8-Team 2020 Playoff

[Mike A. S.]

Let's assume that the rest of the way there is no major upsets. How then would an 8-team playoff play out this year?

1) Alabama vs 8) Cincinnati
2) Clemson vs 7) Iowa State/Oklahoma (Depending on who you actually consider the favorite there)
3) Notre Dame vs 6) Florida
4) Ohio State vs 5) Texas A&M

Does that seem pretty reasonable to assume?

Unless they made requirements like each P5 champion made it and also the highest G5 if they're a top-10 team. Then we could see:

1) Alabama vs 8) USC
2) Clemson vs 7) Cincinnati
3) Notre Dame vs 6) Iowa State/Oklahoma
4) Ohio State vs 5) Texas A&M

Or something like that...

 

[foster4prez]

I can not for the life of me why anyone would be opposed to this.

This would be fun as shit.

 

[PIBuckeye]

Let's assume that the rest of the way there is no major upsets. How then would an 8-team playoff play out this year?

1) Alabama vs 8) Cincinnati
2) Clemson vs 7) Iowa State/Oklahoma (Depending on who you actually consider the favorite there)
3) Notre Dame vs 6) Florida
4) Ohio State vs 5) Texas A&M

Does that seem pretty reasonable to assume?

Unless they made requirements like each P5 champion made it and also the highest G5 if they're a top-10 team. Then we could see:

1) Alabama vs 8) USC
2) Clemson vs 7) Cincinnati
3) Notre Dame vs 6) Iowa State/Oklahoma
4) Ohio State vs 5) Texas A&M

Or something like that...

Agree for the most part. with slight differences..

1- Alabama vs 8- Iowa St
2- Ohio State vs. 7- Cincinnati
3- Clemson vs. 6- Florida
4- Notre Dame vs. 5- Texas A&M

 

[belcherboy]

Oklahoma again? I swear that team has 9 lives when it comes to getting into the playoffs.

For that reason alone, I think the 4 team playoff is good enough...even in 2020.

 

[Mike A. S.]

Oklahoma again? I swear that team has 9 lives when it comes to getting into the playoffs.

For that reason alone, I think the 4 team playoff is good enough...even in 2020.

I'm not saying they necessarily should do this. I actually typically agree that 4 is enough. But that doesn't stop me from every year imagining what the 8-team version would look like just for fun.

 

[PIBuckeye]

So as this FUBAR season has progressed, I'm hearing more speculations for the playoff scenarios. and have been hearing more about the following.

If Florida beats Alabama...........

and if Clemson beats ND............

the top four would be something like

1 - Florida
2 - Clem.
3 - Bama
4 - ND

Anyone believe that would be the case layout?

sorry, but no way in hell.......... would they do this. If tOSU beats scUM and then wins the CCG over Iowa or NW.......... OSU isn't getting left out. One of those 4 would not be making it in........... probably ND.........

 

[belcherboy]

I'm not saying they necessarily should do this. I actually typically agree that 4 is enough. But that doesn't stop me from every year imagining what the 8-team version would look like just for fun.

Absolutely! I've just found that the teams that usually fill out the rest of the 8 team playoff are teams that I don't care to see again and don't deserve a shot at a national title (I include Michigan from a few years back when they were the #7 team). This year is different though, so this year may make the most sense if you were to try out an 8 team playoff.

 

[NolePride]

Let's assume that the rest of the way there is no major upsets. How then would an 8-team playoff play out this year?

1) Alabama vs 8) Cincinnati
2) Clemson vs 7) Iowa State/Oklahoma (Depending on who you actually consider the favorite there)
3) Notre Dame vs 6) Florida
4) Ohio State vs 5) Texas A&M

Does that seem pretty reasonable to assume?

Unless they made requirements like each P5 champion made it and also the highest G5 if they're a top-10 team. Then we could see:

1) Alabama vs 8) USC
2) Clemson vs 7) Cincinnati
3) Notre Dame vs 6) Iowa State/Oklahoma
4) Ohio State vs 5) Texas A&M

Or something like that...

I can't see it happening. It's going to be a crap shoot keeping 4 of them healthy, let alone 8.

 

[rmilia1]

If they were ever going to go to 8 this should've been the year

 

[Diego Roll Tide]

I'm for 8, but the reality is the champion is coming from a small pool of 4 teams around 80% of the time. I looked back over the decades, and in each a group of 4 teams accounted for 70-80% of the titles and several other runner up finishes over that period.

Going to 8 would create more excitement, but it wouldn’t change the fact that only a few teams have a realistic shot. Having to win THREE games against top competition means a Cinderella has an even tougher hill to climb than winning 1 or 2.

 

[trojanfan12]

Let's assume that the rest of the way there is no major upsets. How then would an 8-team playoff play out this year?

1) Alabama vs 8) Cincinnati
2) Clemson vs 7) Iowa State/Oklahoma (Depending on who you actually consider the favorite there)
3) Notre Dame vs 6) Florida
4) Ohio State vs 5) Texas A&M

Does that seem pretty reasonable to assume?

Unless they made requirements like each P5 champion made it and also the highest G5 if they're a top-10 team. Then we could see:

1) Alabama vs 8) USC
2) Clemson vs 7) Cincinnati
3) Notre Dame vs 6) Iowa State/Oklahoma
4) Ohio State vs 5) Texas A&M

Or something like that...

