It may be an incredibly long-shot, but Mountain West Conference Commissioner Craig Thompson has proposed a 16-team college football playoff proposal he hopes will level the playing field and replace the BCS. An alternative to the BCS has been kicked around for what seems like forever, with the demand for some kind of playoff rising along the way. And while extreme in some ways, Thompson's proposal may be a start, perhaps spawning further conversation about the current system.
MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson Proposes 16-Team College Football Playoff
MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson has proposed a 16-team college football playoff he thinks will provide a significant revenue boost over the current BCS system.
Thompson believes his proposal would provide a financial boost for all involved, while also dissolving the class structure inherent in college football at this time.
Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson, in an interview with The Arizona Republic, estimated a playoff would generate $700 million annually for college football, more than three times the nearly $182 million the BCS generated last year.
“What we are trying to do is offer an alternative with the current system. We have not been comfortable with the current system,” said Thompson, who based his financial projections on current television contracts with various conferences.
The MWC has been in the news recently, most notably for its decision to merge with Conference USA late last week. The merger and Thompson’s playoff proposal have the feel of self-preservation moves, made in an effort to keep from getting left behind when the college landscape changes again. And while a playoff does seem desirable, it’s more likely a more conservative model -- like the plus-one -- would be adopted over a 16-team model.
For more on Thompson and the conference he oversees, head over to Mountain West Connection.
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