What If...: 8 Team Playoff

Over the years I have written several articles speculating ways the NCAA can improve how it treats college football's highest level.  I have looked at 16 team playoffs, Super Conferences, and creating a new division for the Power 5 conferences.  I even wrote an article simply giving the NCAA 5 ideas how they can fix everything.  Over the last 3 years, an attempt has been made to fix many of the issues with the start of the College Football Playoff.  However, there are still many more things they can do to perfect the system, including expand the playoff.

First, everyone looks at strength of schedule in the college football resumes.  Some schools schedule FCS cakewalks, and some schools refuse to play road games (Bama, I'm looking at you), and some schools schedule a tough group of games and get penalized for extra losses at the end of the season.  I mentioned this in my previous article, and I think it is still needed.  The NCAA needs to set rules on schedules.  Here are a couple rules that would help level the playing field.

1.  FCS schools can be scheduled as preseason games only.

I understand the concept of scheduling FCS schools.  I understand that some of the FCS programs rely on the dues they are paid to play these games.  They can no longer count as a part of the regular schedule.  Schedule them as preseason games in August.  Everyone would love this!  It would allow college football to be relevant much earlier, everyone would get a preview of what their team looks like, and the teams would get a chance to have a true game before they counted.

2.  Regulate what the non-conference schedule has to be.

Along with no more FCS schools, there needs to be regulations on what the non-conference schedule must be.  Power 5 schools play 9 conference games and 3 non-conference games.  Of those 3 non-conference games, two of them must be against Power 5 opponents, and one of them against a Group of 5 opponent.  One of the Power 5 games is at home, while one is away.  The Group of 5 games alternate year to year between home and away.  Neutral site non-conference games will alternate as counting as a home or away game.  This will level out the playing field with every team being forced to have the same non-conference schedule.  Washington was held back this year by their weak non-conference schedule (even though they played a Power 5 school ... okay, it was Rutgers ... but Rutgers is in the same division as Michigan, Penn St., and Ohio St.).  On the other side, Alabama hasn't played a true road non-conference game since 2011.  That would no longer be allowed either.

3.  The non-conference schedule must be completed before conference games start.

The SEC has been notorious for manipulating their schedule to make it as easy as possible.  For example, I'm going to pick on Alabama once again.  The reason is because they make it so easy.  Every season since 2008, Alabama has scheduled an FCS opponent as their second-to-last game before the Iron Bowl.  Most of the other conferences start their season with their entire non-conference schedule, and then only play conference games the rest of the way.  Not only should it be regulated who you play in non-conference, but it should be regulated when you play your non-conference.  All non-conference games should be played before conference play starts.


Those are my rule proposals to help level the playing field when it comes to schedule.  Now let's talk about this playoff.  I was a big supporter of a 16 team playoff for awhile.  However, once the 6 BCS conference shrunk to the Power 5, and once the College Football Playoff was established, my opinion was adapted.  Although the current CFP is a step in the right direction, there is still much more that can be done, and 2016 is the perfect example to prove me right.  Here are the main flaws with the current system and why an 8 team playoff would be better.

1.  The math doesn't add up.

How can the NCAA claim to have a "Power 5" conference division and yet only allow four teams into the playoff.  In the 3 years of the CFP, the Big 12 has been left out twice, while the Pac 12 was left out last year.  If you have 5 conferences, you should have at least 5 playoff spots.  Either that, or keep the 4 team playoff and make it a Power 4 conferences.

2.  It's hard to win a conference, and it should be rewarded.

This is the first year a team made the CFP without winning their conference championship.  Now, with Ohio St.'s play and resume, I doubt anyone would have much of an argument that they don't belong.  However, this means that for the first time, two conference champions were left out.  I don't think the NCAA and the CFP truly appreciate how hard it is to emerge out of a conference as the champion.  Regardless how strong your conference is, the natural rivalries that develop when you play a team every season make anything possible during conference play.  Washington almost lost to Arizona, Clemson almost lost to NC State, Michigan lost to Iowa.  All three of those are considered inferior opponents this season.  In fact, only two Power 5 schools this season were able to navigate their conference schedule unblemished: Alabama and Oklahoma.  Penn St. and Oklahoma deserve a shot at the championship simply because they won their conference.

3.  Half of the FBS schools have no chance of winning the National Championship.

This was my main argument for a 16 team playoff.  How can you claim to have an FBS division when half of your teams have no shot to win the championship.  Western Michigan did everything they were supposed to do this season.  They scheduled a tough non-conference with two Big 10 teams.  Then they ran the table, finishing 13-0 with a conference championship.  Their final ranking by the CFP committee was 15th.  The CFP made a step in the right direction by guaranteeing a spot in a New Years 6 bowl game for the best Group of 5 team, but they deserve a shot at the whole thing.  When you have a subjective judging method, there will always be bias involved towards the big brands and away from those not traditionally elite.  Many analysts were even saying Washington's spot in the playoff would be nowhere near as disputed as it was if it had been a school like USC fighting for that spot with the same resume.  There needs to be a little more objectivity in the system.


Let's talk about how an 8 team playoff would work and why it would be better.  First, it would truly reward a great season no matter who were.  Power 5 conference champions would be guaranteed a spot.  There would also be a guaranteed spot for the best of the Group of 5.  Many people claim that expanding it to 8 would make the regular season less exciting.  Well, those same people said the same thing about expanding it to 4.  The reality is it is more exciting when more teams are in contention.  This year, Bedlem decided a conference champion.  What if it was for a guaranteed playoff birth?  Few were paying attention to Florida winning their division in the SEC.  What if that win got them into a play-in game for the playoff?  It wouldn't lessen the excitement of the regular season.  It would make it more exciting simply because more games would matter.

Let's talk logistics.  The system would not have to change much.  The playoff would start two weeks after the conference championships (when the bowl season starts).  The first round of the playoffs would take place at the home of the higher ranked team.  There would be 4 of the New Years 6 bowl games set aside.  Two of these games would act as semifinals like they do now.  The other two bowl games would include the losers from the first round of the playoff.  This way everyone still gets the bowl game experience, as well as having two weeks to prepare.  The 8 team field would include the Power 5 conference champions, the best of the Group of 5, and two Wild Cards.  The job of the committee would then be to choose the two Wild Card teams and seed the 8 teams.  Here is how it would look this year, and I dare you to tell me this wouldn't be more exciting than what we have.  Talk about a quadruple header!

