12-05-2006, 07:52 AM
=>I have always advocated that in a perfect world, the NCAA would get rid of the bowls and go to a 32 team playoff. Like in basketball, the conference champion would get an automatic invite (11 spots). The other 21 spots filled with at-large teams. The tourney would be seeded and the higher seed would host through the second round or maybe even through quarterfinals. The final rounds would be on a neutral field.
Would the current bowl system or a 32 team tourney format benefit the MAC more?
32 TEAM FORMAT
PROS: A MAC school, like in basketball, has a mathmatical change, albeit a long one, of winning the national championship.
CONS: Likely only 1 MAC school would make the playoffs every year. Some years 2 or 3 could slip in (2003 season Miami and BUGS finished in Top 25 and NIU, at 10-2 was just outside it ). Ex. CMU would be in the tourney this year, but bowl teams NIU, WMU, and Ohio U. would not qualify for the postseason. Another con is the MAC champion would likely be one of the worst seeds and have to beat a top 8 team on the road in the first round. In addition, the 2nd round and maybe quarterfinals would also be on the road versus a very good team.
CURRENT BOWL FORMAT
PROS: More opportunities for postseason. This year, the MAC will get 4 teams in postseason play. In a 32 team playoff, the MAC would have just got one. Also, under the current BCS rules, a MAC school could get a BCS bowl if it went undefeated like Boise State. The BCS bowl would be a neutral game in a huge showcase.
CONS: No real mathmatical chance at all for a national championship, even if went undefeated.
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Vote which system is better for the MAC (and not necessarily what you want to see or which system is better for college football as a whole)?
Would the current bowl system or a 32 team tourney format benefit the MAC more?
32 TEAM FORMAT
PROS: A MAC school, like in basketball, has a mathmatical change, albeit a long one, of winning the national championship.
CONS: Likely only 1 MAC school would make the playoffs every year. Some years 2 or 3 could slip in (2003 season Miami and BUGS finished in Top 25 and NIU, at 10-2 was just outside it ). Ex. CMU would be in the tourney this year, but bowl teams NIU, WMU, and Ohio U. would not qualify for the postseason. Another con is the MAC champion would likely be one of the worst seeds and have to beat a top 8 team on the road in the first round. In addition, the 2nd round and maybe quarterfinals would also be on the road versus a very good team.
CURRENT BOWL FORMAT
PROS: More opportunities for postseason. This year, the MAC will get 4 teams in postseason play. In a 32 team playoff, the MAC would have just got one. Also, under the current BCS rules, a MAC school could get a BCS bowl if it went undefeated like Boise State. The BCS bowl would be a neutral game in a huge showcase.
CONS: No real mathmatical chance at all for a national championship, even if went undefeated.
******
Vote which system is better for the MAC (and not necessarily what you want to see or which system is better for college football as a whole)?