Hypothetical National Title Fornat

[Mr_Tibbs]

Given the extreme lack of leadership and perpetual ambiguity shown by the NCAA regarding the playoff format for FCS this fall (or spring), a thought crossed my mind.

If the FBS champion is determined by a non-NCAA sanctioned College Football Playoff Committee, why do the 8 of 13 FCS conferences that are still planning to play this fall need an NCAA sanctioned playoff format? If the NCAA remains absent in determining how the championship will work, why don't the remaining conferences that want to play this fall agree to a one year playoff format that allows them to crown a champion this fall. They won't be official NCAA champions, but neither is LSU. To be clear, the conferences would follow NCAA guidelines and compliance throughout the process. Im not talking about breaking away from the organization. Just holding a tournament that isn't sanctioned by the NCAA. At the moment, we have five conferences vying for spring ball, and 3 of them don't even participate in the post season. It seems that the power position still lies with the 8 fall conferences to either force the hand of the NCAA or hold their own tournament.

I'm just so disgusted that the NCAA let these conferences move to the spring before making a division wide mandate. What if the fall championshios do happen? Those schools are SOL I guess. And what of the 8 remaining conferences postponpostponing with the hopes of a spring playoff, only to have that delayed or cancelled? It's apparent to me that all of these conferences that still haven't made an announcement pbviously want a fall season. To me, it just seems simpler to forget about the NCAA FCS playoffs and hold our own tournament. If schools from the conferences that have already cancelled want to play an independent schedule and participate, eo be it. If not, see you in fall of 2021 (hopefully).

Is there a reason why this won't work?

[jakejc795]

The NCAA pays officials and funds travel, correct?

If so, do you think conferences could afford to pay for that with adding testing?

Plus, if the NCAA opts to forego FCS playoffs, I could see officials balking unless they receive hazard pay, insurance, etc.

[Mr_Tibbs]

The NCAA collects a percentage if the gate revenue from FCS playoff games, and they pay for travel (which is why the bus vs. Flight thing is such a factor in the early round pairings). So yes and no as to paying for the post season. I also don't know why the officials would back out if they had been officiating all FCS and FBS ganes up to the post season, which it appears (as of 7-31) they are willing to do. Added costs of 3 more flights, assuming your team advances far into the post season, are probably a wash of you get to keep the entire gate revenue from a home game. Of course, in the Covid World, who knows if or how much gate revenue from fans would actually be collected.

I thinj the cost would not be prohibitive for most of the conferences left playing, with the noted exception that FBS money games going away could impact that.. Not to mention the fact that many schools only have 8 or 9 games on the calendar at the moment, and some of those lost games were supposed to away games in which travel was already budgeted for. Replacing the lost road games with a few road playoff games may be a wash for some schools.

[jakejc795]

My thought was that the refs might become more leery if the NCAA announces next week that they're opting not to have FCS playoffs.

There's also been criticism for several weeks among some that athletics depts. have enhanced testing access when general public does not

[yoteforever]

By Tuesday night all FCS football will be played in the spring

[Mr_Tibbs]

By Tuesday night all FCS football will be played in the spring

Do you have a source or is that your assumption? It might be correct, but I'm not sure what indication has been given that the direction they will go will be to postpone. A little birdy told me that USD, as a school, is postponing football for the fall. And that they supposedly told all the Yote players as much about a week and a half ago. I cant substantiate that, and I'd be shocked if USD took that step without knowing that the conference as whole was doing the same. But schools are doing what's best for them, whatever that might be. At this point, unless the NCAA says no fall championships, the Valley seems like they are going to do everything in their power to play the schedule and post season this fall. I have no confidence in the NCAA or the FCS reps they have on the board (Ivy, NEC, and MEAC), all of whom have already edited to play in the spring and two of the three dont even participate in the playoffs anyways. Very unfortunate representation and timing with the current situation.

