One year from now...
Apologies to Amazinblu, I'm kind of hijacking a thread from below...
Looked at the responses to the CFB: Bowl Season kicks off this weekend - will you be watching? And, at best, the responses I viewed were less than enthusiastic...
One year from now, that changes. Put in 'this year's' terms: an angry Florida State, fresh from being snubbed from getting a first round bye, will host Liberty in the 5 vs 12 CFP matchup. Ohio State, Penn State, Georgia and others also will have games at campus sites that will have national championship ramifications.
No longer have to wait a month from the end of the season to have games that matter. :)
December 11th, 2023 at 3:58 PM ^
In the NFL, they have contracts.
December 11th, 2023 at 6:22 PM ^
“Fans show up” lol. During the end of the Quintricia era Ford Field was a ghost town. The crowds are basically season ticket holders and opposing fans. It’s hard to get excited to go watch a 2-13 team in January.
December 12th, 2023 at 1:50 AM ^
I think Michigan should play an annual game for the National Championship Trophy.
December 11th, 2023 at 12:58 PM ^
I think it will have the opposite effect, it will engage MORE teams and fan bases as more teams will be eligible making more late season games matter. Think how engaged a 9-3 or better record team will be with a playoff berth on the line? Look at the NFL, more than half the teams are still in the playoff hunt. More hope, more engagement, better ratings
December 11th, 2023 at 2:14 PM ^
It may not be so dramatic as ONE YEAR FROM NOWWWW, but I think you're right over the long term. People will get a big dose of monkey paw "be careful what you wish for" when CFB is simply NFL-Lite, with less parity, lower overall quality, and continuously-diminishing significance of rivalries, regionality, and --dare I say it-- school affiliation.
And all for what? Chasing the wild goose of "crowning a decisive national champion?" A fool's errand if there ever was one, given the structure of CFB. But that's really just the sales grift - it's being chopped up and processed into corporatized widgets for filthy lucre, ultimately, by the people making that Lyle Lanley-style "bUt wE NeEd to KN0W tHe naShuNul cHampeen" pitch.
December 11th, 2023 at 11:59 AM ^
I like the games that don't matter. But then again, I also watch mid-week MACtion. 🤷♂️
December 11th, 2023 at 12:00 PM ^
...and those will still be there too...
December 11th, 2023 at 12:02 PM ^
Florida State absolutely would have a first round bye under next year's format and conference alignments--remember, the 4 byes will all go to conference champions. The ACC champion will have practically a guaranteed bye.
So we assume Michigan wins the Big Ten and Texas wins the SEC. The Big Ten runner-up, Washington, would get the 5-seed, the SEC runner-up, Alabama, the 6-seed. Florida State as the third best conference champion would get the 3-seed and Big 12 champion Arizona, as the fourth best conference champion, would get the 4-seed.
Michigan would need to beat the Ohio State-Missouri winner to get to the semifinals while Washington would only need to beat Liberty and Arizona.
People are going to hate the way this thing is seeded when they see it in action for the first time.
December 11th, 2023 at 12:21 PM ^
One other thing to note. They kept the playoffs as top 6 conference champs right? But the Pac 12 died so we're going to be guaranteed to have 2 G5 teams into the 12 team field now. Plus with Houston, BYU, UCF, SMU, Cincinnati all being in power conferences, the field of G5 teams to put into the playoff is likely a lot weaker than 2 years ago.
I won't be shocked if before next year they change it to 5 conference champs plus 7 at large.
December 11th, 2023 at 12:46 PM ^
Yeah, so right now it's 6+6 but I think the consensus is that they will definitely change it to 5+7 because of the realignment that happened since they picked the format.
But if they don't manage to get that done, I would rather be the 5 seed or 6 seed than the 4 seed. Especially since the top 4 are not going to get home games but 5-8 are. If you do some extrapolation, the Michigan v Washington BTCG would perhaps give the loser a better shot at the final 4 than the winner!
As a general rule, the #5 seed will not have to play against a top-20 team in the first round and will be playing a team ranked 10-15 in the second round.
December 11th, 2023 at 12:26 PM ^
Good note thanks; next year yes, due to the demise of the Pac-12.
December 11th, 2023 at 12:55 PM ^
If the 12 team playoff were in place this season, FSU would definitely not get the bye.
Next season, you're right - one of TX or Alabama would be out and one of Michigan or Washington would be out. The Pac-2 wouldn't get a bid. FSU would get in. The other top 4 bid would go to whoever is left from the Big 12, I guess.