Quarterfinals

# 8 Western Michigan at # 1 Alabama

The Broncos deserve a shot.  They wouldn't have much of a shot, but let them play Bama and see if they belong.

# 5 Penn St. at # 4 Washington

Do you want to know which one belongs in the Top 4?  Let them play and find out!

# 7 Oklahoma at # 2 Clemson

Most people would claim that these are the two worst conferences in the Power 5 right now.  This would be a fascinating matchup that I would love to see.

# 6 Michigan at # 3 Ohio St.

You would almost want to have a rule saying no inter-conference games in the quarterfinals, but would anyone argue with a rematch of the best game this season?


All of that in one Saturday.  How exciting would that be!  If these truly are the best four teams, then they would prove it by winning.  In the past, I have called it Holiday Madness because it would recreate some of the magic basketball finds in March.  What makes 2016 the best year so far to do something like this is there are truly 7 teams (8 if you include Western Michigan) that have a legitimate claim to one of the four spots.  So let's make enough spots for them all!

Complete 2015 College Football Preview

It feels so good hearing about college football again. Unlike the NFL, there is not wall-to-wall coverage on every channel talking about the same topics for hours and hours in primetime during the offseason. College football is more of a treat. It doesn’t matter who is talking or what topic it is, if I hear college football, I pay attention. I can’t get enough. This is my favorite article to write every year, and it is also the most expansive and overlong one. But it is complete. Take a look at what the upcoming season could look like. I know I will be referring back to this article several times throughout the season. Enjoy!

Conference Rankings

Atlantic Coast Conference (#5)

ATLANTIC

7. Wake Forest Demon Decans (HC: Dave Clawson, 2nd season) – The team has a bunch of returning starters, but those starters only won 3 games last year. They are a team to watch in the future, but right now there will be more tough sledding.

6. Syracuse Orangemen (HC: Scott Shafer, 3rd season) – The Orange lost the majority of the offensive output to graduation, but they do have 5^th-year QB Terrel Hunt returning, so you have to assume that last year’s 3 wins will at least be topped.

5. NC State Wolfpack (HC: Dave Doeren, 3rd season) – The season for the Wolfpack will ride on the shoulders of Jacoby Brissett, the breakout star from last year’s insanely high scoring affair when the Pack led Florida State for the majority of the game.

4. Boston College Eagles (HC: Steve Addazio, 3rd season) – BC is going to struggle on offense, with many of their key pieces departing, but they can stand their ground on defense. Addazio has the team going in the right direction, but Addazio is going to need someone to step up to be his next horse at RB.

3. Clemson Tigers (HC: Dabo Swinney, 8th season) – The Tigers might have a slight step back with their defense losing their rock Vic Beasley, but they do have rising ACC star Deshaun Watson at QB, who can almost single-handedly take them to 8-9 wins.

2. Louisville Tigers (HC: Bobby Petrino, 2nd season) – The majority of the defense is gone that finished in the top 10 last year, but Petrino constantly surprises with how well he can get his players to buy in and perform well individually. Expect a surprise run by Louisville in ACC play.

1. Florida State Seminoles (HC: Jimbo Fisher, 6th season) – Getting Everett Golson in the offseason was big, seeing as he is a winner and a gamer. He will not be as loved or controversial as Jameis Winston, but he should be able to direct that offense of top recruits to the top of the division. They have not lost a conference game since 2012, and I can see that streak continuing.

 

COASTAL

7. Virginia Cavaliers (HC: Mike London, 6th season) – The Cavaliers have hit a wall with Mike London. Their disastrous run in ACC play last year has him squarely on the hot seat. With their main defensive players leaving early, watch for this struggling program stay in the cellar for another season.

6. North Carolina Tar Heels (HC: Larry Fedora, 4th season) – The team is always loaded with talent, but they constantly underachieve. Adding Gene Chizek as DC is huge for a team that was awful on defense a year ago.

5. Pittsburgh Panthers (HC: Pat Narduzzi, 1st season) – The Panthers have a couple returning studs in WR Tyler Boyd and RB James Conner. It is just unfortunate that the team is stuck in a coaching change after a decent 2014 with Paul Chryst jumping ship after three seasons to Wisconsin.

4. Virginia Tech Hokies (HC: Frank Beamer, 29th season) – The last team to beat Ohio State (still boggles the mind how that happened) needs to gain some consistency on offense to help out a pretty strong Bud Foster defense in order to get back to their previous resting place atop the Coastal division.

3. Miami Hurricanes (HC: Al Golden, 5th season) – Miami has to deal with the departure of all-time leading rusher Duke Johnson, and they could have a tough time at it. They are certainly the biggest question mark in the ACC. They do have ACC Freshman of the Year Brad Kaaya returning under center, at least.

2. Duke Blue Devils (HC: David Cutcliffe, 8th season) – Replacing a QB like the productive Anthony Boone and a WR like Jamison Crowder can be difficult, but Cutcliffe has really recruited well at Duke. Look for the program to remain a threat in the division as long as he is the head coach.

1. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (HC: Paul Johnson, 8th season) – Georgia Tech is one of those teams that is overlooked at the start of every season, but then they end up getting a few good road wins and wind up right there in the thick of the conference race. Having returning starting QB Justin Thomas, the option attack should be humming early on despite losing talent at the other skill positions.

 

Offensive Player of the Year: Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh

Defensive Player of the Year: Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida State

Coach of the Year: Bobby Petrino, Louisville

Conference Championship Game: Florida State over Georgia Tech

Big Ten Conference (#4)

EAST

7. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (HC: Kyle Flood, 4th season) – After winning only one game in conference last year, it is clear that Rutgers is a bit overmatched in the B1G. They are also replacing four-year starter Gary Nova at QB, but that is a good thing. He was awful. Look for the program to have another rough season.

6. Indiana Hoosiers (HC: Kevin Wilson, 5th season) – The program is always a trendy pick to be on the rise, but they just can’t put a whole season together. They abandoned the air attack in favor of giving the ball to the best back in school history (Tevin Coleman), who is now playing on Sundays. The defense might be improved, but it is not good enough yet.

5. Maryland Terrapins (HC: Randy Edsall, 5th season) – The Terps had a nice season, but they have a lot of talent to replace on the roster. Edsall is a great coach, but their gauntlet in the East division is going to be a tall task.

4. Penn State Nittany Lions (HC: James Franklin, 2nd season) – The depth on the team is finally stabilizing, particularly on the worst offensive line in the Big Ten a year ago. Hackenberg makes the team go, and he has to perform more like his freshman campaign than his stale sophomore effort.

