I think it’s interesting how President-elect Barack Obama keeps pushing for a playoff system in college football to determine a national champion. The future president stated his position on the matter on Monday Night Football the night before he was elected, then brought it up again on CBS’ “60 Minutes” on Sunday night.In Obama’s proposed system, eight teams would play over three rounds to determine the champion.My questions to you guys is, would this be good for the game?I suppose I’m torn on the issue and see both sides of the argument. **Most of the stuff I’ve seen online** [advocating a playoff system][1] cites the following arguments:1. College football is the only NCAA-sponsored sport without an organized tournament to determine its champion. 2. In an era where it’s actually possible for [Boise State to miraculously defeat Oklahoma][2], why narrow the championship to only include the top two teams in the BCS?I understand these arguments, just based on what’s going on in the Big 12 this season. It’s a legitimate possibility Texas Tech, Texas and Oklahoma could all finish the season with one loss. It would then be left up to computers (whichever team has the best BCS ranking) to determine which team represents the South in the Big 12 Championship and therefore which team has the clearest path to the BCS Championship. **I also understand the arguments against** a playoff system. Most of the online articles I’ve seen [against a playoff system][3] cite arguments of unrealistic organization of the event:1. Many arguments against a playoff cite the concept of [mission creep][4]. It’s a phrase used to describe the expansion of a project or mission beyond its original goals, often after initial success. In other words, college football may start with a four- or eight-team playoff, but it’s just a matter of time before outcries for 16- or 32-team playoffs become unavoidable. Take for instance college basketball, which began as an eight-team bracket, but now has 65 participants. 2. Games in the system of a college playoff would have more of a corporate atmosphere than a traditional college stadium’s atmosphere. Most fans make travel arrangements for one bowl game. Who has the money to make three consecutive trips if your team goes far in the playoffs? Who has the time to spend three weeks in a destination without having to work? As a result, mass quantities of tickets would likely be sold to corporations, taking away from the college environment. I have friends at Kansas University who spent their entire Christmas or Hanukkah presents on a ticket to Miami to watch the Jayhawks in the Orange Bowl last year. In other instances, I remember some of my friends not spending money at bars or restaurants in the entire month of December just so they could save enough money for a trip to Florida. These are the people you want at playoff games, and I’m just not sure they’d have the time or money to do it for three straight weeks, should their team advance.I’m not for or against a playoff system at the moment, but I’d be interested to read some of your comments. Maybe you can convince me one way or the other.**Let’s move on to the weekly awards**. Quiet week in the Big 12 last weekend.**Performer of the week: Joe Ganz, Nebraska** Accounted for 365 yards and four total touchdowns in a 56-28 rout of K-State. Nebraska has quietly won four of its last five and could easily finish the season 8-4 if it beats Colorado next week at home.**Most significant win of the week: Missouri 52, Iowa State 20** Not a surprising victory for MU over ISU, but the victory guaranteed the Tigers a spot in the Dec. 6 Big 12 Championship Game in Kansas City, Mo.**Biggest surprise of the week: The dominance Baylor’s defense displayed against Texas A&M** The Bears intercepted Aggies quarterback Jerrod Johnson four times. Also, Baylor linebacker Joe Pawelek is a name that should be known in the conference immediately. Pawelek registered seven tackles and two interceptions against A&M. The junior is now sixth in the nation in average total tackles with 11 per game.**The Sorrentino Scale will** conclude this post. The number that follows in parentheses is what place the team was ranked last week.1 (1). Texas Tech (10-0): Another biggest game in Tech history upcoming at OU. 2 (2). Texas (10-1): Workman-like performance and solid road victory at KU. 3 (3). Oklahoma (9-1): If Sooners win out (vs. Tech, at Okla. St.), Big 12 title berth likely. 4 (4). Oklahoma State (9-2): RB Kendall Hunter injured at Colorado; would be a huge loss if he misses time. 5 (5). Missouri (9-2): No one’s talking about them, but it might be just what they need for an upset in the Big 12 title game. 6 (6). Nebraska (7-4): If beat Colorado at home next week, 8-4 under first-year coach Bo Pelini doesn’t sound too bad. 7 (7). Kansas (6-5): Forecast calling for Insight Bowl. Hey, at least it’s Tempe. 8 (8). Baylor (4-7): Officially escaped South cellar with win vs. Texas A&M. 9 (9). Colorado (5-6): Doesn’t deserve bowl, but could still get one with win at Nebraska. 10 (10). Texas A&M (4-7): I don’t want to hear the following claim heading into Thanksgiving week: ‘They’ve beaten Texas two straight times and it’s a rivalry game so anything can happen.’ There’s a 1 percent chance this team wins in Austin. If it happens, it’d be on the same scale as the Appalachian State-Michigan upset in 2007. 11 (11). Kansas State (4-7): Let the coaching search continue. 12 (12). Iowa State (2-9): At K-State to close season. Last chance for a conference victory.That’s all for now, friends. As always, discuss.By the way, if you’re not following this blog [on Twitter][5], the question you should be asking is why not? [1]: http://www.fannation.com/si_blogs/1/posts/22261?cnn=yes [2]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4s8vdzYwFU [3]: http://georgiasports.blogspot.com/2008/05/why-i-oppose-playoff-in-college.html [4]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_creep [5]: http://twitter.com/Big12_Spotlight
