The Sad Reality of the New Playoff in College Football

[Fried Chicken]

When the new format was announced, many felt like it would ruin the excitement around the regular season. But as the season unfolded, we heard sports media talk about this being the most exciting college football season in recent memory. But the reality is it was all manufactured by hypothetical polls and speculation. There was an excitement due to the unknown of the playoff. How would it work? How would the committee choose? Games down the stretch were billed as “win and you’re in” matchups.

But the reality is it’s doing exactly what fans were concerned about and it only took 1 year to do it. Rivalry games were still big, because fans are used to that. In our minds and hearts, we’re still stuck in the old way. But the fact is the biggest Palmetto Bowl perhaps in the history of the series meant nothing good. The major upset by Michigan over Ohio State that would’ve ended their hopes…meant nothing. As soon as we beat Clemson, I was almost as happy about beating them as I was about the fact we knocked them out of the playoff…like we did 2 years ago. But nope.

After one year teams are already re-evaluating how they will schedule going forward. Instead of good OOC matchups we’ll see more boring games from week to week. This will be felt more than it was in the past as we now have a 12 game schedule…33% of games will be against cupcakes for many teams. Carolina and Clemson really should consider whether or not playing each other benefits them. Based on the new playoff format, the answer is no. Let’s be clear, that game wasn’t meaningless. It was far worse than meaningless. It was only possible to hurt ourselves in it. Clemson would’ve been in top 12 and probably had a bye had they just played SC State. I don’t ever want that game to go away. But we’re only hurting ourselves by playing it. We won and moved up one spot, which we eventually lost when we didn’t play this week. What would’ve happened had we lost? There was nothing to gain by playing a Top 12 team on the road the final week of the season? Make it make sense….

In year 1 this admittedly felt exciting. But when you step back and look at what just happened the final week of the year, it’s going to prompt major changes. And I’m not just talking about the format of the playoff which will change too. I’m talking about the regular season. This pretty much ended any chance of the SEC going to a 9-game conference schedule as well. Why would they? The next 2-3 years are going to be interesting. We’ll enjoy the playoffs each year. But the college football experience just shifted dramatically. The SC and Michigan wins 2 weeks ago are proof of that.

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

If SOS is not a major factor, then the schedules and the season will be filled with a bunch of meaningless games.
Removing bias has to be the goal going forward and if that means scrapping the ''committee'' then so be it. The current members need some thorough scrutiny.
The current system is filled with inconsistencies and biases which make for a playing field which is not level.

 

[Benjdan]

The Conference championship games have to mean something other than qualifying less deserving teams. I’m fine with the four highest ranked champions getting in but the fifth has to be left out unless their ranking is actually a top 12. Losses must count. The losers of championship games should be penalized accordingly.

 

[will110]

Beating Clemson was "nothing good?" Interesting.

 

[will110]

The Conference championship games have to mean something other than qualifying less deserving teams. I’m fine with the four highest ranked champions getting in but the fifth has to be left out unless their ranking is actually a top 12. Losses must count. The losers of championship games should be penalized accordingly.

I agree. The top 4 conference champions ranked in the top 12 could be awarded the top 4 seeds, but it's absurd to allow teams outside the top 12 to qualify because they lucked into a conference title.

 

[18IsTheMan]

The Conference championship games have to mean something other than qualifying less deserving teams. I’m fine with the four highest ranked champions getting in but the fifth has to be left out unless their ranking is actually a top 12. Losses must count. The losers of championship games should be penalized accordingly.

The seeding of Oregon and PSU showed that winning your conference championship doesn't mean anything to the committee.

PSU was set up with the easiest path possible to the semifinals.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I agree. The top 4 conference champions ranked in the top 12 could be awarded the top 4 seeds, but it's absurd to allow teams outside the top 12 to qualify because they lucked into a conference title.

It is certainly a flawed system where a team ranked 15/16 (can't remember where ASU was ranked) jumps all the way to a 4-seed.

 

[will110]

It is certainly a flawed system where a team ranked 15/16 (can't remember where ASU was ranked) jumps all the way to a 4-seed.

