Conference title games are a complete waste of time

Submitted by UMxWolverines on December 7th, 2019 at 4:01 PM

Most of them are repeat matchups in half filled stadiums or the outcome makes hardly any difference on who makes the playoff. OSU and LSU are getting in regardless of what happens today. 

Why not extend the season another week, therefore 

1. We could get the UM-OSU off thanksgiving weekend

2. Scrap divisions and just require every conference to play 10 conference games since they've gotten so big. 

I realize there may be gripes about unbalanced schedules, but there are already unbalanced schedules as in one division usually sucks, or if you're Alabama you get Tennessee as a cross division rival every year and play in Gainesville or Athens once every 10 years. 

We did it for decades with no divisions and tiebreakers for the best team in the conference, let's go back. 

snarling wolverine

December 7th, 2019 at 4:13 PM ^

Here's what they should do.

The CFB regular season should end the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving week is a bye for everyone.

This weekend is round 1 of the playoff, held on campus.

MGoRob

December 7th, 2019 at 4:17 PM ^

2. Scrap divisions and just require every conference to play 10 conference games since they've gotten so big. 

You mean pushing everyone to be like the Big 12, but without a conference championship game? So go back to 2016 Big 12, but for everyone.  Yeah, no thanks.

crg

December 7th, 2019 at 4:21 PM ^

I would agree that conference championship games are somewhat flawed (and clearly do not fit well into the CFP mess).  That doesn't mean they're inherently bad, but aren't ideal as is.

Red is Blue

December 7th, 2019 at 7:53 PM ^

You can split the difference.  Top 2 teams in p5 conferences get autobids to 16 team playoffs.  First round of playoffs could be each conference's 1 and 2s play each other for conference championship (with other 6 at large teams also playing) winner advances to round of 8 loser is eliminated.  Or 1st round of playoffs and done based on seeds.

Some enhancements might be no conference gets more than 3 teams in field of 16, some auto inclusion for g5 teams...  A method to relegate a p5 conference if becomes weaker than a g5 conference.

 

 

 

 

UrbanMeyerBurn…

December 7th, 2019 at 4:56 PM ^

Aren’t like 3 of the conference title games determining who makes the CFP? Look I get it, we’re all salty that Michigan can’t make the title game because that means they’d have to beat OSU. But they aren’t a waste of time, don’t kid yourself. 

Red is Blue

December 7th, 2019 at 7:57 PM ^

I agree with including them as first round, but disagree that they are currently defacto 1st rounds today.  1) A team like OSU could lose today and still make the playoffs.  2) Maybe not this year, but teams that don't even make the "defacto first round" can still make the semifinals.

BlueMk1690

December 7th, 2019 at 5:12 PM ^

They have always felt weird even before the Big Ten had one, like they dont fit the narrative and tone of the season and seem like asterisk type affairs. I remember when KSU beat OU in 2005 or whatever it was and it was like almost like it only counted as half a L because it was such an outlier.

Michology 101

December 7th, 2019 at 5:30 PM ^

OSU isn't guaranteed to get in the playoff regardless of what happens today. 

If they lose the Big 10 CCG by a wide margin, and Georgia comes back to defeat LSU in a close game.

The playoff could easily be these teams listed below.

Clemson

Georgia 

Oklahoma

LSU     

Perkis-Size Me

December 7th, 2019 at 5:55 PM ^

You’re just pissing and moaning because Michigan can’t take care of its own business and get to this weekend to still be playing. 

If Michigan is playing in Indy we’re not having this conversation. 

BlueMarrow

December 7th, 2019 at 6:06 PM ^

You seem to be missing the big picture.

Entertainment product.

It's all about the money.

It used to be that New Years Day was the day with the the best matchups all day long. 

Now it's today. And then we move into the weeks long bowl season. 

The only potential future change will be adding more games to the CFP. More money.

turtleboy

December 7th, 2019 at 6:16 PM ^

Actually the exact opposite is true. Many teams coast all season long and never really play a competitive game until the conference championship, where they have no choice but to quit posturing and show what they're actually made of. Case in point, right fucking now. Georgia is a pretender, and getting their asses handed to them against a quality opponent. If there were no championship game they'd be handed a spot in the playoffs just on feelings and SECCCC!!!!!!! Apparently they aren't nearly good enough for the playoff, don't deserve to be there, and this is being proven in front of millions of people. Conference championships keep pretenders from the playoff. 

gwrock

December 7th, 2019 at 6:57 PM ^

I'd like the idea of scrapping the playoff committee entirely and using the conference championships as the playoff first round.  If you can't win your division, or your conference, then tough luck.  The few remaining independent teams would need to join conferences, but even Notre Dame is practically in the ACC at this point, anyway.

 

Qmatic

December 7th, 2019 at 8:15 PM ^

There needs to be 4 16 team conferences and the CCG games become de-facto playoff games played closer to home. This expands the playoffs, and eliminates the committee. Problems solved.

outsidethebox

December 7th, 2019 at 8:31 PM ^

That is for sure. They, pretty much prove nothing relative to meaningful matchups that would cross-reference regions and conferences-instead of eliminating bona fide contenders.

Maize4Life

December 7th, 2019 at 9:09 PM ^

Not to mention Depressing seeing as Michigan has NEVER played in one and doesnt look like it will be anytime soon

Jabroni and Me…

December 8th, 2019 at 1:34 PM ^

I didn't realize that Michigan fans were even aware that there was such a thing as a conference championship game.