P(5)AC-12 HC...Expand the CFP

[moonshine]

Washington States', Head Coach, Mike Leach talks playoff expansion.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y_nuMEtwUW4&feature=share

[NewApp]

He said Div I-AA had 16 teams in the play-offs. Didn't they go to 20 or 24 before we left?
He mentioned having a 32 team play-off. How many games would the champion have to play to win? Would the division still use G-5 and P-5 sections?

[Rick83]

OMG...I love this guy. If there were even a 16 or 32 game playoff it'd create so much excitement it'd be awesome. Hopefully, there are more thinking like this guy is.

[moonshine]

He said Div I-AA had 16 teams in the play-offs. Didn't they go to 20 or 24 before we left?
He mentioned having a 32 team play-off. How many games would the champion have to play to win? Would the division still use G-5 and P-5 sections?

New FCS playoff format has 24 teams with the top 8 getting a first round bye. A 32 team playoff would require the champion to win 5 games. I'd imagine the G and P designation would remain, unless they expand to 16 or 32. I would say expanding to that many team is most likely not going to happen.

I could see TPTB possibly expanding to an 8 team playoff or if fans get real lucky, a 12 team format with the top 4 getting a bye. Any format that would get the top rated G program in, at a minimum, would be a step in the right direction. In the 8 team format, the conference champ from each P5, top G5 and 2 at large (most likely P5/independent) would be the best case scenario for programs like App. In a 12 team format, a couple of scenarios could make up the playoff teams. The least likely would be the champs from all 10 FBS conferences plus 2 at large. What I perceive to be the most likely format for 12 teams would be the top 2 from every P5 conference, top G5 and 1 at large bid.

[NewApp]

He said Div I-AA had 16 teams in the play-offs. Didn't they go to 20 or 24 before we left?
He mentioned having a 32 team play-off. How many games would the champion have to play to win? Would the division still use G-5 and P-5 sections?

New FCS playoff format has 24 teams with the top 8 getting a first round bye. A 32 team playoff would require the champion to win 5 games. I'd imagine the G and P designation would remain, unless they expand to 16 or 32. I would say expanding to that many team is most likely not going to happen.

I could see TPTB possibly expanding to an 8 team playoff or if fans get real lucky, a 12 team format with the top 4 getting a bye. Any format that would get the top rated G program in, at a minimum, would be a step in the right direction. In the 8 team format, the conference champ from each P5, top G5 and 2 at large (most likely P5/independent) would be the best case scenario for programs like App. In a 12 team format, a couple of scenarios could make up the playoff teams. The least likely would be the champs from all 10 FBS conferences plus 2 at large. What I perceive to be the most likely format for 12 teams would be the top 2 from every P5 conference, top G5 and 1 at large bid.

Sounds like the champ would be playing 17 or 18 games. One for a conference playoff, possibly; 12 regular season, and 5 in the play-offs.

[Saint3333]

No one outside of the top 12 has ever won the 1AA/FCS championship, rarely outside of the top 8.

FBS needs to expand to 8, 5 P5 bids, 1 G5 Bid, and 2 at-larges.

[SpeedkingATL]

I can't see expansion beyond 12 teams...more than that and it's just too many games.

[moonshine]

Sounds like the champ would be playing 17 or 18 games. One for a conference playoff, possibly; 12 regular season, and 5 in the play-offs.

If they decided to stick with 12 regular season games, as I doubt many AD's across the country would agree to dropping a regular season game, then in a 12 or 16 team playoff format the season would be 17 games with a conference championship plus 4 playoff games. If they were to choose an 8 team format then we would be looking at 16 games with 12 regular season games, a conference championship plus 3 playoff games. In FCS, App would play 15 games during the title runs. With the new 24 team format, FCS teams could potentially play 17 if your program did not receive the 1st round bye.

