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What Is The Perfect College Football Playoff?
We look at a variety of playoff scenarios.
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Four teams, five, 10, 12, or more?
With the College Football Playoff just around the corner, we decided to take a look at a variety of playoff scenarios that could be better than the current four-team set up. There is already some talk about the playoff expanding to eight teams but until then let’s have some fun with the scenarios.
Four Team Playoff
Status quo. This year it was fairly clear cut with three undefeated teams and Oklahoma winning the Big 12 with one loss. Had Utah won the Pac-12 title game there would have been some controversy.
No. 1 LSU vs. No. 4 Oklahoma
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Clemson
Five Team Playoff
All five power five champions are involved and that is it. This still is set up like an invitational and not an actual playoff as it leaves no room for a Group of Five team. An alternate way would be the highest-rated conference champions and if that were the case then there could be some wiggle from for a Group of Five team to earn a bid.
No. 5 Oregon plays at No. 4 Oklahoma
No. 1 LSU vs. Oregon/Oklahoma winner
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Clemson
Six Team Playoff
This one can have a few options. Take the highest-rated six conference champions. However, this would model also would leave out independents like Notre Dame but would include at least one Group of Five team.
No. 6 Memphis at No. 3 Clemson
No. 5 Oregon at No. 4 Oklahoma
No. 1 LSU vs. lowest-seeded remaining team
No. 2 Ohio State vs. highest-seeded remaining team
Another option is to have the College Football Playoff committee take the six highest-ranked teams as chosen by said committee. The only change in this one is that it would remove Memphis and put in Georgia.
No. 6 Oregon vs. No. 3 Clemson
No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 4 Oklahoma
No. 1 LSU vs. lowest-seeded remaining team
No. 2 Ohio State vs. highest-seeded remaining team
Eight Team Playoff
This setup would have all five conference champions from the Power Five leagues, highest-rated Group of Five champion, and a pair of at-large berths. This would allow for independents and at-large teams as well.
Also, this set up could provide home games for the top four seeds and provide an extra incentive to be a top four seed. To pick the at-large teams it would be the next highest-ranked teams as chosen by the playoff committee.
No. 8 Memphis at No. 1 LSU
No. 7 Baylor at No. 2 Ohio State
No. 6 Oregon at No. 3 Clemson
No. 5 Georgia at No. 4 Oklahoma