1. LSU (SEC leader)
2. Oklahoma St. (Big 12 leader)
3. Alabama (At Large)
4. Oregon (Pac-12 leader)
5. Oklahoma (At Large)
6. Arkansas (At Large)
7. Clemson (ACC leader)
8. Virginia Tech (At Large)
9. Stanford (At Large)
10. Houston (C-USA leader)
11. Michigan St. (Big 10 leader)
12. TCU (MWC leader)
13. Cincinnati (Big East leader)
14. Nevada (WAC leader)
15. Northern Illinois (MAC leader)
16. Arkansas St. (Sun Belt leader)
Looking at a playoff with these 16 teams means that everyone can get their shot. Also, looking at how the rankings changed this week, Boise St.'s loss to TCU removes them (maybe just for now) from playoff contention. It also shows a team like Stanford, with one loss to a top 5 team, would have to go on the road in the first round of the playoffs. So those that say that the regular season would be worth less don't know what they are talking about. They are probably the same ones that said the Wild Card would ruin the integrity of the MLB playoffs when all it did was make everything that much more important to that many more teams. It's not like we're going to 64 teams (or 65 . . . or 68 . . . or 96 . . . or 128 . . . whatever college basketball has now). It is just 16 teams and brings about some great competition. Boise St., who is currently 10th in the BCS is left out. You have to be in the top 9 to get a spot, or win your conference.
So here would be your 1st round matchups.
#16 Arkansas St. at #1 LSU
Snoozer, which the #1 team in the nation deserves after going undefeated.
#9 Stanford at #8 Virginia Tech
Rematch of last year's Orange Bowl. Same result?
#13 Cincinnati at #4 Oregon
Why does the Big East still have an automatic qualifier into the BCS? Still deserve a shot though, however slim it may be.
#12 TCU at #5 Oklahoma
Future conference rivals in the forever-at-risk Big 12. TCU played their way into the dance with the big win on the Smurf Turf.
#14 Nevada at #3 Alabama
Nevada pulled off a shocker last year. You never know, right?
#11 Michigan St. at #6 Arkansas
A third SEC team makes it, but that's because there isn't much depth after these three. A low rank for the top Big 10 team. Are they that bad, or have they just been beating up on each other?
#15 Northern Illinois at #2 Oklahoma St.
This could almost be considered a bye. Almost . . .
#10 Houston at #7 Clemson
Houston has worked its way up to a game where they can show what they are all about and have a chance to win, even though they would still be on the road. After Clemson lost to Georgia Tech and barely squeaked by Wake Forest, are they actually a contender?
So this is what it would look like if the season ended today. Just like the BCS gets shaken up every week, this will do the same. We will look at it again next weekend. What do you think about the matchups? The system? Let us know.
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