Heyden Kudelko – Mustangs Ahead

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – Mustangs sports fans are contemplating the potential arrival of a 12- team college football playoff.

In 2014, the college football landscape was radically shifted towards a new direction with the introduction of the four-team playoff system.

Previously, the national champion of the college football world was decided by the AP poll and the media.

However, that changed in 1998 with the creation of the major Power 5 conferences, which divided college football into first- and second-tier sides.

The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) was a computerized system that analyzed all team’s stats to accurately determine who the top two teams would be.

This method came under scrutiny for only having one postseason game to determine the champion, as well as feeling it would favor conference champions over other teams from major conferences.

In 2014, the NCAA implemented the College Football Playoff (CFP) that allowed the four best teams, as decided by a committee, to go head-to-head in the post-season.

While the system was preferred by fans, it recently came under fire for reasons similar to the BCS.

LRHS junior Justin Baltes said, “I would love a 12-team playoff, because it would allow a team with the talent and skill, but without a conference championship and maybe a few losses to compete for a title.”

The current playoffs are major bowl games such as the Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl, but the 12- team playoff proposes playoff games in a home stadium.

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Sophomore Dominick Kerman said, “The new playoff format, just sounds like a better version of the one we have now, with teams playing at home stadiums for the games, it just feels like a benefit for the whole sport.”

Fans have also thought that having 12 teams play is less bowl games. With over 130 schools and 44 bowl games, it makes room for fewer “filler” bowl games and more opportunity for deserving teams.

As of now the CFP could expand as early as 2024.

Mustangs and college football fans will have to wait and see if their team can make a run at the coveted national title.