Why hasn't there been any discussions of legal challenges to CFP yet?
Went to espn.com earlier and noticed that they discussed Scott Frost railing against the CFP after UCF won their bowl game to go 13-0 on the season (also noted that the UM "meltdown" in the Outback bowl was listed before the UCF story - no surprise from ESPN).
This is now two consecutive years where undefeated teams (regular season) from non- "power five" conferences were shut out of any playoff opportunity.
For those who recall the BCS years, after several instances of non- autobid teams getting left out (Boise, Hawaii, Utah, etc.), there was a serious movement by politicians to have anti-trust suits filed against the BCS. This effort had some legitimate substance to it and had a fair shot of getting through the courts (though it would have taken many years, appeals, and a small fortune in legal fees). The effort ultimately was abandoned, but only because the BCS was changed to CFP (with most experts stating that the legal threat contributed to the accelerated demise of the BCS). Here are a few timeline links for more info (others can be found):
http://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=4030992
http://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=52099442&itype=CMSID
https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/outgoing-utah-ag-drops-…
http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/21936289/scott-frost-cf…
I have not seen any chatter yet about mounting a legal challenge to CFP as was for the bcs, but it seems like it is only a matter of time since all of the arguments (pro/con) are the same. Personally, I think that as soon as this process starts again, the playoff will expand with some kind of spot for non-P5 teams.
January 1st, 2018 at 7:35 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 7:46 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 7:38 PM ^
Maybe something will happen if the lawmakers down there make a big stink. I don't think politicians get nervous if folks in Hawaii, Utah or Idaho are pissed.
January 1st, 2018 at 7:38 PM ^
This is why an 8 team playoff is the sweet spot.
It allows the five P5 champions in, 2 worthy at-larges, and the top G5 team in for political correctness / anti-trust reasons.
The G5 always has a guaranteed seat at the table.
January 1st, 2018 at 7:55 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 8:11 PM ^
Exactly. No reason to give G5 an autobid in an 8 team playoff. 4 out of 5 years they would get stomped by the P5 schools that make it in.
January 1st, 2018 at 8:42 PM ^
most years.
Maybe if there's only one undefeated P5 team, then the best of the G5 gets in as a first round "opponent".
January 2nd, 2018 at 12:26 AM ^
The "first round bye" has now won seven and lost three, since the beginning of the BCS.
January 1st, 2018 at 9:52 PM ^
I don't like guaranteeing all P5 teams either. Remember that year an 8-4 Wisconsin won the league?
January 1st, 2018 at 10:37 PM ^
Yep, Ohio State had a post season ban and then Wisconsin won their division by default and then pulled it off in the championship game. There have been other teams in the past to win a major conference with 3 or 4 losses.
I would prefer to keep it the best 4, 6, 8 - whatever teams make the playoffs.
January 2nd, 2018 at 8:51 AM ^
And BTW, that's right and just. UCF would get DESTROYED by any of the top four teams, as would every G5 team every year.
And save everyone's tired Boise and now UCF references. Meaningless bowl games where big teams like Auburn and Oklahoma (against Boise) have no incentive after their season ending poorly and then playing a G5 team they take lightly are not ever justifications for letting G5 teams in.
January 1st, 2018 at 7:40 PM ^
More Money
January 1st, 2018 at 7:43 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 7:54 PM ^
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:08 PM ^
There is nothing taken away from the regular season currently, so destroying it would be a huge change by going to 16.
January 1st, 2018 at 7:50 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 8:28 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 8:37 PM ^
January 3rd, 2018 at 5:35 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 7:51 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 8:30 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 7:54 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 8:06 PM ^
who truly has a credible claim to "we earned a chance to be Champions!"
The "non-Power 5" teams in the NYD6 Bowls in the Playoff era ........ Boise in 2014 had 2 loses, Houston in 2015 with an absolutely horrible loss at Connecticut, and Western in 2016 just wasn't credible enough playing in the MAC and w/ a best OOC win of a 6-6 Northwestern team.
I think that's the dynamic at play here. Those Boise, TCU and Utah teams in the late 2000s - those teams had credible arguments for inclusion, more credible than anything we've seen in the 2014-2017 era (outside of 2017 UCF). Nobody would take a lawmaker seriously if they were advocating for any of the 2014-2016 teams.
January 1st, 2018 at 8:23 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 8:18 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 8:25 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 8:27 PM ^
I get UCF schedule may not have been as tough as some but they are D1 team but only by name they and all MAC teams etc.. do really have a chance at playing in the playoffs how is this ok UCF beat the team that beat 2 of the 4 playoff teams this year
January 1st, 2018 at 8:31 PM ^
Not thanks, going to 8 teams will allow more SEC teams in. Not interested in seeing Auburn, Alabam, Georgia in the playoff. Keep the conference champions being eligible and UCF would be in.
January 1st, 2018 at 8:50 PM ^
I would think that before there is a lawsuit you're more likely to see the P5 conferences splt from the NCAA and form their own organization.
January 1st, 2018 at 9:42 PM ^
January 1st, 2018 at 10:23 PM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 12:15 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 12:21 PM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 5:48 PM ^
Sherman liability can only be established with respect to restraint of trade. Beyond that, the level of review is rule of reason, meaning a trade practice can only violate Sherman if the practice is unreasonable based on economic factors. It's a losing case, which is why nobody ever actually challenged the BCS despite the constant threats.
January 3rd, 2018 at 6:15 PM ^
The agreement was that at least one non-power five will be in the top tier bowls. That wasn't a guarantee in the BCS.
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