Dossington47

I enjoy the CFB Playoff. I prefer it better than the poll system. It, at the very least, determines a national champion the way it should be decided: with games being played. However, it desperately needs some kind of expansion. 4-teams just won't cut it. We have 5 Power Five conferences, and only 4 playoff spots. Even if we tried to give the conference champions from each conference a berth, we can't. Someone gets left out, which then sparks the whole "committee is rigged or corrupt" speech (which is, unfortunately, somewhat true. I'm looking at you 2018 Committee)

I believe that the CFB needs to be more "streamlined". Sure, we can expand to an 8 team playoff, and keep the whole Committee system, but what happens when someone inevitably gets left out who they feel "deserved" a chance at a title (like a 1 or 2 loss team depending on the scenario). What happens when a 9-3 team gets in? I'm pretty sure there is a team with a better record than that we can put in?

These are some of the ways I believe the CFB Playoff needs to work.

8-team Proposal
All Power Five conference champions get automatic berths. (1st - 5th seeds)
The next 2 best Power Five teams by record are given berths. (6th - 7th seeds)
The best Group of Five team by record amongst conference champions is given an automatic berth. (8th seed)

Quarterfinals played at campus sites. Semifinals & Championship at neutral venue.
1v8, 2v7, 3v6, 4v5

Alright, a simple solution. We let the conference champions get in, the next 2 best Power Five teams in, and the best Group of Five conference champion. Yes, it's very likely that the Group of Five teams gets stomped in the first round, but there is always a chance. Especially if the Group of Five team is playing Georgia. Remember 28-3? Wait, wrong level. Remember the 2018 National Championship?


12-team Solution

Power 5 Conference Champions receive auto-berths. (1-5)
The next 5 best Power Five teams by record (6-10)
The 2 best Group of 5 conference champions (11-12)

1 - 4 receives bye, 5v12, 6v11, 7v10, 8v9. Reseeded after First Round.
First Round & Quarterfinals at campus sites. Semifinals & Championship at neutral venue.

Alright, a little more complex, with 4 teams getting a bye, but more teams get in. AND winning the conference becomes that much more valuable, as it means if your one of the top 4, you don't have to play in the First Round, where there's always that chance of elimination and being the laughing stock of the offseason.


5-team solution

All Power 5 conference champions receive berths. (1-5)
1-3 receive bye. 4v5. Winner plays 1 in Semifinals.
Quarterfinal at campus site. Semifinals & Championship at neutral venue.

The simplest solution of them all,but with a major flaw. Only the Power 5 teams are eligible. However, this makes sure that there are no teams that are "undeserving" in the playoffs, as they have all won a conference title.

Obviously, tiebreakers would be needed to break some ties. I believe that the order of those tiebreakers should be (assuming it's a simple 2-way tie)

1) If the two teams have played each other, who won [the series].
2) Record amongst common opponents.
3) Point Differential
4) Points Scored
5) Turnover Differential
6) Turnovers received. (i.e., how many times you caught an interception or recovered a fumble from the other team)
7) Coin flip.

If between 3 teams, it's the same, except the first tiebreaker is non-existent, EXCEPT if all 3 teams (or all teams involved in the tie) have played each other an equal amount of times.


In all of these, you don't have to use seeding to determine the matchups either. The NCAA could do what a lot of the international soccer leagues/tournaments do and draw for the matchups. This way it's not guaranteed who you play, so there is no reason to "tank" your seed to play a different opponent.

What do you guys think of these ideas? Feel free to comment below or leave your own.