At least the committee ranked them 12, so they weren't stealing a bid from a "better" team.

 

[Fried Chicken]

Beating Clemson was "nothing good?" Interesting.

I honestly don’t know why I put “good” in that sentence. Obviously it was nice to beat Clemson. But in the grand scheme of college football, the win meant nothing. We’re ranked in the final rankings in the exact spot we were before the game.

As I mentioned in the post, it felt good because we’re still used to the old way. Of course it’s always good to beat Clemson. But in this system, we’re only penalized by playing them. We gained nothing. That’s bizarre and was the fear for many entering the season. But it’s not just us. Michigan’s win didn’t mean much. Sure the fans loved it, but Ohio State simply loses a bye? Still gets a home playoff game?

It’s only a matter of time before a team decides to sit some key players in a conference championship game, or a rivalry game. And get rewarded for it…based on the current system.

 

[will110]

I honestly don’t know why I put “good” in that sentence. Obviously it was nice to beat Clemson. But in the grand scheme of college football, the win meant nothing. We’re ranked in the final rankings in the exact spot we were before the game.

As I mentioned in the post, it felt good because we’re still used to the old way. Of course it’s always good to beat Clemson. But in this system, we’re only penalized by playing them. We gained nothing. That’s bizarre and was the fear for many entering the season.

How were we penalized by playing Clemson? We gained a win over our rival and bragging rights. We gained momentum. We gained another validating result for Beamer's program growth.

If you're measuring gain/positive results by what might be relevant to the grand scheme of college football, then as a Gamecock fan you're almost always going to be on the outside looking in. We've basically been irrelevant to college football our entire history.

 

[18IsTheMan]

How were we penalized by playing Clemson? We gained a win over our rival and bragging rights. We gained momentum. We gained another validating result for Beamer's program growth.

If you're measuring gain/positive results by what might be relevant to the grand scheme of college football, then as a Gamecock fan you're almost always going to be on the outside looking in. We've basically been irrelevant to college football our entire history.

I won't say we were penalized but beating the ACC champion on their home field ultimately meant nothing to the committee.

 

[will110]

I won't say we were penalized but beating the ACC champion on their home field ultimately meant nothing to the committee.

Big difference between meaning nothing to the committee and being penalized for playing the game.

Beating Clemson should always be a big deal to Gamecock fans. If we require external validation to make a Clemson win special then something is wrong with us.

 

[Piscis]

I won't say we were penalized but beating the ACC champion on their home field ultimately meant nothing to the committee.

I think the committee knows Clemson isn't anything special this year.

 

[Fried Chicken]

How were we penalized by playing Clemson? We gained a win over our rival and bragging rights. We gained momentum. We gained another validating result for Beamer's program growth.

If you're measuring gain/positive results by what might be relevant to the grand scheme of college football, then as a Gamecock fan you're almost always going to be on the outside looking in. We've basically been irrelevant to college football our entire history.

We weren’t penalized this year because we won. Had we lost we would’ve been. But we didn’t gain a thing in the eyes of the committee. So no reward, only risk. I don’t disagree we didn’t get momentum, etc…but that’s not decided by a committee. Not the point of the post. And as I said, much of this is due to us being used to the rivalry games in the way it used to be. That could change over time.

I don’t disagree with your second paragraph, but this isn’t the the topic and not interested in having that discussion. I’m hopeful about our future. I’m using our situation to illustrate the issue across college football. Michigan - Ohio State as well..and that’s a conference game. Conference Championship games.

This isn’t a post complaining about not making the playoff. This is illustrating that the hype around the polls and speculation was manufactured. Our game was labeled my many as a “win and in” game…which I actually didn’t believe. Still, to go on the road and beat a too 12 team in our last game…and to still be ranked in the exact same spot is bizarre. As I’ve said, the win is great for fans. I love beating Clemson. I’m not suggesting we don’t play them. But it does illustrate an issue. One many have pointed out, but sports media is denying.

To sit here today and think that this isn’t going to affect the college football regular season would be foolish. It already has. Far less OOC matchups. No way we go to a 9 game SEC schedule. Conference Championships diminished. Rivalry games will be diminished to an extent. That’s the sad reality.