3. Michigan Wolverines (HC: John Harbaugh, 1st season) – Harbaugh walks into a program loaded with top recruits and bad player development. The offense is going to be a work in progress while breaking in a new quarterback, but the defense should be solid. This team should be rolling by late October.

2. Michigan State Spartans (HC: Mark Dantonio, 9th season) – Anything less than a second place finish in the conference would be a failure for Sparty. They have arguably the best pocket passer in the nation, and they have a stout defense, despite losing longtime coordinator Pat Narduzzi and their top three players on that side of the ball. Double digit wins should already be penciled in, however.

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (HC: Urban Meyer, 4th season) – The defending National Champions have a problem. Well, it isn’t really a problem. They have three Heisman candidates at one position. Braxton Miller is rumored to be moving to receiver, however, so maybe just two. They had the best roster in the nation last year, and they were supposedly a year away. If this team loses any games, it will be a horrible disappointment.

 

WEST

7. Purdue Boilermakers (HC: Darrell Hazell, 3rd season) – The good news for the Boilermakers is that they have a lot of returning players. The bad news is that very few of them have much talent. They have won only one game in the Big Ten under Hazell.

6. Iowa Hawkeyes (HC: Kirk Ferentz, 17th season) – Kirk Ferentz is on the hot seat. He has a couple conference titles and a couple BCS wins, but most seasons are 7-5 at best, so it might be time to look for a change at the top if that trend continues another year. The offense is going to be ugly, replacing 3 year starter Jake Rudock at QB and pounding Mark Weisman at RB.

5. Illinois Fighting Illini (HC: Tim Beckman, 4th season) – The program is constantly improving under Beckman, even if it is slowly. Wes Lunt should be healthy to be the bonafide starting signal caller this year, and the defense is finally developing a bit of depth. Is it too much to ask for seven wins for the Illini?

4. Northwestern Wildcats (HC: Pat Fitzgerald, 10th season) – They undisputedly have the best coach in the division, and while they are replacing some great players on both sides of the ball, their roster is good enough to compete. But when is Fitzgerald going to be asked to do more? He is always working with less, but being a threat to win the division has to be called for at some point.

3. Nebraska Cornhuskers (HC: Mike Riley, 1st season) – New coach Mike Riley should bring a different feel to the team, especially after getting an offensive coordinator with NFL experience. The defensive front should be a load, but the team is going to win or lose with the offense. Can Riley’s tendency to start slow be nixed in Lincoln?

2. Minnesota Golden Gophers (HC: Jerry Kill, 5th season) – This is probably the toughest team to figure out in the conference. They are constantly undermanned on talent, at least that’s what “experts” think. You watch them play, and they are scrappy and hard-nosed, like their head coach(es). Their top two players on offense in TE Maxx Williams and RB David Cobb are in the NFL, so Mitch Leidner is going to have a lot on his plate, but he is good enough to take them to second in the division.

1. Wisconsin Badgers (HC: Paul Chryst, 1st season) – The transition to Paul Chryst should be seamless since he had spent years in Madison as OC before going to Pitt. Anyone who isn’t familiar with the Badgers would think that there will be a drop-off with Melvin Gordon going pro, but they haven’t seen Corey Coleman. He and that monster O-line should have this team coasting to the divisional crown.

 

Offensive Player of the Year: Ohio State’s Starting Quarterback (JT Barrett or Cardale Jones)

Defensive Player of the Year: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

Coach of the Year: Urban Meyer, Ohio State

Conference Championship Game: Ohio State over Wisconsin

Pacific-12 Conference (#3)

NORTH

6. Oregon State Beavers (HC: Gary Andersen, 1st season) – If there is anyone who can make Corvallis relevant, it is a coach like Gary Andersen. However, he is going to want to change up the offensive culture, so the transition may take a few years. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are fighting for a division title by 2018.

5. Washington State Cougars (HC: Mike Leach, 4th season) – Luke Falk quietly became a reason for hope in Pullman when QB Connor Halliday went down with injury a season ago. He has the tools to run Leach’s air raid offense, but losing arguably the best receiver in program history Vince Mayle is going to sting a bit. The defense will be the key to whether they can get back to a bowl game or not.

4. California Golden Bears (HC: Sonny Dykes, 3rd season) – Jared Goff has created a lot of NFL Draft hype after his electrifying breakout season last year, so he will need to capitalize on that. Dykes seems to finally be getting his offense established, but as usual with the Bears, the success will hinge on whether they can stop anyone.

3. Washington Huskies (HC: Chris Petersen, 2nd season) – Last year’s starting QB Cyler Miles retired, so the Dawgs are looking for a new option for Petersen to play with. The rest of the offense remains intact, but the defense got decimated with four players taken in the first two rounds of the draft. This will be Petersen’s toughest coaching job of his career, so can he earn his stripes?

2. Stanford Cardinal (HC: David Shaw, 5th season) – Kevin Hogan had a disappointing junior season last year, so the Cardinal need him to return to his gamer status of the previous year for them to take the division. The best defense in the league has most of its key pieces returning as well.

1. Oregon Ducks (HC: Mark Helfrich, 3rd season) – They will have a slight step back without Heisman winner Marcus Mariota calling the shots, but Eastern Washington transfer (and the #1 rated passer in FCS) Vernon Adams is a great option in Helfrich’s offense. The defense will have to replace a few NFL draftee spots, but it should be good enough to let the high-flying offense win most games.

 

SOUTH

6. Utah Utes (HC: Kyle Whittingham, 11th season) – It may raise some eyebrows having someone other than Colorado in the cellar of the South, but Utah really is at a crossroads. They had their best Pac-12 season last year, but they still have uncertainty at QB with Travis Wilson, and both of their coordinators jumped ship. The defense must replace some key pieces as well. Look for a disappointing season for Whittingham’s Utes.

5. Colorado Buffalos (HC: Mike MacIntyre, 3rd season) – Sefo Liufau really lit it up last year when calling the plays for the 40^th best offense in the nation. If The Buffs get some stability at RB and on their defensive front, then they can start to pile up a few conference wins.

4. UCLA Bruins (HC: Jim Mora, 4th season) – The Bruins are breaking in a new starter at quarterback, which may take some adjusting, but the rest of the offense returns. The team is going to struggle on the defensive side of the ball, despite do-everything LB Myles Jack entering his junior (and probably final) season in Pasadena.

