I'm about to do an interview with a fictional character named Bob who believes college football used to be perfect and that college football playoff expansion is ruining everything. While he is fictional, and I wrote his lines as well as mine, the arguments he makes are based on the arguments I've heard from several different people, including some of the biggest voices in college football.
Before I begin, I will say that I respect the feelings of those who disagree with me. There was a time where I liked Disneyland Park more than California Adventure even though 5 of my 7 favorite Disneyland rides were in California Adventure. I couldn't really explain why. I just thought Disneyland Park felt more magical for some reason. So if people feel like college football is more meaningful when the playoff is small than when it's big, I respect that regardless of whether or not I understand the logic behind it. That being said, I do think challenging the logic behind these arguments will help people on both sides come to better terms with things. So without further ado, here is my interview with Bob.
Me: Hi Bob. It's so good to have you here. I was wondering if you could explain your feelings about college football.
Bob: Well, I just feel like college football isn't the same as it used to be. I remember in the 80's when I would sit at home with my Dad eating pigs in a blanket, watching those guys with leather helmets on our old, shabby television set. Those were the good old days. It makes me sad that things have changed so much.
Me: What exactly is it that has changed that you don't like. Is it the fact that TV's are higher quality now?
Bob: No.
Me: Is it the fact that players wear helmets that actually protect them now?
Bob: No, of course not.
Me: Is there something stopping you from still having pigs in a blanket with your dad?
Bob: I mean, he lives in another state.
Me: OK, so I take it that's the main reason you don't enjoy football as much as you used to. It has nothing to do with the changes that have been made.
Bob: Well, it's not just that. There's also conference realignment, and the transfer portal, and NIL, and all that nonsense.
Me: Do you think that teams should be forced to stay in their conference no matter what?
Bob: No.
Me: Do you think players should be forced to stay with their team no matter how badly their coaches and teammates treat them?
Bob: No.
Me: Do you think the NCAA should be allowed to tell players that they can't make any money for playing the same game NFL players get paid millions of dollars to play?
Bob: No.
Me: So what are you complaining about?
Bob: I don't know. It's just not the same as it used to be. If it aint broke, don't fix it.
Me: Right. I mean, how can you possible improve on players getting suspended for enjoying the benefits of being famous, coaches being emotionally abusive and getting away with it because the players were stuck with him, and half the teams knowing before the season even started that they weren't going to have a chance to compete for a national title even if they won every single one of their games? That's right. If it aint broke, don't fix it.
Bob: You're missing the point.
Me: What point am I missing?
Bob: I don't know. Regular season games just don't mean as much as they used to. Now, it's all about the playoff.
Me: Oh yeah. When I went to the BYU-Utah game this last season, I could tell nobody cared because of how loud it was. It was the loudest environment I have been in in my entire life. I wasn't even aware that human lungs could make so much noise for such a long period of time. I mean, yes, this game had college football playoff implications, but it would've felt much bigger if it was like in 2009 when we were also both in the top 25 and we were playing for the right to go to the Las Vegas Bowl for the fifth year in a row.
Bob: Well, but that's the thing. Back then it was less about postseason implications and more about the rivalry itself and how much BYU fans and Utah fans hated each other.
Me: And hatred is a good thing?
Bob: (Like 10 seconds of not knowing what to say.) OK, that's fair. But still, regular season games don't mean as much as they used to.
Me: Why do you say that?
Bob: Well, before the playoff expanded, every single game was important because even just one loss could eliminate you from national title contention.
Me: OK, so every game was important... until you lost one. Then the rest of your games became meaningless.
Bob: OK, fair point. I guess games involving teams with a loss or two did become less important. But then there are those top 5 matchups. Those are the soul of college football. The bigger the playoff gets, the less important those games become because they're both just going to make the playoff anyway.
Me: Not necessarily. If the game is played in September or October, neither team can be firmly in the playoff yet.
Bob: OK, but I'm mostly talking about games late in the season, especially during rivalry week.
Me: That's a good point. During rivalry week, if there's a top 5 matchup, or even a top 7 or top 8 matchup, that game is way more important if the playoff is four teams. If it's more than four teams, then they're just playing for seeding.
Bob: See, you're finally getting it. Those games are the soul of college football.
Me: OK, now I have a question for you. Since the playoff expanded to 4 teams in 2014, how many games have there been during rivalry week where both teams had a realistic shot at landing in the top 4 if they won?
Bob: I don't know. Probably 15 or 20.
Me: Three.
Bob: What? Only three in twelve seasons?
Me: That's right, and all three of them were Michigan vs. Ohio St.
Bob: (Completely speechless) OK, well those were all great games, weren't they?
Me: Well, let's see. Michigan won all three of them, 42-27 in 2021, 45-23 in 2022, an 30-24 in 2023. So yeah, that last one was a classic... I don't remember what happened, do you?
Bob: No I don't. Oh well. What about conference championship week? If the playoff expands, conferences might do away with those.
Me: And why's that?
Bob: Because they're afraid teams will be punished for losing in this game.
Me: And you think expanding the playoff further will make that more likely?
Bob: Yes.
Me: Well, let's see. During the two years of the 12 team playoff, there has never been a team who was in playoff position before conference championship weekend who fell out because they lost their conference championship game. However, during the ten years of the 4 team playoff, there were six different times that happened. Not to mention in 2023 when Florida St won their conference championship game and fell out of the top 4 anyway. So if anything, expanding the playoff should make conferences less worried about having conference championship games.
Bob: Oh look. A thing that isn't this interview.
Me: But wait? You still haven't told me how expanding the playoff hurts college football.
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