Are you ready for a playoff? 2014

[pellegrino]

The four teams will most likely be three conference champions and an at-large or fourth conference champion taken from: PAC-12, Big 12, Big Ten, SEC, and ACC. The at-large spot will be so Notre Dame can be included or teams like 2011 Alabama or 2010 TCU.

The system isn't perfect and there will be some controversial selections. For instance, the 2003 season when Kansas St. upset undefeated Oklahoma in the Big 12 CG. The Sooners (12-1) would probably have made a four-team playoff over KSU (11-3). Other teams in 2003 would probably have been: LSU (12-1), USC (11-1) and Michigan (10-2).

I doubt we ever see an 8 or 16 team playoff. The bowl games will always be played and they won't allow taking more than four teams out of the bowl picture. It will be difficult to play the playoff games in the bowl stadiums because fans would potentially have to travel one week to Miami and the next week to Pasadena. It is more realistic to have the higher seed teams host the first round and then play the championship at a pre-determined site.

If and when the schools realize that they are literally throwing money away with the current bowl system, then they will move to a larger playoff system. the problem is that the bowl executives know this and do everything they can to influence athletic directors, university presidents, and big boosters. The bowl system is a parasitical industry, but until enough people realize that there is a lot more money to be made in a playoff then it will remain as the de facto post season celebration.

[Scorcho]

fans of schools who make it to college football's final four, and then advance to the championship game are going to have to mortgage their homes if they want to attend both.

Your typical fan can squeeze enough money together to fly to New Orleans, stay a couple of nights and purchase bowl tickets. But, if their school advances to next weekend and they need to fly to Pasadena (rinse and repeat), you've severly limited the number of fans that could afford that.

I don't like that aspect of it.

[TripletDaddy]

fans of schools who make it to college football's final four, and then advance to the championship game are going to have to mortgage their homes if they want to attend both.

Your typical fan can squeeze enough money together to fly to New Orleans, stay a couple of nights and purchase bowl tickets. But, if their school advances to next weekend and they need to fly to Pasadena (rinse and repeat), you've severly limited the number of fans that could afford that.

I don't like that aspect of it.

works for basketball. Fans follow their teams as they advance.

[Coach McGuirk]

works for basketball. Fans follow their teams as they advance.

Come to think of it, I have done similar to this in Football already with back to back roadies and the deed to my house remains in my possession.

[pellegrino]

fans of schools who make it to college football's final four, and then advance to the championship game are going to have to mortgage their homes if they want to attend both.

Your typical fan can squeeze enough money together to fly to New Orleans, stay a couple of nights and purchase bowl tickets. But, if their school advances to next weekend and they need to fly to Pasadena (rinse and repeat), you've severly limited the number of fans that could afford that.

I don't like that aspect of it.

which is why they should have all but the final game be at home for the highest seeded team, not at a neutral location. Follow the NIT pattern. This also makes the playoffs more lucrative for the schools that participate in them, as they get the gate fees.

[TripletDaddy]

Come to think of it, I have done similar to this in Football already with back to back roadies and the deed to my house remains in my possession.

Also, unless someone has paid their home in full, the house is already mortgaged anyway, so might as well go to the game! :rockon2:

[USUC]

The more I think about this the more I realize that there is going to be at least one at large spot out of the four. If each conference, BCS and non-BCS, had input, you can't have four conference champs. I know the notion of conference champs only is anti-, but it hurts the other conferences who might also finish with two teams in the top four. Its short sighted.

[Scorcho]

When Wisconsin played TCU in the Rose Bowl a few years ago they brought over 40,000 fans. If that game were part of an already determined college football final four, I wonder how many Badger Fans hold off on attending the Rose Bowl in anticipation of playing in the Championship Game the following week?

I'd predict that in that scenario, Wisconsin brings 25,000 fans to the Rose Bowl and 20,000 attend the National Championship Game. And maybe 10,000 of those can afford to attend both.

I like the playoff scenario, but it does seem that it will impact fans behavior.

[chrisrenrut]

. . .as they get the gate fees.

Host sites for NCAA basketball tournaments don't get the gate fees. The NCAA rents the building and services, but stay in complete control of ticketing. I think the host site gets peripheral revenues from concessions, parking, etc. I worked for the U's athletic department in the 90's when they hosted the NCAA's a couple of times. The NCAA was extremely strict with their policies, and in control at all times.

In football it won't be the NCAA in charge, but this is ultimately about the money. If they go with a higher seed home game, they'll come up with some way to split it all revenue from the games.

Does anyone know how this works in football for conference championship games? For instance, did Oregon get the gate fees for hosting the game, and then the conference split the TV and advertising revenue?

[TripletDaddy]

When Wisconsin played TCU in the Rose Bowl a few years ago they brought over 40,000 fans. If that game were part of an already determined college football final four, I wonder how many Badger Fans hold off on attending the Rose Bowl in anticipation of playing in the Championship Game the following week?

My guess is that it will follow a similar pattern to teams that win every round of the March tournament. Somehow Kentucky fans managed to attend in droves at every stop. And they don't have nice houses to mortgage. Maybe Ashley Judd, but that is about it.

[beefytee]

I guess I'm in the minority in that I don't want an at-large spot in a 4 team playoff. It would make the regular season even more exciting than it is now if only conference champions get in. Go with the top 4 ranked conference champions/independent. Maybe treat the independents as a conference where only one gets in.

I also don't want to see more than 12 teams in a playoff. 16 dilutes things too much.

[USUC]

I guess I'm in the minority in that I don't want an at-large spot in a 4 team playoff. It would make the regular season even more exciting than it is now if only conference champions get in. Go with the top 4 ranked conference champions/independent. Maybe treat the independents as a conference where only one gets in.

I also don't want to see more than 12 teams in a playoff. 16 dilutes things too much.

I would be on board with this if independents aren't excluded from somehow being involved. I'm sure ND will have some sort of inclusion clause but not sure other independents will.

[LiveCoug]

I would be on board with this if independents aren't excluded from somehow being involved. I'm sure ND will have some sort of inclusion clause but not sure other independents will.

"Other independents" = BYU and Army

So, no, I doubt there will be any inclusion clause for "other independents".

[Scorcho]

My guess is that it will follow a similar pattern to teams that win every round of the March tournament. Somehow Kentucky fans managed to attend in droves at every stop. And they don't have nice houses to mortgage. Maybe Ashley Judd, but that is about it.

Lexington to Louisville (Kentucky 1st round location) - little over an hour drive

Lexington to Atlanta (Sweet Sixteen round) ... 6 hour drive

Lexington to New Orleans (Final Four) ... 8 hour drive

I get what you're saying and maybe I'm just up in the night. But, I just don't think you would have 80,000 Kentucky Football Fans (40,000 each) at a Rose Bowl and a Fiesta Bowl on subsequent weekends.

[USUC]

"Other independents" = BYU and Army

So, no, I doubt there will be any inclusion clause for "other independents".

I see what you are saying but you would think something would have to account for them.