Demand for a 13th Game

[Crazy Balki]

It seems like the Big XII is murmuring expansion, as to accommodate a championship game. I feel like this leaves ND all alone in the power 5 world. With that being said, I think this should open up a simple solution to the problem: Demand to add a 13th game. Why is it that several power 5 teams get the advantage of playing a championship game to boost their playoff stock, while ND (and the Big XII as of now) have to make the most of their 12 regular season games?

What do you think? Would this help ND's chances of making the playoff? Would this cause a schedule conflict? Since they already play 5 ACC Games, along with USC, Stanford and Navy (for now), that leaves 4 games to fill. I think the 13th game could easily be filled by a larger mid-major team such as Boise State, BYU, Nevada, Marshall, etc. or we could get lucky and get a smaller or middle of the pack Power 5 team. Just spitballing, but I could very easily see the lack of a 13th game biting us in the butt if we were in playoff contention as we saw with Baylor and TCU this year.

 

[IrishLion]

Lol they can't "demand" anything. The Big XII doesn't play a title game because they didn't WANT to play a title game. They preferred the round robin schedule with everybody playing everybody. It bit them in the ass this year, so now they can choose to expand.

Same goes for ND. They're in no position to DEMAND anything. If they want it that bad, they can give up "independence" and go full-on conference member, or schedule to play at Hawaii every year.

 

[GATTACA!]

Play the highest ranked team not involved in a championship game.

Even though this is completely impossible.

 

[RyCo1983]

Impossible pipe dream with no chance of happening without joining a conference with a championship game or playing Hawaii AT Hawaii every year.

I'm not opposed to joining the ACC full time.

 

[D-BOE34]

Play the big 12 champion at their place for the 13th game.

 

[Cackalacky]

I have said it eleventy billion times. The lack of an additional (13th) game is going to hurt ND with the playoff committee.

ND will have to join a conference if the Big 12 expands and gets a championship. The process used by the selection committee this year makes it very apparent to me that a 11-1 ND team will not make it in the top 4 after the conclusion of conference championship games. Unless they hold out for the eight team playoff....even then....

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Join the ACC.

Problem solved.

 

[GoIrish41]

It seems like the Big XII is murmuring expansion, as to accommodate a championship game. I feel like this leaves ND all alone in the power 5 world. With that being said, I think this should open up a simple solution to the problem: Demand to add a 13th game. Why is it that several power 5 teams get the advantage of playing a championship game to boost their playoff stock, while ND (and the Big XII as of now) have to make the most of their 12 regular season games?

What do you think? Would this help ND's chances of making the playoff? Would this cause a schedule conflict? Since they already play 5 ACC Games, along with USC, Stanford and Navy (for now), that leaves 4 games to fill. I think the 13th game could easily be filled by a larger mid-major team such as Boise State, BYU, Nevada, Marshall, etc. or we could get lucky and get a smaller or middle of the pack Power 5 team. Just spitballing, but I could very easily see the lack of a 13th game biting us in the butt if we were in playoff contention as we saw with Baylor and TCU this year.

I don't know if I could watch ND play a 13th game in 2014.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Lol they can't "demand" anything. The Big XII doesn't play a title game because they didn't WANT to play a title game. They preferred the round robin schedule with everybody playing everybody. It bit them in the ass this year, so now they can choose to expand.

Same goes for ND. They're in no position to DEMAND anything. If they want it that bad, they can give up "independence" and go full-on conference member, or schedule to play at Hawaii every year.

I'm pretty sure that's not what happened. Conferences can't play a championship game with less than 12 teams. So when Nebraska and Colorado left the Big XII, they lost the ability to play a championship game.

 

[NDRock]

I'm pretty sure that's not what happened. Conferences can't play a championship game with less than 12 teams. So when Nebraska and Colorado left the Big XII, they lost the ability to play a championship game.

That is correct, need 12 for a championship game.

 

[kmoose]

I'm pretty sure that's not what happened. Conferences can't play a championship game with less than 12 teams. So when Nebraska and Colorado left the Big XII, they lost the ability to play a championship game.

Actually, it was the Big XII's choice not to pursue other teams (outside of West Virginia and TCU) that has kept them below the requirements to have a Championship Game.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

That is correct, need 12 for a championship game.

That's easily solved w/ a petition to the NCAA. I'm confident they would get a waiver to add the championship game despite only having ten teams. Every other conference would support this as well b/c it means their own respective conference wouldn't be poached. I predict that's what happens & we'll see the Big XII w/ a championship game despite remaining at only ten teams.