[Rick83]

I think if you expanded it to 12 (top 4 get 1st round byes) or even better, 16, it'd create a lot of interest. The WSU guy was suggesting even a 32 or 64 team format, which emulates March Madness but I doubt it'd ever go to that level. BUT, he may be suggesting the 32 or 64 game playoff so that a 16 game playoff doesn't sound so crazy. But we all know it'll come down to the benjamins, if the big boys think they'll get more with an expanded playoff then it's got a chance, otherwise it's a no-go.

[moonshine]

I think if you expanded it to 12 (top 4 get 1st round byes) or even better, 16, it'd create a lot of interest. The WSU guy was suggesting even a 32 or 64 team format, which emulates March Madness but I doubt it'd ever go to that level. BUT, he may be suggesting the 32 or 64 game playoff so that a 16 game playoff doesn't sound so crazy. But we all know it'll come down to the benjamins, if the big boys think they'll get more with an expanded playoff then it's got a chance, otherwise it's a no-go.

Isn't that similar to the "Art of the Deal"? Suggest something outlandish, like 64, only to settle on what your really wanted in the first place...16.

My personal preference would probably be 12. A) It rewards the top 4 teams with a bye potentially giving them the best opportunity to advance. B) Most likely format to include a G5 rep.

[Rick83]

I think if you expanded it to 12 (top 4 get 1st round byes) or even better, 16, it'd create a lot of interest. The WSU guy was suggesting even a 32 or 64 team format, which emulates March Madness but I doubt it'd ever go to that level. BUT, he may be suggesting the 32 or 64 game playoff so that a 16 game playoff doesn't sound so crazy. But we all know it'll come down to the benjamins, if the big boys think they'll get more with an expanded playoff then it's got a chance, otherwise it's a no-go.

Isn't that similar to the "Art of the Deal"? Suggest something outlandish, like 64, only to settle on what your really wanted in the first place...16.

My personal preference would probably be 12. A) It rewards the top 4 teams with a bye potentially giving them the best opportunity to advance. B) Most likely format to include a G5 rep.

Don't know about the "Art of the Deal," but that is a standard negotiating tactic, you never start with the number you want or think will be accepted. You go higher and then negotiate it down. I would love any kind of expansion of the current FBS playoff system. If that were to happen, along with regional realignment of the conferences that'd be so awesome.

[HighlandsApp]

I think if you expanded it to 12 (top 4 get 1st round byes) or even better, 16, it'd create a lot of interest. The WSU guy was suggesting even a 32 or 64 team format, which emulates March Madness but I doubt it'd ever go to that level. BUT, he may be suggesting the 32 or 64 game playoff so that a 16 game playoff doesn't sound so crazy. But we all know it'll come down to the benjamins, if the big boys think they'll get more with an expanded playoff then it's got a chance, otherwise it's a no-go.

Isn't that similar to the "Art of the Deal"? Suggest something outlandish, like 64, only to settle on what your really wanted in the first place...16.

My personal preference would probably be 12. A) It rewards the top 4 teams with a bye potentially giving them the best opportunity to advance. B) Most likely format to include a G5 rep.

"The Art of the Deal"

[MtnDevil95]

As a fan wanting more I like the idea of a 12 team playoff with the top 4 getting a bye, I don't think it extends the timeline too much. While it would be 17 games for seeds 5-12, should one make it to the Championship, the National Championship can still be played by the first Saturday in January. (2 things I'm doing. First, I hate the extended time between tournament and championship games. Second, why the Hell does the NCAA insist on holding big championship games on a Monday - re: work/school night?)

Just take this year as an example.
12/2 - Conference Championship games
12/16 - First Round 4 games (seeds 5-12)
12/23 - Second Round 4 games
12/30 - Final Four 2 games
1/6 - National Championship

[ASU3432Mi]

Love Leach. Next to Satt. he's my favorite college coach.

[hotrod2001]

They'd never go farther out than to 8 teams I think.

Personally I wish they'd make a playoff tournament which included all 11 FBS conference champions and a handful of at-large bids but that would never happen.