What's your best argument against expanding the CFP to eight teams? (Poll!)

[Swamp Donkey]

Not reading 6 pages of arguments. GAmes need to be decided on the field, not based on committee. .

The games are decided on the field.

we just have some biitches who are mad that we lost to LSU and Georgia and think that we should have a third shot at it (and have enough Volesheimers to think it wouldnt be the same outcome the next time we play a good team.)

 

[stephenPE]

we just have some biitches who are mad that we lost to LSU and Georgia

the irony of this is my morning guffaw of the day...........thank you sir.

 

[Back Alley Gator]

My opinion is that there's no reason to change from 4. The best team in the country is always included in those four. I also can't stand this low attention span, shiny shiny...oooh...lets tweak everything every year mindset.

 

[soflagator]

My opinion is that there's no reason to change from 4. The best team in the country is always included in those four. I also can't stand this low attention span, shiny shiny...oooh...lets tweak everything every year mindset.

This. Every time we tweak something, there are positives but also unintended consequences that damage things. The Portal, the RS rule, can’t wait for the likeness pay to start. Each change has featured two things: a backfire/abuse, and grown otherwise intelligent people standing around shocked that it happened and saying “well, we’re gonna have to create some sort of new rule becaauusse...”.

Here’s an idea. How about just leave it alone considering it’s worked for 150 years?

 

[G. Gordon Gator]

I think recruits make their choices based 90% on their personal goals and not team goals. Especially when we’re talking high-end recruits, I think their #1 priority is the best situation for getting into the NFL, not getting into the NC game.

Agreed, their goal is to get into the NFL. But if they don't also care about winning championships, then why wouldn't there be more 5 stars going to teams that aren't quite so loaded with talent? That way they will stand out more and get more attention relative to the other players.

For example, maybe that one 5* who went to Maryland has that mindset. He will be a bigger, more noticeable fish in a smaller pond than he would've been at Bama or Clemson.

But what about all the top players who go to schools where there are already other top players, including at their own position? That seems counterintuitive if all you care about is individual attention.

I think it's because the goals of going to the NFL and of playing for a playoff-caliber team are not mutually exclusive. In fact, rightly or wrongly, lots of Blue Chippers seem to see those two goals as going hand-in-hand.

If I'm right, then pick a school, any school. Including Florida. If the 8-team playoff makes it a little more likely for that team to make the CFP and get in the spotlight, then won't it also perhaps make it a little more likely that a 5* will consider going there?

 

[soflagator]

It's entirely possible for a 2-loss team to win the SEC. If Florida does that with an 8-team playoff, we still have a shot at the NC. Without it, we don't.

This is where I miss having a guy like Spurrier. One of the great interviews he gave was in the documentary of the ‘97 fsu game, consideee red d to be the best ever. And while everyone else is talking about how great it was, he quickly points out that we didn’t win anything that year because we’d lost to Lsu and uga. Wasn’t down on the game or season for that matter. But despite knocking off #1, and finishing 10-2, he was willing to recognize that we weren’t a NC team that season. Not because we couldn’t have played with Nebraska or Mich, but because we hadn’t earned the right to.

Same goes for 2001. I’m proud that we discuss that season as a “what if” season that we blew rather than a complaining that it wasn’t fair, even though we have a valid gripe due to the 9-11 game move. We had the team to beat ut and play for it all. But we decided to let Stephens run all over us that night and lost. Done.

Meyer’s team had the talent to win it all last year but gave up 80 points to a career sub .500 coach who’s likely the biggest bust at Purdue since the ‘40s and will probably be coaching HS at this point next year if he’s not managing an Applebees.

Granted, the playoff was not around then, but I appreciate the fact that Steve didn’t politic or dance around the fact that his teams had a shot, and if they didn’t get in it was on him.

 

[SeabeeGator]

This is where I miss having a guy like Spurrier. One of the great interviews he gave was in the documentary of the ‘97 fsu game, consideee red d to be the best ever. And while everyone else is talking about how great it was, he quickly points out that we didn’t win anything that year because we’d lost to Lsu and uga. Wasn’t down on the game or season for that matter. But despite knocking off #1, and finishing 10-2, he was willing to recognize that we weren’t a NC team that season. Not because we couldn’t have played with Nebraska or Mich, but because we hadn’t earned the right to.

Same goes for 2001. I’m proud that we discuss that season as a “what if” season that we blew rather than a complaining that it wasn’t fair, even though we have a valid gripe due to the 9-11 game move. We had the team to beat ut and play for it all. But we decided to let Stephens run all over us that night and lost. Done.

Meyer’s team had the talent to win it all last year but gave up 80 points to a career sub .500 coach who’s likely the biggest bust at Purdue since the ‘40s and will probably be coaching HS at this point next year if he’s not managing an Applebees.

Granted, the playoff was not around then, but I appreciate the fact that Steve didn’t politic or dance around the fact that his teams had a shot, and if they didn’t get in it was on him.

SOS would’ve had more NCs here if there was a playoff. Plain and simple. 2001 is a great example but there were others as well.

 

[ThreatMatrix]

It's entirely possible for a 2-loss team to win the SEC. If Florida does that with an 8-team playoff, we still have a shot at the NC. Without it, we don't.

If we've lost 2 games we ain't winning two playoff games and the NC.

 

[stephenPE]

SOS would’ve had more NCs here if there was a playoff. Plain and simple. 2001 is a great example but there were others as well.

