NCAA College Football Playoffs

 The NCAA has expanded the College Football Playoffs. The previous format consisted of  the top 4 teams based on the rankings of the College Football Playoffs selection committee. The CFP will adjust the process and award the top spots to the power 4 conference champions. After those teams are desinated one thru 5,7 more teams will be selected and ranked from 6 to 12.

The higher seed will host the lower seed and have home field advantage.The top 4 teams will recieve a bye as the remaining 8 will be matched with the higher seed playing the lowest. If the team that is slotted at 5 did not finish in the top 12 final ranking of the season,they will drop to the 12 seed. The next round the yop 4 seeds will be asign to a bowl game that there is a historic connection. For example,the Big Ten confrence champion would be designated to the Rose Bowl.After this quarterfinal round,a final four will remain with the winners meeting for the National Championship  on January 20,2025.

If this format were in place in 2023,Florida State would have the 5th seed and played Oklahoma.Georgia would have a home game against Penn State. Ohio State would have played Ole Miss. Oregon would have squared off against Missouri. Nased on how each of these teams performed in bowl games I have the following teams advancing. Oklahoma and Georgia would advance easily. Oregon would move on while the Ole Miss and Buckeyes would be a toss up.The Big Ten would have 5 teams in the playoffs. The Big 12 would have 3 while the SEC would 4. Noticeably absent is the ACC. With the restructuring of several conferences and the dismantling of the Pac 12,expect the power teams to get the top players via recruiting and the transfer portal. 

While the new playoff format will create excitement and generate revenue,there are some consequences.The departures of USC, UCLA,Oregon and Washington, has essentially ended the Pac-12 as a power conference. The NCAA by laws allows the Pac-12 a two year grace period to have at least 8team based on the departures. The mid major conferences  must go undefeated to merit consideration for the playoffs. teams.As a result,the power conferences will be reluctant to play against mid major schools. This will hamper the mid major programs from landing the best recruits. The playoffs will allow more exposure to the NCAA College football players.More exposure and opportunities to have Names,Image and Likeness (NIL) deals.

Enjoy this clip about the new format.

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