1-AA Playoffs expanding?

[JCPanthers]

What would you think if the 1-AA Playoffs expanded to 24 teams?? That was part of the discussions at last month's 1-AA Football Committee meeting. Here is a link to some to the recommendations by the committee to enhance the 1-AA Playoff experience.

http://www2.ncaa.org/media_and_events/association_news/association_updates/2005/february/0218_IAAFB.html

One of the recommendations by the 1-AA Football committee:

Seed Eight Teams. Currently only four teams in the 16-team championship bracket are seeded. The committee felt the increase would ensure more integrity of the championship bracket through a more even distribution of the most talented teams. Members also noted that expanding the bracket to 24 teams would also address several issues related to the championship: the I-AA championship as it currently stands offers championship access to the lowest percentage of teams than in any other Division I sport and any other postseason football championship in any division. Several I-AA conferences have been traditionally excluded from the championship experience through a lack of automatic qualifier spots.

[Matt Trump]

I think there is no question that this expansion is needed. With the amount of new teams in I-AA and a new conference, it is necessary. Plus, there are great teams that are excluded every year. The only issue is whether or not the NCAA can afford to pay for more teams going on the road during an extra round. Whether or not this happens all comes down to the almighty dollar.

[Newsbreaker]

The question then becomes, if those seeded teams are going to start getting off-weeks (as they would with a 24 team system), then is that really a benefit, or will it result in too many top-8 teams getting ousted after the off week?

[Matt Trump]

The question then becomes, if those seeded teams are going to start getting off-weeks (as they would with a 24 team system), then is that really a benefit, or will it result in too many top-8 teams getting ousted after the off week?

Well, if you look at the NFL, the teams that have bye-weeks in the playoffs usually win their first game after the off-week. So, the reward for winning your conference will be to get a bye and a home game after that. A bye-week in the first round of the playoffs would be a HUGE benefit.

[FMPanther]

25th team will complain then...

Now the 25th team of 24 will be complaining about being left out. There is no end to this. But, I can honestly say, except for one haunting year, UNI would have made the playoffs every year for the past 15 if 24 were taken.

[Marc Wigim]

I do think that the playoffs leave out a lot of contenders, though. 16 teams is not enough to establish a true champ, IMHO.

[jegbomb52]

d

Now the 25th team of 24 will be complaining about being left out. There is no end to this. But, I can honestly say, except for one haunting year, UNI would have made the playoffs every year for the past 15 if 24 were taken.

Yeah, sorry about that.

[Cap'n Cat]

The only issue is whether or not the NCAA can afford to pay for more teams going on the road during an extra round. Whether or not this happens all comes down to the almighty dollar.

They HAVE the cash. Whether they choose to spend it on our division is the issue.

BTW, Reed - your Mardi Gras pics are back.

Reed, left, and friend enjoy Bourbon Street: