Rumblings of App in 12 Team Playoff

[AppStFan1]

Am I the only one still not happy with the 12 team playoff? There's like 10 comments above me talking about how App could MAYBE make the playoff if this-that-and-the-other happens AND we win our conference. Football is the the only college sport in which every conference champion doesn't immediately make the playoffs. We will have 10 conferences and 12 playoffs spots, but the powers that be still say only 1 maybe 2 G5 teams will make the playoff. It's garbage that just continues to entrench the divide between "big" football and "small" football.

Not true they only allow 1-2 G5 teams. Theoretically, 11 G5 teams could make it in if they're good enough. The reason why we're happy about this setup is we control our own destiny. If we have a strong schedule and go undefeated, we'll be in the playoffs. If we're really good, we'll make it in. That wasn't true before. You're asking for a setup that allows teams that aren't very good to make it in, and that's not reasonable.

Exactly. The 6+6 is the most REASONABLE playoff scenario. Everyone has a path. Everyone is still held to a high standard.

I’m reasonable enough to admit that a 1 or 2 loss Michigan State is *probably* a better football team than a 2 loss App State when there’s an undefeated Cincinnati ranked higher than us when viewed through the lens of an entire season’s worth of data. In that situation I’m fine with App being left out because we didn’t show enough to prove we were better than Cincinnati or Michigan State. They’d have the same number of losses against a tougher schedule. There’s no debate in that scenario.

We need to look at earning at large playoff berths the same way we’ve looked at the Sun Belt’s growth. Just get a seat at the table and earn your way in. If 10 years from now the SBC has raised its profile enough to earn a regular at-large, great. The P5 fan bases won’t be able to deny or dispute it. But if we (plural, as in all G5s) are simply gifted a second seat then it can be.

I know folks don't want to because we likely would not have 6 or 7 home games but the best scenario for a schedule that gives us a path with a loss is to play 2-3 P5s and good G5 with no FCS games. With a strong Sun Belt and tough OOC we will get way more respect. That is very hard to pull off as well but a schedule like that does allow for a bad game and the chance to still rebound. The only reason we got the benefit of the doubt was we were lucky to have an A&M on the schedule after UNC instead of an FCS or a Charlotte. Had we played an average G5 and won by 28 after UNC we would not be getting votes. If we want respect we either have to run the table with good victory margins or play a real tough schedule. It is fair because we don't get the weekly meat grinder of a top P5 so there has to be something that sets us apart.

[MrCraig]

Am I the only one still not happy with the 12 team playoff? There's like 10 comments above me talking about how App could MAYBE make the playoff if this-that-and-the-other happens AND we win our conference. Football is the the only college sport in which every conference champion doesn't immediately make the playoffs. We will have 10 conferences and 12 playoffs spots, but the powers that be still say only 1 maybe 2 G5 teams will make the playoff. It's garbage that just continues to entrench the divide between "big" football and "small" football.

I get your point but football is way different than these other sports. You have to remember that we have 85 in football and no other sport has anywhere near that many players on a team. When you compare resources we are small football compared to the SEC. That is why there was such a huge deal made out of us beating A&M. There are years that the Sun Belt or CUSA champ might hang and truly belong but imagine a year where the champ has 3 or 4 losses. Could you imagine a 9-4 G5 champion rolling in to play an undefeated Georgia in round 1? That would be a blowout and people would tune out quick. TV people and the CFP don't want that. They want competitive games.

The average score of a college football playoff game, since they started the 4 team playoff, is 39-18. People still tune in by the millions to watch Georgia wreck Michigan. I don't know why they wouldn't tune in to watch Memphis play Michigan for a chance to be wrecked by Georgia next.

[AppStFan1]

Am I the only one still not happy with the 12 team playoff? There's like 10 comments above me talking about how App could MAYBE make the playoff if this-that-and-the-other happens AND we win our conference. Football is the the only college sport in which every conference champion doesn't immediately make the playoffs. We will have 10 conferences and 12 playoffs spots, but the powers that be still say only 1 maybe 2 G5 teams will make the playoff. It's garbage that just continues to entrench the divide between "big" football and "small" football.

