thependulumswings

Once upon a time, there were a couple of dozen bowl games at year’s end.   Afterward, the “best” NCAA football team of the year was voted on by a bunch of 65-year-old dudes from around the country.

Opinions mattered.

The format changed around the turn of the century.   The BCS computer program determined the final two “best” NCAA football teams to square off for the national championship.

Opinions no longer mattered.

Then man decided that the computer didn’t know diddly squat about football.  An esteemed panel would select the best and final two for the BCS.  Opinions mattered all over again.

Then humankind decided that deciding on two teams was not inclusive enough.  The College Football Playoff system replaced the BCS beginning with the 2014 season. The CFP puts the top four ranked teams in a single-elimination bracket with semifinals being played in bowl games.

Four was better than two.  But, soon enough, controversy enveloped the committee as America felt that the first team left out had a reason to feel left out.

Viola.  As conferences devolved into a ratings war, geography be damned, a proposal came before the NCAA and their esteemed ADs and Presidents to expand to a 12-team format.  This format will start this year, 2024.

But, before we even find fault with the dirty dozen format, we have conscientious objectors yet again.

“How about 14 teams?” someone asked.  “Will that make us more money?” someone followed up.  “Sure!” came the confident reply.

And the confident conference power brokers weaseled in a proposed guarantee addendum.  How about we guarantee three spots for the Big 10 and the SEC, two spots for the Big 12 and the ACC, and one for the highest-ranked non-power five?

What about the PAC 2?  We digress.  What about Notre Dame?  Touchdown Jesus watches over them.  We digress again.

That leaves three at large bids.

So in our never-ending quest to find the best teams, more teams and more money will help us get there.  Or will it?

Follow the money, always follow the money.

What happened to choosing the best based on the on-field performance of the teams, conference affiliation be damned?  And what about those computer programs that are almost 20 years smarter than they were before?

For now Big 10 teams USC and UCLA, or new ACC teams like Cal and Stanford, they’ll have plenty of time to contemplate those questions when they fly coast to coast to try to get into the final 14.

Or, will it be the final 16 by the time they touch down?