Just a fun topic to discuss based on what's going on right now across the country. Taking a look at the conferences, the only one who's getting it right (by luck) despite not having a conference championship game until next year is the Big 12.
ACC:
Top 5 teams (based on standings):
1. Clemson
2. Louisville
3. FSU
4. VT
5. UNC
B1G:
Top 5 teams (based on standings):
1. tOSU
2. Michigan
3. PSU
4. Wisky
5. Nebraska
Pac-12:
Top 5 teams (based on standings):
1. Washington
2. Washington State
3. USC
4. Colorado
5. Utah
SEC:
Top 5 teams (based on standings):
1. Alabama
2. UF
3. Barn
4. TAMU
5. Vawls
Big 12:
Top 3 teams (based on standings):
1. OU
2. Okie Lite
3. WVU
So out of the Top 5 leagues, using the CFP rankings along with head-to-head results, only the Big 12 officially will settle the champion on the field. The SEC obviously has a chance if Bama beats Barn (which they will) and if UF beats FSU (which they won't) will get the 2 best teams in the SEC Championship game. But based on the eye test and against other teams UF is not the 2nd best team in the SEC. But, that's on Tennessee for losing to Carl's Jr aka South Carolina.
Taking a look at the ACC, and it's safe to say the best 3 teams still reside in the Atlantic division.
The Pac-12 is muddled with how well USC has played starting October 1st. USC throttled Washington 2 weeks ago, and beat Colorado head-to-head. The Pac-12 still has a shot to right itself when Washington-WSU play on Friday, and if Utah beats Colorado. This would setup another USC-Washington game in the P12 Championship.
The B1G is the most interesting of all. There is a whole lot of crying today by $EC fans, since the B1G has 4 of the Top 7 teams in the CFP rankings. So with that said, a tOSU win over Michigan combined with a PSU win over MSU sends PSU to the B1G Championship. Michigan obviously controls their destiny if they beat tOSU. Wisky controls the B1G West. IF tOSU wins, does that mean a Wisky win gets 2 B1G teams in the Playoffs?
So here we are on the eve of the last weekend of the regular season already (damnit it goes by so fast!) and yet again this season is showing why there needs to be a change to the conference structure.......
It's time to eliminate divisions. Go to a Big 12 format, and play the 2 best teams in the conference championship game. This can be done with multiple metrics including head-to-head. This would ensure a true conference champion.
Now it will be time to analyze the next step to fix the CFP system. Add 2 teams. This would ensure all 5 conferences are represented and an at-large bid (which could include a non P5 team) has a chance to get the spot. The #1 & #2 seeds get a bye, and the first round is played the week after the Championship games at the campus of the highest ranked seed.
#6 @ #3
#5 @ #4
Winners move on and play on NYE, NYD etc based on the year the CFP is played.
#1 seed vs. lowest seed winner
#2 vs. other team
This format would allow the losing teams to play in a bowl game as usual.
So before some on here talk about it "not being fair to GT." I don't see how that argument could be made. By eliminating divisions, this would likely also eliminate the "annual" game with Clemson making it fair to everyone. Also, don't give me the SA academic excuse either. We see what college baseball and college basketball teams do playing multiple games on the road weekly. Hell, look at Michigan State. They went from Hawaii to Chicago to East Lansing to Nassau in less than 2 weeks. So you tell me how they can "focus on academics" with that travel schedule?
Just some food for thought (no pun intended) as we go into the Thanksgiving holiday.
ACC:
Top 5 teams (based on standings):
1. Clemson
2. Louisville
3. FSU
4. VT
5. UNC
B1G:
Top 5 teams (based on standings):
1. tOSU
2. Michigan
3. PSU
4. Wisky
5. Nebraska
Pac-12:
Top 5 teams (based on standings):
1. Washington
2. Washington State
3. USC
4. Colorado
5. Utah
SEC:
Top 5 teams (based on standings):
1. Alabama
2. UF
3. Barn
4. TAMU
5. Vawls
Big 12:
Top 3 teams (based on standings):
1. OU
2. Okie Lite
3. WVU
So out of the Top 5 leagues, using the CFP rankings along with head-to-head results, only the Big 12 officially will settle the champion on the field. The SEC obviously has a chance if Bama beats Barn (which they will) and if UF beats FSU (which they won't) will get the 2 best teams in the SEC Championship game. But based on the eye test and against other teams UF is not the 2nd best team in the SEC. But, that's on Tennessee for losing to Carl's Jr aka South Carolina.
Taking a look at the ACC, and it's safe to say the best 3 teams still reside in the Atlantic division.
The Pac-12 is muddled with how well USC has played starting October 1st. USC throttled Washington 2 weeks ago, and beat Colorado head-to-head. The Pac-12 still has a shot to right itself when Washington-WSU play on Friday, and if Utah beats Colorado. This would setup another USC-Washington game in the P12 Championship.
The B1G is the most interesting of all. There is a whole lot of crying today by $EC fans, since the B1G has 4 of the Top 7 teams in the CFP rankings. So with that said, a tOSU win over Michigan combined with a PSU win over MSU sends PSU to the B1G Championship. Michigan obviously controls their destiny if they beat tOSU. Wisky controls the B1G West. IF tOSU wins, does that mean a Wisky win gets 2 B1G teams in the Playoffs?
So here we are on the eve of the last weekend of the regular season already (damnit it goes by so fast!) and yet again this season is showing why there needs to be a change to the conference structure.......
It's time to eliminate divisions. Go to a Big 12 format, and play the 2 best teams in the conference championship game. This can be done with multiple metrics including head-to-head. This would ensure a true conference champion.
Now it will be time to analyze the next step to fix the CFP system. Add 2 teams. This would ensure all 5 conferences are represented and an at-large bid (which could include a non P5 team) has a chance to get the spot. The #1 & #2 seeds get a bye, and the first round is played the week after the Championship games at the campus of the highest ranked seed.
#6 @ #3
#5 @ #4
Winners move on and play on NYE, NYD etc based on the year the CFP is played.
#1 seed vs. lowest seed winner
#2 vs. other team
This format would allow the losing teams to play in a bowl game as usual.
So before some on here talk about it "not being fair to GT." I don't see how that argument could be made. By eliminating divisions, this would likely also eliminate the "annual" game with Clemson making it fair to everyone. Also, don't give me the SA academic excuse either. We see what college baseball and college basketball teams do playing multiple games on the road weekly. Hell, look at Michigan State. They went from Hawaii to Chicago to East Lansing to Nassau in less than 2 weeks. So you tell me how they can "focus on academics" with that travel schedule?
Just some food for thought (no pun intended) as we go into the Thanksgiving holiday.
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