SEC Commissioner - Mike Slive (Photo Courtesy: AL.com)
University of Georgia President Michael Adams may finally get a chance to see what he proposed a few years ago. Adams proposed an eight-team playoff a few years ago, but may not see as many as eight teams. A four-team playoff seems more reasonable than an eight-team for other conference officials.
UGA President Adams on playoff talks:
“The conference commissioners are finally coming together on that point. There’s been great division among the commissioners the last six or eight years, and the change in the conference realignments, the fact that most of the media contracts are up in either ’14 or ’15 are creating a situation where if there’s going to be change, this is probably the natural time to do it,” Adams said. “The signals that you all saw, that the Big Ten and Pac-12 sent in the last few days indicates that those talks are moving forward. And our commissioner has been at the table as a part of those talks. But I’m going to let him provide the details when they’re ready.”
Earlier this week, the Big Ten announced they are taking another look at a college football playoff system; something that the Big Ten conference has shot down many times. Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis said all of the Big Ten athletic directors are comfortable exploring the possibility of a four-team playoff.
ACC commissioner John Swofford commented as well, saying: “My sense is that there’s a lot more open-mindedness about potential change, be it minimal or significant. We are at a time that presents the opportunity to look at different ways to approach the postseason and it’s obvious that people are willing to take a step back and evaluate options. “I do believe it’s premature to get too focused on any one route, but it’s certainly refreshing to see more openness to possible adjustments than there has been in the past.”
Big East Commissioner John Marinatto said Wednesday the Big East is also open to the possibility of a four-team playoff.
What has suddenly changed the minds of these conference officials on a playoff format? Would these conferences still be talking about creating a playoff system if the SEC hadn’t won six straight BCS National Championships (and counting)?
The Big Ten and others would probably like to take credit for ‘fixing college football’, but don’t forget that it was members of the SEC who proposed this playoff system years ago. That proposal was shot down by the leaders of the Big Ten, Pac-10, Big East, Big 12 and Notre Dame.