Conference Realignment

[JacketOff]

There is also very strong talk that after 2025, the seedings will be based on rankings. If they also go to 16 teams, no one will get a bye. If they stay at 12 and rankings are all that matter, being a conference champion gets you into the dance but doesn't necessarily warrant a bye.

The more the playoff expands, the less incentive there is for them to join a conference full-time. If they win 10+ games the odds they are in the top 16 is extremely high. 11-12 wins and they’re guaranteed a spot, still without having to risk playing an extra game or the threat of losing the CCG and getting bumped out of the top 16. The only way to put pressure on ND to join a conference is to make the CCGs part of the playoff or only allow conference champions in. Neither of which are going to happen. The playoff isn’t a playoff, it’s an invitational. Notre Dame is one of the largest brands in college football, and even better that they’re extremely divisive. Them in the playoff guarantees eyeballs from their nationwide fanbase, and the nationwide fans that hate them and want to see them lose.

 

[Creative]

I don't care what they think, nor what they say. They don't always say what they personally think. However, it is an indication of the sentiment. The Big10 and SEC are going to lobby to have conference championships not matter to the seeding at all. They are going to lobby to eliminate automatic bids for conference champions. I think some or many of the commentators are only parroting what the Big10 and SEC want them to say in order to manipulate public opinion about it. I don't give any consideration to their opinions nor paid endorsements. I do worry about the influence they affect.

They should eliminate the bye for conference champs, but not eliminate that as a qualifier. Or at least require that the conf winner must be in the top 8 to receive a bye.

 

[stingerman]

I like the bye. It makes conference championship games matter and gives a concrete reward for winning the championship. If a "better" team doesn't get the bye, so what? More games for the "better" teams to find out if they are really better.

 

[Root4GT]

I doubt the conference championship games go away. Those are really important to the conferences and ESPN. Conferences would lose money if they went away as part of their payouts from the media content providers includes money for those games.

I think the most likely change will be keeping the auto bids for the conference champions - which I think is the right thing to do, but to seed the playoffs based on the final rankings rather than the conference champions automatically getting them. That would be similar to the NCAA Basketball model.

If the playoffs are expanded to 16 teams in 2026 then the bye games would disappear anyways.

I really like Conference Champs getting buys. They actually earn those byes vice being voted in by people watching on TV and looking at data that does not really have meaningful comparative value.

Win your Conference and get a Bye! Conference Championships are very meaningful and there should be a significant reward for winning a Championship.

 

[57jacket]

The fundamental problem with ratings is the perceived SOS. If a school only plays games within their conference, the SOS is essentally a percieved value of that conference. Since the SEC is "percieved " to be the premier conference they have a huge advantage in getting bids and rankings. Now that may be the case. They may definitely have the strongest conference, but a more fair systen would require, or at least put a strong value on, their out of conference SOS and record. All schools hopeing to get a playoff spot need to play at least 3 OOC games with what is considered a major conference ( or a strong independent). Just my , probably flawed, opinion. LOL

 

[stinger78]

There is also very strong talk that after 2025, the seedings will be based on rankings. If they also go to 16 teams, no one will get a bye. If they stay at 12 and rankings are all that matter, being a conference champion gets you into the dance but doesn't necessarily warrant a bye.

Not a fan of 12 teams, so not a fan of 16 teams. But… ain’t nobody listening to me.

 

[GoJacketsInRaleigh]

ESPN commentators were all over decrying that conference champions should not get the byes, that it should go to the top 4 teams no matter if they are a champion or not.

I don't think the conference champions should get byes. It screws over the #1 team. Oregon has to play Ohio St or Tennessee in the quarters. The quarter opposite them has Texas with Boise and Clemson. Texas has an easier path to the semi's than Oregon.

Imagine is ND was 12-0 and really the best team in the country. They would be the #5 seed and on the same side of the bracket as the #1 seed, which would be the #2 in the country.

I think the conference champions should be guaranteed a home game in the first round if they don't get a bye.

