The other reason - teams with byes don't host 1st round playoff games (don't make money). I guess I'm buying in to 8 teams if mid major champs get in before at large teams.
No way Jose, unless the best mid major champ is clearly better than the 8th best power 5 team. Would you put Houston in over Iowa, Stanford, Ohio State or North Carolina? Can you imagine the blowouts if the Sun Belt or CUSA champ had to play a top seeded Clemson or Alabama? To do it right the best 8 teams should be selected to get as good a competitve balance as possible
Age old argument. I would put Houston in over teams that didn't win their conference (but had opportunities on the field). 1 team per conference, champions get priority, no team rated lower than 16, at large teams fill in what's remaining, teams are seeded based on ratings. Strength of schedule is important, but so are achievements. Mix of both is best.
Will never happen. Powers that be aren't going to divide playoff money with confereces that have no TV deals and put 15,000 fans in the stadium for their home games.
Ehh... Idk, march madness gets lots of run on the medium that matters, boob tube. The public loves an underdog.
That's because there are 68 teams. Football is never going to have a 68 team playoff. Besides, after all the upsets and hype about the underdodsost of the time the Final 4 ends up being the Kentuckys, Dukes, North Carolinas or Kansas of the college basketball world
Underdogs will get widespread viewership. Football fans and fans of each school will watch the big guys duke it out, but underdogs will attract casual fans. Mid majors will only get 1 or 2 per year, if that, and will have earned their way. If you aren't going to let mid majors in, I like 4 more than 8. 6 is good, except the money and potential layover for the top team.
If the goal is to crown the national champion, I would wager the committee, or computer, or coaches or media can, in most cases, get it right having four teams to choose from. Those wanting more than that, are looking for mere entertainment. If the football bounces, well, like a football, the 12th team in a 12 team playoff could win out, but would that make them the "best" or just a winner?
Rarely are there more than 4 teams truly deserving. The thing is the opportunity for a cloudy outlook is there and 8 will encompass that every time (I'll always rail for the mid majors ...because I'm a visionary). Like super conferences, I think more than 8 teams would be a travesty. Oh, if I was a power that be, I'd clean this mess up, dragging these fools kicking and screaming. God gave us a mind, why not use it?
