It doesn’t matter what anyone tries to do with it, no one is ever pleased with the Faculty Soccer Playoff. The Massive Ten Convention appears decided to make it possible for continues to be the case.
In line with a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Saturday, the Massive Ten is floating the concept of increasing the Faculty Soccer Playoff but once more, going from 12 groups to as many as 24 or 28 groups.
The proposed concept for the 28-team mannequin, per Thamel, would give each the Massive Ten and the SEC seven computerized bids, whereas the ACC and Massive 12 would obtain 5 every. There would even be two auto bids for non-power conferences and two extra at-large spots.
At this level, that is nonetheless a report of an concept. It isn’t even an official proposal but.
It ought to keep that manner.
The Faculty Soccer Playoff system is way from good, and there are positively modifications that may — and will — be made in an effort to seek out the nationwide champion. However having a bunch of mediocre groups that no one needs to look at play in prime video games isn’t actually the answer.
Only for perspective on this: Below this concept, groups like 8-5 Michigan would have been playoff groups a yr in the past, because the Wolverines had been the seventh-place group within the Massive Ten.
Whereas that may be a big-name college, the Wolverines weren’t a very nice group in 2024, actually not on the extent of a nationwide championship contender.
Even worse, this proposal would have groups like 9-4 Louisville and 8-5 Baylor within the area.
Who’s asking for that, apart from in all probability Louisville and Baylor?
Extra on the proposal, from Thamel:
“The 28-team format would put 20 playoff video games on campus, which might intensify the success of that from final yr’s CFP. The CFP committee would seed the sector and decide the at-large groups. Massive Ten commissioner Tony Petitti ran the concept by his convention Wednesday, sources mentioned, and that it has begun being shared by others.”
Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger reported that there are a number of 20-plus-team concepts being thrown round that will eradicate convention championship video games. He additionally added that every one of those concepts are nonetheless very a lot of their infancy and never but near taking place.
The factor about that’s, as soon as school soccer folks get an concept into their brains and begin speaking about it, there may be often no stopping them from doing it. It’s often only a matter of how lengthy it takes them to do it. They’ve the facility, they run the game, and so they understand it.
They wished a four-team playoff. They ultimately received it.
When that wasn’t ok and made folks mad about who was disregarded, they wished a 12-team playoff. They received it.
Now that it’s nonetheless making folks mad over who does and doesn’t get in, they need extra groups concerned. They are going to ultimately get it.
Even when no one else needs it.
