Mark Cuban: Is His College Football Playoff Idea Foolish or Realistic?
Mark Cuban may have a plan for the very thing college football fans have been demanding.
The Dallas Mavericks owner has come out with a proposal for a playoff system that would determine a national champion in college football. He said he was inspired after reading the book "Death to the BCS" by Dan Wetzel, adding it will take up to four years to convince college officials about its strengths.
The easiest way to explain his idea: It would be a 12-team or 16-team format, with higher seeds getting homefield advantage. As part of his plan, he also hopes to convince donors to cut off funding to their respective athletic programs until presidents approve a playoff system.
Cuban said he's planning to talk with more school presidents and state senators to determine if this is something he should pursue.
A playoff is what every college football fan wants. Could Cuban's plan work? Here are five reasons why it's legit, and five why it won't happen:
Reason No.5 It Won't Happen: The Old Boys Network
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Despite how great an idea it is, Cuban could hit a wall when it comes to school presidents, athletic directors and commissioners who adopt the attitude of "this is how we've always done it, it's always worked, it's what is most convenient." With as many bowls that exist now, they also know that even if their football team finishes at or below .500, they can still be rewarded with a trip to some sub-standard postseason game in towns like Tunica, Miss.
Reason No.5 It's Legit: BCS Has Zero Credibility
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Save all the talk that the BCS got it right, the system works, and Auburn (13-0) and Oregon (12-0) deserve to be in the national championship.
You can say both teams are undefeated, but there are just as many examples of teams who were denied legitimate opportunities at the big game, and other situations where fans were left to wonder who would win if there was an extra game. Case in point: In 2003, USC finished the year No.1 in the writer's poll, while LSU won the BCS National Championship. Imagine if they would have played.
Reason No.4 It Won't Happen: Bowl Involvement
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Cuban said bowls would still exist under his plan, but that he would make it more beneficial for schools to participate in his playoff. Every other playoff format that has been presented said bowl games can still be included, and it would be hard to convince schools to walk away from them, especially when BCS bowl games have $18 million payouts.
Cuban explained that as part of his plan, he would put $500 million in the bank, and that he would go to the schools and pay them as an option. He would need to find a fair way for it to be equally distributed, however, and for conference affiliation not to be factored in and benefit some schools over others.
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Reason No.4 It's Legit: Solid Support
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Cuban has said in stories he has already talked with two athletic directors from BCS conferences who are open to his idea. That's a plus, but let's think ahead: What happens if he goes to Florida, Oklahoma and Texas and walks away with backing from athletic directors such as Jeremy Foley, DeLoss Dodds and Joe Castiglione? Game. Over.
This format would gain serious credibility and you can bet others would fall in line.
Reason No.3 It Won't Happen: Choosing The Teams
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Right now, one of the biggest arguments with the bowl system is that it only benefits schools from power conferences, and that other schools like TCU and Boise State never have a legitimate shot at the national title. With Cuban's plan, it would be critical to have a fair, balanced system in place where every team can qualify under the same rules. Even then, some may gripe and say they're more deserving, and that they have played a much tougher schedule than another school.
Reason No.3 It's Legit: Regular Season Still Matters
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BCS cheerleaders will say the current system places greater value on the regular season, and makes each game that much more critical. One loss at the wrong time, and your shot at a national title is gone. The regular season would still be a key factor in Cuban's plan, with higher seeds getting homefield advantage.
In this case, Oregon, Auburn and TCU would each get to play first round games at home. Athletic directors could also save money.
Reason No.2 It Won't Happen: The Networks
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ESPN and Fox are tied in pretty heavily with bowl contracts, and it would take some substantial money to change things. The most recent contract between the BCS and Fox, for example, was four years, $320 million.
If there was enough money invested it could happen, especially because viewership numbers would skyrocket if fans got to tune in weekly for a legitimate playoff.
Reason No.2 It's Legit: Return On Investment
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Cuban has said he hopes to lobby donors of college athletic programs to stop giving and pressure school presidents toward adopting a playoff. While some donors will always support their programs, regardless of what athletic directors choose, others want to see programs keep growing and flourishing. The current postseason structure has its limits, but a playoff could create limitless opportunities, especially extra revenue and television exposure for prospective recruits.
Reason No.1 It Won't Happen: Control
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Writer Dashiell Bennett addressed Cuban's proposal on businessinsider.com.
"The Big Ten and SEC and every other conference might make more money from a playoff, but then they wouldn't be in charge of college football anymore," Bennett writes. "Bowls would still exist, but then the people who work for them wouldn't get as many free trips and dinners from schools trying to court them. College presidents wouldn't need to be called into "important" meetings to discuss bowl assignments with big alumni donors.Yes, Cuban could make them rich, but they're already rich. They want control."
Reason No.1 It's Legit: Consider The Numbers
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The revenue would be astronomical. If you're a school hosting a first-round game, your town would gain extra money from hotels and restaurants. If you're an advertiser, and know this is what fans have yearned for and the nationwide audience that would tune in, you know has the chance to be Super Bowl big.
Conclusion
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It's a 50-50 shot. There's no reason a playoff should not be in place, and Cuban's idea sounds fantastic. But when you're going against traditionalists who don't take chances, and who would rather hide behind "protecting the student-athlete" then you're unlikely to see the change everyone dreams of.
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