Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Post Your College Football Playoff System

RoadRage · 10-21-2003, 09:23 AM

1. If I'm coaching a team, I rather be eliminated by a heartless computer than a couple of sportswriters or coaches with an axe to grind or (worse) a couple of coaches who haven't seen my team play this season and eliminate my team out of sheer ignorance.

Don't think this is possible? The_Dude won't vote for non-BCS teams in his Top 20 ballots. Several of you were more than happy to eliminate Texas from your ballots because of The_Dude's overhyping of Texas. Granted, there are more voters in the human polls; but prejudice and ignorance can still shift a spot here and a spot there, and it may just be enough to get you das boot.

2. If #3 is on the outside looking in, they have a much better case for playoff expansion than #13 or #15 does. A #3 team could be undefeated and thus a legitimate complaint, whereas #15 has 2 or more losses or 1 loss while playing Kansas State's schedule and should be told STFU. Where's the line between true gripe and whiny bitching? I suspect it's somewhere between #6 and #10 (inclusive).

3. "Every week is a playoff in college football." True to an extent. If all the teams were on equal footing, this would be the case. As it is now though, Northern Illinois or Texas Christian could run the table and still be eliminated in favor of a 2-loss team. Last year, Boise State with one loss was FAR more deserving of the Sugar Bowl than Florida State with FOUR losses, and probably would have made a better game of it against Georgia.

My own proposal:

1. Major conferences are required to have 12 teams and play 8 conference and 3 non-conference games. This means the Big 11 adds one (Norte Dame) and the Pac 10 adds two. A sixth major conference is added, probably an amalgam of the Big East and the what left of the MAC after the new attendence requirements kick in.

2. The playoffs consist of eight teams. Major conference champions have nearly automatic bids, six total, revokable for that season if no team in the conference is in the Top 15. A revoked automatic bid goes to the highest ranked team not currently in the playoffs. The minor conferences have one slot guaranteed, with a second granted if there are no conference runners-up with a ranking in the top 5.

3. The championship rankings are determined as such:
Total = AP ranking + Coaches ranking + Computer poll of 20 ratings systems (7 without margin-of-victory, 7 with, other 6 at discretion) + .07 * SOS rank.

Sample scenario: an alternate 2002 season.

ACC: As was + Miami-Florida, Virginia Tech, and Boston College
Big XII: as was
Midwest XII: Big Ten + Norte Dame
Pac-12: Pac-10 + Utah and UNLV
SEC: as was
Big East: West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Syracuse, Rutgers, Connecticut, Louisville, Cincinnati, Marshall, Toledo, Bowling Green, Miami-Ohio

Championships (rankings before game):

ACC: Miami-FL (#1) defeats Maryland (#16)
Big XII: Oklahoma (#7) defeats Colorado (#13)
Midwest XII: Ohio State (#2) defeats Iowa (#5)
Pac-12: Southern California (#4) beats Washington State (#6)
SEC: Georgia (#3) defeats Arkansas (#21)
Big East: Marshall (#31) defeats West Virginia (#15)

Due to the losses, Iowa and Washington State are not in the top 5, so the minor conferences get two slots, which went to Boise State (#18) and South Florida (#23). Due to the loss, neither West Virginia nor any other Big East team is in the Top 15, so they lost their spot, which ended up falling to Iowa (who just edged out Kansas State and Norte Dame for the #6 spot in the post-conference championship rankings).

First Round Matchups:

South Florida @ Miami-Florida
Boise State @ Ohio State
Iowa (non-automatic bid) @ Georgia
Oklahoma (automatic bid) @ Southern California

Workarounds can be put in to prevent rematches. Tweaking can be done to allow a more deserving Washington State team in instead of South Florida.

I think this is one of the better frameworks. The regular season still means a whole lot. No one plays more than 15 games (you only play 11 if you don't win your conference division), and everyone plays equal number of games entering the playoffs. There is room for adjustments when needed.

But then I think rain is wet, so what do I know?

