(04-29-2021 11:38 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(04-29-2021 10:02 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(04-29-2021 09:28 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(04-29-2021 08:07 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  

(04-29-2021 07:15 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  ...


That being said, I still think it’s so important to emphasize that the CFP leadership itself *voluntarily* disclosed the playoff discussions in this news cycle. Considering how much they have been so openly hostile to any speculation about playoff changes in the past, that’s a justifiably a huge deal in my mind (and I think in the minds of the media). I wouldn’t put this in the same category as past rumors or anonymous quotes at all: the CFP stated this in a freaking press release! They wouldn’t have done that if they weren’t serious. This isn’t a group that wants to just stir the pot for Twitter and forums - they’ve always been the opposite with being as boring as possible.

Remember the Big 12 rose ceremony? Some realignmentologist even wrote an article about it IIRC.

ESPN and Fox said no. They will not say no to a playoff expansion.

Cart before the horse Bullet! Nothing will be moved on until issues are decided and even then this isn't going to be a slam dunk. NIL and a ruling on the stipend cap will be just the first things that have to be gauged. Then the Big 10 and SEC who have usually been on the same page will have to agree before anything happens and that has a history in that anything the SEC and Big 10 disagreed upon didn't happen.

We don't know yet if there will be defections because of NIL and we already have a queue of schools who have expressed that they will strongly consider deemphasizing sports if the stipend cap isn't upheld. So Bullet, the SEC and Big 10 aside we don't even know what an upper tier will look like, let alone who will want in from the G5 or want out from the P5 if the stipend cap is ended.

And, there a trio of new contracts to be worked before we get to this. Now if details in those contracts indicate anything to do with an expanded playoff then maybe I'll change my tune, but they won't. And the bowl contacts aren't up for a few years either.

So lets wait to see how things play out legally and then contractually before we start talking expanded playoffs. This is just publicity pimping and temperature gauging right now. There are way too many issues to deal with before we even seriously consider expanding the playoffs not the least of which is a dramatically changing demographic as Boomers age and fade in the next 15 years.

I do very much agree with your first paragraph. Paying players is the big issue that might threaten expansion.

Yup. Its pretty clear that paying the players is happening. The only questions remaining are the exact form the compensation will take, the manner in which compensation will flow to the players, and from whom the compensation will flow.