The Solution - Div 1-A Football Playoff

How should this be awarded?

Last week, ESPN The Magazine put a poll out to 135 Division 1-A players regarding the BCS system versus a playoff system. They were asked three questions. The first was “Do you want a playoff?”62% of the voters said they did. OK great, so we know it isn’t just the fans that want it, it is the players as well. Second question, “Would you rather have an FCS-style, 16-team playoff (no bowls) or the current system?” 70% now say they would take the BCS system over a 16 team playoff. Makes sense, we want a playoff but don’t want the bowls to be done away with because if we have a decent season, we don’t get any reward for it. Third question, “Would you rather have a college football career with three bowl trips or one playoff trip?” An amazing 77% said they would take the three bowl trips instead of the chance to be crowned a national champion or maybe re-write the history books with a big upset! Hmm….now this once confused me or should it? In an interview with the players on why they would take the three bowl trips, most of them said they got treated like kings with gift baskets and it was a nice reward for a long, tough season. I understand that, but I would be upset if I was the fifth ranked team in the nation, our goal was to get to the championship game, we lost one game because of a last second field goal and now I can’t have the opportunity to show the nation that we are true champions. That would eat at me as a person and player.

Anyways, I want to thank ESPN for their poll because it gave me new insight on what should happen in regards to division 1-A playoff football. Personally, I think the BCS does a great job getting the team rankings right. It isn’t error proof, but it works. Everyone loves the bowl games, even the players. OK, let’s keep them and the BCS ranking system. Next, let the conferences keep the way they determine their conference champion. Most have a game between the two best teams at the end which I love, some like the Big Ten don’t. OK, leave it up to the conference to decide that. I also get that the big bowl games are all about money, that doesn’t have to go away either. Here is how you solve this whole mess and make everyone happy. You keep the thirty or however bowl games there are for division 1-A. The teams that had decent seasons, you reward them with a nice trip to a sunny bowl and they can have their gift baskets; everyone except the top eight ranked teams in the nation at the end of the season. These eight will be entered into a three week playoff for the national championship. Seeding will be determined by the BCS rankings. Why eight teams? Two reasons, any more than eight, I don’t think they are worthy to be called a national champion. Secondly, it would make the season way to long and that is a huge fear of the players/coaches already. The big bowl games would just be added into the playoff. The Rose, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta. etc. Teams travel to each stadium to play and don’t tell me fans won’t travel because they will and the stadiums will be packed. Also, these top eight teams would still get their gift baskets and treated with royalty...

This system gives teams that may not be at the top of the BCS system such as TCU and Boise State an opportunity to compete for a national championship. It also eliminates the issue of the number three of forth ranked team being left out of the picture with having the same record as the second ranked team. Put the best of the best in the fire and let them dance. If the number one ranked team is worthy of that rank, they will prove it through three awesome playoff games and be crowned champion. These are my thoughts on the whole debate. Please feel free to share your opinions. Thanks for reading.

RD