Yes. BCS or playoffs, the debate will again be a huge theme in major college football, which has a fun (albeit contorted) bowl system. Plus, college football pundits need to something to occupy their talking time since Tim Tebow has graduated to the NFL.
ESPN got the ball rolling on this debate this week, by polling 135 players from across the country, for its ESPN Magazine preview. What they found was that players want a playoff, until they thought about it.
When asked do they want a playoff, an overwhelming majority, 62.2 percent or 84 of the 135, said yes. But things dramatically changed when players were asked about the specifics.
Asked if they'd rather have an I-AA (FCS)-style, 16-team playoff (no bowls) or the current system, 70 percent took the current system. Then asked if they'd rather have a career with three bowl trips or one playoff trip, again more than 70 percent said bowls.
One Big 12 star who voted for a playoff (suggested starting with 16 teams) wavered big time, "if you put it that way, I'd rather have the bowl trips."
As a fan, I'd rather have the bowl trips, except bowls don't mean as much as they once did. But neither does the BCS for that matter.
It's all about scamming the system. Teams use what I call the Texas-model, try to get a high preseason ranking, play one tough game and win, go undefeated and play for the BCS title. That produces a watered down season. Would it really get better if you cut the football season by one game for a coveted 16-team playoff?
I love the idea of a college football playoff, until I start thinking about the reality of it.
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