Let's Have a Real Playoff, 2022 Edition
Once again, I am beating the drum for a sixteen team playoff
Remember the last two years, 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 year’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.
This is the first time that I am doing this after the announcement of the anticipated 12-team playoff coming in 2024-ish. That playoff of course is still flawed because not every conference champion makes it. Which is what you really need to truly crown a champion.
Since the College Football Playoff rankings won’t come out until November, I am currently using the AFCA Coaches Poll. Which I trust a lot more than the AP poll.
Fun part about starting this early? Only two of the twelve conference leaders are in the top 10 in the coaches poll
What would the bracket currently look like under this system? This.
# 16 Buffalo (MAC) at # 1 Georgia (At-Large)
# 9 Oklahoma State (At-Large) at #8 Tennessee (At-Large)
# 13 Memphis (AAC) at # 4 Michigan (Big 10)
# 12 Coastal Carolina (Sun Belt) at # 5 Clemson (ACC)
# 14 Western Kentucky (CUSA) at # 3 Ohio State (At-Large)
# 11 Kansas (Big 12) at # 6 USC (Pac-12)
# 10 North Carolina State (At-Large) at # 7 Kentucky (At-Large)
# 15 UNLV (MWC) at #2 Alabama (SEC)