 

[dshans]

I don't know if I could watch ND play a 13th game in 2014.

My guess is that I could.

By drinking myself into a stupor.





Whether or not my neighbors would tolerate another round of profanity laden shouting is another matter ...

 

[IRISHDODGER]

It seems like the Big XII is murmuring expansion, as to accommodate a championship game. I feel like this leaves ND all alone in the power 5 world. With that being said, I think this should open up a simple solution to the problem: Demand to add a 13th game. Why is it that several power 5 teams get the advantage of playing a championship game to boost their playoff stock, while ND (and the Big XII as of now) have to make the most of their 12 regular season games?

What do you think? Would this help ND's chances of making the playoff? Would this cause a schedule conflict? Since they already play 5 ACC Games, along with USC, Stanford and Navy (for now), that leaves 4 games to fill. I think the 13th game could easily be filled by a larger mid-major team such as Boise State, BYU, Nevada, Marshall, etc. or we could get lucky and get a smaller or middle of the pack Power 5 team. Just spitballing, but I could very easily see the lack of a 13th game biting us in the butt if we were in playoff contention as we saw with Baylor and TCU this year.

ND wouldn't have been as adversely affected as Baylor & TCU. First, both the Texas teams played unimpressive OOC opponents (especially Baylor). Love or hate ND, they've always been known to schedule a competitive slate & have never scheduled an FCS opponent. Second, just like tOSU, they have a much better brand name than the two Texas schools. Like it or not, that factor into the decision IMO.

I personally don't have a problem w/ ND football joining the ACC. That said, I think they can still be in the Final 4 despite not playing a 13th game assuming they finish undefeated or w/ only one loss. You know the SEC is going to have two valid candidates for the Final Four sooner or later (assuming they don't expand to eight right away). One of those teams will have not played in the SEC Champ game...so they won't slam the door on that requirement anytime soon. Everything being equal? Maybe. But ND just needs to TCB & worry about the politics later. Right now they're nowhere near having that debate.

 

[Catholics_Rule]

Notre Dame should have nothing to fear in this regard. Baylor and TCU weren't left out because they didn't have a conference championship, they were left out because they didn't actually have a conference champion. . If their conference commissioner would have had rules in place, they may have been represented.

The other issue is the committe had TCU jump an undefeated Florida State, then the following week they drop. If they would have done the right thing and not put an undefeated team 4th, it wouldn't have been as controversial for TCU or Baylor left out to Ohio State the final week. The BIG12 needs to fix their conference champion stipulation more than wanting a conference Championship.

 

[BGIF]

It seems like the Big XII is murmuring expansion, as to accommodate a championship game. I feel like this leaves ND all alone in the power 5 world. With that being said, I think this should open up a simple solution to the problem: Demand to add a 13th game. Why is it that several power 5 teams get the advantage of playing a championship game to boost their playoff stock, while ND (and the Big XII as of now) have to make the most of their 12 regular season games?

What do you think? Would this help ND's chances of making the playoff? Would this cause a schedule conflict? Since they already play 5 ACC Games, along with USC, Stanford and Navy (for now), that leaves 4 games to fill. I think the 13th game could easily be filled by a larger mid-major team such as Boise State, BYU, Nevada, Marshall, etc. or we could get lucky and get a smaller or middle of the pack Power 5 team. Just spitballing, but I could very easily see the lack of a 13th game biting us in the butt if we were in playoff contention as we saw with Baylor and TCU this year.

SEC Commissioner Roy Kramer set up divisions, strategic scheduling, and a conference championship game to give one or more of his teams a definitive advantage in the polls preceding bowl selection. He coupled that with the extensive bowl tie-ins. The purpose was to stop C0-Champions like BYU but to stop Notre Dame from jumping Alabama (or any other SEC) team on New Year's Day and jumping from #5 to #1 and winning the NC.

If you can't beat 'em, box 'em out.

If one team can play a 13 game schedule everybody should have the option.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Notre Dame should have nothing to fear in this regard. Baylor and TCU weren't left out because they didn't have a conference championship, they were left out because they didn't actually have a conference champion. . If their conference commissioner would have had rules in place, they may have been represented.

The other issue is the committe had TCU jump an undefeated Florida State, then the following week they drop. If they would have done the right thing and not put an undefeated team 4th, it wouldn't have been as controversial for TCU or Baylor left out to Ohio State the final week. The BIG12 needs to fix their conference champion stipulation more than wanting a conference Championship.

