Ducks Attack Message Board Forum

Count me among those who like 12 teams. It seemed like a great number this year; I just think they should have had Notre Dame in instead of 5 middling SEC teams who only played each other. I am confident that no matter the size of the playoff field, the last teams in will always be debated. For me, the purpose of the playoffs is to reward teams that won their games with a chance to win the championship. I don't consider three losses to be winning their games.

Phalanx wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 12:24 pm Count me among those who like 12 teams. It seemed like a great number this year; I just think they should have had Notre Dame in instead of 5 middling SEC teams who only played each other. I am confident that no matter the size of the playoff field, the last teams in will always be debated. For me, the purpose of the playoffs is to reward teams that won their games with a chance to win the championship. I don't consider three losses to be winning their games.

IMO, Notre Dame needs to join a conference or be left out. They've had too many years of special rules.

The selection committee system will always favor a 3 loss SEC team over a G6 team with a better record. To me, that is the primary flaw of the current system that diminishes a teams record if they are from the wrong conference.

duckpoint wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 1:32 pm

Phalanx wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 12:24 pm Count me among those who like 12 teams. It seemed like a great number this year; I just think they should have had Notre Dame in instead of 5 middling SEC teams who only played each other. I am confident that no matter the size of the playoff field, the last teams in will always be debated. For me, the purpose of the playoffs is to reward teams that won their games with a chance to win the championship. I don't consider three losses to be winning their games.

IMO, Notre Dame needs to join a conference or be left out. They've had too many years of special rules.

The selection committee system will always favor a 3 loss SEC team over a G6 team with a better record. To me, that is the primary flaw of the current system that diminishes a teams record if they are from the wrong conference.

What I think will be interesting is if a conference makes the argument that Notre Dame is receiving a "protected class" status as a result. We know they've said there has to be avenues for the G5 to be included but having a special status is typically something the Courts will frown upon and could be a way the B1G forces them to join one.

Duck07 wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 1:35 pm

duckpoint wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 1:32 pm

Phalanx wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 12:24 pm Count me among those who like 12 teams. It seemed like a great number this year; I just think they should have had Notre Dame in instead of 5 middling SEC teams who only played each other. I am confident that no matter the size of the playoff field, the last teams in will always be debated. For me, the purpose of the playoffs is to reward teams that won their games with a chance to win the championship. I don't consider three losses to be winning their games.

IMO, Notre Dame needs to join a conference or be left out. They've had too many years of special rules.

The selection committee system will always favor a 3 loss SEC team over a G6 team with a better record. To me, that is the primary flaw of the current system that diminishes a teams record if they are from the wrong conference.

What I think will be interesting is if a conference makes the argument that Notre Dame is receiving a "protected class" status as a result. We know they've said there has to be avenues for the G5 to be included but having a special status is typically something the Courts will frown upon and could be a way the B1G forces them to join one.

Agree with this take. What ND is doing feels pretty dubious. Also I feel like 12 is the wrong number and should have been evened out at 16 with no long byes. Still unsure what should be done with conference championship games.

JIDuck97 wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 1:56 pm
Agree with this take. What ND is doing feels pretty dubious. Also I feel like 12 is the wrong number and should have been evened out at 16 with no long byes. Still unsure what should be done with conference championship games.

I think we've got to scrap the CG's to make the Playoff fit the January Academic schedule. There's got to be some work-backwards issues they address.

The G5 should not only have "avenues of inclusion", but equal avenues of inclusion if they are in the FBS. If they are deemed to be unworthy of equal opportunity, restructure FBS without them.

duckpoint wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 1:32 pm

Phalanx wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 12:24 pm Count me among those who like 12 teams. It seemed like a great number this year; I just think they should have had Notre Dame in instead of 5 middling SEC teams who only played each other. I am confident that no matter the size of the playoff field, the last teams in will always be debated. For me, the purpose of the playoffs is to reward teams that won their games with a chance to win the championship. I don't consider three losses to be winning their games.

IMO, Notre Dame needs to join a conference or be left out. They've had too many years of special rules.

I prefer a 16 team playoff due to the way the teams are currently being selected.

The 4 Power-4 champions get an automatic bid.
Two Group of 5 teams get in.
Notre Dame gets an auto bid if ranked in the Top-12

That would only leave 5 at-large teams remaining. That could make things tough on Oregon now that they're playing in a conference with so many good to great teams like Ohio State, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, etc. Two losses might be enough to be left out depending on the other teams on the cusp. 16 teams seems more fair if they're going to force the Group of 5 and Notre Dame inclusions.

Let the 2 Group of 5 teams play the #1 and #2 seeds in the first round. Personally, I don't think they should have an automatic invite.

Also, I agree about Notre Dame joining a conference. They play an ACC schedule, so they should be an ACC member in football. IMHO

16 team playoff team just doesn't make sense.

Does a 12-0 Oregon and 8-4 Alabama really both belong in the same playoff?

dd10snoop28 wrote:16 team playoff team just doesn't make sense.

Does a 12-0 Oregon and 8-4 Alabama really both belong in the same playoff?

I’ve watched enough ESPN this last season to know in that scenario that no, Oregon wouldn’t deserve to be in the same playoff as Alabama.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

OregonFan4Life wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 10:52 pm

dd10snoop28 wrote:16 team playoff team just doesn't make sense.

Does a 12-0 Oregon and 8-4 Alabama really both belong in the same playoff?

I’ve watched enough ESPN this last season to know in that scenario that no, Oregon wouldn’t deserve to be in the same playoff as Alabama.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We as Duck fans all discussed it, and if you also listen to the national media, we all came to the same conclusion. A 10-2 Duck team is NOT making the playoffs. However if we expect an even playing field when it comes to the SEC, we all know that isn't happening.

I don't like Notre Dame, but I really don't get what their conference situation, or lack thereof, has to do with playoff worthiness. Especially when everyone is also saying that conference championship games should be done away with. I think we need to do what will hereafter be called the Lanning Plan. Just start the playoffs the week after the conference championships (or a week earlier if you get rid of them) and then the bye for the four best teams won't be such a big deal. There are not 16 teams who deserve a playoff bid, and all you are doing if you expand is putting more SEC teams in.