I get your point but football is way different than these other sports. You have to remember that we have 85 in football and no other sport has anywhere near that many players on a team. When you compare resources we are small football compared to the SEC. That is why there was such a huge deal made out of us beating A&M. There are years that the Sun Belt or CUSA champ might hang and truly belong but imagine a year where the champ has 3 or 4 losses. Could you imagine a 9-4 G5 champion rolling in to play an undefeated Georgia in round 1? That would be a blowout and people would tune out quick. TV people and the CFP don't want that. They want competitive games.

The average score of a college football playoff game, since they started the 4 team playoff, is 39-18. People still tune in by the millions to watch Georgia wreck Michigan. I don't know why they wouldn't tune in to watch Memphis play Michigan for a chance to be wrecked by Georgia next.

I know we have seen a lot of blowouts but those are P5 vs P5. G5s like us don't yet bring the TV audience that someone like Notre Dame will bring. Can you imagine the media and fans laughing and makes jokes how we the playoffs are worse now by allowing G5 teams who lose by 40-50? This system is good because if a G5 is really good they will get in. We don't have to worry about 2017 where UCF was undefeated and got screwed happening but we also won't see a G5 who is 9-4 getting in because they won a weak conference. If that happens then some of these mid tier P5s should just move to a G5 league and dominate. If UNC goes 7-5 this year people will say how they are not very good at all but they beat us and yet people might rank us if we go 12-1. The reality is that very few G5s belong in the playoff discussion and in 2022 right now nobody from a G5 league even belongs in it at this point. We would have if we had beat UNC.

[appvette]

Anyone remember Satterfield saying he left because he felt he accomplished everything possible here? With this new playoff format, getting and keeping good coaches will be easier since there is no longer that ceiling.

I remember him saying that, but he left for the money.

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that was the only reason or the main reason, but it was a factor. Just like raising pay from $500k to $1m, it won't prevent big schools from luring coaches away but will eliminate one of those factors and might protect us from smaller P5s or other big $ G5s.

[MrCraig]

Am I the only one still not happy with the 12 team playoff? There's like 10 comments above me talking about how App could MAYBE make the playoff if this-that-and-the-other happens AND we win our conference. Football is the the only college sport in which every conference champion doesn't immediately make the playoffs. We will have 10 conferences and 12 playoffs spots, but the powers that be still say only 1 maybe 2 G5 teams will make the playoff. It's garbage that just continues to entrench the divide between "big" football and "small" football.

I get your point but football is way different than these other sports. You have to remember that we have 85 in football and no other sport has anywhere near that many players on a team. When you compare resources we are small football compared to the SEC. That is why there was such a huge deal made out of us beating A&M. There are years that the Sun Belt or CUSA champ might hang and truly belong but imagine a year where the champ has 3 or 4 losses. Could you imagine a 9-4 G5 champion rolling in to play an undefeated Georgia in round 1? That would be a blowout and people would tune out quick. TV people and the CFP don't want that. They want competitive games.

The average score of a college football playoff game, since they started the 4 team playoff, is 39-18. People still tune in by the millions to watch Georgia wreck Michigan. I don't know why they wouldn't tune in to watch Memphis play Michigan for a chance to be wrecked by Georgia next.

I know we have seen a lot of blowouts but those are P5 vs P5. G5s like us don't yet bring the TV audience that someone like Notre Dame will bring. Can you imagine the media and fans laughing and makes jokes how we the playoffs are worse now by allowing G5 teams who lose by 40-50? This system is good because if a G5 is really good they will get in. We don't have to worry about 2017 where UCF was undefeated and got screwed happening but we also won't see a G5 who is 9-4 getting in because they won a weak conference. If that happens then some of these mid tier P5s should just move to a G5 league and dominate. If UNC goes 7-5 this year people will say how they are not very good at all but they beat us and yet people might rank us if we go 12-1. The reality is that very few G5s belong in the playoff discussion and in 2022 right now nobody from a G5 league even belongs in it at this point. We would have if we had beat UNC.

I completely disagree. When Kentucky blows out Weber State in March people don’t say, “Weber State shouldn’t even be here.” When a G5 school gets swept out of the tournament in baseball, no one says, “these teams shouldn’t even be a part of this tournament.”
What happens when a 9-4 team from a “weak” conference shows up ready to play and beats one of the big boys?