Agreed. One of their reasons for being content at ten teams & no championship game w/ b/c in the past they've had several teams get upset in the conf champ game that would've played in the BCS NC. Not saying it's a good reason....that's on them if they're "best" team can't TCB....but they've publicly stated as much.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Impossible pipe dream with no chance of happening without joining a conference with a championship game or playing Hawaii AT Hawaii every year.

I'm not opposed to joining the ACC full time.

I am. Not necessarily the ACC in particular, but money-wise, it's much better to stay independent.

 

[ulukinatme]

I thought about this last year. The conference championship does give a somewhat unfair advantage to the big boys. I mean, it's unlikely that Indiana is ever going to win the B1G and get that 13th game. Who does the conference championship benefit? Really just the perpetually strong teams: tOSU/Wisconsin, 'Bama, USC/Oregon/Stanford (Until this year), FSU, etc.

I wondered...since the Independents aren't affiliated with a conference, what if we could add say...BYU as a 13th game. If the NCAA didn't fight it (And they're not fighting much these days), would we do it? There's the possibility of an extra week of practice and an extra game, but there's also the potential for more injuries as well.

 

[pumpdog20]

Join the Big Ten, make the playoffs every year, and come to Iowa City every once in a while. Pump's dream.

 

[NDWorld247]

That's easily solved w/ a petition to the NCAA. I'm confident they would get a waiver to add the championship game despite only having ten teams. Every other conference would support this as well b/c it means their own respective conference wouldn't be poached. I predict that's what happens & we'll see the Big XII w/ a championship game despite remaining at only ten teams.

The ACC drafted legislation last year to deregulate conference championship games. Even though they have the minimum # of teams needed, they didn't like the rigid structure the NCAA required (two divisions, round robin within divisions) and proposed that conferences be allowed to choose how they structure their league/divisions and determine a champion. The Big 12 attached their names to the legislation and the other conferences will support it because it allows them the autonomy to decide how to conduct their CCG. The legislation wasn't voted on in 2014, but the Power 5 schools did gain autonomy so I'm sure the legislation will pass.

Agreed. One of their reasons for being content at ten teams & no championship game w/ b/c in the past they've had several teams get upset in the conf champ game that would've played in the BCS NC. Not saying it's a good reason....that's on them if they're "best" team can't TCB....but they've publicly stated as much.

"We like our path to the playoff. I think it's a good thing we don't have our two best teams playing each other on the last date of the season," Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby told David Ubben of Fox Sports Southwest. "One of them's going to lose, and sometimes it's not the right one."

Even if the Big 12 had the choice of a CCG, I don't think they would have played one. Obviously they'll re-evaluate that for next year, but it's only a matter of time before the CG costs one of their teams a playoff berth.

 

[RyCo1983]

I am. Not necessarily the ACC in particular, but money-wise, it's much better to stay independent.

Money is the enemy of amateur athletics, and the chief reason that I grow less and less fond of major college football with every passing season.

There won't be a 13th game without a conference.

 

[IrishLion]

As a UC fan on the side and a season ticket holder, I hope the Big XII does decide to actually go to 12 teams, and UC gets an invite. I'd love to see Baylor/Texas/Oklahoma in Cincy every other year.

But because $$$, it won't happen. The Big XII doesn't think UC would bring in enough TV revenue to keep the conference's payouts the same despite adding two more teams to the pot. On one hand, UC isn't a huge draw, but they were when the Big East was respectable. Now, they don't sell tickets or draw huge TV ratings because they play bad competition. I think there would be a huge boost in the Cincy/Dayton market if UC was playing good Big XII competition weekly, and selling tickets wouldn't be a huge issue for a relatively small stadium. You don't have to be a diehard to tune in to a decent game... I do it every Saturday before/after ND is on haha.

 

[Rack Em]

As a UC fan on the side and a season ticket holder, I hope the Big XII does decide to actually go to 12 teams, and UC gets an invite. I'd love to see Baylor/Texas/Oklahoma in Cincy every other year.

But because $$$, it won't happen. The Big XII doesn't think UC would bring in enough TV revenue to keep the conference's payouts the same despite adding two more teams to the pot. On one hand, UC isn't a huge draw, but they were when the Big East was respectable. Now, they don't sell tickets or draw huge TV ratings because they play bad competition. I think there would be a huge boost in the Cincy/Dayton market if UC was playing good Big XII competition weekly, and selling tickets wouldn't be a huge issue for a relatively small stadium. You don't have to be a diehard to tune in to a decent game... I do it every Saturday before/after ND is on haha.

