I've heard all of the people practically begging for a NCAA Division One playoff system in place of the current polling and ranking fiasco that ultimately seed the bowl games. A recent poll found 76% of the respondents were in favor of a playoff. Since I believe the people that control college football will probably never go along with a playoff, I thought what the heck, I'll just usurp authority, overhaul the whole process and start fresh with some common sense. Here we go, by the numbers.

1. I'd throw out all the existing conferences and realign to six regional 20-team super conferences. Each is divided in half by region.
2. The schools then play nine games within their conference (seven in division and two games against their conference's other division teams on an annual basis) plus two games against another conference's members based upon the previous year's record (so that teams of like power would play). These inter-conference games would rotate from year to year from conference to conference. In order to accomplish this, out of conference game scheduling would be taken care of each off-season prior to the new season.
3. This would amount to an eleven game regular season across twelve weeks.
4. Two weeks after the end of the regular season, each division champion will play their conference's other division champion.
5. In addition, there will be four teams selected with the best records that do not win their division title. These four will participate in two games, seeded by record, on the same week as the conference championship games. This will result in a 16-team tournament.
6. The following week there will be four games. These will be seeded according to each team's season record with the best record playing the poorest, and so on using tiebreakers.
7. The next week will feature two games, again seeded by record and tiebreakers.
8. The conclusion of the college football season will occur with the last two teams left playing for the National Championship on the Saturday before the NFL Conference Championship games.

Here are the proposed six regional super conferences including the two divisions:

Army ___________________________Central Florida

Boston College ___________________ Clemson

Buffalo __________________________Florida

Connecticut ______________________ Florida Atlantic

East Carolina _____________________Florida International

Maryland ________________________Miami

Navy ___________________________ South Carolina

Rutgers _________________________ South Florida

Syracuse ________________________ Virginia

Temple _________________________ Virginia Tech

Southern East_____________________Southern West

Alabama_________________________Arkansas

Auburn__________________________Arkansas State

Florida State _____________________ Houston

Georgia _________________________ Louisiana Tech

Georgia Tech _____________________Louisiana-Lafayette

Mississippi _______________________Louisiana-Monroe

Mississippi State __________________ Louisiana State

Southern Mississippi _______________Rice

Troy ____________________________Tulane

UA Birmingham __________________ Tulsa

Appalachia North__________________Appalachia South

Akron __________________________ Duke

Western Kentucky _________________ Marshall

Kent State _______________________ Memphis

Kentucky________________________Vanderbilt 

Louisville _______________________ Middle Tennessee St.

Ohio ___________________________ North Carolina

Ohio State _______________________North Carolina State

Penn State _______________________Tennessee

Pittsburgh _______________________ Wake Forest

Toledo __________________________West Virginia

Mid-West North___________________Mid-West South

Central Michigan __________________Ball State

Eastern Michigan __________________Bowling Green

Minnesota _______________________ Cincinnati

Michigan ________________________Illinois

Michigan State ___________________ Indiana

Missouri ________________________ Miami of Ohio

Iowa ___________________________ Northern Illinois

Iowa State_______________________ Northwestern

Western Michigan ________________ Notre Dame

Wisconsin _______________________Purdue

Old West North___________________Old West South

Air Force _______________________ Baylor

Brigham Young __________________North Texas

Colorado _______________________ Oklahoma

Colorado State ___________________Oklahoma State

Kansas _________________________Southern Methodist

Kansas State ____________________ Texas

Nebraska _______________________Texas A&M

Utah __________________________ Texas Christian

Utah State ______________________Texas Tech

Wyoming ______________________ UTEP

Pacific North____________________Pacific South

Boise State _____________________ Arizona

California ______________________ Arizona State

Idaho __________________________Fresno State

Nevada ________________________ Hawaii

Oregon ________________________ New Mexico

Oregon State ____________________New Mexico State

San Jose State ___________________San Diego State

Stanford _______________________ UCLA

Washington ____________________ UNLV

Washington State ________________USC

Now I know there are a couple of stretches in the make-up of these conferences, and a couple of historic rivals have been separated out of necessity. I attempted to make each division and conference as competitive as possible given the limitation of being regional in nature.

Look at the conferences and try to rearrange them and see if you can keep them regional and yet make changes you think should be made. Another pair of options would be; a. Eight 15-team conferences, or b. Ten 12-team conferences.