The auto-bid for the top 6 conference champions will be interesting. Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12. Then you have to be left with G5 conferences like the MAC, MWC, C-USA, American, and Sun.
It all but assures that that top 4 will always be those 4 conferences.
December 11th, 2023 at 1:46 PM ^
As a fan (and only as a fan) it’s better to be 5 than 4. 1. Most importantly, you get an actual home game you can go to without having to travel half-way across the country. Home games are fun, and you get one more of them. 2. You’re probably going to win. Florida State would play Liberty. They’d win. FSU fans would have fun. 3. Your team loses no real advantage over the team ranked 4. You play them at a neutral site. FSU would actually benefit this year from giving their 2nd string QB more reps.
The downside is obviously injury risk, but that’s baked in to every football game (and with a 3 week playoff moving forward, you’re almost certain to see injuries playing a significant part).
December 11th, 2023 at 4:00 PM ^
I’m waiting for the first time two teams play each other 3x; regular season, conference championship game and playoffs.
December 11th, 2023 at 10:09 PM ^
It will definitely happen at some point, just like there have been a number of years when Duke played UNC 4 times in bball in a single season.
December 11th, 2023 at 12:08 PM ^
This is in all likelihood the last year I'm going to follow major college football. I've become exhausted with the entire production and the outsized role that media plays in this sport. I had always wanted to attend a Rose Bowl because of its significance in the sport, but I always wanted to wait until Michigan would be in it. Now I'm a PhD candidate and cannot afford that. Lol. The format for the expanded playoff looks like it'll create weird matchups and lord knows the TV companies will be pressing their entire body weight on to the scale, much like this year.
December 11th, 2023 at 12:35 PM ^
You sound like my parents! Haha. I've realized that as a former player, I don't much enjoy playing the role of a fan. Granted, it took me well over a decade to reach this conclusion, but I'm there. I'm at peace with it. I stopped watching the NFL about 8 years ago and loved getting my Sundays back, I'm sure I'll enjoy my Saturdays even more.
December 11th, 2023 at 12:24 PM ^
College football is heading towards a Premier League set-up IMO. You'll 50 or so of the blue bloods playing each other annually with the bottom 5 or so relegated to next tier and top 5 of lower tier moving up. Conferences will cease to exist as will bowl games as we now know them.
Money changes everything.
December 11th, 2023 at 3:03 PM ^
Which would be great
December 11th, 2023 at 12:24 PM ^
Ummm. Given we have about 4 weeks of college football left until the painful 8 month break, I’ll watch all of the bowl games.
bad and/or meaningless college football >>> no college football
I am still sort of apathetic as college football has changed a lot. The asinine way some teams are punished (Michigan) but others get a free pass for much much worse is a huge part of it. The media and ads are out of control. I remember when games used to start at noon and be over by 3pm. Also, TV execs didn’t have complete control over which teams have a shot at the title.
I’ll always watch college football, but the rabid fandom days are over.
December 11th, 2023 at 12:30 PM ^
I think this year is a little odd for Michigan fans in general, who’ve seen an entire conference(ok, maybe not entire but most of them) go against them in siding with OSU and have absolutely no stomach at all for rooting for any other b1g school at this time. I’m sure most Michigan fans are, in general, like me and will root for other b1g teams not named OSU, MSU, or PSU during bowl season, and as such are likely to watch those games.
This same sentiment will probably carry on towards the next few seasons as well.
December 11th, 2023 at 12:40 PM ^
"I’m sure most Michigan fans are, in general, like me and will root for other b1g teams not named OSU, MSU, or PSU during bowl season, and as such are likely to watch those games."
That describes how I USED to feel but no longer. The drumbeat of "cheaters" might've started with OSU but it definitely resonated throughout the entire conference, not just them. Take a look at the comments made by the HC at Purdue or Nebraska. And by all accounts everybody wanted a piece of Michigan flesh, not just our "friends" at the ag colleges ending in the word state.
Fuck them all. Fuck each and every one of them. I hope every B1G team gets smoked in their bowl game and utterly embarrassed by whoever they're playing.
December 11th, 2023 at 12:51 PM ^
Nailed it.
After this fall’s witch-hunt, the entirety of the B1G can go fuck themselves.
December 11th, 2023 at 12:52 PM ^
I used to dislike Fleck because of his rah! rah!/row the boat! shtick, but he was the only one that continued to compliment Michigan even after all the bullshit started. All other coaches can go fuck themselves.
December 11th, 2023 at 12:48 PM ^
Fuck every B1G team with a pineapple.
i hope they all lose their bowl games, and they all go 0-11 every year until the earth explodes.
