fiverhityeight.com article on playoff picture

[beorach]

Agreed with IA State - that's just the nature of sport (having upsets) and I think keeping the number of playoff spots low goes a long way in placating those who don't want the regular season to be cheated of its historical meaning in this sense. Judging a team for all its games is great but the non-conference slate is more than just largely forgettable. It's pretty much meaningless because you only have a few games a season that feature teams who wind up in the mix for the postseason.

 

[Kiyoat Husker]

Another advantage of AQ's (automatic qualifiers) is that it takes the "beauty contest" aspect out of selecting teams. Just win your conference. This would encourage more marquis match-ups in the non-conference instead of all the cupcakes and patsys. Hell, the Universities would make more money on compelling non-conference games anyway.

Win-win.

 

[VA Husker Fan]

Another advantage of AQ's (automatic qualifiers) is that it takes the "beauty contest" aspect out of selecting teams. Just win your conference. This would encourage more marquis match-ups in the non-conference instead of all the cupcakes and patsys. Hell, the Universities would make more money on compelling non-conference games anyway.

Win-win.

That's possible. Or, schools may decide if they don't need strength of schedule at all, there's no need to put your guys at risk in tough games and you schedule nothing but pasties, especially to get home games.

People complain that playoffs make the regular season meaningless; this would absolutely guarantee that 1/3 or 1/4 of the season really is totally meaningless.

 

[beorach]

I wouldn't mind keeping the playoff small in order to maintain the quality of the regular season. Having the automatic qualification for champion would encourage conferences to tighten up their scheduling and I'd think some programs would see the value in having a tough game out of conference if only to prepare them for a potential run in the postseason. I think that seeding should be a big deal, too, such that there's a reward for not phoning it in once your team has locked up a championship (Big XII) or a spot in the championship game (everyone else).

 

[Kiyoat Husker]

Another advantage of AQ's (automatic qualifiers) is that it takes the "beauty contest" aspect out of selecting teams. Just win your conference. This would encourage more marquis match-ups in the non-conference instead of all the cupcakes and patsys. Hell, the Universities would make more money on compelling non-conference games anyway.

Win-win.

That's possible. Or, schools may decide if they don't need strength of schedule at all, there's no need to put your guys at risk in tough games and you schedule nothing but pasties, especially to get home games.

People complain that playoffs make the regular season meaningless; this would absolutely guarantee that 1/3 or 1/4 of the season really is totally meaningless.

Perhaps. Good points.

Here's another thing to debate - let's compare current conference championship games as they relate to the CFP:

Big XII - No Champ Game. Worked out perfect for them this year. sucked last year.

PAC 12- Somewhat Meaningless Game. Stanford can use the game to improve their stock, but is still a longshot.

B1G - True elimination game for playoff. Perfect situation for current system.

ACC/SEC - Could hurt the Conference. Bama and Clemson have everything to lose and nothing to gain by playing.

So without an AQ, there is little incentive for 3 or 4 out of 5 Conferences to even have this game. This would be magnified by an inevitable expansion to 6 or 8 teams, IMO.