Football Playoffs and a Fan Poll: Something while we wait…
By Brent Craig
OK, now that the NCAA basketball tournament will be beginning soon and the Huskers are nowhere to be found in this grand tournament, I want to pose a playoff question to you, just not about basketball. Let’s talk FBS College Football Playoffs. The Men’s College Basketball Tournament dates back to 1939 when Oregon defeated Ohio State to claim the national title. Why did it take so long for the old Division 1 (now called FBS) to come up with a playoff?
The 2014 season was the first year that we were privy to an FBS Football Playoff. You remember the teams, right? Four teams. #1 Alabama lost to #4 Ohio State in one of the semi final matches, while #2 Oregon defeated #3 Florida State in the other semifinal match. This led to the championship game where Ohio State pounded Oregon in a dominating fashion. Yeah Big Ten! Oh wait, Nebraska may have to play these guys next season if/when the Huskers make it to the Championship game.
Dec 27, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers receiver Kenny Bell (80) is defended by Southern California Trojans cornerback Josh Shaw (6) on an incomplete pass during the 2014 Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
So why did it take so long for Div. 1 to come up with a playoff when all the other divisions were already doing it? One big reason was the bowl game picture. It was a season ending reward for the players, coaches, and fans to attend a BOWL game. The teams get to travel to a destination and play on television in front of their fans, hoping to bring home the bowl game trophy. Many people felt the bowl games were unique to Div. 1 college football and that made the “prestige and honor” even better.
Because of this set up, sometimes it was difficult to crown a true national champion, hence the phrase “Mythical National Championship” was coined when there was usually some controversy for a team left out of the national championship picture (aka the 1982 Huskers, or Penn State in 1994, or how about the split titles in 1997 between Michigan and the Nebraska)
Jul 14, 2014; Irving, TX, USA; The new college football playoff championship trophy unveiled during a press conference at the college football playoff headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Then came the BCS whose goal was to have #1 play #2 every year to determine a true national champion. But determining who was number 1 and number 2 was subjective. Remember the controversy with the 2001 Huskers playing for the national championship? The BCS certainly had their share of difficulties trying to have the two top teams play against one another.
So a 4-team Football playoff was created for the finale of the 2014 season, and it was exciting with a number 4 seed winning it all. However it was still filled with controversy as you the argument could be made to swap the #4, #5, and #6 team around and still have the same effect although perhaps not the same winner. So does this new playoff picture need to expand, and if so, to how many teams?
Some people want an 8-team playoff, some want a 16-team playoff. The problem is the larger the playoffs, the less chance of the bowl games surviving. Plus a larger team playoff picture could conflict with their education, as finals would be occurring around the same time. No matter what we have, or how many teams participate, there will always be controversy and it will always be subjective when humans are choosing the seeding.
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Since we are already in the playoff frame of mind with March Madness getting ready to begin, I am for a 16-team playoff and eliminating the bowl games. Having said that if it happened, I would certainly miss the majesty the bowl games create.
Now it’s your turn. Let us know what you think. If you have any additional comments please post them in the comments section below.
I remember long ago when Tom Osborne voiced his opinion that he was against the whole playoff notion in college football and now he is on the committee to decide who the final four teams are going to be. Boy how times have changed. Well hopefully someday soon the Huskers will be one of the four playing for a championship. Until then, Go Big Red!