http://www.azfamily.com/story/28885294/todd-graham-discusses-un-american-scheduling-outlines-8-team-playoff#.VTmq8zqLMfE.twitter
Well I do think he's right that current way to get to the playoff is to win all your games or maybe lose 1 game. For the most part, that's been the formula since the BCS days. LSU I think is the only 2 loss team to get to that NC game. But what only taking Conf Champs plus 3 at larges do is bring in the possibility of 3 or 4 loss team that gets hot in conference play and wins the conference championship game. While Division winners are more typically also highly ranked teams, if there is an upset then a team gets in that maybe over the whole season hasn't been deserving but sneaks in by winning a wearker division and knocking off the favorite. That's they way it's done in the Pro's, Super Bowl winner many times have been underdogs going into the playoffs who got hot. Since you are talking about taking 3 at larges teams in his proposal, then that still means a no loss or 1 loss record is preferred, those teams will be more likely to be ranked high by the committee. So it still means that teams will benefit from having non-conference record that is undefeated. 3-0 is preferred, 1-2 or 0-3 could still allow you to make the playoffs but you then have to win the conference championship, no at large likely with a bad non-conference record.
I think if we go to eight teams it should solve most problems with good candidate teams not being included. If you took the top 8 teams in the AP poll or the old BCS poll, I think you would accomplish the same thing.
Terry, I would think that the qualifications for being chosen could allow another at-large team in place of a lower ranked conference champ. I can see a year when there would be 4 conference champs and 4 at-large teams based on a combination of records and rankings. Wasn't there a year when the BCS took away the automatic bid from the Big East champ because of their overall record?
Well you can make the rules anyway you want. They could certainly say that for instance that if they are going to take 8 that a Conference Champ must rate in the top 8 or they don't get in. But then that would be what Graham is saying is bad and causes weak schedules, the drive to be in the top 4 or the top 8 or in the case of the BCS the top 2. He want's automatic bids to Power 5 conference champs even if by happen stance one of them is not even ranked in the top 25.
:roll: They should just leave it the way it is for 20 years and then start the debate again. This system is much better than the BCS.
I think he has some good points. Eventually going to 8 teams I think is a good idea. As to the number of conference games I don't see regulating that. His team plays 9 conference games so he thinks everyone should play 9 conference games. The SEC plays 8 conference games and requires one outside conference game is with an opponent from a power conference. If they regulate that then they might have to require the Big 12 to have at least 12 teams and have a playoff. They could then require you have to be in a conference to make the playoff. I personally think that when they went to 12 games it was a mistake, very little has been done to make that 12th game meaningful.
For the time being, I support the four-team playoff and the post-season bowl games. I am more than willing to test this system for a few more years and then make a final judgement. I honestly did not think Ohio State would make the playoffs last season. The system did work and the rest is history.