Steve_424
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Some basics:
- Every conference champion qualifies
- Seeds are based on the Coaches Poll Rankings
- Independents are left out (Sorry Notre Dame...pick a conference)
Playoff Teams
AA - UCF
ACC - Florida State
Big 12 - Baylor
Big 10 - Michigan State
C USA - Rice
MAC - Bowling Green
MWC - Fresno State
PAC 12 - Stanford
SEC - Auburn
Sun Belt - Louisiana-Lafayette
First Round
Byes: #1 Florida State, #2 Auburn, #3 Michigan State, #4 Baylor, #5 Stanford, #6 UCF
Game 1 - #7 Fresno State vs #10 Louisiana-Lafayette
Game 2 - #8 Rice vs #9 Bowling Green
Second Round
Game 3 - #1 Florida State vs Rice/BG Winner
Game 4 - #4 Baylor vs #5 Stanford
Game 5 - #2 Auburn vs Fresno State/Louisiana-Lafayette Winner
Game 6 - #3 Michigan State vs #6 UCF
Third Round
Game 7 - Game 3 Winner vs Game 4 Winner
Game 8 - Game 5 Winner vs Game 6 Winner
National Championship
Game 7 Winner vs Game 8 Winner
What It Accomplishes:
- Every team has a chance: Everyone from Florida State to Georgia State starts their season with a chance to win the National Championship. While that is obviously more realistic for some as opposed to others, every team has a shot in the preseason - just like NCAA basketball. For the 80 or so teams that currently don't have this shot, that means something. The biggest allure to March Madness are the stories like Butler, George Mason, Florida Gulf Coast, etc. It's time to let the football mid-majors dream about knocking off the top teams as well.
- Conference Championships mean more: I always thought it was silly when a team that didn't win its conference played in the National Title game. Still do.
- Less Focus on Rankings: Sure, the Coaches Poll would still be used for seeding but if you win your conference, it doesn't matter if you get a single vote in the polls - you get a shot in the playoffs. Imagine that - games deciding who moves on, not computers or voters.
- Better Non-Conference Regular Season Games: With rankings used for seeding and winning your conference a must to get in, major programs will be more inclined to schedule tougher non-conference opponents to A) Impress in the polls, B) Prepare themselves better for conference play.
- More Postseason Excitement: Aside from the National Championship and the (insert your favorite team's bowl game), do you really care that much about the other bowl games? Sure, many sports junkies will watch them...but even last night - aside from pride, did it really matter to OSU if they won or lost? In this tournament, every game matters and every win is a step closer to a shot at a National Title. Plus, you're getting great matchups like Baylor vs Stanford and Michigan State vs UCF for sure and (most likely) Florida State vs Baylor or Stanford and Auburn vs Michigan State or UCF...and that's before you even get to the National Championship.
- Bigger Ratings and More Money: Let's not forget the attention it would bring schools and the possibly money to be made on these games that matter.
It's not a perfect system and I'm not naive in thinking it will become a reality, but I'd sure love to see it in action.
- Every conference champion qualifies
- Seeds are based on the Coaches Poll Rankings
- Independents are left out (Sorry Notre Dame...pick a conference)
Playoff Teams
AA - UCF
ACC - Florida State
Big 12 - Baylor
Big 10 - Michigan State
C USA - Rice
MAC - Bowling Green
MWC - Fresno State
PAC 12 - Stanford
SEC - Auburn
Sun Belt - Louisiana-Lafayette
First Round
Byes: #1 Florida State, #2 Auburn, #3 Michigan State, #4 Baylor, #5 Stanford, #6 UCF
Game 1 - #7 Fresno State vs #10 Louisiana-Lafayette
Game 2 - #8 Rice vs #9 Bowling Green
Second Round
Game 3 - #1 Florida State vs Rice/BG Winner
Game 4 - #4 Baylor vs #5 Stanford
Game 5 - #2 Auburn vs Fresno State/Louisiana-Lafayette Winner
Game 6 - #3 Michigan State vs #6 UCF
Third Round
Game 7 - Game 3 Winner vs Game 4 Winner
Game 8 - Game 5 Winner vs Game 6 Winner
National Championship
Game 7 Winner vs Game 8 Winner
What It Accomplishes:
- Every team has a chance: Everyone from Florida State to Georgia State starts their season with a chance to win the National Championship. While that is obviously more realistic for some as opposed to others, every team has a shot in the preseason - just like NCAA basketball. For the 80 or so teams that currently don't have this shot, that means something. The biggest allure to March Madness are the stories like Butler, George Mason, Florida Gulf Coast, etc. It's time to let the football mid-majors dream about knocking off the top teams as well.
- Conference Championships mean more: I always thought it was silly when a team that didn't win its conference played in the National Title game. Still do.
- Less Focus on Rankings: Sure, the Coaches Poll would still be used for seeding but if you win your conference, it doesn't matter if you get a single vote in the polls - you get a shot in the playoffs. Imagine that - games deciding who moves on, not computers or voters.
- Better Non-Conference Regular Season Games: With rankings used for seeding and winning your conference a must to get in, major programs will be more inclined to schedule tougher non-conference opponents to A) Impress in the polls, B) Prepare themselves better for conference play.
- More Postseason Excitement: Aside from the National Championship and the (insert your favorite team's bowl game), do you really care that much about the other bowl games? Sure, many sports junkies will watch them...but even last night - aside from pride, did it really matter to OSU if they won or lost? In this tournament, every game matters and every win is a step closer to a shot at a National Title. Plus, you're getting great matchups like Baylor vs Stanford and Michigan State vs UCF for sure and (most likely) Florida State vs Baylor or Stanford and Auburn vs Michigan State or UCF...and that's before you even get to the National Championship.
- Bigger Ratings and More Money: Let's not forget the attention it would bring schools and the possibly money to be made on these games that matter.
It's not a perfect system and I'm not naive in thinking it will become a reality, but I'd sure love to see it in action.