SloverUT

Either way, I think this is a discussion I would rather have over a round of so I can pound my fist into the table to exaggerate my points!

Well we will have to agree to disagree. I do not think having a playoff takes away from the regular season games whatsoever. Tennessee vs Alabama is still a great traditional game even when TN sucks as they currently do. Oregon/Stanford is still a fun game even if they aren't vying for a N.C. spot. Ohio St/Michigan is still a fun game even if one isn't in the race. I didn't imply that Auburn/Alabama was the only great game this year. I implied that over the course of a 15 week period there isn't enough match-ups of that caliber. Ohio State has played one decent caliber team thus far against Wisconsin. Florida State has played one meaningful game thus far against Clemson, since Florida/Miami tanked. Alabama has played two good caliber games against A & M/Auburn, and maybe you count LSU. Mizzou has played South Carolina and A & M. Auburn has played Bama/LSU/A & M. So between the top 5 current ranked teams I count 10-11 "good", not all "great" caliber match-ups out of the 60 games they have played. As far as "gearing up" for the next game, well there is possibly a chance that happens in our current scenario. If either Ohio State or FSU lose it is possible that Alabama could still get into the N.C. game and thus would have made the Auburn/Alabama game less relevant, but still a great game. Most importantly though, even with a playoff, these games still would have taken place and they are still important. Even if you have 4, 8 , or 16 team playoff you still have to make sure you are in that 16 and I think this creates room for even more good games as it gives more teams a chance to be in the "race" and thus make a lot more games more meaningful. For example, in the last weekend all that really mattered is whether FSU, Alabama, or OSU lost. If there was a 16 playoff then there would have been a lot of games that mattered because a loss by teams in the top 16 and wins by those outside of it could have changed up the rankings quite a bit.

It isn't to bad for me. If there is a playoff at the end of the regular season it doesn't negate these games. Tennessee will still play Alabama in October Washington will still play Oregon Oregon will still play Stanford Auburn/Bama will still play in the Iron Bowl USC will still play UCLA Michigan will still play OSU and Texas will still play Oklahoma. And you are right, it isn't about who is #1 in a computer poll or a panel of votes. It should be who wins out on the field in a playoff :). The Tennessee/Alabama game is a perfect example. Tennessee was no where close to being even mentioned in the race for a national championship but the Bama/TN game is still fun and looked forward to every year. The fact that it wasn't two ranked teams going at it didn't diminish the game for me. Therefore, these games will still be fun for me if there is a playoff at the end of the year as well, even if TN isn't even in that picture either. To be more short, no traditional rivalry games will disappear. I

So in the examples you just posted that is 16 ranked match-ups ( I am sure that isn't every ranked match) over a 15 week period. In the playoff example I provided we get that in a two week period with an added incentive of win or your season is over literally. Nor should I ignore that some of these ranked matches were teams playing that were severely over-hyped (Florida for example) and not what their rankings were after a full regular season, as would be the case during the playoffs. I also never said these games don't excite me. The regular season as a whole isn't my favorite but there are obviously some good games that were played. It simply doesn't interest me as much as a playoff system would. While there were some good games this year, there was also a Saturday were the match-ups were so poor that en ESPN Game Day crew went to a North Dakota State game.. Side Note: The argument that the regular season wouldn't mean as much is odd to me based on your last post. Even with the playoff system at the end all of those ranked match-ups would have still taken place.

