2025-2026 College Football Thread

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by wilky61

Obviously nobody likes the 4-team model as the "final" solution, but I am leaning toward 8 as the ideal model (16 would be nice, but I fear that 4 weeks/rounds of postseason play might be too much for the season...).

The problem with the playoff (as happy as I am) everyone will never be happy much like the bubble teams for march madness. If you have 4 the 5,6,7th teams will be pissed if you have 10 teams 11,12,13 will be pissed.

That said 16 would be good

[wilky61]

Originally Posted by supersix4

The problem with the playoff (as happy as I am) everyone will never be happy much like the bubble teams for march madness. If you have 4 the 5,6,7th teams will be pissed if you have 10 teams 11,12,13 will be pissed.

That said 16 would be good

Well, you do have a point. There will always be "bubble teams" who complain (as we see with the NCAA Basketball field of 64, wait 65, wait 68, aww f*** it).


One reason why I am leaning toward 8 teams rather than 16 is because of the first-round matchups. I'm just not so sure I'd want to see the #16 team take on the #1 team, etc., to get the ball rolling. #1 vs. #8 would be a lot more intense from the get-go; if you finish in the top-8 then chances are you are a LEGITIMATE national title contender, but if you finish between #9-16 then chances are you need some luck/to go on a run to win it all...

[fatediesel]

I would be fine with an 8 or 16 team playoff but if I had to choose I'd go with 8 teams. Last night I was listening to an ESPN Radio show (I think it was Hill and Schlereth) and one of the hosts was arguing that it should be a 16 team playoff with the 11 conference champs and 5 at-large teams. I don't hate that idea but really don't think we need representatives from low conferences with poor records, like 10-3 Northern Illinois, 10-2 Arkansas State, or 8-4 Louisiana Tech (all conference champions last season).

I think an 8 team playoff would be best. With an 8 team playoff it could be guaranteed that any undefeated team would make the playoffs, whereas under the 4 team playoff we could end up with a situation like 2004 where there were 5 undefeated teams. Granted that was an extreme situation but it shows it's possible. In addition I think the 4 team playoff may discourage teams from playing hard non-conference games. With a 4 team playoff there's no incentive for a Pac-12, Big 10, Big 12, or SEC team to play a hard non-conference game because they'll know that if they go undefeated they'll make the playoff even if they play an extremely easy non-conference schedule. With an 8 team playoff teams could have an incentive to schedule harder because playing a tougher non-conference schedule could get the team into a playoff even if they have a couple losses.

[Josh]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

In addition I think the 4 team playoff may discourage teams from playing hard non-conference games. With a 4 team playoff there's no incentive for a Pac-12, Big 10, Big 12, or SEC team to play a hard non-conference game because they'll know that if they go undefeated they'll make the playoff even if they play an extremely easy non-conference schedule. With an 8 team playoff teams could have an incentive to schedule harder because playing a tougher non-conference schedule could get the team into a playoff even if they have a couple losses.

I disaggree with this statement. There is no guaranty that any team will make the playoff if they go undefeated and are major conference champions. Theoredically, all five major conferences could have undefeated teams and one will be left behind.

The committee is also to be instructed to look at strength of schedule, which encourages teams to play tougher non-conference opponents. A one-loss ND, for instance, would probably top an undefeated team from a "non-major" (or even ACC) conference.

[The Big Blue]

Is 'conference champion' not a requirement?

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by The Big Blue

Is 'conference champion' not a requirement?

No, the SEC was never going to agree to a requirement that a team had to be a conference champion to make the playoff. All it has to be is a top 4 team.

[The Big Blue]

Would love to see that bite them in the ass later.

[wilky61]

Originally Posted by The Big Blue

Would love to see that bite them in the ass later.

Doesn't matter if it bites them or anybody else in the ass... automatic conference tie-ins are a STUPID idea and one of the biggest improvements with the upcoming four-team playoff system, as it has been/is being currently proposed.

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

No, the SEC was never going to agree to a requirement that a team had to be a conference champion to make the playoff. All it has to be is a top 4 team.

