Why the NCAA Should Expand the Playoff to Eight Teams
Before the College Football Playoff was established in 2014, the BCS determined what teams would play in the National Championship game. Many people complained about the BCS and how two teams were selected for the National Championship. The BCS specifically favored the power conferences and left out non-power conference teams that finished undefeated. Boise State and TCU are notable teams that were left out of the BCS National Championship game in the recent past. Boise State defeated Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, while TCU beat Wisconsin in the 2011 Rose Bowl. The uproar of years of controversies drove the NCAA to incorporate a playoff between the best four teams in the nation.
The College Football Playoff has worked out quite nicely over the past three seasons. The committee has had easy decisions to make when it has come to choosing four dominant, clear-cut best teams in college football. Going into the final week of this 2016 season, it’s looking like a different story. There are at least eight teams that have a legitimate argument for playoff contention.
Upcoming College Football Playoff Controversy
There is no perfect solution when it comes to choosing playoff teams. Many teams in playoff contention will be feeling snubbed this season. Clemson, Washington, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and USC, Washington and Colorado all have cases for contending in the College Football Playoff. However, the more inclusive the playoff becomes, the less controversial decisions will be. For this reason, the NCAA needs to consider the possibility of expanding the College Football Playoff from four to eight teams.
The final week of the season features many conference championship games. Many teams will get the chance to either validate or invalidate their National Championship aspirations. The Big 12 is the only Power Five conference to not have a conference championship game. Conference members are unable to help their cause for consideration for the playoff. A conference championship game can help or hurt teams. The Oklahoma Sooners improved position in the rankings by not playing a conference championship. This allowed the Sooners to sneak into the playoff last season.
On the other hand, Ohio State secured the final playoff spot after their dominate win against Wisconsin two years ago in the Big Ten championship game. Division II, III and the FCS levels of football already have a playoff that allows for many teams to compete in the postseason. This year there are many teams, such as Michigan, Penn State, USC, Wisconsin that could and should be competing for the national championship. This season, there will undoubtedly be teams who get left out. Conference Championship weekend will eliminate a few teams from playoff contention. This still leaves a number of teams with a case for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Badgers can be one of the teams the committee leaves out of the four-team playoff. Even a win against Penn State in the Big Ten championship game doesn’t guarantee that they qualify. The Badgers would make a case for a playoff spot with a win in the Big Ten championship game. Even after a Big Ten Championship win, the Badgers are endanger of being left out of the top four in favor of Ohio State.
They would have a record of 11-2, a Big Ten Championship, and one of the toughest schedules in the nation. The Badgers started the season with a win against then number five LSU, who is still currently ranked. They beat the then eighth ranked Spartans on the road at Michigan State. As Big Ten play continued, they lost to Ohio State and Michigan in close back-to-back games. Ohio State and Michigan are currently ranked in the top five of the College Football Playoff rankings
The Badger’s loses occurred early in the Big Ten season and they haven’t lost since. Wisconsin rebounded against a seventh ranked Nebraska, following the two game losing streak. The Badgers also beat a quality Iowa team that defeated Michigan. Iowa is also currently back in the top 25 in the AP poll. Victories over Minnesota and Northwestern were also quality showings. The Badgers would be 5-2 against ranked opponents this season with a win against Penn State. They would have also defeated teams that beat both Michigan and Ohio State. Not to mention the Badgers would have the conference championship on their resume.
The Big Ten Champion
With a win in the Big Ten Championship game, the Badger should secure a position in the college football playoff. If not this would open up an argument that the Big Ten Championship game has no meaning, if the champion doesn’t make it to the playoff. The conference championship game loses its importance in that instance. The Big Ten Champion should not be left out of the top four, no matter who wins the game.
The Big Ten has been the best conference in football this season. It has overtaken the SEC as the premier conference this year, and the rankings show this. The Big Ten has six teams ranked in the top 25, while the SEC has four. The Badgers won’t be the only team wondering why they were left out of the playoff and they won’t be the last, until the playoff is expanded.
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The NCAA needs to adopt an eight-team playoff. Some may argue that certain years there are only five or six teams that clearly deserve a spot, and the other one or two teams aren’t deserving of the bid. The NCAA should rather give the student athletes more chances to achieve a dream and a championship rather than leaving a team out. There are many things that can happen between now and the final College Football Playoff Rankings, and we are going to have to watch and see how it unfolds. But who wouldn’t want to watch more college football playoff games anyways?