re: What would have been the sweet spot for CFB to maintain tradition but crown a true champ?

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It was "unique" because it was literally the only league that crowned a champion in such a ridiculous way. That's not a reason to keep it the same. I see every move being made and moving towards a better solution, as long as it's set up correctly.

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I don’t completely disagree with you on this. I don’t think it was ridiculous at the time because it was easier to see it as still a flavor of amateur sports. Obviously that perception has shifted over time from the players being students to paid professionals. And like I’ve pointed out expanding the playoffs will keep fans and players more invested in their teams through the end of the year, especially in a his day of opt-outs and (rightfully) seeing the non playoff bowls as glorified scrimmages.

Us old heads are still going to complain though

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but now the games in Sept-November don't matter as much

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I remember just a few weeks ago people lambasting Sankey for going to a 9 game conference schedule because losing another regular season game would keep SEC teams out of the playoffs.

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Not really. Decades ago only about 6 teams had games that mattered by mid October. One, two losses you were done.

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This.

It cuts both ways. Yeah, that 1 loss in November doesn't kill you anymore. But neither does that second loss in mid-October. If this were the BCS or 4 team CFP era, all 2 loss teams would have no real CFP hopes. That means a team might get a second loss in Sept and spend the next two months playing for a "good bowl" and thinking about "what if".

Now, we have the fans of a bunch of two and three loss teams still engaged. For example, 4 years ago 6-3 LSU vs. 7-2 Texas would have been a good matchup. But it would not have had potential playoff implications. Now, it does and more fans nationally are still invested.

IMO, 24 is too many. I would have stopped at 16

12 with the top 4 getting a bye.
Edit: 1 G6 team. No independents.

Let's just say for the sake of argument....The CFB season is over, and where the rankings are now, is how the playoffs shape up. We would have...


#24 LSU @ #9 Tennessee - Winner plays @ #8 Texas
#23 New Mexico @ #10 Texas Tech - Winner plays @ #7 Bama
#22 - Arizona @ #11 Wake Forest - Winner Plays @ #6 Indiana
#21 - Ohio St @ #12 BYU - Winner plays @ #5 Miami
#20 - S. Carolina @ #13 Kentucky - Winner plays @ #4 UCLA
#19 - Ole Miss @ #14 Houston - Winner plays @ #3 ND
#18 - Oregon @ #15 - USC - Winner plays @ #2 Utah
#17 Boise @ #16 Iowa - Winner players @ #1 Georgia



Sign me up for this all damn day.

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I have yet to hear a decent argument as to why having more solid/meaningful college football match ups in Dec. and Jan is a bad thing.

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Because a larger playoff field reduces the stakes for regular season games. College football was great because it was different than the NFL. Every game was crucial to your postseason dreams, so it was a huge deal when high ranked teams got upset. When teams can afford at least 3, but probably 4 losses and still make the playoffs....the regular season games just don't carry the same weight and excitement.

College basketball is great because March Madness is unique and not trying to be NBA-Light. College football was unique. Now its trying to be NFL-Light.

4 team playoff. We had it. We were there. All they ever needed to do is make sure an undefeated team wasn’t left out