Why four teams are enough

Posted on: November 20, 2017 at 16:11:07 CT

The old argument was that the bowls did not crown the team deserving of being called the national champion, as declared by the final polls. One game, even if number 1 and 2 in the polls were in the same bowl was a problem because maybe number 3 or number 4 in the polls were really the most deserving team. As constituted, in most years, a very high percentage of people would feel that the two best teams are in the playoff and hence have a chance at being crowned number 1.

Whatever number you put into a playoff system is always debatable if you are really just after a really fun playoff system. Two teams leaves the argument that maybe the real number 2 team is left out. WIth four teams, the debate is over who is really number 4. An 8 team system we would argue over who is really number 8.

The college season has gotten too long. Most players are not going to the pros. let them be students. Let them reduce the risks of injuries, risks of dementia.

When the NCAA basketball tourney started it was 8 teams, then 16. Later 32, Later 64, then 65, then 68. Why? because someone felt that maybe some of the teams omitted should have been considered in the top 64. There is almost no answer where to draw the line as to who should be considered tourney worthwhile. But do the bottom 32 really be part of determining who is number 1.

This is fun, but it makes it less likely that the very best team becomes national champion, because lesser teams do knock off better teams. But many of those surprise teams have next to zero chance of winning out and are not worthy of consideration as the best team in the country. OK maybe for basketball (actually I think it is not ok, but that is what it is and it is still fun.)

But the playoff issue for football came directly out of the debate on who is the best team. The subjective system now in place is good enough to get the two best teams into the playoff in nearly all years. It resolves the problem of omitting the number two team from consideration for proving it is really number 1. The extra two teams serve this purpose well enough.

Yes, you could go to 8 or some other number, with an even longer season. With each game we add a week or more. Are you going to play all the games on one day so that they have the same prep time and, recuperation time. I think four teams is more than enough.

If it was really important for most to add more playoff games, I would suggest that the lower division opponents be eliminated and that teams go back to fewer number of regular season games. The extra games that teams now play do not help determine who the best teams are. The "directional schools" and schools with 75 scholarships are not attractive to fans and just extend the season.

(Yes, I think we have far too many bowl games. Teams should have winning records to be in bowls, games vs lower division programs should not be considered for winning percentage.)

Edited by Merlyn at 17:07:59 on 11/20/17