Is anyone AGAINST a college football playoff?

[Dave Gray]

Please, I'd love to hear from you.  I see a guy or 2 on Around the Horn, but I can't tell if they're just trying to make a name for themselves.

I've yet to meet a regualr sports fan that likes the current setup over a traditional playoff.  Go!

[Phishfan]

Does a playoff remove other bowls? If so I am adamantly against it.

[Cathal]

I'm not a college football fan so I don't care about all of the bowls. Maybe you could call each step in the playoffs a bowl game until you get to the BCS championship.

[Brian Fein]

I would imagine the colleges and NCAA are against it because it could add 2-3 games to the season for the championship teams.  I always assumed they wanted football to be over by the beginning of Spring semester.  And the December break is for final exams, not for playoff preparation.

Although you find it as nothing more than entertaining, you have to remember these kids are college students too, and some of them want an education as well.

[Spider-Dan]

The major conferences are against it because it takes money out of their pockets and redistributes it to teams that, you know, actually deserve to play in a meaningful postseason that year.

And when the major conferences are against it, that's all that matters.

[Dave Gray]

I get why certain moneymakers are against it.  That's never been the question.  But, I think the fans are getting tired of it.  I really do.  I couldn't even bring mysef to watch the championship game.  It was like pulling teeth, because it all feels like it doesn't really matter.

I love playoffs.  There is drama there that doesn't exist in the bowls that draws me in.  I can't be alone in that.

I don't want to see #6 play #8.  I just don't care, and unless you are specifically a fan of those schools, I bet most don't.  But if #6 vs #8 could advance for a shot at a title, you bet your ass I'd be interested.

I know that this is all about money, but at some point, as interest dwindles, the scales have to tip to the point where there's more money, because there will be more fan interest.

[Phishfan]

Dave, based on that position can we assume you don't watch regular season college football games unless you are a fan of one of the schools? If that is the case can we also assume you really are not a fan of the game itself and only really care about teams of specific interest?

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Dave, based on that position can we assume you don't watch regular season college football games unless you are a fan of one of the schools? If that is the case can we also assume you really are not a fan of the game itself and only really care about teams of specific interest?

I don't think that is a fair assument of the situation. 

I don't watch much regular season college basketball, but I enjoy the tournment.  I don't like the way teams are selected and not selected for bowl games.  That makes them as interesting as the pro-bowl.  Because they are all really pretty meaningless. 

[Phishfan]

If a bowl game is meaningless to you guys, why isn't a regular season matchup just as meaningless is my point of the question. I can't see how a person can call themselves a fan of the sport if they need incentives to watch the sport. It sounds like you are more of a fan of a tournament than of the sport itself.

[Dave Gray]

Dave, based on that position can we assume you don't watch regular season college football games unless you are a fan of one of the schools?

Generally, this is true.  I will occasionally watch a regular season game of two teams with which I'm not invested if there is a compelling storyline, rivarly, or what have you.

If that is the case can we also assume you really are not a fan of the game itself and only really care about teams of specific interest?

No, I don't think you can assume that.

Like Hoodie says, I watch very little NCAA basketball, but enjoy the tournament.  I don't watch a ton of NBA regular season games outside of the HEAT, but I'll watch the playoffs.  I don't watch and MLB, but I'll watch playoffs on occassion.  Playoffs add drama.  That's what I'm about, when teams I don't specifically care about are playing.

[Phishfan]

So here is the rub. You are not what I would consider a college football fan then. You are a fan of tournaments and playoffs. Why should the NCAA look at a system that isolates college football fans (who watch many regular season and bowl games) for a system that elevates fans that only watch playoffs or tournaments?

Note, I am not against instituting a playoff but if it takes away many of the games I watch in the month of December I wouldn't be very happy with it.

[Spider-Dan]

Why should the NCAA look at a system that isolates college football fans (who watch many regular season and bowl games) for a system that elevates fans that only watch playoffs or tournaments?

For the same reason they do it in college basketball, and in every other level of college football but Division IA.  It's a superior system.

Does the existence of the playoffs cheapen the NFL regular season?  Is the NFL pandering to casual fans by having a postseason tournament?

Note, I am not against instituting a playoff but if it takes away many of the games I watch in the month of December I wouldn't be very happy with it.

How would it "take away" games?

[Dave Gray]

So here is the rub. You are not what I would consider a college football fan then. You are a fan of tournaments and playoffs. Why should the NCAA look at a system that isolates college football fans (who watch many regular season and bowl games) for a system that elevates fans that only watch playoffs or tournaments.

Because there are a lot of people like me.  Those who really love college football will watch regardless.  People who are like me will have an increase in interet when the stakes are raised.


On a side note, I reject that you aren't a fan of the sport if you don't want to watch meaningless games from that sport.  I like basketball, but I don't have an interest in watching most regular season games that don't have championship implications.  I'm definitely a football fan, and the same applies to that.

[Phishfan]

How would it "take away" games?

That is my question. Would it take away games? It is widely recognized that any playoff format would only include a limited number of teams. Would they then be doing away with the remaining bowl games. If so, I'm not in favor of it.

[Dave Gray]

They could keep the bowls if they wanted, but I don't care if they do.  Also, stop pushing them back further and further so that they're happening a full month after the season is over.