3. Arizona Wildcats (HC: Rich Rodriguez, 4th season) – Rich Rodriguez finally has a QB that he can groom with real talent. Anu Solomon led the team to the Pac-12 Title Game and was the only team to beat Oregon in the regular season. With Scooby Wright leading a tough defensive group, the Wildcats should be in contention for another double-digit win season.

2. USC Trojans (HC: Steve Sarkisian, 2nd season) – This team is loaded with returning talent, even though their two best players from 2014 are now in the NFL. Cody Kessler should rip up every defense he faces, and the defense should be stout. Sarkisian has yet to prove that he can take a team over-the-top, however. This is the best team that he has ever coached.

1. Arizona State Sun Devils (HC: Todd Graham, 3rd season) – The success of the Sun Devils really depends on Mike Bercovici, the new starting QB who filled in well for Taylor Kelly last year when called upon. The most underrated part of this program is the recruiting, which has stacked the roster with defensive talent and incredible athletes. Look for the Devils to represent the South in the title game.

 

Offensive Player of the Year: Mike Bercovici, QB, Arizona State

Defensive Player of the Year: Scooby Wright, LB, Arizona

Coach of the Year: Todd Graham, Arizona State

Conference Championship Game: Arizona State over Oregon

Southeastern Conference (#2)

EAST

7. Vanderbilt Commodores (HC: Derek Mason, 2nd season) – Vanderbilt was one of the worst offensive teams in the nation last year, and without continuity at QB, there is no really reason to think that they will be much better. The defense should be slightly improved, but look for another winless conference season for the Commodores.

6. South Carolina Gamecocks (HC: Steve Spurrier, 11th season) – Even though the team had one of its worst seasons under Spurrier last year, this season might even be worse. They lost all of their offensive talent, and their defense, which was one of the worst in the nation, did little to improve other than fire their coordinator.

5. Kentucky Wildcats (HC: Mark Stoops, 3rd season) – Kentucky is slowly improving under Stoops, and this will be his most talented team. Boom Williams will attempt to fill the void from departed stud Braylon Heard at tailback, and the defense should be able to reload due to Stoops and his commendable recruiting in Lexington.

4. Florida Gators (HC: Jim McElwain, 1st season) – Florida did show improvement last year, but not enough. They have their coach now, but the lack of real talent will prevent them from contending in the division just yet. The offense will be improved, but the defense might take a step back without Muschamp’s influence. However, they still have Vernon Hargreaves, who is an NFL CB still in college.

3. Tennessee Volunteers (HC: Butch Jones, 3rd season) – Everyone is hyping Tennessee, which happens every other year it seems. I am not as impressed by Joshua Dobbs as everyone else. It almost reminds me of Chris Relf at Mississippi State a while back. He is just a big-bodied athletic QB returning from a nice season, and he gets benched halfway through the year. Maybe I will be wrong. The team will win on defense, though, with a stout D-line and one of the best secondaries in the SEC.

2. Missouri Tigers (HC: Gary Pinkel, 15th season) – Missouri is the team that we love to overlook, but they have made the last two SEC Championship games. Maty Mauk is the grittiest and most successful QB in the program’s recent history. The team might struggle some on the defensive side, but Pinkel is the best coach in this division. The team will be playing well by midseason.

1. Georgia Bulldogs (HC: Mark Richt, 15th season) – Richt is always on the hot seat, but this year he needs to win the division or he may well take that hot seat to the boiling point. Nick Chubb is the best RB in the SEC. They have Brian Schottenheimer as their new coordinator. The defense is far better than previous seasons. It is all or nothing for the Bulldogs this year.

WEST

7. Texas A&M Aggies (HC: Kevin Sumlin, 4th season) – The Aggies struggled to find stability at QB in 2014, as well as find any sort of defensive pressure. Kyle Allen might be the answer under center, but despite all of the moves Sumlin made on defense, they are a couple years away from really having a unit that can compete in this division.

6. Mississippi State Bulldogs (HC: Dan Mullen, 7th season) – For a program that was ranked #1 for about a month last season, it seems weird to have them ranked 6^th in their own division. Dak Prescott, Heisman candidate, returns at QB, but that is about it. Josh Robinson must be replaced at RB, as well as a ton of players on defense. It is a rebuilding year for Mullen.

5. Mississippi Rebels (HC: Hugh Freeze, 4th season) – Freeze’s team has a ton of talent at WR and on the defensive line, but they must replace popular QB Bo Wallace. They have the top-ranked JC-transfer QB, but those players usually take time to really get going. I expect the team to struggle early on offense, but the defense should be ready immediately.

4. Arkansas Razorbacks (HC: Bret Bielema, 3rd season) – It didn’t take too long for Bielema to get his style rolling at Arkansas. They have Brandon Allen back under center, a backfield loaded with talent, and a monster offensive line. Their top 10 defense from a year ago has some players to replace in the front seven, but they should still be a tough unit that will not lose them any games on their own.

3. Auburn Tigers (HC: Gus Malzahn, 3rd season) – Auburn will have a more balanced offense with Jeremy Johnson at QB, and the defense should be much better than the putrid efforts we have seen in the past few years. Will Muschamp will make an immediate impact and put this team in position to win the division with some luck.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (HC: Nick Saban, 9th season) – A five-way competition at QB is not healthy. I am sure that one of them will emerge and be a great player in this conference, but it is not the way you want to open camp. They have NFL talent all over the field, led by Derrick Henry at RB and Reggie Ragland at MLB.

1. LSU Tigers (HC: Les Miles, 11th season) – The Tigers do not have a bonafide starter at quarterback, but Miles has shown in the past that he is one of the rare coaches who can make splitting snaps actually work. Leonard Fournette talks a big game, but he actually backed it up late in 2014. The offense should be better than last year’s 13^th-ranked SEC squad, and the defense should take another step forward. This may be a surprise, but I really think they have the most talented roster in the conference.

 

Offensive Player of the Year: Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia

Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M

Coach of the Year: Gary Pinkel, Missouri

Conference Championship Game: Georgia over LSU

Big 12 Conference (#1)

10. Kansas Jayhawks (HC: David Beaty, 1st season) – The perennial worst team in the Big 12 looks to stay there for at least another couple seasons. The new offense showed a couple flashes last year, but the defense is still abysmal and they only return five starters. If they win a game in conference, I would be surprised.

9. Iowa State Cyclones (HC: Paul Rhodes, 7th season) – Mark Mangino’s offense has now had a bit of time to be installed, so the team will likely not be winless in conference play in 2015 as they were a year ago. The team was one of the absolute worst defenses in the nation last year. They can only go up, and at least they have one team they know they can beat in Kansas.