I was thinking that yesterday..........great minds

 

[ThreatMatrix]

2004 Auburn. The only thing constant about CFB is change. The SEC won’t be perceived as the best forever. Your formula has failed before - don’t want to see it again. 4 or 8 teams reduce that possibility significantly.

Why won't it be? There's not a thing you can point to that will change that.

 

[ThreatMatrix]

Agreed, their goal is to get into the NFL. But if they don't also care about winning championships, then why wouldn't there be more 5 stars going to teams that aren't quite so loaded with talent? That way they will stand out more and get more attention relative to the other players.

For example, maybe that one 5* who went to Maryland has that mindset. He will be a bigger, more noticeable fish in a smaller pond than he would've been at Bama or Clemson.

But what about all the top players who go to schools where there are already other top players, including at their own position? That seems counterintuitive if all you care about is individual attention.

I think it's because the goals of going to the NFL and of playing for a playoff-caliber team are not mutually exclusive. In fact, rightly or wrongly, lots of Blue Chippers seem to see those two goals as going hand-in-hand.

If I'm right, then pick a school, any school. Including Florida. If the 8-team playoff makes it a little more likely for that team to make the CFP and get in the spotlight, then won't it also perhaps make it a little more likely that a 5* will consider going there?

5*s are going to the teams that have the best chance of getting them into the NFL. Just refer to the recent conversation between our own recruits and T. Smith when they asked him why he was considering choosing bama over UF - he said it was because bama had a better system in place to get him to the NFL.
That isn't going to change by going to 8 teams.

 

[G. Gordon Gator]

If we've lost 2 games we ain't winning two playoff games and the NC.

Ahh, so that's how it is, huh? Our big "Gator fan" has no confidence in his team. Scared of competition.

See, since I have more faith in Gator Greatness than you do, I can envision a scenario where we have a couple of early hiccups but then make some personnel changes, tweak the offense, develop more chemistry and are firing on all cylinders by the end of the season. We beat UGA. We win the SEC. We're ready to take on all comers. Our shortcomings are corrected. We've evolved into fully legit title contenders.

With the 8-team playoff that I would like to have, the Gators get a chance to compete for the NC in that scenario.

But you would prefer that we don't get a shot. Because, "we ain't winning two playoff games and the NC." :rolleyes:

Okay, Mr. Super Gator Fan.

 

[G. Gordon Gator]

The only thing constant about CFB is change. The SEC won’t be perceived as the best forever.

Why won't it be? There's not a thing you can point to that will change that.

Yeah, not a thing.

Other that the whole history of college football, and the history of sports in general, and for that matter the entire sum total of human history itself.

 

[SeabeeGator]

If we've lost 2 games we ain't winning two playoff games and the NC.

No one thought LSU would win the BCS title game in 2007 either.

 

[SeabeeGator]

Why won't it be? There's not a thing you can point to that will change that.

Because it wasn’t. Then things changed. I actually have history on my side here - you’re basically arguing that CFB will buck all historical trends and remain constant.

 

[JDW]

The argument about 5*s is ridiculous...they go where they think they can get their asses kissed get away with murder and a shot to go to the nfl but Not necessarily in that order...Some kids egos or home ties mean more than others and it’s a maturity thing...the play for your state kinda kids are mostly a thing of the past

 

[Durty South Swamp]

That's correct. I am a Heat fan, a Dolphins fan and a Marlins fan. Pretty embarrassed about the latter two at the moment, but not the first. And no, like I said, I'm not a Gator "fan," I am a Gator. The distinction is that unlike the three professional teams I follow, I do not have the option of choosing a different university with which to associate myself. It's far too late for that. Not that I'd want to, anyway.

 

[soflagator]

SOS would’ve had more NCs here if there was a playoff. Plain and simple. 2001 is a great example but there were others as well.

Of course it's all completely hypothetical, but I do agree that he probably does. It's a sword that cuts both ways, however, so guys like Bowden, Osbourne and other rivals may have as well. I think we were safe in 2008. But in 2006, I personally wouldn't have wanted to play Usc or Texas. Would a playoff have allowed Nebraska in for a rematch back in '96? Who knows?

But I'm not arguing against a playoff. I have no issue with it. I'm arguing against expansion and saying that in any given year, there haven't been more than 4 teams that are truly legit contenders, so there's no need to expand it. The moment you start letting 2-3 loss, non-conference-winning teams in, I think you've watered down the regular season and killed what makes cfb great.

 

[G. Gordon Gator]

Reverse-angle shot from my dash cam.

 

[Woodroe]

Was Clemson a national championship team that season? The answer is no. We've already discussed that teams can get hot and win it all. That’s one of the primary things people who share my opinion point to. Alabama hadn’t even won their division, much less conference. In the BCS, they are likely out, possibly along with Clemson after their loss to Syracuse. But I’ll repeat, I’m ok with 4 because there will be years like this year where you need an extra spot. Four makes sense. Beyond that doesn't. The amount of blowouts show that. If you want to hang your theory in 2017, fine. It is one year out of 5, soon to be 6.

4 seeds have won the same amount of playoffs as 1 seeds multiplied by infinity. AKA 40% of the total.

And the blowouts don't prove anything when it's the lower seed blowing the other team out. Both 4 seeds that won, gave bloodbaths. Alabama in the semis, OSU in the final. Logically incoherent to say that those bloodbaths contribute to the notion that we should keep the playoffs small.