One thing is certain, the power of the polls would be virtually eliminated in this system. A team would have to simply win its way to the playoff, and wouldn't that be a breath of fresh air? I wonder how much these institutions would save on travel costs?

Yes, one could argue that one conference is weaker than another is, or one division is weaker than another is and consequently teams in those situations have an unfair advantage, and I believe that initially that might be true. As time goes by I would expect the quality of these teams would level out, and I guess that would be a bone of contention since more schools would have a chance at the big dance rather than a few powerhouses like we commonly see under the current system.

If yesterday marked the end of the regular season in college football, the 16 teams and the match-ups for the first round of the 2007-08 NCAA National Championship Playoff would be as follows:

Atlantic North Champion - Boston College vs. Atlantic South Champion - Virginia

Southern East Champion - Alabama vs. Southern West Champion - Louisiana State

Appalachia North Champion - Ohio State vs. Appalachia South Champion - West Virginia

Mid-West North Champion - Missouri vs. Mid-West South Champion - Cincinnati

Old West North Champion - Kansas vs. Old West South Champion - Oklahoma

Pacific North Champion - Oregon vs. Pacific South Champion - Arizona State

At Large Games-

Two teams from the Pacific Conference- Hawaii vs. USC

Two teams from the Atlantic Conference- Virginia Tech vs. South Florida

I just wanted to take a look at how this might work. I'll give it until November and then take another look at who would be in the 16 team tournament at that time.

It's very interesting to me to speculate on, and unless I miss my bet, this is all we are going to be allowed to do by whoever holds the reins in the NCAA...

Well, I could run through the past couple of college football weekends, but I think you readers are well aware of the strange goings on lately. What I do want to discuss is the seeming hot potato being rated number one in the polls has suddenly turned out to be. Louisiana State University, after 48 years of trying, finally made it back to the pinnacle only to trip and tumble into the Kentucky bluegrass after just one week of honestly proclaiming "We're Number One!" Yes they were playing a good Kentucky Wildcat team on the road and it went to triple overtime, but hadn't the Bayou Bengals taken down a South Carolina team that in turn had hung a loss on the Wildcats? After all the talk about how great this LSU team is, and I don't dispute it, the wheels of a seemingly invincible team inexplicably came off. This speaks volumes about the competitiveness of the SEC. It is undeniably the toughest conference in college football. One week ago, then number one in the nation, the University of Southern California, lost at home to a 41-point underdog. Not on the road, at home! What in the Sam Hill is going on here?

Okay... Who'll be the next in line for heartaches?

As I'm putting this together the current number two-ranked team in the nation, the University of California has lost its starting quarterback and is battling it out with a 3 and 3 Oregon State University team. What's that? Oregon State just put eight points up for a seven-point lead over Cal halfway through the fourth quarter? Man! It looks like Cal has been drinking the same water USC has been guzzling. What? WHAT? THEY JUST FUMBLED THE ENSUING KICKOFF???? As if fumbling the ball away isn't bad enough, now they're committing personal fouls! Incredible! The Beavers just hung another three points on the Bears for a 31 to 21 lead. I'd venture to say the Cal Bears are going down the same road LSU took earlier in the day. Cal just scored another touchdown to make it a three-point game, but with two and a half minutes left and one timeout, they couldn't convert the on-side kick... They've done what they had to do, they've held on downs and will at least have a chance with a minute and a half left in the game. What more could you ask for? That's what we all ask for, isn't it? Just give us a chance. A nice Oregon State punt results in 95 yards for a TD or 60 yards for a field goal attempt to tie. Cal has no time outs now... Play one, the QB is flushed and throws it away. Play two, first down yardage on a pass over the middle. Play three, a sack and the clock runs... Play four, spike. Play five (third down) a long incomplete pass. 42 seconds left... Play six (fourth down) low snap, complete pass and a struggle for another first down! Play seven, spike. Play eight, long pass on the right sideline for 37 yards. First down! Play nine, spike. 27 yard line, second down. Play ten, no one open, thrown away. 18 seconds to go. Play eleven, pass over the right middle. Incomplete. Flag! Pass interference. 15-yard penalty and first down at the 12 yard line. 12 seconds to go... Play twelve, no one open, the red-shirt freshman QB scrambles and is tackled short of the goal line!!!! The clock runs out as the field goal team attempts to rush into position! Cal's head coach slams his headgear to the turf. Game over. Next thing you know the Oregon State head coach is being interviewed on the tube...

