WASHINGTON — The college football season kicks off this weekend with a lot of people getting excited over the “new” playoff system.
I’m not one of them.
Let’s see, we’re going from two to four teams to decide a national championship. That’s a playoff? And, there’s no rhyme or reason to this rather simplistic formula for choosing who’s in. Instead, a 13-member selection committee will decide.
Heck, what do you need so many people for? We all know how it’s going to turn out. At least one, maybe two teams from the SEC, one from the Big Ten and fill out your brackets with one from either the Pac-12 or ACC. How hard was that?
It’s still going to be an exclusive Big Boys Club. Boise State, BYU, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois and Duke need not apply. Nice stories, guys, but hey, we’re all filled up here. If not for Florida State, the Atlantic Coast Conference would also be ignored.
This is progress?
Ironically, the very thing that makes the NCAA basketball tournament so great is all the upsets. Sure, it’s harder for a smaller school to knock off a major power in football, but we’ll never know unless they are given the chance. Boise State proved they belonged in 2006-07 with their stunning win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl to complete a perfect 13-0 season.
Yet, they were denied the chance to play for the National Championship. Plus, they finished eighth in the BCS Standings heading into bowl season, meaning they would have missed the playoff that year as well even if it was already in place.
College football is the only sport that has such a muddled postseason that the regular season is much more fun. The BCS used a computer, now it’s by committee. In the end, you just shrug your shoulder and say, “OK, whatever.”
So, damn the ESPN hype, I’m still skeptical. Give me a true playoff.
Until then, enjoy the REAL regular season.
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