Four Team Playoff Beats The BCS

The FBS will have a playoff. These are words that so many college football fans have waited to hear for so long. But is this going to satisfy us?

It’s been a roller coaster of emotions following each new chapter, and while details still need to be worked out, we can find some sort of peace.

Sure, a four team playoff with a selection committee isn’t perfect, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction. Just the thought of having the top four teams in the nation go toe-to-toe to wrap up the season is sobering. With four teams, there’s somewhat of a debate that can be settled every year, there can be a sense of closure and the excitement during the season grows even more.

Just think about how intriguing the match-up between Andrew Luck and the LSU defense would have been.

The death of the BCS also means the death of a ridiculous computer ranking system that proved to be flawed in its own requirements last season. Just look at the quality wins between Alabama and Oklahoma State.

There are some questions surrounding the selection committee. For starters, what will be the criteria for a potential member? The members of the committee need to have football knowledge, not just some, but a vast plethora of football knowledge. They need to watch tons of games and not be biased to any particular team/conference.

Sure, no matter who is on the committee there is going to be bias of some sort, but the best way to combat that would be have representation from both big and small schools. The idea of a 12-15 member committee insures that too much power doesn’t go to one or two men. With 10 plus members, a final decision can made from all angles.

Since part of the criteria for teams to qualify for the playoff will be based off strength of schedule, here is something to consider. Teams may have to start scheduling tougher non-conference games. It’s no secret that bigger schools know they can ride non-conference cupcakes all the way to a national championship.

Yes, the SEC has been the toughest conference in the last six years, but tough conference games plus a weak non-conference schedule, shouldn’t equal a spot in the national championship. This may force teams to schedule more marquee games in order to gain the selection committee’s favor.

With that being said, one big question that immediately came to mind was, how will this affect the smaller schools’ chances? Boise St. comes to mind, due to their place in the top 10 the last three years and a 73-6 record over the past six years. The Broncos already have a hard time scheduling top teams, even when they’ve put the call out. Now, with strength of schedule to be a factor, it’s up in the air whether or not teams will see a benefit of a win over Boise St. More importantly, how will the selection committee view a victory over Boise St.?

While there are other teams from smaller conferences that might challenge for a spot in the final four, Boise St. remains the main focus because of their continued success.

It’s hard not to think that if the final spot in the playoffs came down to an undefeated conference champ from the Mountain West, Conference USA or even the Big East, that a one loss team from the big four conferences (Big 12, Pac-12, Big Ten, SEC) would be awarded the fourth spot.

During the meetings leading up to Wednesday’s final decision, it was funny how some people were surprised at the amount of revenue the new playoff system could generate. Is it really a shock that the pay-out could double the current BCS system? Fans want to see a playoff; it’s in high demand across the country. The TV ratings more than likely will come in beyond what the BCS has drawn recently. Every sponsor that has the means to bid on a spot in the three game series will do whatever they can to be a part of the money pot.

The current deal under Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN and ABC pay $155 million annually for the national championship and rights to the four BCS bowls. According to Bob Boland of New York University’s Tisch School of Sports Management, the next contract may have a price tag that ranges from $400 million to $500 million annually.

A four team playoff isn’t perfect, but at least it’s a change from a flawed system and a step in the right direction.

Next in line; super conferences?