"Should the Group of 5 do a separate College Football Playoff?

As a graduate of Ohio University in the Mid-American Conference, I get this question all the time.

Would you rather watch the Bobcats as a No. 12 seed in the CFP or have the chance to win a separate national championship in what would amount to a second division within the FBS? Both sides have merit, but the illusion of an upset against a Big Ten or SEC powerhouse is too much to pass up, and I’ve watched the Bobcats win three first-round games in the NCAA basketball tournament since 2010 – once as a No. 14 seed and twice as a No. 13."


The dangling carrot is what feeds the fuel to the fire, but I think a G5 playoff format - campus sites only - could have a lot of merit, still hold a lot of value and be a lot of fun. Unless they were to grant ALL conference champions a spot in the CFP - (can you imagine a freezing Tuesday night in Athens with the CFP on the line? ABSOLUTE CINEMA) - the best of the rest would still put together a hell of a playoff.

Look - nobody in the G5 universe wants to throw their hands up and say we're 'less than', but there are a lot of realities that we need to come to terms with and the CFP is one of those. It wasn't built for us.

Having our own playoff isn't admitting we're less than, it's forging our own path in the current landscape.

Can't blame ya for the logic. Personally would rather go to the FCS playoffs (makes a ton more financial sense and I believe would be more lucrative) if we decide to drop down.

Otherwise, much like March Madness, I want a shot at knocking off Goliath one day. I believe there is going to be a lane for a lesser school (yes, I am going to use this phrase, and this includes power schools) to rise up and win. If Indiana can go undefeated in my lifetime and go back to Pasadena, which my grandpa swore to me would never happen (and wish he could see that), then why not us? Why can't we make the stars align for one fateful season? If I can see with my own eyes IU do that, and Vanderbilt win 10 games in the season, then why not us?

This has been a great talking point with me.

I don't 1000% want it, but ultimately, I'd be okay with the G6 having their own postseason tournament.

If we're being honest with ourselves, the Power Conferences (and by extension the cold-hearted TV networks like ESPN and FOX) will never respect the G6 Conferences. It was like pulling teeth just to get one G6 representative in the 12-team CFP format.

The goal post is always moving away from us and in favor of the SEC and B1G especially. Backstage politics, money, TV networks, etc. The core of the CFP system sucks. It feels more and more like a contrived event anyway.

If we're forced to do it, having at least an 8-team G6 tournament would be enough to satisfy the rest of us. We don't need the approval of the Ohio States, Alabamas and Georgias to exist in their corporate bubble.

I don't think the G6 will ever get respect from mainstream media even if they do win CFP 1st Round games.

I don't think you quite understand how rigged the CFP system has been since Day 1. Look, I hear you when you say "You gotta earn respect and prove you belong," but do you really think ESPN/FOX and the Powers-That-Be that rule college sports care about anything the G6 does? To them, it's all about brand power, money, and politics.

Knowing them, they'll come up with an excuse as to how a Power Conference team didn't show up and not give credit to the G6 team.

You're missing my point completely.

Pay attention. I'm talking about ESPN/FOX and mainstream media. How they spin narratives. To them, it hasn't mattered and probably never will matter whatever G6 schools do. Nothing stopped ESPN (who runs the CFP) from excluding UCF in 2017 from the 4-team CFP despite the Knights going 13-0. At that time UCF was still G6. UCF having success never fit ESPN's narrative. Who did ESPN put in instead via their Stupid Selection Committee? Alabama. Big brand name.

"Prove it on the field that you belong!"

^ You can pull a 2017 UCF for 4 years straight in the G6, but if ESPN doesn't like you and you don't fit their narrative, it won't matter. They'll find a way to bash you just like they did to Tulane and JMU this year, and Boise State last year.

And going back to the heart of this topic...

The economic gap is growing in every aspect. Don't be surprised if we get into the 2030s and the SEC and B1G basically tell everyone else "Screw you! We have all the money and power and we'll break away! Mwahahaha!!!" They'll form their own Invitational Tournament, forcing the G6 (and even the Big XII and ACC) to scramble and come up with their own tournaments. Whether we really want that or not, guys...

And if you disagree with everything I'm saying still, Billy, then I'm sorry I didn't make myself clear.

It is just a matter of time before the CFB removes our 1 reserved spot. The outrage was thick this year and will only grow. Once the spot is removed, they simply need to create a new championship from a conceptual standpoint. You can't proclaim teams in the same division if they have no path to the championship. I am definitely for a separate playoff at this point, think it would be fun and would get decent interest comparable to the random December bowl games.