Michigan Football: Expanded playoff would help Wolverines

Michigan Football: 16 team playoff proposal

There are a lot of people that want the College Football Playoff expanded, but there are less than can agree on the number of teams.

Some want to add just two teams to get to six, while others want to go out to eight. Both would be better than what we have now, but I think 16 is the right number.

Trust me,16 teams in the tournament would not water down the field. It would make more games exciting in the postseason, plus it is already being done at the FCS level. Except they have 24 teams, so you can’t tell me it can’t be done and it takes too much time away from the classroom.

How exactly would this work? First, give the conference champion of the Power Five conference an automatic bid. Yes, the PAC 12 has not been good lately, but they still have capable teams in here.

Next, include at least three mid-major teams. Currently, it doesn’t matter how good those teams are they have no shot at getting in. And before you say, yeah well that takes three bids away from the major schools, there are still eight spots left.

If you can’t take one of those eight spots then should you really be arguing? (Ok, maybe they would, we just saw New York Giants fans cry for a week because their six-win team didn’t make it because the Eagles stuck it to them.)

Rank the 16 teams that get selected and have the higher seed get a home game for the first round. So the top eight teams are playing at their own stadium for a game. How great would that be? A possible SEC team actually having to play in cold weather? Among other things, this would be great. How important would it be to be a top-eight seed now?

For the second round, the top remaining seed plays the lowest remaining seed just like the NFL playoffs. For example, if Alabama is the one seed and an upset happens in the first round they get to play the lowest seed remaining. They could in theory play the 15th seed in the second round. Don’t lock them into playing the eight and nine seed winner.

The semifinals would be the same way. So again if Alabama was the one seed they would have the “easiest” path to the championship.

The main complaint about expanding the playoffs is it would make the regular season meaningless.

While I understand their argument, if you do the seeding like above it would make every game important. Getting the best seed possible is even more crucial in this expansion. Every game would be great, plus you are battling for one of the eight wild cards if you are out of contention for the conference title.

Finally, an expanded playoff would take away from teams have players opt-out. Oklahoma and Florida should have been a great game this year in the bowl season, but instead half of the Gators’ offense sat out.

Had they been playing in the playoffs they would have played. A more competitive game and more excitement for that game means more money and who doesn’t like that. We know the NCAA does.