[AppStFan1]

Am I the only one still not happy with the 12 team playoff? There's like 10 comments above me talking about how App could MAYBE make the playoff if this-that-and-the-other happens AND we win our conference. Football is the the only college sport in which every conference champion doesn't immediately make the playoffs. We will have 10 conferences and 12 playoffs spots, but the powers that be still say only 1 maybe 2 G5 teams will make the playoff. It's garbage that just continues to entrench the divide between "big" football and "small" football.

I get your point but football is way different than these other sports. You have to remember that we have 85 in football and no other sport has anywhere near that many players on a team. When you compare resources we are small football compared to the SEC. That is why there was such a huge deal made out of us beating A&M. There are years that the Sun Belt or CUSA champ might hang and truly belong but imagine a year where the champ has 3 or 4 losses. Could you imagine a 9-4 G5 champion rolling in to play an undefeated Georgia in round 1? That would be a blowout and people would tune out quick. TV people and the CFP don't want that. They want competitive games.

The average score of a college football playoff game, since they started the 4 team playoff, is 39-18. People still tune in by the millions to watch Georgia wreck Michigan. I don't know why they wouldn't tune in to watch Memphis play Michigan for a chance to be wrecked by Georgia next.

I know we have seen a lot of blowouts but those are P5 vs P5. G5s like us don't yet bring the TV audience that someone like Notre Dame will bring. Can you imagine the media and fans laughing and makes jokes how we the playoffs are worse now by allowing G5 teams who lose by 40-50? This system is good because if a G5 is really good they will get in. We don't have to worry about 2017 where UCF was undefeated and got screwed happening but we also won't see a G5 who is 9-4 getting in because they won a weak conference. If that happens then some of these mid tier P5s should just move to a G5 league and dominate. If UNC goes 7-5 this year people will say how they are not very good at all but they beat us and yet people might rank us if we go 12-1. The reality is that very few G5s belong in the playoff discussion and in 2022 right now nobody from a G5 league even belongs in it at this point. We would have if we had beat UNC.

I completely disagree. When Kentucky blows out Weber State in March people don’t say, “Weber State shouldn’t even be here.” When a G5 school gets swept out of the tournament in baseball, no one says, “these teams shouldn’t even be a part of this tournament.”
What happens when a 9-4 team from a “weak” conference shows up ready to play and beats one of the big boys?

You are lumping in basketball the same as football so I get why you disagree. To me, basketball is different because it only takes 1-2 good players to make that impact and basketball can be as much about luck or the ball bouncing your way on a rebound as it is skill as long as the mid-major has some talent that can physically match up.

We would have to expand to 20 teams so all 10 leagues could have a bid plus an at-large for each. Maybe a 10-3 or 9-4 G5 could pull one upset but they don't deserve the chance or else you are telling me the season does not matter. I like a playoff but I want the regular season to matter as well. If you expand and guarantee too much you are telling me it does not. The current system has really made it almost impossible for us but the 12 team format gives us a clear direct path with a real chance now and I'm happy with it.

[Rick83]

Am I the only one still not happy with the 12 team playoff? There's like 10 comments above me talking about how App could MAYBE make the playoff if this-that-and-the-other happens AND we win our conference. Football is the the only college sport in which every conference champion doesn't immediately make the playoffs. We will have 10 conferences and 12 playoffs spots, but the powers that be still say only 1 maybe 2 G5 teams will make the playoff. It's garbage that just continues to entrench the divide between "big" football and "small" football.

I get your point but football is way different than these other sports. You have to remember that we have 85 in football and no other sport has anywhere near that many players on a team. When you compare resources we are small football compared to the SEC. That is why there was such a huge deal made out of us beating A&M. There are years that the Sun Belt or CUSA champ might hang and truly belong but imagine a year where the champ has 3 or 4 losses. Could you imagine a 9-4 G5 champion rolling in to play an undefeated Georgia in round 1? That would be a blowout and people would tune out quick. TV people and the CFP don't want that. They want competitive games.

If Georgia is undefeated then they're probably going to a top 4 seed so they would have a first round bye, just want to point that out since this a new thing. So the G5 champion that makes it would have a decent shot at winning their first round game which adds to the fun and excitement.
I personally think this 12 team playoff structure is perfect as the next progression. Also, haven't there been plenty of blowouts in the current 4 team playoff? There have been blowouts many times in even in the Super Bowl, yet people tune in year after year.