Agreed 100%. UC and one of SMU/Houston/UCF/San Diego State/Boise St. would make for a good conference.

 

[Wild Bill]

Agreed 100%. UC and one of SMU/Houston/UCF/San Diego State/Boise St. would make for a good conference.

BYU wouldn't be a bad fit either.

 

[ickythump1225]

Watching the B12 pretty much get screwed over for not having a 13th game made me realize that Notre Dame's days an independent are numbered. I just hate that we've anchored ourselves to the ACC though as that is such a crappy conference. The defending national champs went 13-0 and still had a hard time making the playoffs. I know things are cyclical but I don't foresee the ACC ever having the horses to be a true power conference.

 

[BGIF]

Watching the B12 pretty much get screwed over for not having a 13th game made me realize that Notre Dame's days an independent are numbered. I just hate that we've anchored ourselves to the ACC though as that is such a crappy conference. The defending national champs went 13-0 and still had a hard time making the playoffs. I know things are cyclical but I don't foresee the ACC ever having the horses to be a true power conference.

FSU didn't have a hard time with the Playoff Committee because of their conference affliation, this Committee seemed to value blowouts and FSU didn't do that like they did last year.

In quite a few games Winston and Company seemed to only play the second half. Opponents made the noise is the first half and then Jameis started to play.

 

[stlnd01]

I don't think a 13th game in and of itself would make that big a difference. If we'd been undefeated, we're in. And while Ohio State helped itself by blowing out a quality opponent in Wisconsin, if any of the four had lost their conference title game, Baylor or TCU would have jumped them.
I'd agree we seem to be moving toward a system where a conference title wins you bonus points, and the lack of a conference may hurt us. But I don't think some random 13th game - unless we somehow sked it against the best team not playing or a conference title that day --- really helps us.

 

[BGIF]

I don't think a 13th game in and of itself would make that big a difference. If we'd been undefeated, we're in. And while Ohio State helped itself by blowing out a quality opponent in Wisconsin, if any of the four had lost their conference title game, Baylor or TCU would have jumped them.
I'd agree we seem to be moving toward a system where a conference title wins you bonus points, and the lack of a conference may hurt us. But I don't think some random 13th game - unless we somehow sked it against the best team not playing or a conference title that day --- really helps us.

13-0 trumps 12-0.

"What have they done lately?" "Oh they were idle ... while Alabama ran away with the championship in the toughtest conference in America and OSU shutout Wisconsin!"

A game against Western Carolina, or FAU, or Southern Mississippi may not be impressive but Alabama got votes each of the weeks they beat those creampuffs.

The biggest problem is that IF the NCAA allowed a 13th game ND and whatever opponent would have to schedule the game overnight> And keep in mind that no conference with a Championship Game is going to allow a member school play ND in a 13th game. A win helps ND and could knock out their conference champ in the pre-bowl rankings.

ND would likely have to choose from among another Independent (lest Navy), the American Athletic Conference, or the BIg 12. Given a choice between playing ND post season and Conference Championship Game with all the revenue going to the Big 12 and a chance to ice ND out, the Big 12 will go with the CCG. Simple math.

 

[Crazy Balki]

13-0 trumps 12-0.

"What have they done lately?" "Oh they were idle ... while Alabama ran away with the championship in the toughtest conference in America and OSU shutout Wisconsin!"

A game against Western Carolina, or FAU, or Southern Mississippi may not be impressive but Alabama got votes each of the weeks they beat those creampuffs.

The biggest problem is that IF the NCAA allowed a 13th game ND and whatever opponent would have to schedule the game overnight> And keep in mind that no conference with a Championship Game is going to allow a member school play ND in a 13th game. A win helps ND and could knock out their conference champ in the pre-bowl rankings.

ND would likely have to choose from among another Independent (lest Navy), the American Athletic Conference, or the BIg 12. Given a choice between playing ND post season and Conference Championship Game with all the revenue going to the Big 12 and a chance to ice ND out, the Big 12 will go with the CCG. Simple math.

That is a big issue. Why is it that the playoff committee awards teams from playing FCS or low-level mid-majors (much lower than Navy)? It seems unfair. ND always plays higher midmajors or higher and never gets credit for it, but Alabama will gain credit for beating up on Western Carolina? Bullsh*t.