8. Kansas State Wildcats (HC: Bill Snyder, 24th season) – The cornerstone offensive players for Snyder’s offense departed in the offseason, so they will have a tough time scoring until they really settle in. The defense should be strong, however. The Wildcats will likely take one step back before charging forward again to compete in the conference.

7. Texas Tech (HC: Kliff Kingsbury, 3rd season) – We are still not sure who their quarterback will be, but the offense is stuffed with returning starters. The team is never going to be good on defense, so if they can outscore teams, they can win games in the Big 12.

6. West Virginia Mountaineers (HC: Dana Holgorson, 5th season) – The Mountaineers are breaking in a whole new offensive crew, but if anyone can have a team ready by week one, it is Holgorson. The team just needs to get a defense. If they can get even a competent unit to take pressure off the offense, then they will be a contender year in and year out.

5. Texas Longhorns (HC: Charlie Strong, 2nd season) – The offense will be lead by Jonathan Gray at running back, but they have yet to really have a QB emerge. Despite a few lopsided losses last year, the defense will be what the team relies on.

4. Oklahoma State Cowboys (HC: Mike Gundy, 11th season) – The positive for Oklahoma State’s substandard 2014 was that they were extremely young. Almost all of their talent is back, and especially the offense will be humming early. They are a sleeper in the stacked Big 12.

3. Oklahoma Sooners (HC: Bob Stoops, 17th season) – The Sooners probably have the best overall roster in the league. The offense will look somewhat different, but one thing we know is that Samaje Perine will be a stud at tailback. The defense has some holes to fill, but they are loaded, especially at linebacker. They are going to be a tough team in 2015.

2. TCU Horned Frogs (HC: Gary Patterson, 16th season) – The Frogs will have one of the elite offenses in the nation with almost their entire unit returning. Surprisingly, the issue last year was defense and depth. If they can fill the void of their departed NFL talent, they can cruise through the conference and gain a spot in the College Football Playoff.

1. Baylor Bears (HC: Art Briles, 8th season) – Seth Russell is the new QB who will put up unholy amounts of yards and touchdowns for the twice-defending top offense in the nation. Almost all of the pieces are back from a team that should have been in the playoff, but the defense is still what might hold them back. They have one of the top D-linemen in the league in Shawn Oakman returning, and even the secondary returns all four starters. Look for Baylor to run the table.

 

Offensive Player of the Year: Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU

Defensive Player of the Year: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State

Coach of the Year: Art Briles, Baylor

Conference Champion: Baylor

Top 5 College Football Playoff Busters

5. Houston Cougars – The Cougars had a horrible offense in 2014, but hiring Tom Herman from Ohio State will certainly help that cause. They had a top 10 defense, and most of that unit is returning. Their schedule is cake. If they can take down Louisville, they can potentially run the table if the offense clicks.

                Toughest games: at Louisville, vs Vanderbilt, vs Cincinnati, vs Navy

4. Navy Midshipmen – The key to this team is that 4-year starting QB Keenan Reynolds is back. He can single-handedly take the team to eight wins. Can they win the AAC in their first season in the conference? I wouldn’t doubt it.

                Toughest games: at Notre Dame, at Memphis, at Houston

3. Cincinnati Bearcats – Cincinnati returns stud QB Gunner Kiel and a potent offense. They had a horrendous defense last season, but they roll into 2015 as the favorite in the American Athletic Conference regardless.

                Toughest games: at Memphis, vs Miami, at BYU, at Houston

2. Utah State Aggies – The big positive for the Aggies is getting back QB Chuckie Keeton. He was a fringe Heisman candidate in 2013 before losing his entire 2014 due to injury. Defense is usually strong in this program as well. They get Boise at home. Watch out for another potential double-digit win season for Matt Wells and his Aggies.

                Toughest games: at Utah, at Washington, vs Boise State, at San Diego State

1. Boise State Broncos – The Broncos are absolutely the best team (other than Notre Dame) outside of the Power 5 conferences. They return nine starters on offense, but the two they are missing are QB and RB. They should have the best defense in the Mountain West as well. Looking at their schedule, an unbeaten year is definitely doable.

                Toughest games: vs Washington, at BYU, at Virginia, at Utah State

Top 5 Defenses

5. Mississippi Rebels – Look at any list of the best defensive players in the country, and Mississippi is sprinkled through all of them. On paper, they are maybe the best in the nation. The same could have been said about Georgia in 2012 with All Americans all over, but they were not a team. I fear the same could be true here, but we shall see.

4. Stanford Cardinal – The best defense a year ago in the Pac-12 returns most of its unit, but it doesn’t matter anyway. Other than Ohio State, this is the deepest defense in the nation.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes – I have said since early 2014 that Ohio State had the best roster in FBS, and they were all young. This defense is going to be scary good. I can’t see too many teams breaking 21 points on them.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide – Alabama once again has to reload on this side of the ball, but that should not be much of an issue. The Tide play so many players in rotation that when called upon to start the next season, the 5 star recruits jump right in and perform like seasoned All-SEC players. The same is true of this year’s group.

1. Michigan State Spartans – The Spartans own what is almost undisputedly the best defensive line in the nation. They were one of only two teams to average giving up less than 100 yards rushing in 2014 (Boston College), and their secondary is nearly as stout. If any team can take down Ohio State in the regular season, it is this defense.

Top 5 Offenses

5. Auburn Tigers – Gus Malzahn is going to have fun with this group. With a host of returning talent and a quarterback who can actually convert third downs through the air, look for this team to put up 35 on most SEC defenses.

4. Oregon Ducks – The Ducks have some options. Their backfield is stacked as usual, but their situation at quarterback is interesting. They can have one of two styles. Either way, they will be borderline unstoppable in the Pac-12.

3. TCU Horned Frogs – The Frogs have essentially their entire offense back. Ever since Patterson decided to revamp the roster and make it a spread air raid attack, they have absolutely scorched the opposition. Trevon Boykin, barring an unforeseen regression, should be a Heisman candidate all year.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes – Whoever ends up quarterbacking this team is going to look like the best player in the nation. With Braxton Miller moving to wide out, the options are the record-setter JT Barrett and the mightily impressive Cardale Jones. The offense could have a slightly different look either way they go, but Urban Meyer’s offense will be nearly impossible to handle.

1. Baylor Bears – The Bears have had the #1 ranked offense each of the past two seasons. They lead in basically every category other than time of possession. This year will be no different, barring a learning curve for QB Seth Russell.

