Is It Too Early to Ask For An 8 Team Playoff?

After the final four teams were announced on Sunday, there was much outrage from fans of the Big 12 conference, because both #5 Baylor and #6 TCU were left out. Naturally many are saying that an eight team playoff would be better than the current four. Even though we have not yet seen this four team playoff through one full season, I tend to agree. To me, the difference between the forth best team in the country and the fifth best, is much less than the seventh and eighth best teams. Or perhaps a better way to put it, is that the difference between a potential 1-2 matchup (Alabama and Oregon), and a 5-6 (Baylor and TCU), is much less than the latter. That would be comparing a Baylor-TCU matchup to a 9-10 (Ole Miss and Arizona). Also, and eight team playoff is much like professional sports. Hockey has 16 (NHL), basketball has 16 (NBA), the NFL has 12, and baseball has 10 now (MLB). Even if you want to compare to college sports, basketball provides a field of 68. Point is, I don't think this system needs to be changed right away, I think it deserves at least three or four years. However, eight should be a goal before a decade passes, as it just seems right. If we are going to have a playoff format in college football, it should be more than just four teams.

We Will Know The Final Four This Sunday

Big weekend in sports, and especially in college football. The conference championship games are this weekend, and the games will go a long way toward determining the final four in the first ever college football playoff. The first big game is tonight as number ranked Oregon takes on number seven Arizona. If Oregon wins they are almost certain to have either the one or two seed. On Saturday Alabama (1) plays Missouri (16) in the SEC championship, Florida State (4) plays Georgia Tech (11) in the ACC championship, Baylor (6) plays Kansas State (9) and Ohio State (5) plays Wisconsin (13) in the Big 10 championship. If the Crimson Tide win they should finish number one, and Florida State should clinch a spot with a win as well. Now if both Baylor and Ohio State win that will open up a very interesting discussion as to who should be that final team in the playoff. Right now TCU sits at number three, but impressive wins by both the Buckeyes and the Bears should cause a debate. It will be interesting to see if there are any upsets this weekend and what the final four look like. The reaction is for certain going to entertaining.