[Rick83]

So, the variables are going to change in college football as to how the playoffs function. When you change the variables in an equation you're going to get different results than you have previously. This is a major seismic-type change in college football and we are perfectly positioned to take advantage of it.

[bigdaddyg]

There are plenty of good arguments either way for any playoff and for expansion. A huge variable in this is the number of games played. At some point it gets a little out of hand for the players. Fans want to see as many games played as possible but if a season stretches too long injuries will increase and the "weaker" teams will really be at a disadvantage in terms of depth.

If they go to 12 teams is a season still going to be 12 games plus CCG's? If this schedule stays in place you could see an undefeated or maybe a one loss G5 take a close loss in a CCG and be out. Obviously you have to win to advance but what if we go 12-0 and play an 8-4 La in the CCG and they win? We certainly aren't getting an at large bid. With the larger conferences doing away with divisions will some also look to eliminate the CCGs? I'm sure that money will say no but if only conference champions get auto bids it will really make schools less likely to win play tougher regular season schedules.

[mike87]

Whatever brings in the most revenue will be the direction this goes. Potential blowouts and competitive match-ups be damned.

[AppStFan1]

Am I the only one still not happy with the 12 team playoff? There's like 10 comments above me talking about how App could MAYBE make the playoff if this-that-and-the-other happens AND we win our conference. Football is the the only college sport in which every conference champion doesn't immediately make the playoffs. We will have 10 conferences and 12 playoffs spots, but the powers that be still say only 1 maybe 2 G5 teams will make the playoff. It's garbage that just continues to entrench the divide between "big" football and "small" football.

I get your point but football is way different than these other sports. You have to remember that we have 85 in football and no other sport has anywhere near that many players on a team. When you compare resources we are small football compared to the SEC. That is why there was such a huge deal made out of us beating A&M. There are years that the Sun Belt or CUSA champ might hang and truly belong but imagine a year where the champ has 3 or 4 losses. Could you imagine a 9-4 G5 champion rolling in to play an undefeated Georgia in round 1? That would be a blowout and people would tune out quick. TV people and the CFP don't want that. They want competitive games.

If Georgia is undefeated then they're probably going to a top 4 seed so they would have a first round bye, just want to point that out since this a new thing. So the G5 champion that makes it would have a decent shot at winning their first round game which adds to the fun and excitement.
I personally think this 12 team playoff structure is perfect as the next progression. Also, haven't there been plenty of blowouts in the current 4 team playoff? There have been blowouts many times in even in the Super Bowl, yet people tune in year after year.

I'm solely talking about if every league has an auto-bid. My theory is that people will tune out if a 9-4 G5 team is down by 20-30 or so at halftime and shows they don't belong. People definitely watch the blowouts now but will they have the same interest if one of the teams is not a P5 major brand name like Oregon or Notre Dame and instead a Northern Illinois or Buffalo. With the 12 team format I don't think that will be the case because the G5 will have a great resume and be ranked for sure. I love the 12 team format because a G5 will absolutely get in if they deserve it and I just don't think a G5 deserves a shot if we have 3 or 4 losses.

[BallantyneApp]

The more I think about it, the 12 team playoff will help our recruiting and help us with the portal. Exciting times are coming! It’s a great time to be a Mountaineer!

I totally agree and have posted articles and tried to get discussions going on it but it only gets a tepid response from this board so far. I haven't understood why people aren't jumping up and down about this. In my opinion it's MASSIVELY HUGE for our program. The impact on recruiting (and interest from those in the transfer portal) and the interest generated if we were to make the playoff would be incredible. It's especially significant because one of the complaints about an expanded playoff would be that we would be the last seed and have to play Alabama or Ohio State in game 1 and get slaughtered but this format gives the top 4 seeds a bye so we'd have a shot at an easier game 1 win and then a second playoff game which would have to be a big upset.
Hopefully, they will implement this for the 2024 season which is being considered but no later than the 2026 season I believe.

This is huge for us!!

The issue preventing this from getting more hype and discussion is fear and uncertainty. We have a long ways to go this season and essentially one loss will derail the hope of making it to the playoffs. In years past we tend to drop a game that we should have won which takes us out of the AP Top 25 and crushed our NY6 bowl aspiration hopes. I just think we are tired of being let down and are being careful to look ahead too far at this point.

maybe we already dropped the game we should have won...