The only difference between the Cal Bears and the LSU Tigers is that the Bears aren't even going to attain the pinnacle. They got just close enough to glimpse it, maybe catch a whiff of it whisking along on the rarified air, but it must not have been meant to be.

So who'll be the next in line? I keep hearing that line "Guess who? We're back!" Yes the Ohio State University Buckeyes are gathering there where the Tiger's discarded crown lays in the bluegrass. They're wearing barely dirty uniforms as they pick up the crown and what's that? They're chanting something... It's becoming clearer now. Can you hear it? It's growing louder, by this time tomorrow it will be a roar! "We're number one. We're number one! WE'RE NUMBER ONE!"

I ask, "Do you Buckeyes really want to proceed with this?" They've all stopped their dancing. The chanting has died down and they're all quizzically looking at me...

"All right, all right! You all just go right ahead. Run with it if you can! Who's next on your schedule?" From where I stand, it really doesn't matter anymore. Enjoy it while it lasts.

I divided the country into seven regions as follows:

New England - - - 6 states - - - 2 BCS Schools - - - 2 votes

East - - - - - - - - - 8 states - - - 18 BCS Schools - - 10 votes

Mid East - - - - - -7 states - - -24 BCS Schools - - 13 votes

South - - - - - - - -9 states - - -31 BCS Schools - - 15 votes

Mid West - - - - - 7 states - - -17 BCS Schools - - 10 votes

Mountain - - - - - 7 states - - -13 BCS Schools - - 7 votes

Pacific - - - - - - - 6 states - - - 14 BCS Schools - -14 votes

------------------------50 states - - -119 BCS Schools - 65 votes

States by region:

New England- Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

East- New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina.

Mid East- Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Indiana.

South- South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

Mid West- North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Mountain- Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, and Nevada.

Pacific- Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, California, and Arizona.

Note: The list of voters includes a group of four advertised as "at large". Rather than let that stand, I put these voters in the regions where they attended college. An example of this is Chris Fowler who is listed as an at large voter from ESPN. I included him in the Mountain region since he graduated from Colorado.

I wanted to look at the breakdown on a percentage basis weighing the number of schools verses the number of voters by region. I was happy to find these numbers were pretty representative.

Region ----------%Schools--------%Voters

New England -------1.68%---------3.08%

East -----------------15.13%--------15.38%

Mid East -----------20.17%--------20.00%

South ---------------26.05%--------23.08%

Mid West ----------14.29%--------15.38%

Mountain ----------10.92%--------10.77%

Pacific -------------11.76%--------12.31%

Taking this a step further, there are 66 Major Conference Schools among the BCS 119 (Listed below by region). The same numbers were crunched using the major schools and the regional voters and converting to a percentage.

New England- Boston College & Connecticut.

East- Maryland, Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Duke, Wake Forest, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, West Virginia, & Penn State.

Mid East- Cincinnati, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Purdue, Iowa State, & Notre Dame.

South- Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Miami, South Florida, Louisville, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Arkansas, & Louisiana State.

Mid West- Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M,, & Texas Tech

Mountain- Colorado.

Pacific- Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State, California, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Arizona, & Arizona State.

Region ----------%Schools--------%Voters

New England -------3.03%---------3.08%

East -----------------18.18%--------15.38%

Mid East -----------19.70%--------20.00%

South ---------------27.27%--------23.08%

Mid West ----------15.15%--------15.38%

Mountain -----------1.52%--------10.77%

Pacific -------------15.15%--------12.31%

Some discrepancies show up under these circumstances. There are 7 voters from the Mountain region with only one major school residing there while the East, South and West have a higher percentage of schools than voters.

All in all the make up of the AP system would have to be deemed fair with just a couple of questions.

One side note about this. Apparently there have been instances of voters consistently voting with their heart rather than their head as a letter (http://www.fanblogs.com/ap_poll/005412.php) went out to the voters before the 2005 NCAA football season kicked off that reviewed the high ethics the AP expects from their voters. I especially like the following Ethics guideline: Please be advised: "Homerism" will be challenged and could lead to dismissal from the poll board.

Now why was there a need to do that?

Unfortunately the USA Today Coaches Poll voters are kept under wraps. All I was able to find was the 2007 AFCA Division I-A Board of Coaches at https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9300&ATCLID=639519 . I'm not sure but maybe this board is the voters?

For a look at the AP poll and who the voters are, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AP_Poll . You'll also find a link to the USA Today Coaches Poll there as well.