RE: If NCAA had playoffs in FBS like FCS has
A middle ground could be a 12-team tournament, with a play-in round. 10 conference champions and 2 wild cards. Seeding preference given to the top-4 conference champions.
Round 1: Play-In
Saturday, December 9, 2017
8-seed game: Boise St.(MWC) at UCF(AAC)
7-seed game: Toledo(MAC) at USC(PAC)
6-seed game: FAU(CUSA) at Wisconsin(wild card)
5-seed game: Troy(SB) at Alabama(wild card)
*editorial license to pick various winners and consolation bowls
Quarterfinals
Saturday, December 16, 2017
UCF (8-seed winner) at (1)Clemson(ACC)
USC (7-seed winner) at (2)Oklahoma(B12)
Wisconsin (6-seed winner) at (3)Georgia(SEC)
Alabama (5-seed winner) at (4)Ohio St.(B1G)
Semifinals
Monday, January 1, 2018
Sugar Bowl: (1)Clemson v. (5)Alabama (Quarterfinal winners)
Rose Bowl: (2)Oklahoma v. (3)Georgia (Quarterfinal winners)
National Championship
Monday, January 8, 2018
Atlanta, Georgia
(3)Georgia v. (5)Alabama (Semifinal winners)
Consolation Bowls:
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Round 1 losers or at large
Las Vegas Bowl: Boise St. v. Toledo
New Orleans Bowl: Troy v. FAU
December 29, 30 and January 1
NY6 - include the 4 quarterfinal losers and possible Round 1 losers (if needed to give all P5 and at least 1 G5 a spot in the NY6)
Cotton: Ohio St. v. USC
Fiesta: Penn St. v. Washington
Orange: Wisconsin v. Miami
Peach: UCF v. Auburn
Note that you can get the exact same semifinal and NY6 participants. Major difference for most teams is one additional game - and EVERYONE has the chance at the national championship. Of course, you could also move the Quarterfinals to the NY6 bowl games and then push the semifinals and championship games out one week. But, personally, I like the idea to give the top-4 champions a home game. That's a big reward for winning your conference and enhances the importance of regular season conference races - and helps to alleviate some travel issues.
Note also that by favoring conference champions for the top-4 seeds, you don't unfairly favor a non-division winner, like Alabama. Alabama, as an at large wild card, still has access to the playoff and national championship game, but they don't avoid the CCG and then land into the national championship by winning one big game. They must win three games, including to beat another conference champion on the road AND win a big bowl game. The pathway to the national championship should be more difficult for non-champs, not easier.
Most teams only play one extra game compared to the current CFP system. A team could possibly play 2 extra games compared to the current system, in the rare occasion where a CCG and Play-In participant makes it all the way to the national championship game. But, I don't think they would complain for that opportunity.
(This post was last modified: 01-05-2018 01:54 PM by YNot.)
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