This is where we fundamentally disagree, and I guess with GD as well. I don't think the regular season is fun for a variety of reasons. The #1 is the fact that the majority of colleges out there will lose their chance at a N.C. once they lose their first game. For example, Tennessee plays Florida in week 3. In their heyday the loser of that game lost all hopes of making it to the big game. If Strength of Schedule shouldn't be a factor or we shouldn't discredit a team based on who they play, then what incentive is there for quality teams to play each other? This makes it to where we generally only get to see really high quality match-ups if they are in the same conference and forced to play (Auburn/Bama). Everyone here agrees that the Auburn/Bama match-up was a great game and had significant impact because it was basically a win or go home type match-up. Instead of seeing 1 or 2 of those type match-ups a year, outside the N.C. game, I want to see several of them. That is why I am so for maybe a 16 team playoff. Right now on the first Saturday of the playoffs we would have the following: Top 16 FSU vs Central Florida Ohio State vs LSU (FUN) Auburn vs North Illinois (undefeated and this allows them their only chance at getting to the N.C.) Alabama vs Clemson (FUN) Missouri vs Oregon (FUN) Oklahoma St vs Arizona St (FUN) Stanford vs Michigan St (FUN) Baylor vs South Carolina (FUN) In just one Saturday look at the caliber of match-ups that would take place in win or go home scenarios similar to Bama/Auburn. Second Saturday (Assuming no upsets) FSU vs South Carolina Ohio St vs Stanford Auburn vs Oklahoma St Alabama vs Missiouri Again, 4 high quality match-ups in win or go home situations. 3rd Saturday FSU vs Alabama Ohio St vs Auburn Then the N.C. game. This is what I want to see. I want to see the best playing the best and see high quality football.

Sorry I can't edit my previous post on phone. I meant Alabama is one of maybe a handful of teams that could lose and remain in the playoff hunt. Also most importantly to me an expanded playoff system would create more quality matchups on a weekly basis so that we don't have saturdays like we just did this year with no good games on tv.

With the 4 team playoff Alabama might have been the only team that could have lost a game and had it not end their season. If FSU/Ohio State/or Auburn lost they would have most likely fallen out of the playoff picture and thus ended their chance at a N.C. game. So obviously the regular season would still have major implications and be highly competitive. It isn't as if we are going to have a bunch of teams in the 4 team playoffs with 3 losses. The only reason Alabama is #4 is because of who they lost too being ranked #4 at the time. So only 1 team out of hundreds in college football was able to lose a game and manage to stay in the playoff picture. And that is no different than when one loss teams have won the whole thing via the current BCS system. Bottom line is the regular season would still be very important and very entertaining because one loss could still put you outside the top 4 easily.

Sure. Alabama won when it mattered most. This is no different than the NFL and millions of people love to watch it. Denver may lose to an NFC team in the regular season, but if they beat them in the Super Bowl that is what matters. I personally don't find the regular season all that exciting. What if the team that has the 109th Strength of Schedule goes undefeated but the team with the 2nd Strength of Schedule loses one game. How would it not bother you that the team that played nobody may win the N.C. game? I'd much rather them play and settle it on the grid iron any day. Also, as I mentioned earlier this system to a degree is already used in NCAA Basketball and I don't think anyone can argue that people love March Madness. However, the portion of what we enjoy most is not debatable because everyone enjoys things differently!

I and a I think a lot of people will disagree with you that a playoff isn't for the better in regards to NCAA football. I don't think it dampens the regular season, just as I don't think the NCAA tourney in basketball lessens the regular season. You still have to make it to the playoffs via the regular season to advance thus making the regular season important. Having a playoff also helps eliminate the thought that someone who went undefeated with a sub-par schedule won the NC over someone with a much tougher 1-loss schedule. I also want to say that I am not alluding to that being the case this year. And although I have stated that I don't think a 4 team playoff is the best answer in the long run it is definitely better than what we have now.. I would have loved to have seen the playoff system initiated this year. How could you not be excited about it? Alabama #4 vs FSU #1 Auburn #2 vs Ohio State#2 And the winners face for the NC. That would have been some awesome football and the winner could claim that they won it outright by facing 2 of the best 4 teams in the country.

Just as the title says: What are you asking for Christmas this year that is golf related? I've asked for a couple pair of TRUE shoe wear. I also asked for the Mackdaddy 2 Wedges in 52/56/60 Lets hear it from the rest of ya!