10-21-2003, 09:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
RoadRage Stay off the sidewalk! Location: Oklahoma City, OK	1. If I'm coaching a team, I rather be eliminated by a heartless computer than a couple of sportswriters or coaches with an axe to grind or (worse) a couple of coaches who haven't seen my team play this season and eliminate my team out of sheer ignorance. Don't think this is possible? The_Dude won't vote for non-BCS teams in his Top 20 ballots. Several of you were more than happy to eliminate Texas from your ballots because of The_Dude's overhyping of Texas. Granted, there are more voters in the human polls; but prejudice and ignorance can still shift a spot here and a spot there, and it may just be enough to get you das boot. 2. If #3 is on the outside looking in, they have a much better case for playoff expansion than #13 or #15 does. A #3 team could be undefeated and thus a legitimate complaint, whereas #15 has 2 or more losses or 1 loss while playing Kansas State's schedule and should be told STFU. Where's the line between true gripe and whiny bitching? I suspect it's somewhere between #6 and #10 (inclusive). 3. "Every week is a playoff in college football." True to an extent. If all the teams were on equal footing, this would be the case. As it is now though, Northern Illinois or Texas Christian could run the table and still be eliminated in favor of a 2-loss team. Last year, Boise State with one loss was FAR more deserving of the Sugar Bowl than Florida State with FOUR losses, and probably would have made a better game of it against Georgia. My own proposal: 1. Major conferences are required to have 12 teams and play 8 conference and 3 non-conference games. This means the Big 11 adds one (Norte Dame) and the Pac 10 adds two. A sixth major conference is added, probably an amalgam of the Big East and the what left of the MAC after the new attendence requirements kick in. 2. The playoffs consist of eight teams. Major conference champions have nearly automatic bids, six total, revokable for that season if no team in the conference is in the Top 15. A revoked automatic bid goes to the highest ranked team not currently in the playoffs. The minor conferences have one slot guaranteed, with a second granted if there are no conference runners-up with a ranking in the top 5. 3. The championship rankings are determined as such: Total = AP ranking + Coaches ranking + Computer poll of 20 ratings systems (7 without margin-of-victory, 7 with, other 6 at discretion) + .07 * SOS rank. Sample scenario: an alternate 2002 season. ACC: As was + Miami-Florida, Virginia Tech, and Boston College Big XII: as was Midwest XII: Big Ten + Norte Dame Pac-12: Pac-10 + Utah and UNLV SEC: as was Big East: West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Syracuse, Rutgers, Connecticut, Louisville, Cincinnati, Marshall, Toledo, Bowling Green, Miami-Ohio Championships (rankings before game): ACC: Miami-FL (#1) defeats Maryland (#16) Big XII: Oklahoma (#7) defeats Colorado (#13) Midwest XII: Ohio State (#2) defeats Iowa (#5) Pac-12: Southern California (#4) beats Washington State (#6) SEC: Georgia (#3) defeats Arkansas (#21) Big East: Marshall (#31) defeats West Virginia (#15) Due to the losses, Iowa and Washington State are not in the top 5, so the minor conferences get two slots, which went to Boise State (#18) and South Florida (#23). Due to the loss, neither West Virginia nor any other Big East team is in the Top 15, so they lost their spot, which ended up falling to Iowa (who just edged out Kansas State and Norte Dame for the #6 spot in the post-conference championship rankings). First Round Matchups: South Florida @ Miami-Florida Boise State @ Ohio State Iowa (non-automatic bid) @ Georgia Oklahoma (automatic bid) @ Southern California Workarounds can be put in to prevent rematches. Tweaking can be done to allow a more deserving Washington State team in instead of South Florida. I think this is one of the better frameworks. The regular season still means a whole lot. No one plays more than 15 games (you only play 11 if you don't win your conference division), and everyone plays equal number of games entering the playoffs. There is room for adjustments when needed. But then I think rain is wet, so what do I know? __________________ Join TFP Team SETI 43K workunits complete, 34 members, more of each needed. Last edited by RoadRage; 10-21-2003 at 10:32 AM..