 

[Yard_Pimps]

The Conference championship games have to mean something other than qualifying less deserving teams. I’m fine with the four highest ranked champions getting in but the fifth has to be left out unless their ranking is actually a top 12. Losses must count. The losers of championship games should be penalized accordingly.

I strongly disagree on that last sentence. If you punish someone for playing an extra game how long is it before an oregan sits the rivalry week out and loses on purpose. Why play the extra game if you are in already. If your 1 going into championship week a loss isn’t going to knock you out. Then again you could win then just forfeit the championship to not have to play and get injuries. I have said it before l, I know Clemson got in but I like the AQ’s. Not to mention it was the SEC and BIg that wanted the first round bys and AQ’s. Danny kannell laid that out this morning. They had the most control over the structure.

 

[will110]

We weren’t penalized this year because we won. Had we lost we would’ve been. But we didn’t gain a thing in the eyes of the committee. I don’t disagree we didn’t get momentum, etc…but that’s not decided by a committee. Not the point of the post. And as I said, much of this is due to us being used to the rivalry games in the way it used to be. That could change over time.

I don’t disagree with your second paragraph, but this isn’t us. I’m using our situation to illustrate the issue across college football. Michigan - Ohio State as well..and that’s a conference game. Conference Championship games.

This isn’t a post complaining about not making the playoff. This is illustrating that the hype around the polls and speculation was manufactured. Our game was labeled my many as a “win and in” game…which I actually didn’t believe. Still, to go on the road and beat a too 12 team in our last game…and to still be ranked in the exact same spot is bizarre. As I’ve said, the win is great for fans. I love beating Clemson. I’m not suggesting we don’t play them. But it does illustrate an issue. One many have pointed out, but sports media is denying.

To sit here today and think that this isn’t going to affect the college football regular season would be foolish. It already has. Far less OOC matchups. No way we go to a 9 game SEC schedule. Conference Championships diminished. Rivalry games will be diminished to an extent. That’s the sad reality.

The rivalry game is only diminished if you let it be diminished. The point of the game is bragging rights, the chance to talk trash and own that win for the next year. It doesn't matter what Ohio State does in the playoff, they lost to Michigan. And Michigan fans have that win to hold over their Buckeye friends until next November. Carolina has that win to hold over Clemson until next November.

If the win results in a playoff appearance, that's great. But the fact we didn't make the playoff doesn't minimize the accomplishment. We beat Clemson! That's all that matters in the rivalry game conversation. We don't need external factors or a committee to validate that win. It validates itself.

 

[18IsTheMan]

It seems all the current realities in college football are sad.

 

[Fried Chicken]

The rivalry game is only diminished if you let it be diminished. The point of the game is bragging rights, the chance to talk trash and own that win for the next year. It doesn't matter what Ohio State does in the playoff, they lost to Michigan. And Michigan fans have that win to hold over their Buckeye friends until next November. Carolina has that win to hold over Clemson until next November.

If the win results in a playoff appearance, that's great. But the fact we didn't make the playoff doesn't minimize the accomplishment. We beat Clemson! That's all that matters in the rivalry game conversation. We don't need external factors or a committee to validate that win. It validates itself.

As of now it isn’t diminished. I covered that multiple times saying we still view these games the old way.

But College Football is becoming more like the NFL. Teams don’t get bragging rights in the NFL by beating someone but missing the playoff while the other team makes it. Over time, it’ll move towards that. Over time a team won’t have anything to play for / gain in the rivalry game and will rest starters. It will happen eventually. It may be 10 years from now. But it’ll happen. Because that’s where we’re headed…NFL version of a college football.

Srill, this is one aspect of the change hurting the regular season. The scheduling is absolutely going to happen. A lot of fun matchups will go away because there is no reason to play a tough out of conference schedule.

 

[Fried Chicken]

Big difference between meaning nothing to the committee and being penalized for playing the game.

Beating Clemson should always be a big deal to Gamecock fans. If we require external validation to make a Clemson win special then something is wrong with us.

