Would more be better for the CFP format?

On Monday afternoon in Chicago at Big Ten Media Days, Jim Harbaugh was asked regarding his thoughts on the current CFP format.

“More would be better,” Harbaugh said. “Let’s go to eight, and eventually get to 16.”

Would more be better? The Michigan head coach was not the only one who gave opinions on the topic Monday.

Former UCF head coach, current Nebraska head coach Scott Frost is also in favor of expansion. Likely due to his experience with his 2017-18 UCF team who Frost felt was worthy of a shot at a national championship.

This isn’t the first time Frost felt he was robbed of an outright national title, or at least a shot at one. The Nebraska head coach was the team’s starting quarterback in 1997-98 who had to split a championship with Lloyd Carr’s Michigan team who was named the AP national champion.

“Four was an improvement,” Frost said. “But it’s hard to look at last year’s college football season and not feel like an eight-team playoff isn’t where we should go. I think that’s my opinion. I think it should be five conference champions and three at-large teams. That would give a surprise conference champion that plays well at the end of the season a shot. It might give a team like we had at UCF last year a shot.”

Harbaugh wants a 16-team playoff, but for this topic in particular I personally have to agree with the former Nebraska quarterback. The argument against 16 teams is allowing several teams with a potentially an unworthy resume to have a chance they simply don’t deserve. Eight teams are perfect, in my opinion.

Eight teams that consist of five conference champions, and then three bubble teams with well worthy resumes. This limits the committee debate to just three teams, and yes much like the current format, there would still be an angry fan-base or two.

This would, as Frost said, allow for a team like 2017 UCF to have a shot in which they deserve. Going undefeated is impressive, even if it’s not in a power five conference schedule. However, with just four teams it’s close to impossible to let every worthy team have a chance to win it all.

Last season, it was a coin-flip decision between the Big Ten champion Ohio State and one-loss divisional runner-up Alabama for the four seed in the playoff. The committee had to have a debate in this scenario, and they concluded with selecting Alabama. Ohio State’s loss to an unranked Iowa team was their “deciding factor”, which is fair depending on who you ask.

Is it fair though? Did Ohio State not win the arguably most competitive division in college football and also beat an undefeated Wisconsin team in the conference title game? Did they not deserve a chance? They did deserve a chance, but this system will always have issues like this until it is resolved with an expansion.

This is what the 2017-18 season would’ve looked like had it been an eight-team format.

1. Clemson (ACC champions)
2. Oklahoma (Big 12 champions)
3. Georgia (SEC champions)
4. Ohio State (Big Ten champions)
5. USC (PAC-12 champions)
6. UCF (12-0)
7. Wisconsin (12-1)
8. Alabama (11-1)

This is what round one would look like:

• Clemson vs Alabama
• Ohio State vs USC
• Georgia vs UCF
• Oklahoma vs Wisconsin

As I said earlier, this is just my opinion. I believe this gives everyone who is truly worthy a real shot. Winning a power five conference is impressive, and teams who do so should be rewarded with this opportunity. Besides, an extra week of college football is something I think we can all get behind. We need expansion, or the debate will continue.

Down goes Colorado; Michigan Rooting Interest turns to Virginia Tech

 

Michigan fans were left disappointed Friday night as the Buffaloes were unable to get the job done in the PAC 12 championship game over #4 Washington.

Playoff hopes for the #5 ranked Wolverines narrowed as they now must hope for a Virginia Tech win over #3 Clemson in the ACC championship game on Saturday night.

The Tigers are a (-10.5) favorite over the Hokies, and many are expecting a win; to see Deshaun Watson and his explosive offense return to the playoffs for a consecutive appearance. 

May the chips fall where they will fall for the Wolverines, and for the Clemson Tigers. 

Michigan’s Path to the Playoffs

Prior to Saturday, Michigan’s destiny was in their own hands; it seemed simple. The #3 ranked Wolverines had to beat the Buckeyes, and then go win the Big Ten championship for a secured playoff berth to be a reality.

Michigan didn’t get the job done; they lost in Columbus, and now people are assuming that Jim Harbaugh’s chances of coaching in the playoffs this season are a lost dream — False! Michigan’s chances are very much alive, and are a lot better than you think they are!

The AP poll has Michigan at the #5 spot, and many believe that on Tuesday night, the CFB playoff committee will also have them at the #5 spot; some people believe that the Wolverines will still be ranked ahead of Washington at the #4 spot.

I believe that if Clemson wins the ACC with a win over Virginia Tech, and Washington wins the PAC 12 with a win over #9 ranked Colorado; then Michigan’s playoff spot will be officially dead.

Now let’s talk about if either Clemson or Washington were to lose…

In a perfect world for the Wolverines; Virginia Tech, Colorado, would win their conferences, and knock Clemson, Washington, out of playoff contention. Thus, creating the perfect cake walk for Michigan right into a playoff spot.

The problem with said scenario would be the way the rankings are looking as of right now, the situation would invite three Big Ten teams (OSU, Mich, & either Penn State or Wisconsin) into the playoffs, and you have to question if the committee would allow it.

Asking for both Clemson, and Washington to lose in their conference championship games would be a tall order, some would consider it far fetched.

Say that only Clemson, or Washington lose this weekend, not both; then the playoff committee comes to a tough decision that will never make everyone happy — do you put in the Big Ten champions who lost in Ann Arbor, or do you put in a Michigan team with 3 wins over top ten teams, and took the  #2 ranked Buckeyes to double OT, and then lost in a way which many consider ‘controversial’?

Of course, you’ll wonder if the committee will strive to avoid devaluing conference championships, which they will already have to do with inviting Ohio State. Do they take Michigan, and Ohio State both over the Big Ten champions?

If Wisconsin can take down Penn State, the Badgers will have only two losses which are against two top ten teams (OSU, Mich). Wisconsin is chasing their first win over a current ranked top ten team.

Penn State already has their signature win over #2 Ohio State, and that is why they’re playing for the Big Ten title this Saturday.

This will all come down to what the committee values more: conference championships, or resumes. Ohio State, and Michigan are both 3-1 against the top ten this season, no team in the country has a better resume than these two Big Ten heavyweights — nope, not even Alabama.

Situations like these are one of the reasons we have a committee; to make these difficult decisions for college football, rather than the BCS computer system.

Tune into ESPN tonight at 7pm/ET for the playoff top 25 to be announced. May the chips fall where they fall.