Top 5 Coach of the Year Contenders

5. Gary Pinkel, Missouri – If Missouri can make another run at the SEC Championship Game, then the nation may finally have to recognize how great of a coach this guy is. It would be his most impressive feat yet if he can pull it off with this team, but doubt them at your own risk.

4. Todd Graham, Arizona State – The Sun Devils are absolutely good enough to win the Pac-12. Most of the time, this award goes to the most extreme defying of expectations, and that would absolutely be if ASU makes a legitimate run at the CFP.

3. Mark Richt, Georgia – Richt is always maligned and doubted, but this is potentially his best team in Athens. An SEC Championship would catapult him into the discussion for this award.

2. Urban Meyer, Ohio State – He didn’t win last year. How? You got me…

1. Art Briles, Baylor – He is going to be in the press all year, and suddenly the pressure is squarely on him and his team. They are the twice defending conference champions, and they are going to start the year in the top 5. If he can put up that kind of offense and do it on national TV every week, it is going to be incredibly hard to not give him this award.

Top 5 NFL Draft Prospects

5. Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida – 5’11’’ 192 LB. The kid is a star at corner, maybe even better than Janoris Jenkins was in Gainesville. He will likely lead the SEC in most relevant categories if the QBs are inclined to throw his direction.

4. Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida State – 6’1’’ 194 LB. Ramsey has pretty much been the best player on that defense for two seasons. Word is that he is going to play more of a corner position this year for the Seminoles, which just makes him more versatile, in more plays, and an even better NFL prospect.

3. Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State – 6’4’’ 218 LB. He is the most seasoned quarterback in college football. It would not exactly be a sexy pick to take him in the top five in the 2016 draft, but it would be a smart move if your team needs leadership and stability. All the guy does is convert third downs. It is the most frustrating thing to watch if you are a fan of the other team.

2. Robert Nkemdiche, DE, Mississippi – 6’5’’ 293 LB. He was a former #1 ranked recruit, and his 2014 play reflected that ranking. The guy is an absolute monster and has the perfect measurables to be the top pick in the draft.

1. Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State – 6’6’’ 276 LB. Yes, he was suspended for the first game, but that will not hurt his draft stock after he wreaks havoc on the Big 10 and all other teams. He is virtually unblockable, almost a JJ Watt-type player and his motor is that of Ndamukong Suh. He will be the top pick in the draft unless someone really needs a quarterback.

Top 10 Heisman Contenders

10. Mike Bercovici, QB, Arizona State – If Arizona State is going to have the kind of season that I am predicting, then Bercovici must have had a whale of a year statistically.

9. Corey Clement, RB, Wisconsin – Filling in for Melvin Gordon is difficult, but in his backup time last year Clement showed burst and a ton of talent. Paul Chryst loves to run the ball as much as Bielema and Andersen did.

8. Cody Kessler, QB, USC – The Heisman voters love USC quarterbacks, and Kessler has the potential to be the best one since Matt Leinart. If he continues to develop with that trend, then he will be an easy Heisman candidate.

7. Jeremy Johnson, QB, Auburn – Manning Gus Malzahn’s crazy offense isn’t easy, but he actually has the dual threats to really light it up.

6. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State – His breakout season a year ago definitely puts him in the thick of this discussion. He is one of the most talented backs in the nation, and we know he will have his opportunities in Meyer’s ingenious offense.

5. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia – For my money, Chubb is the best running back in college football. In limited time when Todd Gurley was on and off the field, he was a superstar and immediately became the best player on that offense. The team is going to lean on him this year.

4. Seth Russell, QB, Baylor – In the Baylor offense, you are going to put up stats. If your team is approaching an undefeated season, you are a Heisman candidate. That is the only difference there was between Bryce Petty and Nick Florence. Or you can just have flash and a flair for the dramatic like RGIII.

3. Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU – He should be the frontrunner, but he was so improved last year that it is hard to see him completely replicating his record-setting year at TCU. I understand why he is the Vegas odd-on favorite, though.

2. Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State – If he starts, I expect him to win the Heisman. He is likeable, a true dual threat, and his audition in the three biggest games of the year were as impressive as any I can remember.

1. JT Barrett, QB, Ohio State – If he starts, I expect him to win the Heisman. Once he got that ugly game against Virginia Tech out of the way, he was statistically the best quarterback in Ohio State history. A second season in that offense, barring health layovers, should produce all the awards imaginable.

Preseason Top 25

Others receiving votes: Louisville, Missouri, Penn State, Texas, Utah State

25. UCLA

24. Mississippi

23. Duke

22. Minnesota

21. Arizona

20. Boise State

19. Oklahoma State

18. Oklahoma

17. Clemson

16. Stanford

15. LSU

14. Georgia Tech

13. Arkansas

12. Florida State

11. Arizona State

10. Notre Dame

9. USC

8. Oregon

7. Michigan State

6. Auburn

5. Georgia

4. Alabama

3. TCU

2. Baylor

1. Ohio State

Bowl Predictions

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: USC over Boise State

Rose Bowl: Michigan State over Arizona State

Fiesta Bowl: TCU over Alabama

Sugar Bowl: LSU over Oregon

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Orange Bowl): Georgia over Ohio State

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Cotton Bowl): Baylor over Florida State

National Championship Game: Georgia over Baylor

 

Thoughts? Complaints? Overlooks? Let me know in the comments!

Week 4 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, Playoff Projections

I typically like to do one of these every week, but due to a busy schedule, I was unavailable to do one the past couple weeks. I almost prefer to not update every week now. This way I can tear up what I had before and start over, rather than involuntarily going off my previous week’s rankings. I will publish as much as I can, however. Check out what this week’s action did for the landscape of this college football season below.

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Duke, Marshall, Ohio State, TCU, Washington

Dropped from the rankings: Pittsburgh (20), Ohio State (24)

25 (NR). Wisconsin (2-1) – Melvin Gordon: 250+ yards and 5 TDs on 13 carries…what a freak! He is the next Jamaal Charles. The team goes as he goes.

24 (25). East Carolina (3-1) – After a third straight victory over North Carolina and dropping 700+ yards and 70 points, we have potentially the scariest non-AQ team in the nation.

23 (NR). BYU (4-0) – It is difficult to really judge this team who dominates first halves and then falters in the second halves, but they are a potent offense and near unbeatable at home.

22 (18). Kansas State (2-1) – They did everything possible to lose to Auburn on Thursday night. They were the better team on that day, and maybe overall, but they need to shut the door. K-State is on the cusp of greatness far too often to never really get over the top.

