Utah’s chances aside, the potential for the greatest CFP play-in ever is awesome

[UteDuke]

The way the playoff race is shaping up this could be the greatest CFP play-in for years to come. Think about how this sets up for each division:

SEC: #1 LSU vs. #4 Georgia

BIG10: #2 Ohio St. vs. #8 Minnisota

PAC12: #6 Oregon vs. #7 Utah

Big12: #10 Oklahoma vs. #13 Baylor

ACC: #3 Clemson…

I know there will undoubtedly be some shifts in these standings (Oklahoma and Baylor will play before the championship, and Minnisota has a tough road), but the potential is huge. If the committee is lucky they won’t have to make many difficult decisions because half the standings will be directly eliminated in the conference title games. This could be an absolutely awesome set up if it played out just right.

Without significant chaos to the other divisions I think it would be a travesty to have Alabama make the playoffs under these circumstances. What conference can you justify leaving out? Also, if Clemson lost and eliminated themselves that would be a gift to the rest of the country as well. Probably too much to hope for though.

My prediction is that it plays out that the SEC champion, Clemson, and BIG10 champion are all in, with the final spot being decided between the PAC12 and Big12 champions based on style points gained. I think if the committee follows this it would be difficulty to argue anything beyond seeding. They totally blow it if they try to put 2 from a conference in without some serious chaos occurring over the next 4 weeks. 

[UteBacker]

That would be brutal if two 1-loss conference champs got bypassed by a 1-loss Alabama who didn’t win their division.  I wonder how that would play out, especially if those two conferences that got left out are conferences that play 9 conference games.

I’ve said it before… having a four-team playoff makes the regular season incredibly interesting being that it’s a giant double-elimination tournament.

I’d still like to see 8 teams.  It’s not an if but a when, in my opinion.  It’ll bring in more $$$ which is ultimately what it’s all about.

[ProudUte]

I agree.  There is one spot to play for.

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