If there was a playoff ...

[bws258]

... would Auburn and Oregon make it to the Championship game?

Auburn, AL
1 Auburn (SEC Champ)
8 Virginia Tech (ACC Champ)

Madison, WI
4 Wisconsin (Big Ten Champ)
5 Stanford (At Large)

Dallas, TX
3 TCU (MWC Champ)
6 Ohio St (Big Ten Champ)

Eugene, OR
2 Oregon (Pac-10 Champ)
7 Oklahoma (Big XII Champ)

Sorry Michigan St, you are left out, again.

 

[tm3308]

2nd round:

Auburn vs. Stanford

Oregon vs. Ohio State (I've not seen enough of TCU to pick them against OSU)

Title game:

Auburn vs. Ohio State (OSU has a good D-line; fast, active, smart linebackers; and a shutdown corner in Chekwa. That would be enough to keep the "Blur" in check).

 

[bws258]

I be surprised if Stanford beat Wisconsin ... I think Wisconsin beats Auburn, too
I have seen enough TCU to pick them over OSU, but Oregon wins the semi
setting up a final of Oregon vs Wisconsin

 

[CAARHawk]

Change the thread to, if there was a playoff that did not include all the automatic qualifiers...

Otherwise, OSU wouldn't make it in, because UCONN would need to be there.

So here are your actual matchups

Auburn vs. UCONN
Oregon vs. Va Tech
TCU vs. OU
Wisky vs. Stanford

With the exception of the first matchup, these would probably be good games, but it does illustrate how you would need to address the conferences before you addressed the playoff.

 

[528646]

I know this thread wasn't meant to debate the relative merits of different playoff formats, but I thought this was interesting to look at:

Although I could certainly live with & be happy w/an 8 team playoff (used to be my 1st choice), a few years back I read a good write up by Phil Steele that really made me a believer in the 4 team format. He went back about a decade and did a quick analysis of the BCS top ten at the end of each regular season. Almost without fail, you can make the case every year that the cut should be made after team 4. I'll give it a try myself w/this year's standings:

1 Auburn (SEC Champ) - went undefeated in a BCS conference.

2 Oregon (Pac-10 Champ) - went undefeated in a BCS conference.

3 TCU (MWC Champ) - best non-AQ team. Weakest case to be made here, I think...but at the same time I don't think there is mass outrage over including them.

4 Wisconsin (Big Ten Champ) - Came through a very tough BCS conference w/only 1 loss.

5 Stanford (At Large) - Already lost to Oregon. Eliminated in regular season.

6 Ohio St (Big Ten Champ) - Already lost to Wisconsin. Eliminated in regular season.

7 Oklahoma (Big XII Champ) - 2 losses.

8 Virginia Tech (ACC Champ) - 2 losses.

I don't think an 8 team playoff ruins the game by any stretch, I just think a 4 team playoff maintains the integrity/importance of the regular season better.

 

[SDK46]

You need sixteen teams to take into account worthy non-champ qualifiers as determined by a selection committee and non-conference teams like ND, service academies, etc.

 

[racerhawk]

I be surprised if Stanford beat Wisconsin ... I think Wisconsin beats Auburn, too
I have seen enough TCU to pick them over OSU, but Oregon wins the semi
setting up a final of Oregon vs Wisconsin

Especially if the game is in Madison this time of year! I would love to see an SEC or PAC10 team come to Madison in Dec or Jan

 

[racerhawk]

btw--That playoff bracket would be really interesting.

VT has been on a nice streak. Oklahoma has defensive speed. Wisconsin can run the ball on just about anyone. OSU and TCU would be a good matchup. It would be really fun to watch those games.