This just isn’t the point. I love our win against Clemson. But I also want to have a chance to make the playoff. I also want to see rivalry games mean more than just bragging rights. Those are great, but even better when you cost your rival something. When you ruin their season. Our win against Clemson should’ve sent them to some crappy bowl game. That would’ve been even more enjoyable.

 

[Piscis]

As of now it isn’t diminished. I covered that multiple times saying we still view these games the old way.

But College Football is becoming more like the NFL. Teams don’t get bragging rights in the NFL by beating someone but missing the playoff while the other team makes it. Over time, it’ll move towards that. Over time a team won’t have anything to play for / gain in the rivalry game and will rest starters. It will happen eventually. It may be 10 years from now. But it’ll happen. Because that’s where we’re headed…NFL version of a college football.

Srill, this is one aspect of the change hurting the regular season. The scheduling is absolutely going to happen. A lot of fun matchups will go away because there is no reason to play a tough out of conference schedule.

The things that made college football so special and so popular are all being taken away. The regular season's importance is being diminished every year. Rivalry games across conferences are being diminished in importance. Players playing for the love of the game and love of their school is pretty much a thing of the past. Player loyalty to a team and teammates is fading. Bowl games are pretty much all meaningless unless they are associated with the playoff.

College football had a good run.

 

[Fried Chicken]

The things that made college football so special and so popular are all being taken away. The regular season's importance is being diminished every year. Rivalry games across conferences are being diminished in importance. Players playing for the love of the game and love of their school is pretty much a thing of the past. Player loyalty to a team and teammates is fading. Bowl games are pretty much all meaningless unless they are associated with the playoff.

College football had a good run.

Make no mistake. We’ll still love the game, it’ll just be different. We’re all addicted. It’s like when they stopped using real sugar in soda. It was better the old way, but I’m still drinking the stuff…

And more eyes will be on the game. More $$. It’ll be a huge success financially. At least for a while. Have to wonder what happens when a generation of die hards kick the bucket? Many sports already experiencing this after changing so much and all the true loyal fans died off.

 

[Piscis]

This just isn’t the point. I love our win against Clemson. But I also want to have a chance to make the playoff. I also want to see rivalry games mean more than just bragging rights. Those are great, but even better when you cost your rival something. When you ruin their season. Our win against Clemson should’ve sent them to some crappy bowl game. That would’ve been even more enjoyable.

I can promise you that if Clemson manages to win the national championship they won't be bothered at all about their loss to us. They can also hang another ACC championship banner in their stadium.

 

[Fried Chicken]

I can promise you that if Clemson manages to win the national championship they won't be bothered at all about their loss to us. They can also hang another ACC championship banner in their stadium.

Yep. And honestly, I think a National Title trumps us beating them in one game. Clearly they would’ve preferred to win the title and beat us. But they’ll actually turn it around and get a kick out of it…that we had to sit and watch them win it all.

that being said, they won’t.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I can promise you that if Clemson manages to win the national championship they won't be bothered at all about their loss to us. They can also hang another ACC championship banner in their stadium.

Yep. And honestly, I think a National Title trumps us beating them in one game.

Clemson is not winning the title this year.

Texas will handle them easily.

 

[Fried Chicken]

Clemson is not winning the title this year.

Texas will handle them easily.

Agree. Actually went back and edited. They aren’t. I think that was just a hypothetical. But they are still playing and are the luckiest team in the history of College Football. I’m glad they got seeded where they did instead of going to overrated Penn State like many had projected earlier projected. Imagine them drawing that path to the semis.

But the same scenario is possible this season. It’s very possible Ohio State wins it in a year Michigan beat them. So would be similar.

 

[Piscis]

Clemson is not winning the title this year.

Texas will handle them easily.

I agree with both of those things. My point was about the importance of rivalry games in the grand scheme of things.

 

[GamecocksUK]

From an outsider point of view, i think you guys have an amazing product in college football. This season watching the Gamecocks for me has been very enjoyable. Ive loved it.

