The playoff era in college football won’t begin until 2014.
That’s when the BCS standings give way to a selection committee and four teams, instead of two teams, play it off on the field.
Will the new system stop the SEC’s reign of terror in college football?
I wouldn’t count on it. In fact, a playoff will only enhance the SEC’s chances of winning the top prize every year.
SEC commissioner Mike Slive knew as much, which is why he’s long been a playoff proponent.
There’s an old adage that you don’t fix something that’s not broken. And with six straight national championships, why would the SEC be in favor of changing the format for determining the national champion?
The simple answer: With a four-team playoff, the SEC will have a chance to send two teams to the dance more times than not.
I realize that’s the last thing the rest of college football wants to hear right now, but the way this season has gone is a perfect example of why a playoff system is right up the SEC’s alley.
Look at the latest BCS standings.
Three of the top four teams are from the SEC, and once again, it looks like the SEC championship game will be a prelim for the national title game.
If Alabama beats Auburn this weekend and Georgia takes care of Georgia Tech, the winner of the Dec. 1 SEC championship game will lock up a berth in the Discover BCS National Championship Game.
Don’t count out Florida, either.
The Gators have struggled to get anything going offensively for the past several weeks, but they’re No. 4 this week in the BCS standings. They also would have the most impressive résumé in all of college football if they can win at No. 10 Florida State this weekend.
That would be four wins over top-10 teams, which would be impossible to ignore no matter how anemic their offense has been.
Notre Dame would have to lose to USC for the Gators to be in the mix. But if that happens, the rest of the country might want to brace itself.
An all-SEC affair for the second straight year in the BCS National Championship Game could be in the cards, not only this year but also in the years to come when the playoff goes into effect.
The process may change, and so will some of the finer details, but the SEC is not going away.