 

[jgtengineer]

I'd rather see a 16 where conference champions the top 8 conference champions get in and then 8 at large teams. 1 can play 16 and then seed accordingly. The top 8 seeds host

 

[IM79]

I'd rather see a 16 where conference champions the top 8 conference champions get in and then 8 at large teams. 1 can play 16 and then seed accordingly. The top 8 seeds host

That’s so unfair to the SEC. Should be a 32 team bracket with the sec teams seeded 1-16 then the next best 16 teams seeded 17-32.

 

[JacketOff]

I don't think the conference champions should get byes. It screws over the #1 team. Oregon has to play Ohio St or Tennessee in the quarters. The quarter opposite them has Texas with Boise and Clemson. Texas has an easier path to the semi's than Oregon.

Imagine is ND was 12-0 and really the best team in the country. They would be the #5 seed and on the same side of the bracket as the #1 seed, which would be the #2 in the country.

I think the conference champions should be guaranteed a home game in the first round if they don't get a bye.

If they wanted a real playoff the conference championship games would be the de facto first round, then the winners would be seeded into a playoff bracket. They don’t want a real playoff though. Still so ridiculous that half of the entire league will never even have an opportunity to play for the championship. Army goes 11-1 with their only loss to the #5 team, wins their conference championship, and never even had a chance to make it into the playoff. It’s a stupid, rigged system, and calling it a playoff is disingenuous. P

 

[orientalnc]

All this talk about Notre Dame and playing for the national championship is silly when you consider it. Ga Tech has won the national championship since the most recent ND championship.

 

[Techwood Relict]

Not a fan of 12 teams, so not a fan of 16 teams. But… ain’t nobody listening to me.

 

[Techwood Relict]

All this talk about Notre Dame and playing for the national championship is silly when you consider it. Ga Tech has won the national championship since the most recent ND championship.

 

[Oldgoldandwhite]

If they wanted a real playoff the conference championship games would be the de facto first round, then the winners would be seeded into a playoff bracket. They don’t want a real playoff though. Still so ridiculous that half of the entire league will never even have an opportunity to play for the championship. Army goes 11-1 with their only loss to the #5 team, wins their conference championship, and never even had a chance to make it into the playoff. It’s a stupid, rigged system, and calling it a playoff is disingenuous. P

Agree!

 

[forensicbuzz]

I doubt the conference championship games go away. Those are really important to the conferences and ESPN. Conferences would lose money if they went away as part of their payouts from the media content providers includes money for those games.

I think the most likely change will be keeping the auto bids for the conference champions - which I think is the right thing to do, but to seed the playoffs based on the final rankings rather than the conference champions automatically getting them. That would be similar to the NCAA Basketball model.

If the playoffs are expanded to 16 teams in 2026 then the bye games would disappear anyways.

Disagree. Conference champions getting the first 4 seats means winning your conference means something. Also, it prevents the “committee” from stacking the field.

 

[forensicbuzz]

I don't think the conference champions should get byes. It screws over the #1 team. Oregon has to play Ohio St or Tennessee in the quarters. The quarter opposite them has Texas with Boise and Clemson. Texas has an easier path to the semi's than Oregon.

Imagine is ND was 12-0 and really the best team in the country. They would be the #5 seed and on the same side of the bracket as the #1 seed, which would be the #2 in the country.

I think the conference champions should be guaranteed a home game in the first round if they don't get a bye.

Disagree. ND can join a conference or deal with it. As for Oregon, that’s too bad.

 

[stinger 1957]

Not a fan of 12 teams, so not a fan of 16 teams. But… ain’t nobody listening to me.

All of our opinions are going against the TV bucks, that will win out most of the time.

 

[orientalnc]

I am not 100% certain of this, but I believe I heard or read that ND was not joining a conference as long as there is a path to the playoff. They very much have a path now.

 

[GoJacketsInRaleigh]

Disagree. ND can join a conference or deal with it. As for Oregon, that’s too bad.

It's not about ND. It's about screwing over the #1 team with some stupid rules.

 

[MountainBuzzMan]

Not a fan of 12 teams, so not a fan of 16 teams. But… ain’t nobody listening to me.

I am a fan 16 but any conference championship game is part of the playoffs