(11-02-2018 11:10 AM)ken d Wrote:  There is nothing unique about giving byes. But I don't believe there has ever been a case where two teams were given the huge advantage that Alvarez proposes to give where there is so little to justify it.

The FCS playoffs do exactly that. The top 8 teams get first round byes and also get to host their second round game. The extra week of rest might be an even larger advantage for FCS teams given that they have less depth.

(11-02-2018 05:21 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  I would guess the REAL motive for 6 would be to freeze out the G5 (5 P5 champs plus top at-large team ONLY). NOT a very pretty motive at all, but it's probably true.

Alvarez' motive is just to make it less likely that the Big Ten champ is left out - they've been left out of the 4-team playoff twice and each team that team was either 5th or 6th - while avoiding the 8-team format that is only going to be agreed upon if there are autobids.

(11-02-2018 06:14 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(11-02-2018 11:10 AM)ken d Wrote:  There is nothing unique about giving byes. But I don't believe there has ever been a case where two teams were given the huge advantage that Alvarez proposes to give where there is so little to justify it.

The FCS playoffs do exactly that. The top 8 teams get first round byes and also get to host their second round game. The extra week of rest might be an even larger advantage for FCS teams given that they have less depth.

(11-02-2018 05:21 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  I would guess the REAL motive for 6 would be to freeze out the G5 (5 P5 champs plus top at-large team ONLY). NOT a very pretty motive at all, but it's probably true.

Alvarez' motive is just to make it less likely that the Big Ten champ is left out - they've been left out of the 4-team playoff twice and each team that team was either 5th or 6th - while avoiding the 8-team format that is only going to be agreed upon if there are autobids.

The Big Ten was only left out once, last year.

(11-02-2018 06:55 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(11-02-2018 06:14 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(11-02-2018 11:10 AM)ken d Wrote:  There is nothing unique about giving byes. But I don't believe there has ever been a case where two teams were given the huge advantage that Alvarez proposes to give where there is so little to justify it.

The FCS playoffs do exactly that. The top 8 teams get first round byes and also get to host their second round game. The extra week of rest might be an even larger advantage for FCS teams given that they have less depth.

(11-02-2018 05:21 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  I would guess the REAL motive for 6 would be to freeze out the G5 (5 P5 champs plus top at-large team ONLY). NOT a very pretty motive at all, but it's probably true.

Alvarez' motive is just to make it less likely that the Big Ten champ is left out - they've been left out of the 4-team playoff twice and each team that team was either 5th or 6th - while avoiding the 8-team format that is only going to be agreed upon if there are autobids.

The Big Ten was only left out once, last year.

The Big Ten champ has been left out each of the past two years, as I said above.

(11-02-2018 08:31 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(11-02-2018 06:55 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(11-02-2018 06:14 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(11-02-2018 11:10 AM)ken d Wrote:  There is nothing unique about giving byes. But I don't believe there has ever been a case where two teams were given the huge advantage that Alvarez proposes to give where there is so little to justify it.

The FCS playoffs do exactly that. The top 8 teams get first round byes and also get to host their second round game. The extra week of rest might be an even larger advantage for FCS teams given that they have less depth.

(11-02-2018 05:21 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  I would guess the REAL motive for 6 would be to freeze out the G5 (5 P5 champs plus top at-large team ONLY). NOT a very pretty motive at all, but it's probably true.

Alvarez' motive is just to make it less likely that the Big Ten champ is left out - they've been left out of the 4-team playoff twice and each team that team was either 5th or 6th - while avoiding the 8-team format that is only going to be agreed upon if there are autobids.

The Big Ten was only left out once, last year.

The Big Ten champ has been left out each of the past two years, as I said above.

Ah, that's right. Ohio State was not the Big Ten champ in 2016-17. I read it as the Big Ten being left out.