The old narrative as to why we have no college football playoff is that "it's the best sport already" and "every game matters" and a playoff would ruin what's great. So, we "can can't change it."
POPPYCOCK. Let's put this tired narrative to rest. The bowl system and the TV money grab is ruining college football. It started with the BCS and got worse with the CFP "playoff."
I'm old enough to remember that being a league champ and going to your traditional bowl for your traditional matchup against another league champ WAS EVERYTHING. The national championship was a vote. It mattered but was somewhat of an afterthought. Now winning your league only matters as a stepping stone and it's been that way for about 15 years.
The BCS really changed all that. TV contracts -- and a giant popularity contest at the end w/endless debate (now magnified by ubiquitous social media). All the "SEC. SEC. or B1G B1G" chants about "league pride" is a recent phenomenon. Why? Because perception of league strength matters to the beauty contest at the end of the season. The CFB Playoff only mad a bad system worse.
Every game doesn't matter. Look at #5 2-loss Georgia. ND doesn't have to play a championship game. Alabama and the SEC don't get punished for chickenshit Saturday.
Attendance is falling because NO ONE wants to spend a ton of money to see crappy games.
Unless you're in the playoffs... players really don't care about bowls. Look, Ward started it for us last year but the trend of players sitting out meaningless bowls (as they should for business reasons) is going to keep growing.
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A true playoff would make College Football more exciting. How so? First, NO MORE FCS opponents schedule. Play quality no conference games. Have Texas, Bama, USC come to Ohio Stadium again in the fall. Everyone would rather see QUALITY football and "fear of losing out on it all" in week 2 shouldn't keep us from seeing those games. Second, this is America and you should have to earn stuff on the field of play. Beauty contests with tired "The SEC is so great" narratives suck. It hasn't been true for a long time. BAMA is great. The rest of the SEC vacillates every year. Third, Winning your league should matter again. Everyone should play 9 league games and Conference Championship games should be scrapped. Young teams that grow get a chance. Teams that are lazy and coast will flame out.
The BONUS? Everyone would get so much more money, too. Ratings would go up early in the year and late in the year. Attendance at college football games (especially an "on campus" first round) would go up. Let's do this.