[AppStFan1]

The more I think about it, the 12 team playoff will help our recruiting and help us with the portal. Exciting times are coming! It’s a great time to be a Mountaineer!

I totally agree and have posted articles and tried to get discussions going on it but it only gets a tepid response from this board so far. I haven't understood why people aren't jumping up and down about this. In my opinion it's MASSIVELY HUGE for our program. The impact on recruiting (and interest from those in the transfer portal) and the interest generated if we were to make the playoff would be incredible. It's especially significant because one of the complaints about an expanded playoff would be that we would be the last seed and have to play Alabama or Ohio State in game 1 and get slaughtered but this format gives the top 4 seeds a bye so we'd have a shot at an easier game 1 win and then a second playoff game which would have to be a big upset.
Hopefully, they will implement this for the 2024 season which is being considered but no later than the 2026 season I believe.

This is huge for us!!

The issue preventing this from getting more hype and discussion is fear and uncertainty. We have a long ways to go this season and essentially one loss will derail the hope of making it to the playoffs. In years past we tend to drop a game that we should have won which takes us out of the AP Top 25 and crushed our NY6 bowl aspiration hopes. I just think we are tired of being let down and are being careful to look ahead too far at this point.

maybe we already dropped the game we should have won...

I hope so because there are a lot of games left that we could potentially drop. If we keep taking major injuries it will eventually catch up to us. Part of why this team is so good is the depth but if LB, WR, and RB keeps taking hits we will eventually lose another one we should have won.

[Rick83]

One thing to note. The 10 conferences are examining to see if they can move up the start of the season officially to Week 0. This would allow either an extra bye week during the regular season or open up the December scheduling. Start the bowls earlier, etc. This is all due to the adoption of the expanded playoff.

[MrCraig]

I get your point but football is way different than these other sports. You have to remember that we have 85 in football and no other sport has anywhere near that many players on a team. When you compare resources we are small football compared to the SEC. That is why there was such a huge deal made out of us beating A&M. There are years that the Sun Belt or CUSA champ might hang and truly belong but imagine a year where the champ has 3 or 4 losses. Could you imagine a 9-4 G5 champion rolling in to play an undefeated Georgia in round 1? That would be a blowout and people would tune out quick. TV people and the CFP don't want that. They want competitive games.

The average score of a college football playoff game, since they started the 4 team playoff, is 39-18. People still tune in by the millions to watch Georgia wreck Michigan. I don't know why they wouldn't tune in to watch Memphis play Michigan for a chance to be wrecked by Georgia next.

I know we have seen a lot of blowouts but those are P5 vs P5. G5s like us don't yet bring the TV audience that someone like Notre Dame will bring. Can you imagine the media and fans laughing and makes jokes how we the playoffs are worse now by allowing G5 teams who lose by 40-50? This system is good because if a G5 is really good they will get in. We don't have to worry about 2017 where UCF was undefeated and got screwed happening but we also won't see a G5 who is 9-4 getting in because they won a weak conference. If that happens then some of these mid tier P5s should just move to a G5 league and dominate. If UNC goes 7-5 this year people will say how they are not very good at all but they beat us and yet people might rank us if we go 12-1. The reality is that very few G5s belong in the playoff discussion and in 2022 right now nobody from a G5 league even belongs in it at this point. We would have if we had beat UNC.

I completely disagree. When Kentucky blows out Weber State in March people don’t say, “Weber State shouldn’t even be here.” When a G5 school gets swept out of the tournament in baseball, no one says, “these teams shouldn’t even be a part of this tournament.”
What happens when a 9-4 team from a “weak” conference shows up ready to play and beats one of the big boys?

You are lumping in basketball the same as football so I get why you disagree. To me, basketball is different because it only takes 1-2 good players to make that impact and basketball can be as much about luck or the ball bouncing your way on a rebound as it is skill as long as the mid-major has some talent that can physically match up.

We would have to expand to 20 teams so all 10 leagues could have a bid plus an at-large for each. Maybe a 10-3 or 9-4 G5 could pull one upset but they don't deserve the chance or else you are telling me the season does not matter. I like a playoff but I want the regular season to matter as well. If you expand and guarantee too much you are telling me it does not. The current system has really made it almost impossible for us but the 12 team format gives us a clear direct path with a real chance now and I'm happy with it.

