Doomsday101
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 107,762
- Reaction score
- 39,034
CHICAGO -- Fifteen gentlemen stood together behind a podium, not quite arm-and-arm, but certainly united. A giant BCS banner comprised the backdrop, though their announcement symbolized the end of the BCS era. The conference commissioners (plus a few extras) who championed that much-maligned system these past 14 years were here to announce they'd agreed on a replacement.
"We have developed a consensus behind a four-team, seeded playoff," Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick announced on behalf of the group.
If you've been casually following the commissioners' interminable discussions over the past five months, you may be saying to yourself: Didn't they already decide that? If not, what took them so long? And: I'll believe it when I see it.
But Wednesday's news was unquestionably significant. After months of posturing, the heads of the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, et al., finally found a playoff model they can all live with for 2014 and beyond.
The semifinal games, as expected, will be played at existing bowls, most likely on a predetermined rotation. As for the never-ending selection debate, multiple participants told SI.com the commissioners would prefer using a selection committee that picks the "best four" teams, with an emphasis on conference championships, strength of schedule and other criteria.
"The model we have come away with is a consensus," said SEC commissioner Mike Slive. "... I am delighted."
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...-team-playoff-system/index.html#ixzz1yRqw0xh8
"We have developed a consensus behind a four-team, seeded playoff," Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick announced on behalf of the group.
If you've been casually following the commissioners' interminable discussions over the past five months, you may be saying to yourself: Didn't they already decide that? If not, what took them so long? And: I'll believe it when I see it.
But Wednesday's news was unquestionably significant. After months of posturing, the heads of the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, et al., finally found a playoff model they can all live with for 2014 and beyond.
The semifinal games, as expected, will be played at existing bowls, most likely on a predetermined rotation. As for the never-ending selection debate, multiple participants told SI.com the commissioners would prefer using a selection committee that picks the "best four" teams, with an emphasis on conference championships, strength of schedule and other criteria.
"The model we have come away with is a consensus," said SEC commissioner Mike Slive. "... I am delighted."
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...-team-playoff-system/index.html#ixzz1yRqw0xh8