I cannot believe how many anti-playoff articles I have seen since the 4 team playoff system was announced. Though I prefer an 8 team system, I am perfectly fine with limiting it to 4 teams. The arguments I heard opposing the playoff system were ridiculous, so I have decided to refute them one-by-one.
New college football playoff will leave out Big Ten teams
Writer: Drew Sharp
Argument 1: "The most compelling BCS argument for the Big Ten and Notre Dame was storied tradition, which subsequently brought good television ratings and bowl ticket sales. But those factors don't matter in a four-team playoff."
Did ANYONE think it was fair that U-M and Virginia Tech were awarded BCS Bowl Games last season over more deserving teams? Furthermore, "storied tradition" only helps Notre Dame, U-M, and OSU - it doesn't benefit any of the other Big Ten team. As a fan of a team that was overlooked because of "storied tradition" I am extremely happy that we're going to decide the playoff teams by merit - not by the teams who would sell the most tickets.
Argument 2: Past rankings have favored the SEC and the Big 12 over the Big 10. "The Southeastern Conference has had at least one team in the final regular-season top four in 11 of the BCS's 14 years. The Big 12 is 10-for-14. The Big Ten has had a team in the final-four rankings only six times in 14 years."
So if they would have had a 4 team playoff system all along, the Big Ten would've participated 6 times. In BCS history, the Big Ten has participated in the National Championship game only 3 times (fuck you Ohio State). How is doubling our participation in the National Championship decision a negative? The teams that get to take the field in the National Championship game will be decided on the field. If the Big Ten wants more respect, we will have a chance to earn it.
Finally, Sharpe's argument assumes past Big 12 success will translate into future success. The Big 12 has had 19 BCS appearances. Four of them came from Colorado, Texas A&M, and Nebraska; all of them have jumped ship. They gain five appearances from their incoming teams (2 for TCU and 3 for WVU) but the lack of talent in the Big East makes you question how many they could have achieved in a conference with teams like Texas and Oklahoma.
Writers: Various
Argument 1: A four team playoff doesn't go far enough. Instead of the 3rd team being left out, there will be a 5th team that has an argument to be included.
The issue I have is when a team from a major conference goes undefeated and isn't given a chance to compete in the National Championship game. That happened in 2004 with Auburn and in 2009 with Cincinnati. Those two teams would have been included if we had a 4 team playoff. There will certainly be an annual debate over who should be included, but any team in a major conference who goes undefeated will likely be included in the playoffs. The teams who are left out could always have done more to be included. Now, if the Big 12, ACC, SEC, Big 10, and Pac 12 Conference Champions all go undefeated, then we have playoff-armageddon and I concede.
Argument 2: It still won't help the schools in non-BCS conferences have a shot at the National Championship.
Again, let's take a look at history. It's 2006. Two playoff spots belong to 11-1 Florida and 12-0 Ohio State. For the other two spots, you can choose from:
12-0 Boise State
11-1 Michigan or Louisville
10-2 LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, USC, or Wake Forest
You have to believe that they would eliminate any 10-2 team from consideration because it's too hard to say any one of them has more right to be included. Michigan is probably taking one of the spots (after losing to OSU in a very close game). So it's Boise St or Big East Champion Louisville, who lost on a last second field goal to Rutgers. Louisville may have received the nod, but I think it would have been a close decision.
Conference realignment also goes a long way with helping those teams who have been left out in the past. The non-major programs to go undefeated in the BCS era are TCU, Utah, Hawaii, and Boise State. TCU is going to the Big 12, Utah is in the Pac-12, and Boise State is headed to the Big East. They will all face tougher competition, and therefore have a better argument for making the playoffs.
