Thinking about the four team playoff, how long until we get to eight?

As soon as Alabama is Number 5

I honestly think it will take a few years. Before anything changes we will have to get through a full cycle (so have all 6 of the New Years 6 Bowls host a semifinal). So that is at least two more seasons after this one (playoffs 1/1/2017 should finish one rotation) at the earliest.

You would also have to figure out how to handle the quarterfinal games - will they be bowls or on campus? What is the timing? If on campus, would they be this weekend, as to not step on the toes of the bowl games (and would the 4 losing teams still go bowling?) If you are doing them as bowls, which four bowls get elevated to that level and when would they be played as to give enough time between the quarters and semis on 1/1, but still not interfere with Christmas. Also, if you elevate those four bowls, what happens to the tie ins to the conferences that you have just removed?

8 is too many. Does MSST and MichST really deserve to play for a national championship? That would devalue the regular season way to much.

Never. There were only three teams this year, why expand to eight to justify the fourth entry.

When more than one Big 5 conference gets left out of the playoff (i.e., one Big 5 conference gets two teams in), the push will start.

In any given year, I believe people can deal with one pissed off conference. Two pissed off conferences make allies, though.

Perfect example this year. Michigan State, sitting at 8, has already lost to two of the top four teams. They have no business being in the discussion. Period. End of story.

2 teams having a bye is too much of an advantage, so no to a 6 team playoff.

If you go to 6, then #7 and 8 will bitch. If you go to 8, then #9 and #10 will bitch. Someone will always bitch. Keep it at 4, let #5 and 6 bitch, but at least you have four teams that are truly worthy of playing for a national championship.

Seems like, to me anyway, expanding to 8 teams is a little unfair to the teams that go through a guantlet of regular season play (i.e. anyone in the SEC) just to get to their CCG, and then have to play 2 extra games, risk injuries, etc., against teams from weaker conferences, (or against teams that shouldn't be there in the first place), just to get to the NCG.

4 teams is plenty. The "new money" schools like TCU and Baylor need to go undefeated if they want to make the cut.

I hope never.

Fans are so worried about 5-8 they don't care about screwing over 1-4.

I'm all for rewarding the teams at the top and rewarding a great regular season.

A large playoff ruins the regular season.

Games like last year's Iron Bowl would have been meaningless except for seeding.

This years' SEC championship would have meant nothing as Alabama could have lost and still gotten a birth.

The playoff needs to be small enough that every game matters and a single loss can eliminate you.

In an 8 team playoff that's not true, if you're #1 you're not falling out of the top 8 in a single game.

Falling out of the top 4 in a single game is always in the cards, which makes every game super critical.