Well, it’s as corrupt as it has always been, and that was on display. That was the Power 5 conference affiliation making another step towards their agenda.
I’ve argued that in the age of the playoff, the leagues with the best chances to put teams in the playoff (and multiple teams when this thing goes to 16, which it inevitably will) will be the conferences without conference championship games. Look at Baylor and TCU. Neither took a loss that moved them down, like GT, Mizzu, Arizona, etc. did. They’re perfectly positioned for making an 8 or 16 team playoff. Even in a 16 team playoff, championship game losers like Mizzu, GT and Wisconsin might have been on the outside looking in.
I thought this might actually reverse the trend, eliminate championship games, add another conference game to the schedule as opposed to a cupcake, and ultimately signal smaller conferences. It’s much easier to grab one of those 8-16 play off slots from a weaker league, than playing some murderer’s row schedule and then have to navigate a championship game. Drop that championship game, and insular leagues (I’m looking at you SEC) would jump at another in-conference game to risk the chance of being exposed in the non-conference.
Well, this sent a clear message. Those conference championship games clearly make money, the Power 5 leagues want to continue their Super-Conference consolidation plan, and no real change is coming. The most we can really hope for is a larger playoff.
I’ve watched all of those teams play this year. TCU looks better than Ohio State to me. Heck, Oregon and TCU look better than Alabama or FSU to me. They may not win head to head, but they have blown out almost everyone they’ve played, including some pretty talented teams. Alabama and FSU have both looked more shaky to me.
I’ll give it to Urban. The coaching job he’s done has been tremendous, and that was a dominating performance with a 3rd string QB. The Big 10 is weak though, and there’s no way they should have been rewarded in this fashion. Outside of Michigan State, I expect this to be a rough year for the Big 10 in bowls.
