Big difference to me between 4-team and 12-team playoff…

Posted on August 13, 2026 at 12:47:31 PM by Craig

Getting smoked by Georgia barely affected my pleasure with the ‘21 season at all. We were good, we beat OSU, we won the B10, we made the 4-team playoff. We were nowhere near as good as Georgia, but deep down I think we all knew that going in. We saw what level we had to rise to in order to be NC, and were able to do so in two years.

Now, squeaking into the 12-team playoff and getting smoked in round 1 would be a lot more likely to leave a bad taste in my mouth. But so would not making the 12-team playoff (regardless of meaningless bowl outcome).

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Thread:

Which of these two hypothetical schedules and season outcome scenarios would you prefer? - By Lodz August 13, 2026 at 12:05:49 PM
- Not a UM fan but clearly choice 1 - By syrfan August 13, 2026 at 02:40:53 PM
- We’ll all whine about shitastic PSU and ND schedules but won’t matter when they make playoff but we don’t get in at 9-3. Sucks but ain’t changing. nm - By sim August 13, 2026 at 12:38:20 PM
  - PSU’s only loss is us and then they get their asses kicked in playoffs. We go 9-3, beat a good Penn State team, and win a bowl game. - By Lodz August 13, 2026 at 12:45:39 PM
    - And they get to sell recruits on making the playoff. No one cares about bowl games. It's ok for you to care but you should realize the players and most fans do not. they don't matter* - By KeiTh August 13, 2026 at 01:25:57 PM
      - I’m starting to get the hint… Most fans don’t want to see competitive football. - By Lods August 13, 2026 at 01:33:36 PM
        
        Not caring about bowl games actually is the "I care about competitive games" stance* - By KeiTh August 13, 2026 at 02:29:12 PM
        
        I want to see the best teams play each other in the regular season and the CFP. Then the small schools whine that it's not fair - By DoctorD August 13, 2026 at 02:06:16 PM
        
        Agreed. Syphon them off to another division.* - By Lodz August 13, 2026 at 02:25:03 PM
    - Pluses and minuses in that scenario: get to laugh at PSU, get to feel good about our prospects going forward… - By Craig August 13, 2026 at 01:24:43 PM
- 2* - By el fuego August 13, 2026 at 12:32:17 PM
- 2* - By crumbs August 13, 2026 at 12:30:19 PM
- 2 all day * - By Spirit August 13, 2026 at 12:13:10 PM
- Everyone is going to choose 2 because you’re assuming a home loss to OU. That’s not an auto loss by any stretch, and - By brick August 13, 2026 at 12:12:56 PM
  - I’m trying to figure out if folks strong preferences between a non-playoff bowl win or loss (or just win) and a playoff loss* - By Lodz August 13, 2026 at 12:16:59 PM
- 2. (nm) - By suede August 13, 2026 at 12:07:38 PM
  - Everything stays the same but the bowl win is guaranteed and playoff loss guaranteed. Same opinion?* - By Lodz August 13, 2026 at 12:11:28 PM
    - under the current system, the goal is to make the playoffs - By DoctorD August 13, 2026 at 12:14:54 PM
      - But your season didn’t suck if you win mostly cupcakes but were exposed in the playoffs?* - By Lodz August 13, 2026 at 12:21:25 PM
        
        Use M 2021 as an example. Pretty easy schedule but get humiliated in the playoffs. - By Lodz August 13, 2026 at 12:35:12 PM
        
        2021 was amazing. such a fun season* - By KeiTh August 13, 2026 at 01:26:56 PM
        
        And a sledgehammer to the nuts at the end* - By Lods August 13, 2026 at 01:48:30 PM
        
        Big difference to me between 4-team and 12-team playoff… - By Craig August 13, 2026 at 12:47:31 PM
        
        How about this one posted for Sim above? - By Lodz August 13, 2026 at 12:50:37 PM
        
        in that situation you would just be pissed at the system that put PSU in ahead of us* - By DoctorD August 13, 2026 at 01:48:37 PM
- 2 * - By Nikos August 13, 2026 at 12:06:33 PM
  - Everything stays the same but the bowl win is guaranteed and playoff loss guaranteed. Same opinion?* - By Lodz August 13, 2026 at 12:11:49 PM
    - bowls games are not real anymore. I could never care about the outcome of one of them ever again* - By KeiTh August 13, 2026 at 12:21:48 PM
    - yes I would rather make the playoffs than win the Cheez-It Bowl. * - By Nikos August 13, 2026 at 12:14:50 PM
      - I think seeing better competition in the regular season would be worth the difference me.* - By Lodz August 13, 2026 at 12:19:53 PM
        
        k * - By Nikos August 13, 2026 at 12:20:57 PM

The Victors

Big difference to me between 4-team and 12-team playoff…