Four Team Playoff being discussed - Likely games 1996-2011

[Paperback Writer]

Thought I'd start a thread about the 4-team (or plus one) playoff being discussed by conference commissioners (see link below). In my view, this has some legs and could become a reality in 2015. As the link mentions, I think it very well could be four teams with major conference winners compromising three of those teams. The other selection could be another conference winner or highly ranked team (wildcard like Alabama this past season). I also think the format will be that the first round will be played at home stadiums based on a ranking system. The championship will be played in a bowl or NFL stadium that wins the bid. In short, the four playoff teams will be selected and the others will go to existing bowl games.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoot...will-look-like

To get an idea of what the future might hold for a 4-team playoff, I went back the past 16 seasons and paired up the teams that would have likely made the cut. An * denotes wildcard selection. Actual national champions in bold.

Edit: I must have a love of all things cheese because I put Wisconsin in there a lot. Looked again at the final BCS standings and made some corrections.

[Top Ute]

Thought I'd start a thread about the 4-team (or plus one) playoff being discussed by conference commissioners (see link below). In my view, this has some legs and could become a reality in 2015. As the link mentions, I think it very well could be four teams with major conference winners compromising three of those teams. The other selection could be another conference winner or highly ranked team (wildcard like Alabama this past season). I also think the format will be that the first round will be played at home stadiums based on a ranking system. The championship will be played in a bowl or NFL stadium that wins the bid. In short, the four playoff teams will be selected and the others will go to existing bowl games.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoot...will-look-like

To get an idea of what the future might hold for a 4-team playoff, I went back the past 16 seasons and paired up the teams that would have likely made the cut. An * denotes wildcard selection. Actual national champions in bold.

In 2009, Cincinnati and TCU were 3-4 in the final regular season BCS standings.

[San Juan Sun]

96 BYU team left out again...

[Sullyute]

96 BYU team left out again...

Well at least he didn't miss any undefeated team in 2004 or 2008 in his ranking.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Stanford was 3 and Oregon 4 in the final BCS last year. Not sure how Wisconsin got in there, they were 7 or 8 I believe.

Edit: sorry Standord 4 Oregon 5, Wisconsin 10. Um just being in the BIg doesn't qualify you.

[ERCougar]

Just shows it has to be bigger than 4. This doesn't eliminate much if any controversy.

[USCoug]

Just shows it has to be bigger than 4. This doesn't eliminate much if any controversy.

Yeah I agree, I still think there will still be a lot of questions after every season.

[lambdacoug]

Just shows it has to be bigger than 4. This doesn't eliminate much if any controversy.

Every time you double the number of teams, it only adds another week/round. 4 teams = 2 weeks, 8 teams = 3 weeks, 16 = 4 weeks. I think 16 teams would be a great number and the tournament could run in consecutive weeks from early/mid December to early January. Other bowls could run concurrently. I realize this makes too much sense though, and as such, has little to no possibility of being entertained.

[Paperback Writer]

Any selection system will not be perfect and the system or rankings to be used have yet to be determined. I'm just going off what was reported in that three of the four spots will be conference champions (and possibly all four). I think three is more likely. Last season would have been an interesting predicament. SEC winner LSU and Big 12 winner Oklahoma St. are definitely in. Alabama being #2 in the BCS would earn the wildcard. That means the last spot has to come from a major conference champion - Boise St. would only get an invite from a wildcard as would Stanford (and others). That would leave Oregon and Wisconsin as the most likely candidates. And I would agree with HFN that Oregon has the higher BCS ranking (if that is to be used) and the stronger claim over Wisconsin.

I also think I got 2009 wrong (and possibly other seasons). Cincinnati (or TCU) should get the nod over Boise St. But Florida still gets a spot since there is only one wildcard and the 5 major conferences (ACC, PAC-12. Big 12, Big Ten, SEC) will keep it that way.

As far as Utah's undefeasted seasons in 2008 and 2004. In 2008, Texas would have earned the wildcard and that would have eliminated both Alabama and Utah. USC was the next highest rated conference champion. A similar situation occurs in 2004. Texas again gets the wildcard over California and Utah.

As far as 1996 BYU, there's no little chance a one-loss BYU gets ranked ahead of a one-loss Ohio St. or Florida.

I think a 4-team playoff is better than the current system but it's not perfect and no playoff system ever will be. I don't think we'll ever see an 8-team or 16-team playoff. The bowls will always exist and a 4-team playoff will be taking arguably the best four teams out of the bowl picture. The Rose Bowl is fighting the hardest on this as they would want to keep a #1 USC vs #4 Ohio St. in the Rose Bowl rather than seeing that game take place in the Coliseum (even worse would be a #1 UCLA vs #4 Ohio St./Michigan that would take place in the Rose Bowl a week before the actual Rose Bowl is played). In short, I don't think the Bowls will allow taking more than four teams out of their pool. I think there's a strong chance that this will happen in 2015. There's too much money being left on the table and I think a 4-team playoff can happen without angering the various Bowl committess too much.

[Mormon Red Death]

Another article. The powers that be are finally seeing how much $$$ they are leaving on the table by not having a playoff.