College football conference games: necessary?

[Auggie]

San Francisco columnist Bruce Jenkins advocates they be eliminated in favor of an eight team playoff scenario. He writes:

There’s a solution to this lost weekend, with an expanded playoff system as part of the bargain. It’s astounding that college football hasn’t seen the light, but let’s hope the blundering buffoons read this week’s helpful reminders from some very wise observers, including Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wetzel and former Stanford sports information director Gary Cavalli, who writes a weekly blog.

In essence: Ditch the conference championships altogether and make this the first weekend of an eight-team playoff.

Seriously, what’s the point of a “title game” when the regular season dictates everything you need to know? Washington had the Pac-12’s best record and beat Utah earlier this year. Oklahoma is the only one-loss team in the Big 12. Alabama was the clear champion of the SEC, and so forth.

SNIP

This column has long argued for a system that includes automatic bids for the Power Five conferences and three at-large bids. As suggested by Wetzel, this weekend’s first round could give us home-field advantages for the highest seeds and the following matchups: No. 8 Washington at No. 1 Alabama, No. 7 UCF at No. 2 Clemson, No. 6 Ohio State at No. 3 Notre Dame, and No. 5 Oklahoma at No. 4 Georgia.

He argues that it would be "great theater" and writes "the executive decisions in college football are all about revenue and TV ratings, each of which would be jacked up immeasurably with this new system."

LINK (possible paywall): https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/jenkins/article/College-football-s-postseason-There-s-a-13432931.php

I agree -- it's time for true playoffs. Thoughts?

[El Supremo]

1. I hate them.

As I once said, there should be 16 10 team conferences with the winners going to playoffs.

[Auggie]

3. The columnist is suggesting something a little different

Five power conferences plus three "at-large".

If Alabama should beat Georgia today, even in a close score, that may be it for the Bulldogs -- even under your 16/10 system. Eliminating conference championships AND having three at-large (or wildcard) options creates a slightly more exciting venue. I think we all agree the best teams should make the playoffs. Here's an opportunity to do it in a better way than even the NFL.

[El Supremo]

8. I'd like to see even the Ivy League get a chance every year.

But they'd need to get two more teams.

[erlewyne]

2. Why didn't I think of that?

A great Idea!

[BaileyBill]

4. Four regional divisions, NE, SE, MW and W,

approx. 30 teams in each. Each team plays 9 schools w/in division and one in each of the other divisions. Each school is allowed 2 "rivalry games" (Texas/OU, Mich./OhioSt., etc. will always exist). Rest of schedule determined by computer rankings of the previous seasons' records so that each school plays essentially the same strength of schedule.

Top 4 teams in each division are seeded in 16-team playoff (ties broken by head-to-head records and "quality" of wins).

Voila. True National Champion with all schools having a chance at the first of the year. Rivalries remain, but fans also have the chance to visit schools they would otherwise never play, and Cinderella always has a chance.

Stay tuned for my solution for Middle-East peace.

[JonLP24]

5. I'm in favor of a FCS style playoff

10 conference winners. 14 at large bids.

I don't want to give power conferences an unfair advantage. For the best teams you rank them and sometimes a conference member can sometimes have a better overall record than the conference champion this is where the at large bids come in.

It should spread recruiting around especially for the smaller conferences.

[Auggie]

6. That's too many teams and games IMO

[JonLP24]

7. FCS can handle it

Shorten the regular season but the proposal in the OP isn't a true one through 8 and they underrate mid major teams nowadaways. It is more fair the FCS way.

I pretty much boycott the playoffs the way it is and I'd probably boycott the proposal in the OP.

As I type this UCF just had back to back undefeated seasons.