It needs to find a way of moving past the voting system.
For me, just play teams in your conference and then use a seeding system.
For example SEC has 3 teams and each other division has a place or 2. The top teams from each division go into a best 16 playoff at the end of the season.

the seedings can change based on how the conference teams perform in the playoffs and obviously that will take a while to change.
Doesnt have to be exactly that, but a long those lines

 

[Fried Chicken]

From an outsider point of view, i think you guys have an amazing product in college football. This season watching the Gamecocks for me has been very enjoyable. Ive loved it.

It needs to find a way of moving past the voting system.
For me, just play teams in your conference and then use a seeding system.
For example SEC has 3 teams and each other division has a place or 2. The top teams from each division go into a best 16 playoff at the end of the season.

the seedings can change based on how the conference teams perform in the playoffs and obviously that will take a while to change.
Doesnt have to be exactly that, but a long those lines

Yeah College Football is great. That’s why it doesn’t need to change much. The changes in place are going to evolve over the next 10-15 years. What it looks like today is not how it’ll look eventually. But it’s still going to be good.

Watching the playoff games this season will be fun. I have no doubt. Just like the NFL playoffs are great. But there are costs to pay for that format. Can’t have it both ways. It’ll take time to pay that cost in the way the game will change.

Thankfull it’s subtle. We won’t feel it all at once…similar to NIL, portal, etc…

 

[will110]

This just isn’t the point. I love our win against Clemson. But I also want to have a chance to make the playoff. I also want to see rivalry games mean more than just bragging rights. Those are great, but even better when you cost your rival something. When you ruin their season. Our win against Clemson should’ve sent them to some crappy bowl game. That would’ve been even more enjoyable.

Our rivalry with Clemson has never had the chance to completely ruin the season (at least not since the 70s) since we're not in the same conference. They can turn around and win the ACC, just like they did this past weekend, regardless of the result of our rivalry game.

We did knock Clemson out of the chance of hosting a playoff game or receiving a first round bye.

 

[will110]

As of now it isn’t diminished. I covered that multiple times saying we still view these games the old way.

But College Football is becoming more like the NFL. Teams don’t get bragging rights in the NFL by beating someone but missing the playoff while the other team makes it. Over time, it’ll move towards that. Over time a team won’t have anything to play for / gain in the rivalry game and will rest starters. It will happen eventually. It may be 10 years from now. But it’ll happen. Because that’s where we’re headed…NFL version of a college football.

Srill, this is one aspect of the change hurting the regular season. The scheduling is absolutely going to happen. A lot of fun matchups will go away because there is no reason to play a tough out of conference schedule.

Perhaps this is the future of college football.

I, for one, will never be ok with losing to Clemson. The rivalry is only special if the fans keep it special. As long as Gamecocks hate Clemson and Tigers hate Carolina, there will be a rivalry and it will be important.

 

[Fried Chicken]

Our rivalry with Clemson has never had the chance to completely ruin the season (at least not since the 70s) since we're not in the same conference. They can turn around and win the ACC, just like they did this past weekend, regardless of the result of our rivalry game.

We did knock Clemson out of the chance of hosting a playoff game or receiving a first round bye.

2 years ago we knocked them out of the 4-team playoff. If they beat us in 2022, they would’ve been in.

 

[will110]

2 years ago we knocked them out of the 4-team playoff. If they beat us, they would’ve been in.

But they still won the ACC. We didn't ruin their entire season.

 

[Fried Chicken]

But they still won the ACC. We didn't ruin their entire season.

Well if they won 3 games and we beat them we can’t take away those 3 wins either. Come on… We can’t ruin the ACC for them. Nobody cares about their 8th title in 10 years. That shows the conference basically has 1 good team. Nobody cares that they beat SMU. Only the automatic bid…

That ACC title 2 years ago was no big deal. But knocking them out of the playoff ruined their title hopes. I don’t care if Clemson wins the ACC. Has nothing to do with us. But again there’s the issue…now they get an automatic bid. Our win should’ve knocked them from the playoffs and everyone knows it should have.

Clemson probably doesn’t even care about the ACC at this point. Better than not winning I guess. It was big this year because they got the automatic bid.

 

[GamecocksUK]

Yeah College Football is great. That’s why it doesn’t need to change much. The changes in place are going to evolve over the next 10-15 years. What it looks like today is not how it’ll look eventually. But it’s still going to be good.

