Remember last year, when I was beating the drum for a 16-team College Football Playoff? Let’s do it again.
If you need a refresher, take a look at last week’s version. But the short version is this: In my playoff scenario, all ten conference champions automatically make the tournament. The field is then rounded out with six at-large teams. Independent schools would be eligible to make the field as an at-large selection.
With that outta of the way, what would the bracket currently look like under this system? This.
# 16 Kent State (MAC) at # 1 Georgia (SEC)
# 9 Baylor (at-large) at # 8 Mississippi (at-large)
# 13 San Diego State (MWC) at # 4 Cincinnati (AAC)
# 12 Utah (Pac-12) at # 5 Oklahoma State (Big 12)
# 14 Louisiana (Sun Belt) at # 3 Alabama (at-large)
# 11 Pittsburgh (ACC) at # 6 Notre Dame (at-large)
# 10 Oregon (at-large) at # 7 Ohio State (at-large)
# 15 Western Kentucky (CUSA) at # 2 Michigan (Big 10)
Well, Michigan took care of business. That vaults them to #2 and drops Ohio State all the way to #7 where they would have a theoretical rematch with Oregon.
Meanwhile it was chaos in the automatic qualifiers section, with three new teams to the tournament replaces qualifiers. Of course, we will know the final theoretical bracket come the release of the last CFP poll next week.
I again point out how all of this would be much more satisfying than the current fiasco we’re looking at in the real world where the Powers That Be will figure out a way to keep Cincinnati out of the playoff, even if they finish 13-0…..
ACC: Pitt 15
MWC: San Diego State 19
Pac-12: Utah 17