Okay, now that my heart has restarted after the Texas/Nebraska game, let’s talk about actual matchups for a playoff. First, let me tell you what I like and don’t like about these matchups: If you won your conference this year and you played reasonably well, you’re in. Conference champions are starred below in the rankings. Only Ohio State (#13) could make an argument that they should be in, but they lost 2 games on what turned out to be an average schedule. Central Michigan, (#28), East Carolina (#42), and Troy (#44) can’t make too much of a case in my opinion.
Here is the only thing I don’t like about my system this year. Alabama beat Florida in what was essentially a playoff game. If my playoff system were in place, they would basically have been playing for seeding and home field advantage, given that they were both ranked so high before the game. So yes, I’ll concede that a playoff system would have diminished that game’s importance (or delayed it until later in the month). But let’s go back to last year for a second: Alabama was ranked #1, Florida was ranked #2, and when Alabama lost they dropped behind Texas, who would have gotten the at-large berth. So in many years, the importance of a #1/#2 matchup would be at the same level as it is in the current system. Some people were actually calling for an SEC rematch had it been a close game, so it’s not out of line in any way to see Florida in the playoffs.
I’ll end with this. Cincy, Boise State, and TCU are getting absolutely ripped off in the current system. They ended their season with no losses. They did not lose a game. And now, they are going to be placed in high-paying consolation games while Texas and Alabama go on to play for the national championship. Since we have to pick two teams in the current system, I do think Texas and Alabama should advance. But we shouldn’t have to pick two teams. Our playoff matchups should be as follows (remember, at-large berth is moved to #5 or lower because they cannot host a game):
#8 Oregon @ #1 Alabama in Tuscaloosa
#7 Georgia Tech @ #2 Texas in Austin
#6 Boise State @ #3 Cincinnati in Cincinnati
#5 Florida @ #4 TCU in Fort Worth
It’s been a fun season, and I look forward to the bowl games. My rankings are below.
(Conference champions are starred. Top 7 would make it, Florida would get the at-large berth.)