21 (23). Oklahoma State (2-1) – IDLE.

20 (22). Arizona (4-0) – They were aided by a miracle 36 point 4^th quarter and hail mary to take down upset-minded and improved Cal. They are potentially the most explosive and prolific offense in the nation not called Baylor or Oregon.

19 (17). Stanford (2-1) – IDLE.

18 (16). USC (2-1) – IDLE.

17 (8). LSU (3-1) – They were physically dominated for about 55 minutes against Mississippi State before mounting a near comeback in the final moments. This team just isn’t as great defensively as they need to be to take that division.

16 (14). Mississippi (3-0) – IDLE.

15 (15). Arizona State (3-0) – IDLE.

14 (10). Georgia (2-1) – They may have dismantled a team in record fashion, but they get a net loss on the weekend when South Carolina struggled to beat the worst Power 5 team in the nation.

13 (19). Nebraska (4-0) – The offense is humming and the defense showed some attitude in the renewed rivalry game against Miami. The Big Ten’s chances might very well rest on the shoulders of Nebraska and Ameer Abdullah.

12 (7). Auburn (3-0) – They basically lost on the road, but they survive and advance, I guess. The conference games are what will define this team, just like last year after they nearly got beat by WSU and then nearly ran the table.

11 (13). Michigan State (3-1) – The Big Ten had a big weekend, and Michigan State is continuing to prove that they may be the best team in the conference. Losing in Eugene should not take them out of playoff contention.

10 (21). Mississippi State (4-0) – The Bulldogs finally get a big time win when it still matters! This team is always on the verge of competing, and after a huge road win in Death Valley, they are right in the thick of the race.

9 (9). UCLA (3-0) – IDLE.

8 (12). Penn State (4-0) – No one else really buys into this team as much as I do, but whenever I see them, I am fully impressed. Hackenberg could carry this team all the way to the B1G Title Game.

7 (11). Alabama (4-0) – The defense is not what we have come accustomed to, but Lane Kiffen has really ignited that offense. They could outscore almost the entire conference.

6 (5). Florida State (3-0) – The ‘Noles got extremely lucky to survive without Jameis Winston at home, but they did it in overtime. The defense is still really good, and the running game was able to show its power. They aren’t good enough to go unbeaten, though.

5 (6). Oklahoma (4-0) – Winning in Morgantown should not be underestimated. This team is as strong of a Sooner team as there has been since 2008.

4 (3). Baylor (3-0) – IDLE.

3 (2). Notre Dame (3-0) – IDLE.

2 (1). Oregon (4-0) – The offensive line was exposed in Pullman, one of the toughest places for teams to travel to. They will get it together and look back at this game as a learning experience.

1 (4). Texas A&M (4-0) – Kenny Hill has taken this team to places that Johnny Football never did. The offense simply cannot be stopped, it appears. I like them to take the SEC.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Tennessee at Georgia (#14), 9:00AM ESPN – Tennessee is a decent team, despite what we saw from them against Oklahoma a couple weeks ago. Georgia can be beaten again if they bottle up Gurley. This could be start of a bit of a lull in the Bulldog schedule after a tough stretch to start. PREDICTION: Georgia 28-24

4. Florida State (#6) at NC State, 12:30PM ABC/ESPN2 – This may not seem like a great game, but the last time that the Seminoles traveled to Raleigh they were upended and received their only loss of the year. Can it happen again to a newly cocky and seemingly vulnerable team against a team that hasn’t lost yet? PREDICTION: Florida State 31-24

3. Stanford (#19) at Washington, 1:15PM – This will probably wind up on one of the Pac-12 Network channels. Every time these teams get together, something crazy happens. For the fans in the west, this has got to be one of the top games of the weekend. PREDICTION: Stanford 35-31

2. Arkansas vs Texas A&M (#1) (in Dallas), 12:30PM CBS – Arkansas has improved since their opening loss to Auburn, and they get the best team in the nation on a neutral field. This could be a trap game for the Aggies before they get into the meat of their conference schedule. PREDICTION: Texas A&M 48-38

1. UCLA (#9) at Arizona State (#15), THU 7:00PM FS1 – Arizona State is the most underappreciated team in the country, and UCLA still is the most talented. This is one of those weird Thursday night matchups where we get an amazing game that isn’t even on ESPN. Ridiculous. PREDICTION: Arizona State 24-23

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Kenny Hill, QB, Texas A&M – I am beginning to think that anyone can put up numbers in that offense, but it has rarely looked as easy and exciting as it does with Hill calling the plays.

4. Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor – He might put up historic numbers this year, and if the team is able to run the table, then he might be an easy winner in the end.

3. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia – He barely played against Troy, but he still has a couple insane games to carry his candidacy to the top.

2. Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska – He is the entire team, and he has had a few Heisman-type moments already. If the Huskers continue to win, then he needs to be invited.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – He had a very methodical and productive game despite getting sacked 7 times at WSU. He will be the frontrunner until they lose.

College Football Playoff Projections

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Arizona State over East Carolina

Cotton Bowl: Alabama over Nebraska

Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma over BYU

Orange Bowl: Florida State over Michigan State

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Rose Bowl): Baylor over Texas A&M

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Sugar Bowl): Notre Dame over Oregon

National Championship Game: Notre Dame over Baylor

What did you think of this weekend? Rankings? Heisman predictions? Let me know below!

If I Were in Charge: 5 Ways to Fix the NCAA

I love this time of year.  It takes a lot for me to say that because I love the summer, and it is quite depressing as it comes to an end every year.  However, with the fall comes football which makes it all worth it.  We are well into yet another fantastic football season.  I love the NFL, but I catch myself more attracted to college football; partially because of all the teams to follow, but also because I usually have more time on Saturdays to sit and enjoy.  However, you can't talk about the great product on the field without mentioning all the drama and debate that has followed the game.  For every good story, there seems to be two more controversies, whether it be improper benefits, BCS vs. playoffs, or conference realignment.  To me, it seems the NCAA is sitting back and letting controversy define their product (which is still pretty amazing as it is) when it could be so much better.  It is always easier to make and question the decisions when you aren't the one responsible for them, but here are five things I would change in the way the NCAA runs college football that would make it the sport as great as it can be.