Supported!

I find it simply amusing how people can get so riled up over words on a message board. I mean it happens to everyone from time to time, but sometimes I think people are in a constant state of being pissed off. Good thing I am easily entertained!

I am thankful that I have the health to continuously play a sport I love. I am very thankful for the time I've got to spend this year golfing with my 5 year old and seeing him laugh and smile!

I cant recall me ever being envious of the big 10. I also don't hate any leagues per se. I generally only dislike certain coaches and those coaches are sometimes in the SEC.

I forgot to mention that I hope Stanford beats them 98-0 :) lol!

Yes, Harmonious, that is true. But this is a fairly easy year to pick the top three. And as you stated, we may waver on who is #4? There lies the problem. It starts to get a bit iffy when it isn't clear cut. What happens if Alabama loses to Missouri (probably the #4 ranked team) in the SEC championship? Obviously, Ohio State and FSU would make it.. and I think most people would put Missouri as #3. But who is #4 then? Bama? It would be almost impossible for me to not be bias in some form.

You are right. I think Stanford had a fluke game to Houston much like Florida did to Georgia Southern. I'd like to see Stanford play Ohio State.

No, the only thing needed, if you can't do it in an NFL style manner, is to have a transparent formula that is not guided at all by subjective voting. If the formula used to rank individuals is fully transparent, without any input from human voting, then how could you possibly claim bias?

Yes, but do you not think people will be formulating week to week rankings based off a similar system that we use now? AP, etc. People are going to want to know how their teams stack up on a week to week basis. Also, we are now trading a formulated system for the subjective votes of 13 people with flexibility to choose as they please (within reason of course). It is still going to be a majorly flawed system with similar outcomes as I suggested earlier. Instead of #3 being pissed off it will be the #5 team left out of the playoffs. The only good thing out of all of this is that 4 teams will ultimately get to pair off and duke it out. It is how those four teams got there that will be scrutinized just as it is now. I could see the arguments now, based on the selection committee. Archie Manning: That guy favors the SEC. Mike Tranghese: That guy favors the Big East. And so on.. As long as subjective people are picking and choosing the system will continuously be perceived as flawed.

Don't need to see an Optometrist. The same system to rank the teams will still be in place, just as it is now. So at this point in the season things would be exactly the same as they are now. And even with the panel I think the SEC would get two teams in if the season ended now. I'd have a hard time of being convinced that at this point in the season any of the other 1 loss teams are more deserving than Auburn. However, it is good for other conferences that Auburn/Mizzou, and Bama would end two teams chances of of making the playoffs if they were in this year. Also, a panel is no better than the current BCS system if you feel the system is subjective. A panel of people voting is definitely subjective. Not to mention that we are going to have the exact same arguments of the system that we do now, except instead of #3 arguing they should be #2, it will be #5 arguing they should have been #4.

Sure I can. It is the current ranking system used by the NCAA and will be for the foreseeable future.

Everyone has their flukes. It wasn't that long ago Michigan fell to Appalachian State and they weren't decimated with injuries. But if the SEC isn't what they are cracked up to be with three teams in the Top 5 currently, I suppose I'll take it :).

Welcome to TST.

Arsenic and Old lace was a great movie.

No, I am not saying that the winner of Team A is always better than the winner of Team B. It is possible that the winner of Team B is better. But in the imperfect world of the BCS/Ranking system, what else could you go by? If you are setting down and looking at Team A and B on paper I think it would be impossible to rank Team B higher. And I think that is why Strength of schedule plays such an important role in the ranking system. It also plays an important role in Basketball as well. For all I know the National Champion of DII football could possibly be better than the winner of D1, but until they play each other, who would you rank higher? It is a flawed system, but until we can have 120 team playoffs, I am not sure what else could be done. Note: I personally am not discrediting OSU. However, if you have to vote between Alabama and OSU, both undefeated teams, who haven't played each other, what else can you go by?