So it’s been decided. The 2014 college football season will see a 4 team playoff! The details still need to be worked, but rest assured there’s still time for them to screw this up. But don’t be fooled, the playoff isn’t due to fan outrage and this past year’s All-SEC final. Talks of changing the BCS started well before Alabama and LSU squared off for a second time. Before the start of the 2012-13 season the AD’s in the Big Ten and Pac-12 favored a Plus One model, and there are probably are no better business minds in the game than Jim Delany and Larry Scott . Both have worked wonders in securing exclusive media rights for the Big Ten and Pac-12, and expanded their markets by initiating all of the conference realignment. Without them the WAC would most likely have a future and the Big East Big Mess wouldn't span coast to coast. This is strictly a business decision. The deal that gets brokered for the playoff format is estimated to double or triple the current revenue, and you’d have to be insane to turn it down with only conceding one extra game. With the Big Ten now on board and the SEC onboard since 2004, it was inevitable a deal would be made. The Alabama/LSU rematch was only icing on the cake. Minus the Deep South, the entire country was up in arms calling for a playoff. Now the commissioners look like saviors, but I assure you this was a decision fueled by greed and nothing more.
At least college football is getting something right. Right? There are still many details for the commissioners and AD’s to work out, so over the next few days I’m going to do these guys a solid and work out the basic details for them. The soon-to-be-revealed Kostick Playoff Model is one based on realistic expectations for this first installment of a 4 team playoff. I’ll break up the plan over the next few days into the following key pieces: Format and Selection. In the meantime, some things just can’t be unseen!
I'm not sure I appreciate you taking a dig at the Big East, after all, it's not like they are recruiting teams from California...that would be ridiculous...
ReplyDeleteOn a more relevant note, have you considered the complications/flaws of the playoff model? Specifically, asking collegiate fans to pack 2 different stadiums in likely 2 very different locations very far from their hometown in 2 consecutive weeks (assuming their team advances). The 4 team playoff is likely a test model for a more expanded playoff. When that happens, it could dilute of completely eliminate the other major bowls. Lots of what ifs here... (note: I'm 100% for at least trying the system)
ReplyDeleteYour right, it's getting too easy to take shots at the Big East. They're holding their breath right now hoping Boise doesn't bounce.
ReplyDeleteSo I'll go into more details in the next two posts, but any playoff, post season, hell, even regular season models has flaws. You could argue not allowing FCS opponents or not including any FCS win in record evaluation for bowls. Tons of issues can be argued.
As for the fans traveling issue. Everyone concedes it's a huge issue with fans traveling, but the games will definitely sell out. Let's be honest, their only concern is money and not the fans.
I absolutely disagree with you the bowls will be eliminated. To say that an 8 or 16 team playoff would make bowls obsolete is far fetched. Less lucrative absolutely, but the big bowls will still partner with the large conferences and the fans will still show to their teams bowls games. The thing that will affects bowls is the push to enforce minimum of 7 wins. If that goes through maybe 4-5(?) low tier bowls, like the Beef-O-Brady bowl, will go away to account for the fewer teams meeting the criteria.
I've heard the idea of making bowls such as the Rose, Sugar, etc. The semifinal games for a playoff. My point is, if they don't eliminate bowls and simply add more games as "playoff" games, those bowls are going to take a serious hit financially. The bowl system is a joke and its run by individuals who make Enron executives look like Tim Tebows. LSU had to pay for every one of their band members to attennd the nat champ last year and they were REQUIRED to perform. It costs LSU upwards of a half milllion dollars just to attend the game they earned a right to be in. off topic I know...but all the same, the whole bowl system needs a review either before, or concurrently with the discussions of a playoff system
ReplyDeleteWhy would those bowls take a hit financially? You are now making the most sought after format by the fans (playoff) part of the bowl system. The Sugar Bowl hosting a semi-final game with the winner advancing would be far more lucrative than the Michigan VT game this past January. More rides on those bowl games now! The other bowls would most likely take a hit financially, but not nearly as bad as I think people think. It would really be no different having the Orange Bowl hosting Clemson and WVU in a rather meaningless game this past year (in the BCS format), than the Orange Bowl hosting Clemson and WVU in a meaningless game in 2014(in the playoff format).
DeleteAnd I certainly don't think less people will watch the Little Caesars bowl because there's a playoff. Not that many people outside those conference teams watch those bowls to begin with.
Did you read this article by Dan Wetzel? Touches on all the bullshit you mentioned with the Bowls and absurdity of the system.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--bowls--extravagant-revenues-are-closely-examined-as-the-ncaa-mulls-a-playoff-system.html
Sorry, I worded that poorly. What I was trying tto say is if they don't use those big bowls, Rose, Orange, etc. As the semifinals, then those bowls would take a hit because they would feature shittier teams.
ReplyDeleteOh, absolutely. I agree 100%. If someone doesn't receive a semi, they will lose money. I'm going to put up how I would format it shortly so feel free to weigh in. I'm going to put up what I think could realistically could be done, not necessarily what I want.
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