team will play every other team in its conference every year.
3. Conferences will be arranged primarily by geography, with an attempt to preserve regional rivalries.
4. Teams that are dropped from Division 1-A will join Division 1-AA.
5. There will be twelve regular season games each year, with no bye weeks.
6. Each Division 1-A team must play at least half of its non-conference games against other 1-A teams.
7. There will be sixteen play-off teams in a four-round play-off format:
a. Each conference winner (best record in conference, with tie breakers if necessary) gets an automatic bid.
b. "At large" teams will be determined by a committee and/or polls.
c. Teams will be seeded by the same committee and/or polls.
d. Bye week between end of regular season and beginning of play-offs.
e. First round games (eight total) will be on the home field of the higher-ranked team.
f. Quarter-final, semi-final, and final games (seven total) will be at traditional bowl locations on a rotating basis.
g. Bowl locations will be Rose, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta, Cotton, "Citrus", and Holiday.
h. Semi-final losers will play a consolation game (Sun Bowl).
i. Remaining bowls may select from teams that didn't make play-offs or that lost in first two rounds.
j. Bye week between semi-final games and championship/consolation games.
b. "At large" teams will be determined by a committee and/or polls.
c. Teams will be seeded by the same committee and/or polls.
d. Bye week between end of regular season and beginning of play-offs.
e. First round games (eight total) will be on the home field of the higher-ranked team.
f. Quarter-final, semi-final, and final games (seven total) will be at traditional bowl locations on a rotating basis.
g. Bowl locations will be Rose, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta, Cotton, "Citrus", and Holiday.
h. Semi-final losers will play a consolation game (Sun Bowl).
i. Remaining bowls may select from teams that didn't make play-offs or that lost in first two rounds.
j. Bye week between semi-final games and championship/consolation games.
After each team listed below there is a "star" rating, which is my way of ranking the teams based on their likelihood to compete for a national championship. "Three-star" teams are those who are generally considered to be "in the mix" most seasons, and who have a relatively long history of success. Thus, some teams that have been "down" for a long time (like Notre Dame, 20 years and counting without a national title) still merit three stars, while some up-and-coming programs (Oregon, Missouri, West Virginia, for example) get only two stars each despite their recent success. "One-star" teams have shown no ability in the past to compete for a national title, although some (like South Florida and Rutgers) certainly have the potential to move into a higher category.
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