There seems to be a lot of support for an 8 team playoff. If there were ever a season to give it a try, this would be the one to try it. MLB used it to experiment with some rule changes and the NFL expanded it's playoffs. May as well give an 8 cfb team playoff a look.

My guess would be that if they did try it, they would go with your 2nd option and make it the 5 P5 champs and a G5 team if they are in the top 10. Then you have 2 "wild cards" or a top 10 independent (The Domer Rule) and 1 "wild card".

I don't know if it can be done because there's a contract re: the cfp. But like I said, if there's a way to get it done, this would be the year to give it a try.

 

[trojanfan12]

I'm for 8, but the reality is the champion is coming from a small pool of 4 teams around 80% of the time. I looked back over the decades, and in each a group of 4 teams accounted for 70-80% of the titles and several other runner up finishes over that period.

I wonder if expanding the playoff could help change that. I think it's the same 4 teams because those teams were "at the top" when the change to cfp was made. With only 4 teams able to get in, the top recruits wanted to go to those teams because those were the teams that could truly sell them on getting to the cfp.

Maybe an expansion to 8 allows other teams to sell the cfp as well and some of those players choose schools beyond the usual 4 that we have now?

 

[rmilia1]

I wonder if expanding the playoff could help change that. I think it's the same 4 teams because those teams were "at the top" when the change to cfp was made. With only 4 teams able to get in, the top recruits wanted to go to those teams because those were the teams that could truly sell them on getting to the cfp.

Maybe an expansion to 8 allows other teams to sell the cfp as well and some of those players choose schools beyond the usual 4 that we have now?

It absolutely would change it . If the ncaa basketball tourney only had 8 teams the same 8 would have 80% of the titles there too. In any sport you have to make the playoffs to win the title and in a sport like cfb especially where preseason polls impact our perception all year it becomes a self perpetuating thing

 

[Blackshirts BLVD]

8 should be a minimum.

 

[Blackshirts BLVD]

There seems to be a lot of support for an 8 team playoff. If there were ever a season to give it a try, this would be the one to try it. MLB used it to experiment with some rule changes and the NFL expanded it's playoffs. May as well give an 8 cfb team playoff a look.

You'd think, but I am pretty sure they released a statement a few months ago saying that it would remain at 4.

 

[PIBuckeye]

Let's assume that the rest of the way there is no major upsets. How then would an 8-team playoff play out this year?

1) Alabama vs 8) Cincinnati
2) Clemson vs 7) Iowa State/Oklahoma (Depending on who you actually consider the favorite there)
3) Notre Dame vs 6) Florida
4) Ohio State vs 5) Texas A&M

Does that seem pretty reasonable to assume?

Unless they made requirements like each P5 champion made it and also the highest G5 if they're a top-10 team. Then we could see:

1) Alabama vs 8) USC
2) Clemson vs 7) Cincinnati
3) Notre Dame vs 6) Iowa State/Oklahoma
4) Ohio State vs 5) Texas A&M

Or something like that...

I'd like to pose a hypothetical/what if for comments.

OSU's situation has been dissected for weeks as we get closer to the playoffs. and I've listened to quite a few different sports news commentators comments. only a couple have brought this up. The fact that OSU is more rested, and essentially healthier (leaving covid out of it) since they've only played 5 games to this point, while others in the top 4-5 who've played 10-12 games. and basically how "fair" that is.......

I'd like to take it one step further. OSU again this weekend, isn't getting a game unfortunately - which is not their fault at all. WHAT if this weekend, bama and florida both suffer 2-3 key injuries to the most valuable players on their teams going into the season end, right before the playoffs, season ending injuries. Same with clem/nd in their playoff game next weekend. What if both of these teams suffer some key injuries. What will be said concerning number of games played........

and no, not hoping for that, don't want that at all.

 

[We Are Decent]

Just adopt the FCS format already while keeping the six bowl games attached for quarterfinals/semifinals.

It shouldn't be this tough, but it is, and I-A is hellbent on making it seem so.

 

[seattlefan75]

This is the only positive thing that came out of the whole COVID experience

 

[Locke888]

I’m 100% behind a 4 team playoff. But this year is different and it would have been justified for an 8 team tournament with all the cancellations and shortened season.

You still have undefeated USC, Colorado, Coastal Carolina, Cincinnati out there. It’s a shame

 

[Mike A. S.]

I'd like to pose a hypothetical/what if for comments.

OSU's situation has been dissected for weeks as we get closer to the playoffs. and I've listened to quite a few different sports news commentators comments. only a couple have brought this up. The fact that OSU is more rested, and essentially healthier (leaving covid out of it) since they've only played 5 games to this point, while others in the top 4-5 who've played 10-12 games. and basically how "fair" that is.......

I'd like to take it one step further. OSU again this weekend, isn't getting a game unfortunately - which is not their fault at all. WHAT if this weekend, bama and florida both suffer 2-3 key injuries to the most valuable players on their teams going into the season end, right before the playoffs, season ending injuries. Same with clem/nd in their playoff game next weekend. What if both of these teams suffer some key injuries. What will be said concerning number of games played........

and no, not hoping for that, don't want that at all.

Exactly. My best friend is an Ohio State fan and he keeps claiming these off games hurt Ohio State and makes them "rusty". I understand his point, but since they're not missing more than one week at a time I don't think he's right and that the rest actually helps them. And I didn't even take into consideration the fact you mentioned about simply avoiding injuries as well. This could definitely come into play.