How does saying every FBS conference champion gets an automatic bid mean that the regular season doesn't matter. You still have to beat everyone in your division AND win your conference championship to get in.

[AppStFan1]

The average score of a college football playoff game, since they started the 4 team playoff, is 39-18. People still tune in by the millions to watch Georgia wreck Michigan. I don't know why they wouldn't tune in to watch Memphis play Michigan for a chance to be wrecked by Georgia next.

I know we have seen a lot of blowouts but those are P5 vs P5. G5s like us don't yet bring the TV audience that someone like Notre Dame will bring. Can you imagine the media and fans laughing and makes jokes how we the playoffs are worse now by allowing G5 teams who lose by 40-50? This system is good because if a G5 is really good they will get in. We don't have to worry about 2017 where UCF was undefeated and got screwed happening but we also won't see a G5 who is 9-4 getting in because they won a weak conference. If that happens then some of these mid tier P5s should just move to a G5 league and dominate. If UNC goes 7-5 this year people will say how they are not very good at all but they beat us and yet people might rank us if we go 12-1. The reality is that very few G5s belong in the playoff discussion and in 2022 right now nobody from a G5 league even belongs in it at this point. We would have if we had beat UNC.

I completely disagree. When Kentucky blows out Weber State in March people don’t say, “Weber State shouldn’t even be here.” When a G5 school gets swept out of the tournament in baseball, no one says, “these teams shouldn’t even be a part of this tournament.”
What happens when a 9-4 team from a “weak” conference shows up ready to play and beats one of the big boys?

You are lumping in basketball the same as football so I get why you disagree. To me, basketball is different because it only takes 1-2 good players to make that impact and basketball can be as much about luck or the ball bouncing your way on a rebound as it is skill as long as the mid-major has some talent that can physically match up.

We would have to expand to 20 teams so all 10 leagues could have a bid plus an at-large for each. Maybe a 10-3 or 9-4 G5 could pull one upset but they don't deserve the chance or else you are telling me the season does not matter. I like a playoff but I want the regular season to matter as well. If you expand and guarantee too much you are telling me it does not. The current system has really made it almost impossible for us but the 12 team format gives us a clear direct path with a real chance now and I'm happy with it.

How does saying every FBS conference champion gets an automatic bid mean that the regular season doesn't matter. You still have to beat everyone in your division AND win your conference championship to get in.

It completely diminishes non-conference games. If you play a FCS, 2 G5s, and a P5 and you lose all of them but your league is so weak that you win the conference anyway do you think that team deserves a shot? I don't see why having the 12 best teams possible should not be the goal. If that is not the goal then you are incentivizing a team to change leagues so they can win. Right now Vanderbilt has no shot at the national title so let's put them in the MAC because they would have a much better chance to win the league in that case.

[MrCraig]

I know we have seen a lot of blowouts but those are P5 vs P5. G5s like us don't yet bring the TV audience that someone like Notre Dame will bring. Can you imagine the media and fans laughing and makes jokes how we the playoffs are worse now by allowing G5 teams who lose by 40-50? This system is good because if a G5 is really good they will get in. We don't have to worry about 2017 where UCF was undefeated and got screwed happening but we also won't see a G5 who is 9-4 getting in because they won a weak conference. If that happens then some of these mid tier P5s should just move to a G5 league and dominate. If UNC goes 7-5 this year people will say how they are not very good at all but they beat us and yet people might rank us if we go 12-1. The reality is that very few G5s belong in the playoff discussion and in 2022 right now nobody from a G5 league even belongs in it at this point. We would have if we had beat UNC.

I completely disagree. When Kentucky blows out Weber State in March people don’t say, “Weber State shouldn’t even be here.” When a G5 school gets swept out of the tournament in baseball, no one says, “these teams shouldn’t even be a part of this tournament.”
What happens when a 9-4 team from a “weak” conference shows up ready to play and beats one of the big boys?

You are lumping in basketball the same as football so I get why you disagree. To me, basketball is different because it only takes 1-2 good players to make that impact and basketball can be as much about luck or the ball bouncing your way on a rebound as it is skill as long as the mid-major has some talent that can physically match up.