I kind of doubt the Big 12 would be on board with requiring a conference champ either, since you only have to look back to '08-'09 to find a year where the Big 12 would have had two teams. '09-'10 if you count TCU as Big 12.

That year would have royally pissed everybody off since it would have been two Big 12 and two SEC teams.

*EDIT* And to clarify, usually only the #5 team is affected.

The last several year's #5 teams, who were conference champs:
'11 - Wisconsin (Big-10)
'09 - USC (PAC-12)

Seems pretty clear which conferences would be the ones who care about the requirement...

[The Big Blue]

What do you mean by

Originally Posted by wilky61

automatic conference tie-ins

[Josh]

Originally Posted by The Big Blue

What do you mean by

I think he means "Automatic Qualifier (AQ)" status. That is gone. What still remains is that the conference champions of the major conferences will play in one of the six "Major Bowls". That doesn't guaranty them a spot in the semifinals, just at one of the major bowls. And if you consider there will be 12 teams in those bowls, and only 5 are tied up, that leave 7 spots up for grabs.

[ChadFL]

I love how they always use the same old excuses claiming an 8 or 16 team D1 tourney "isn't possible." Funny how it's possible for every other division in football and every other sport. An 8 team tourney is ideal IMO. But this is what happens when you have a BCS cartel still calling the shots.

And you gotta love Notre Dame getting equal representation at the playoff talks alongside the conferences. It doesn't matter how irrelevant that school has been for so long people still pretend they're important because they were good decades ago.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

And you gotta love Notre Dame getting equal representation at the playoff talks alongside the conferences. It doesn't matter how irrelevant that school has been for so long people still pretend they're important because they were good decades ago.

I do wonder if they will ever join a conference. I was hoping they'd be forced to, but that doesn't appear to be the case. My wife is a huge Notre Dame fan, and I kind of like them, but I don't like the special treatment they create for themselves. Just join the Big XII already.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I do wonder if they will ever join a conference. I was hoping they'd be forced to, but that doesn't appear to be the case. My wife is a huge Notre Dame fan, and I kind of like them, but I don't like the special treatment they create for themselves. Just join the Big XII already.

This pretty much cements their independent status. One of the main things their president wanted to ensure was that Notre Dame would still have a real chance at making the playoff as an independent, and he did that so I can't see any scenario that would have them joining a conference anytime soon.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

This pretty much cements their independent status. One of the main things their president wanted to ensure was that Notre Dame would still have a real chance at making the playoff as an independent, and he did that so I can't see any scenario that would have them joining a conference anytime soon.

Oh, I completely agree with you. I'm just saying I wish that weren't the case. There isn't a need for independents anymore.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I do wonder if they will ever join a conference. I was hoping they'd be forced to, but that doesn't appear to be the case. My wife is a huge Notre Dame fan, and I kind of like them, but I don't like the special treatment they create for themselves. Just join the Big XII already.

If Notre Dame joined a conference I think the Big Ten would be be the more natural fit.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

If Notre Dame joined a conference I think the Big Ten would be be the more natural fit.

Either would be a good fit, it would come down to whoever would give them the sweetest deal. Both conferences have teams with storied histories.

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

If Notre Dame joined a conference I think the Big Ten would be be the more natural fit.

Maybe, but Notre Dame is not an AAU school.

When this was first brought up I'm sure the Big 10 would have loved to have ND. Now? Does Notre Dame still command the viewership/fan support it used to? I simply don't know.

[wilky61]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

If Notre Dame joined a conference I think the Big Ten would be be the more natural fit.

Notre Dame in the Big Ten (with all the old school local programs like Penn st, Michigan, Michigan St, Ohio St, even Indiana, etc.) would make sooo much sense.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by wilky61

Notre Dame in the Big Ten (with all the old school local programs like Penn st, Michigan, Michigan St, Ohio St, even Indiana, etc.) would make sooo much sense.

And I could be wrong but I think Notre Dame already plays Michigan, Michigan St. and Purdue every year anyway. That's 3 teams from the Big Ten they already play as is.