WASHINGTON - He doesn’t have a vote in the process, but President-elect Barack Obama says college football needs a playoff system.
Florida defeated Oklahoma 24-14 on Thursday night to win the national college football championship.
The Gators’ victory has not stopped the annual debate — mostly among sports writers and other fans of the game — over whether the top four or eight teams should play each other to determine a national winner.
Obama, in a light moment at the end of a news conference, congratulated Florida for its victory but said other top teams such as Utah, the University of Southern California or Texas might have a case to make for being No. 1.
“If I’m Utah, if I’m USC, or if I’m Texas, I may still have some quibbles. And you’ve heard my pitch. That’s why we need a playoff,” he said.
College presidents have argued against a playoff system by saying it would take the student-athletes away from their studies for an extended period.
Photo credit: REUTERS/Jim Young (Obama holds a press conference in Washington, Jan. 9)
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8 comments so far
The top six teams picked by the BCS should be in a playoff sytem. With the top two teams getting a bye the first week then playing the winners of the first weeks game. whoever wins the second weeks playoff would play for a national championship. So it would be three weeks counting playoff and championship game. And you could still have all the other bowl games outside the top six teams. There problem solved.. Hook’em Horns.
- Posted by slukeI support this idea only if we drop all the pretense about calling the football players “student athletes.” Div One college football teams are just profit centers for the schools. Just pay the dopes to play, let all the corporations sponsor the teams (”The Pepsi Cola Sooners”), and let CluelessO have his playoff system.
Everyone will be so much happier.
- Posted by Curmudgeon10Yah and next we can start paying our high school atheletes to play ball too. The fact is that most players will not go to the next level to play in the N.F.L. where you do get payed to play. They go pro in the field they study at their university, with that thing called a degree something you would know nothing about, your the dope obviously. The reason why we need a playoff is obvious it’s the only fair way, big greedy money is the reason why there is no playoff. I think it should be at least an eight team bracket it would not be taht difficult to work up.
- Posted by UteManThe argument that the entire season is a playoff went out the window with this season. 13-0 Utah? What is more perfect? That a playoff would create more controversy? Exactly how many controversies can a playoff create? I see no arguments in the style the NFL does it, nor in the NCAA’s Basketball Tourney, nor in college football’s FCS playoff. The BCS is a scam. To say to the majority of FBS schools (formerly Div 1A) that they will NEVER be National Champs rules out all competitiveness. A 16 team playoff system would work wonders. All conferences readjusted to fit 12 teams. Make an 11 game regular season, and during the December doldrums make them play. One winner from each conference (currently 11 of them), with wildcards filling in the rest based on rankings. It will not extend the season anymore than what it is now. If the players want to play in the NFL, this is the best way to do it. Oh, and have the playoffs just like the NFL, with teams like USC going to Happy Valley, Columbus, or Ann Arbor, instead of a permanent home field advantage like the 11 mile trip they take each year to the Rose Bowl.
- Posted by BuckNationWho cares what Obama thinks. This is not an issue that should even be contemplated in the Federal Govt., this is an issue for college football and those loosers with nothing better to do with there time than argue about a game. It’s just a game, get it?
- Posted by CartigasA better way to get a national champion is a real issue, but … Problems with a playoff: 1) Bowls are lots of fun with lots of winners, and losers often don’t “feel” like losers as it was really just a vacation reward; 2) Time for fans to make travel arrangements. Potential solution: Four team playoff at the same site on predetermined dates about 1 1/2 weeks apart. Winners of course play for the national championship. Losers of the first round play the #5 and #6 ranked teams in a “Bowl” atmosphere at the same site a few days before the national championship. Site is rotated annually. Play all the other bowl games elsewhere you like.
- Posted by Jim BirkelDiv 1-AA students take the extra time off for playoffs, are they any less of student-athletes than D 1-A players?
Hell, most high school teams need to play 4 playoff games to win the state championship, but they manage to make it work. Hell, by bowl time all of the players are out of school for winter break anyways.
The BCS is a joke, and a scam to the sport of college football. Completely and utterly ridiculous that this is the system in place.
- Posted by HokieNation[...] U.S. policy. That hasn’t stopped him from sounding off on critical matters, such as better justifying college football rankings. In his words, “If I’m Utah, if I’m USC, or if I’m Texas, I may still have [...]
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