Jon Joseph Moderator No. 1 Share Posted December 23, 2023 2024 says 'So Long' to a 4-team post-season Invitational and welcomes in a 12-team Playoff (PO.) Naysayers believe this will water down the regular season. Rubbish! Far more fan bases will follow their team right up until the PO field is selected by the PO Committee (CT) in December of 2024. Yes, the 13 enlightened Gurus of Grapevine will still be naming the PO Delightful Dozen but no Power 4 (P4) champ that goes undefeated will be left out even if the entire team comes down with the Creeping Crude before its conference champ game. And no P4 champ notwithstanding its record will be left out. The 2024/25 PO brings us the four top-seeded conference champions being seeded in the top four with a 1st round bye. The PO format currently has the six highest-ranked conference champs in the field. But as recommended by the PO overseers, I expect the format will be revised to have five conference champs with se as automatic qualifiers with seven at-large teams chosen by the CT. This change to the format will happen unless the Pac-2, represented by the Washington State president, Kirk Schulz, votes no, which would be the PO kiss of death for the Pac-2 down the road. For this exercise, I am using Athlon's Way-Too-Early 2024 preseason ranking. The ranking in order of ranked teams - Alabama/ Texas/ Georgia/ Michigan/ OREGON/ Ohio State/ Utah/ Ole Miss/ FSU/ Penn State/ Missouri/ Clemson. G5 - CUSA Liberty is the highest-ranked G5 team at No. 23. Using this ranking, a 5/7 format, and the top four ranked conference champions receiving the top four seeds and a 1st-round bye, the following would be the Delighted Dozen field playing for a real PO title next season. 1. Alabama - SEC vs. 9. Mississippi - SEC at 8. Ohio State - B1G - Kiff, bring your popcorn and long johns. 4. Florida State - ACC vs. 12. Liberty - G5/CUSA at 5. Texas - SEC - In 2024, Liberty again plays no P4 teams. 2. Michigan - B1G vs. 10. Penn State - B1G at 7. OREGON - B1G - Ducks would play PSU in 2024. In Autzen! 3. Utah - B12 vs. 11. Missouri - SEC at 6. Georgia - SEC - No 1st round rematches in the 1st round. Mizzou and UGA are not scheduled to play in 2024. First out would be No. 12 Clemson. Dabo and Tyler from Spartanburg would not be happy. 5, SEC/ 4. B1G/ 1. ACC, B12, and CUSA. Show the P2 the $! Paul Finebaum would be happy. Ditto Joel Klatt. This format would deliver No. 7 Utah and No. 9 FSU drawing 1st round byes. When CFB had a Power 5 and not the current Power 4 (P4) this format made some sense as does rewarding conference champions but it is not logical in the CFB world of P4 and most likely will not be the PO format come 2026. It's a B1G improvement compared to the Invitational but still has flaws. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays, and may 2023's Final 2 have B1G Michigan playing B1G UW for the title. Extinguish the Flames! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDuck No. 2 Share Posted December 23, 2023 Mehh...go Longhorns 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Joseph Author Moderator No. 3 Share Posted December 23, 2023 On 12/23/2023 at 5:03 PM, JDuck said: Mehh...go Longhorns We Need the B1G dues even if they come from Flounder! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