Watching the playoff games this season will be fun. I have no doubt. Just like the NFL playoffs are great. But there are costs to pay for that format. Can’t have it both ways. It’ll take time to pay that cost in the way the game will change.

Thankfull it’s subtle. We won’t feel it all at once…similar to NIL, portal, etc…

Yeah i agree on not making too many changes. The only negative i see is the voting system.

 

[RUMMENIGGE]

It was the conference games not the out of conference games that kept Alabama, Miami, Mississippi and South Carolina from the playoffs

 

[RUMMENIGGE]

The only change I would make with the playoffs is not guaranteeing a conference champion a bye. I am okay with the five conference champions receiving a bid to the playoffs but that should not automatically give four of them a bye. They should rank the 12 teams and give the top four a bye. In my opinion the bye should be awarded to Oregon, Georgia, Ohio State and Notre Dame.

 

[lexgamecock]

The only way to clean up the system is to eliminate conference championship games - no automatic bids. And to reward strength of schedule or have a system similar to division 2.

 

[Fried Chicken]

It was the conference games not the out of conference games that kept Alabama, Miami, Mississippi and South Carolina from the playoffs

I don’t disagree with this. But it doesn’t make navigating the conference any easier Jen you have other big games. Alabama has 2 games this year against the ACC and Big 10. Both of those teams will be down a bit but not when scheduled. We play 2 ACC teams this season. It presents more opportunities to slip up. Not to mention it takes a toll on your team playing those games rather than teams you can rest your starters for a quarter or maybe even a half if things go well.

Bama AD already saying they’ll look at scheduling. Beamer said the same. This is already happening regardless of who the losses were against. If beefing the strength of schedule doesn't really help, why play a harder schedule than you have to? And it’s not as much as hard schedule not being rewarded as it is the easier schedule not being taken into account and only focusing on record. All wins are not the same…Indiana beat 1 team with a winning record and that was only because of a miraculous upset when Michigan beat Ohio State. Otherwise they wouldnt have a win against a single team with a winning record, and a loss by 3 scores to the only ranked team they played. How is that not taken into account? How do you make the playoff when your best win was against an 7-5 team? Again, not arguing we should be in. I’m telling you why teams are going to play the easiest schedule possible. For SEC Teams, that means no good opponents outside of the conference. Even some rivalry games may go. It’ll certainly be discussed.

 

[RUMMENIGGE]

I don’t disagree with this. But it doesn’t make navigating the conference any easier Jen you have other big games. Alabama has 2 games this year against the ACC and Big 10. Both of those teams will be down a bit but not when scheduled. We play 2 ACC teams this season. It presents more opportunities to slip up. Not to mention it takes a toll on your team playing those games rather than teams you can rest your starters for a quarter or maybe even a half if things go well.

Bama AD already saying they’ll look at scheduling. Beamer said the same. This is already happening regardless of who the losses were against. If beefing the strength of schedule doesn't really help, why play a harder schedule than you have to? And it’s not as much as hard schedule not being rewarded as it is the easier schedule not being taken into account and only focusing on record. All wins are not the same…Indiana beat 1 team with a winning record and that was only because of a miraculous upset when Michigan beat Ohio State. Otherwise they wouldnt have a win against a single team with a winning record, and a loss by 3 scores to the only ranked team they played. How is that not taken into account? How do you make the playoff when your best win was against an 7-5 team? Again, not arguing we should be in. I’m telling you why teams are going to play the easiest schedule possible. For SEC Teams, that means no good opponents outside of the conference. Even some rivalry games may go. It’ll certainly be discussed.

I believe the only one who truly benefits if South Carolina decides to schedule four weak out of conference games (Charleston Southern, South Alabama, Kent State, Southern Mississippi) is ESPN Plus.

 

[Fried Chicken]

I believe the only one who truly benefits if South Carolina decides to schedule four weak out of conference games (Charleston Southern, South Alabama, Kent State, Southern Mississippi) is ESPN Plus.

I think this proves the point. It’s bad for fans.