I understand my latter desire is not possible but fuck them and fuck the B1G
December 11th, 2023 at 12:30 PM ^
Liberty (or equivalent G5 Christo-fascist football school) is never going to get in over the several 9-3 P5 schools that have all "good losses." Besides, they wouldn't draw enough eyes to the TV.
December 11th, 2023 at 1:02 PM ^
Well, actually they might. In the initial format, when the Pac-12 still existed, the CFP said it would be the "top 6 conference champions", plus 6 other teams. Top 6 would mean Power 5 (which at the time included the Pac-12) plus one group of five team.
Thinking of it in basketball terms, it provides the opportunity for a David/Goliath scenario.
December 11th, 2023 at 12:31 PM ^
One year from now we'll have many strong opinions on Michigan's new basketball and football coaches.
December 11th, 2023 at 12:32 PM ^
Lets take a look into the future…all the way to the year 2000
December 11th, 2023 at 1:04 PM ^
Tell me you listened to Smigel on Conan’s podcast this week…
December 11th, 2023 at 1:15 PM ^
It was amazing!! So many good stories and tidbits about the show.
December 11th, 2023 at 11:59 PM ^
I miss Conan O'Brien. His show was better than everything nighttime that's still being broadcast with the exception of Stephen Colbert.
December 11th, 2023 at 12:45 PM ^
Maybe we also have to adapt as fans. Like adopt a secondary team in the MAC and get to know their roster over time (sure they will lose people occasionally to P4 but prob not that many) and get excited about their race to the conf championship. As "the race to be the 4th best team in the SEC and squeak into the playoffs" isn't that compelling.
December 11th, 2023 at 12:47 PM ^
I got very into the FCS quarterfinals this weekend. Like, I stayed up late to watch Albany-Idaho.
I was skeptical of playoff expansion, and think there should be some tweaks to it - more games on campus, get rid of conference championships - but...yea. Football is good. College football is great. Bring on the 12 team era.
December 11th, 2023 at 1:01 PM ^
No, we no longer have nearly a month gap with games that “don’t matter.”
But we have to wait an entire football season. And they’ll move The Game to October because of it.
Very poor tradeoff to give up four months in exchange for three weeks.
December 11th, 2023 at 1:04 PM ^
Harbaugh to Vegas will be all the buzz as Michigan is prepping for yet another National Championship run
December 11th, 2023 at 1:11 PM ^
Next year.. the ‘24 season - the first round, on campus, games - will be held on December 20th and 21st. The 20th will be a single Friday evening game, with three games scheduled for Saturday the 21st.
After the on campus round, the quarterfinals will be in major bowl venues on December 31st / January 1st. The quarterfinals will also follow a “1-3” format - one game on the 31st and three on the 1st.
The semifinals just over a week later, and Final on January 20th / 19th respectfully for the next two seasons.
My feeling is that all the other bowl games will struggle for viewership and attendance.
One other thing I heard is - the on campus games for the next couple of years do not have a media agreement in place.
I believe, but am not sure - the CFP media deal is up for renewal for the ‘26-‘27 season.
December 11th, 2023 at 1:12 PM ^
One year from now, where do you put money!
1. Juwan and Jim are both here.
2. Jim gone
3. Howard gone
4. Both gone
December 11th, 2023 at 1:48 PM ^
I think Jim is here and at this point 70-30 Juwan is too so I’ll go with 1
December 11th, 2023 at 3:34 PM ^
They gone
4
December 11th, 2023 at 1:21 PM ^
I dont know, but i'd give up a lot to see what would happen to liberty at the hands of fsu this year.
December 11th, 2023 at 2:16 PM ^
If those Amazinblue threads were of trifling relevance, boy do we have a *new and improved* thread for you!
December 11th, 2023 at 2:22 PM ^
we may have a better idea if Stefon Diggs will be landed
December 11th, 2023 at 4:38 PM ^
We beat Ohio State again?
December 11th, 2023 at 5:21 PM ^
One year from now the buzz of having beaten ohio for a fourth straight season will still not have worn off.
December 11th, 2023 at 6:45 PM ^
Appreciate this positive perspective. I've mostly looked on it with skepticism, but I hope it will be as interesting as you suggest!
December 11th, 2023 at 8:58 PM ^
This time next year , many people will be crying about how bad the 12 team playoff system actually is … 4 byes being unfair , leaving a “brand name” SEC team out for a G5 school , some home games have snow , some have 77 degree weather etc etc