1.  Administrate, don't just police.

Ever since Mark Emmert was named the president of the NCAA, it has seemed that the NCAA as a body has become a policing agency, handing out suspensions and probations to anyone who seems to think about breaking the rules.  Roger Goddell's NFL has become very similar.  However, that's not what an administrator is for necessarily.  Sure, it is part of it, but the overall goal is to make the situation better.  Focusing so much on the negatives does not accomplish this.  Also, if so many are breaking the rules, maybe the rule is what is broken, not the violator.  Part of the problem is Mark Emmert may be the president of the NCAA,  but the university presidents have more power than he does.  If they want him to be the NCAA disciplinarian, great.  Change his title.  However, if he is the president and administrator, let him administrate.  So many times I hear about how this change should be made or that change should be made, but the university presidents won't allow it.  That's why you hired an unbiased administrator to make those decisions.  Let him do it.  When you allow the universities to make decisions, they have shown their decisions are made to do what is best for the university when decisions should be made to help benefit the student-athletes and the overall game.  Let you administrator be more than the disciplinarian.  All these other changes are assuming the fact that this happens.

2.  Fix the Conferences

Ever since Nebraska jumped ship from the Big 12 to the Big Ten before the 2011 season, there has been a mass conference realignment taking place.  Much of it has been based on (what else) money, while some were based on competition levels.  Either way, the landscape of the NCAA has been in a constant state of transition for the last three years, and it is not over with big-name schools like Maryland and Rutgers scheduled to switch conferences next year.  Many people say this is going to continue to transition and change until the NCAA consists of four "super-conferences."  There have been other rumors about creating a new division (Division 4) of the NCAA for all the big conference schools.  I have written articles on several of these possible alternatives on how they could work.  They are both solid options, but why do we have to go through 10 years of weird transition time and schools abandoning tradition for a pay day when we can institute one of these programs now and save all this in between time?

I have a couple problems with what is going on here.  First, the university should not have control over what conference they are in.  If you are going to bother with having an over-arching NCAA administration, then this is something that administration should have power over.  Second, all your BCS conferences should have the same rules, especially concerning conference dues.  The fact that schools like Nebraska, Texas A&M, Missouri, and Colorado ran from the Big 12 because Texas controls the conference and has rules that benefit them over everyone else in the conference is just wrong.  Third, stop pretending some of this conference realignment is about the academics, or keeping some schools out of conferences because of the academics.  Have a set academic standard across the NCAA (or again, at least in the BCS conferences) that all schools have to meet.  Finally, if you know where all this realignment is heading in the long run, institute that program now and make realignment a decision that comes from your NCAA administrator.  All of this will allow traditions to remain while keeping an overall majority of schools happy, as well as settle the uneasiness and transition the NCAA conferences are currently in.  It also keeps small schools from trying to jump up to the big conferences because of a couple years of success.  That doesn't mean a small school can't elevate themselves, but have a system set up that can qualify schools (like Boise St.) for a BCS conference while also having a system that can demote schools that are less successful.

3.  Schedules are set by the NCAA, not the individual schools.

Over the last few weeks in college football, it has been exposed just how much of a joke this is.  Why are schools allowed to schedule FCS teams in the middle of their conference play?  Sure, they pay the small schools a sum able to help support their program, but when it pads the schedules of championship contenders with wins that don't even have a chance to compete, there is something wrong.  This happens because the schools control their schedules.  Having these small schools on their schedule make it easier to contend then scheduling a game that could actually pose a challenge.  Also, when was the last time Alabama traveled to the west coast for a non-bowl game?  It was 2000 when they traveled to play UCLA.  Between now and then, they have only played four road non-conference games.  Especially recently, if they have a big non-conference game, it is in Tuscaloosa or at a neutral site close to home (Dallas is the furthest away they have gone).  Nick Saban has only played one road non-conference game, Penn St. in 2011 (and that was after Penn St. came to Alabama the year before).  There are years where they don't even play a BCS conference school in their non-conference schedule.  Now I'm picking on Alabama because, frankly, it's easy to do, but I could say the same about most of the BCS conference schools (yes, even my beloved Cornhuskers).  The fact that schools are allowed to stack their schedule has to change.  Let the NCAA set the football schedules.  With most schools having three non-conference games, BCS schools should have scheduled two BCS schools (one home, one away) in non-conference and one non-BCS school (alternating each year home/away).  FCS schools should not be allowed in the picture.  Also, schools cannot change their schedule.  They are set.  Wouldn't that make for a fun season?

4.  Set the playoff you want.

Similar to the conference realignment, a lot of people say the playoff system entering the picture in 2014 will eventually be expanded after everyone complains that the 4 team playoff is not enough.  The reason it took so long and is only at four right now is because, once again, university presidents didn't want to lose the money the bowl games offered them.  Also, their stacked schedules to pad their stats wouldn't mean so much if they ended up having to work on the back end to get to a championship game.  The NCAA administrator should be able to make a change like this that will better the game instead of letting the university presidents telling him what his job is and isn't.  Set up an 8-team or 16-team playoff.  I would like a 16-team playoff personally (see my Holiday Madness article), but set up the system you want.  Don't put the game into even more of a transition than it already is.  You can even keep the bowl games since they will mean as much with a playoff as they do without.  Just get an adequate playoff system in place.

5.  Pay the players as student workers.

It seems like more schools have been reprimanded over the last few years for improper benefits than not, highlighted by Johnny Manziel and Reggie Bush.  This is one rule where if so many schools are breaking it, maybe the system is broken.  Now I'm not saying making college football a way for a player to make millions of dollars, but there is a serious problem with the current system where universities make billions of dollars on their football teams, coaches are multi-millionaires, but the players don't have money for food.  The fact is being a student-athlete, especially in a high-profile sport at a high-profile university, is a full-time job.  Between school, practice, games, conditioning, etc., there is no time to work.  Sure, they get a free education, but when kids are coming from low-income areas (or even middle-class) and the only way they are able to attend college is their free education, then just tuition is not enough.  Other students are allowed to be employed by the university in libraries and offices and are therefore paid by the university for services rendered.  Why can't the same happen with athletes?  Allow scholarshipped athletes to be paid a maximum of 20 hours per week at minimum wage (like other student workers are allowed to do), and also provide transportation for parents to come see their kids play once or twice a year.  This isn't excessive in any way.  It doesn't allow for a bidding war for recruits or anything like that.  It's just fair.

So those are my ideas to improve college football.  Like I said, it's pretty great as it is, but it could be so much better.  Now these are things that would improve football.  Maybe another move the NCAA could do is have different rules and conference alignments and such set up for other sports.  Allow each sport to function in a way that is best for it instead of trying to find one system that works for everything.  Either way, I won't stop watching, but I also won't stop wishing...