If you're one of the many sports fans looking for a conclusion and an end to the college football playoff speculation madness, don't expect one to come soon -- despite the fact that a four-team playoff system is likely to be finalized later this week.
Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott has a word for those fans: naive.
"Anyone who thinks going to a four-team playoff, or a Plus One, is going to end the controversy, they're naive,"Pac-12Commissioner Larry Scott told the Times following Wednesday's meeting. "Unless you go to an eight, or 16-team playoff, and I don't see that happening in the foreseeable future, you're going to have debate."
Scott is correct. A four-team playoff system is a great step in the right direction, but it is in no way the end game. Lots of money will be made from the playoff system as currently proposed, and even more money can be made in an eight, or 16 team playoff system.
As currently proposed, the system would rotate around six bowls, likely the four BCS games as we know it, and two other attractive venues. The national championship venue would be left to the highest bidders -- and we know already that Jerry Jones would be in the running to bring the title game to his Death Star in Dallas.
We all know that college athletics, in a hypocritical state, is dominated by money. With more money to be made by expanding the playoff system in the future, you can bet on it. Expansion would serve a two-fold purpose; not only would expansion make money, but it would allow more teams to compete in the playoff system, further legitimizing the national champion, and, reducing the cries of the 'snubbed' schools.
We'll soon have concrete details of the new playoff system -- but don't get used to it. It might only be around for a couple of years.