(12-19-2018 01:10 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(12-19-2018 12:58 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(12-19-2018 12:48 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(12-19-2018 10:05 AM)Gamecock Wrote:  This seems big

https://twitter.com/Brett_McMurphy/statu...5036004354

"In a survey of all 11 members of @CFBPlayoff Management Committee, @WatchStadium asked members if they favored 8-team playoff: 3 yes, 3 undecided, 1 no & 4 abstained. This is a huge change from last year when committee unanimously wanted to stay at 4 teams"

But, here's why we shouldn't think there is going to be an immediate change: Even when allowed to respond anonymously, only 3 out of 11 of them say they definitely want an 8-team playoff. And think about who this committee is: It's the commissioners of every FBS conference plus the Notre Dame AD. So this group includes all five G5 commissioners, and still, there's only 3 people out of this group of 11 who definitely favor an 8-team playoff.

To be fair---they were responding to a reporter---anonymous or not. The fact that 3 are straight up "for" it and 7 more are not against it---means opinion within the deciding body has cracked----moving away from the unanimity of status quo and showing clear movement within the body toward the "pro expansion" side. At the very least--it clearly indicates that 10 of the 11 members would appear to be open to discussing CFP expansion.

I would expect that a big problem for those who want a 5 + 1 + 2 system with an auto-bid for the G5 is going to be Notre Dame. Because that system means Notre Dame is fighting for just two at-large spots, not three.

That's why Brian Kelly said he wanted 8 teams, with auto-bids for P5, then three at-large. Wasn't by accident that he didn't mention an *auto* spot for the G5.

Notre Dame can live with a reduction of 4 available spots (as in the CFP) to 3 available spots (as in 5 + 3), because the reduction of one spot is offset by the lower bar to get in - finish in the top 8 rather than top four. But a reduction from 4 spots to 2 makes it worse for them.

I dont think anyone really believes that if Notre Dame is undefeated --or perhaps has one loss---that they wont be in. Especially, when one considers that the champion from every P5 conference is already in before making a decision on the wildcards.