We would have to expand to 20 teams so all 10 leagues could have a bid plus an at-large for each. Maybe a 10-3 or 9-4 G5 could pull one upset but they don't deserve the chance or else you are telling me the season does not matter. I like a playoff but I want the regular season to matter as well. If you expand and guarantee too much you are telling me it does not. The current system has really made it almost impossible for us but the 12 team format gives us a clear direct path with a real chance now and I'm happy with it.

How does saying every FBS conference champion gets an automatic bid mean that the regular season doesn't matter. You still have to beat everyone in your division AND win your conference championship to get in.

It completely diminishes non-conference games. If you play a FCS, 2 G5s, and a P5 and you lose all of them but your league is so weak that you win the conference anyway do you think that team deserves a shot? I don't see why having the 12 best teams possible should not be the goal. If that is not the goal then you are incentivizing a team to change leagues so they can win. Right now Vanderbilt has no shot at the national title so let's put them in the MAC because they would have a much better chance to win the league in that case.

That’s exactly what should happen. Vanderbilt has no business in the SEC, and putting them in a lower conference would probably make them more competitive and their fans would care about football more. Again, this is how EVERY. OTHER. COLLEGE. SPORT. does it, and no one complains about “unworthy” teams making the NCAA softball tournament or whatever.

[BeauFoster]

WHY WONT THIS THREAD DIE

[AppWyo]

This thread dies when the FBS playoff goes to 16 or 32 teams and instead of the discussion being why did Appalachian not get in, it will be can you believe our pairings.

Give Appalachian a chance and they will beat you, take your money, your friend, your spouse, college gameday, and anything else not attached, some mountaineers have tools so attached stuff should not be a problem to take either.

[AppStFan1]

I completely disagree. When Kentucky blows out Weber State in March people don’t say, “Weber State shouldn’t even be here.” When a G5 school gets swept out of the tournament in baseball, no one says, “these teams shouldn’t even be a part of this tournament.”
What happens when a 9-4 team from a “weak” conference shows up ready to play and beats one of the big boys?

You are lumping in basketball the same as football so I get why you disagree. To me, basketball is different because it only takes 1-2 good players to make that impact and basketball can be as much about luck or the ball bouncing your way on a rebound as it is skill as long as the mid-major has some talent that can physically match up.

We would have to expand to 20 teams so all 10 leagues could have a bid plus an at-large for each. Maybe a 10-3 or 9-4 G5 could pull one upset but they don't deserve the chance or else you are telling me the season does not matter. I like a playoff but I want the regular season to matter as well. If you expand and guarantee too much you are telling me it does not. The current system has really made it almost impossible for us but the 12 team format gives us a clear direct path with a real chance now and I'm happy with it.

How does saying every FBS conference champion gets an automatic bid mean that the regular season doesn't matter. You still have to beat everyone in your division AND win your conference championship to get in.

It completely diminishes non-conference games. If you play a FCS, 2 G5s, and a P5 and you lose all of them but your league is so weak that you win the conference anyway do you think that team deserves a shot? I don't see why having the 12 best teams possible should not be the goal. If that is not the goal then you are incentivizing a team to change leagues so they can win. Right now Vanderbilt has no shot at the national title so let's put them in the MAC because they would have a much better chance to win the league in that case.

That’s exactly what should happen. Vanderbilt has no business in the SEC, and putting them in a lower conference would probably make them more competitive and their fans would care about football more. Again, this is how EVERY. OTHER. COLLEGE. SPORT. does it, and no one complains about “unworthy” teams making the NCAA softball tournament or whatever.

Vanderbilt is not going anywhere. There is no buyout to leave the SEC for a reason.

I don't think just because the other sports do it does not mean football should. Softball and those other sports don't have the gap in talent that football does in D1. Just go look at Northern Illinois, Akron, Kent State, etc how they look physically and how they run. Because of size and speed these SEC teams and Ohio State, OU, etc types will just line up and bully most of these G5 teams. There are some who can hang for sure but they will rise up and prove they belong in this format.

I was going to skip the logistics and playing so many games but don't they have to move the start of them up to even have 12 games so the playoffs begin right after conference title games to have room to play all this? I think 16 games is already a little too much to ask colleges to play but if we get up to 20 or 24 teams then it will end up being 17-18 games. Also, we can't allow the playoffs to go any later or else we are asking seniors to bypass all-star games and training for the combine. I would love to see them go back down to 11 games with the expanded playoffs. That would make scheduling easier.