[yoteforever]

Do you have a source or is that your assumption? It might be correct, but I'm not sure what indication has been given that the direction they will go will be to postpone. A little birdy told me that USD, as a school, is postponing football for the fall. And that they supposedly told all the Yote players as much about a week and a half ago. I cant substantiate that, and I'd be shocked if USD took that step without knowing that the conference as whole was doing the same. But schools are doing what's best for them, whatever that might be. At this point, unless the NCAA says no fall championships, the Valley seems like they are going to do everything in their power to play the schedule and post season this fall. I have no confidence in the NCAA or the FCS reps they have on the board (Ivy, NEC, and MEAC), all of whom have already edited to play in the spring and two of the three dont even participate in the playoffs anyways. Very unfortunate representation and timing with the current situation.

I do have a source. NCAA board is meeting Monday and Tuesday and announcement is expected to be Tuesday night.

Regarding your statement on USD football not playing even if the rest of the league does is total BS. USD is planning to go to Ames Sept. 5th for the game against Iowa State and I believe will be played UNLESS the NCAA board nixes it, which is what I’ve been told Friday afternoon. I agree with your assessment of the FCS reps but in this world we live in doing what’s right vs what’s politically correct are 2 different things.

For what it’s worth, my source also told me the PAC-12 players were going to make a bold statement on Monday. Well it came out yesterday because it was leaked. If I had to bet I’d bet football will be in the spring.

[yoteforever]

Now being told there’s a good chance they may delay decision till August 19th. A lot of moving pieces. I think there’s a real threat the Power 5 sees this as a great opportunity to begin their pull away from the NCAA. If the committee allows football but cancels other fall sports such as volleyball, then there’s the real possibility of legal action from minor and women’s sports. Title IX implications. This is without a doubt a total mess.

i can’t see the Big Sky being for a spring schedule. I would guess you’d prefer to play this fall as opposed to a March start given historic tempature averages and you having an outdoor stadium ( this is not a slam ). USD, UNI, NDSU, and UND with indoor facilities can probably accommodate a spring schedule. And yes I know you could as well but it certainly wouldn’t be like a fall day with temps in the 60’s.

There’s also the issue of a spring injury and wiping out not only spring but fall as well given the short turnaround time. All in all....I vote let’s play. The kids want to and if you’re of the age or health risk that concerns you, watch it on tv. Tough decisions for all.

[Mr_Tibbs]

Now being told there’s a good chance they may delay decision till August 19th. A lot of moving pieces. I think there’s a real threat the Power 5 sees this as a great opportunity to begin their pull away from the NCAA. If the committee allows football but cancels other fall sports such as volleyball, then there’s the real possibility of legal action from minor and women’s sports. Title IX implications. This is without a doubt a total mess.

i can’t see the Big Sky being for a spring schedule. I would guess you’d prefer to play this fall as opposed to a March start given historic tempature averages and you having an outdoor stadium ( this is not a slam ). USD, UNI, NDSU, and UND with indoor facilities can probably accommodate a spring schedule. And yes I know you could as well but it certainly wouldn’t be like a fall day with temps in the 60’s.

There’s also the issue of a spring injury and wiping out not only spring but fall as well given the short turnaround time. All in all....I vote let’s play. The kids want to and if you’re of the age or health risk that concerns you, watch it on tv. Tough decisions for all.

Agreed. At this point, of teams and conferences want to play, let them. That was the point of this thread: if the NCAA continues to delay, just try to do a separate tournament this fall for post season and let them keep delaying.

For the remaining conferences in this thing, I think they should play the schedule they have in front and maybe add some conference games from schools not originally on the schedule if possible (ISUr for the Jacks?) and go from there. Spring is a bad idea, and I have yet to hear anyone provide any solid information as to what exactly will be solved about covid by then. We aren't going to have a vaccine, and the virus clearly doesn't slow down when the weather warms up. Spring gains nothing and can hurt a whole bunch of other things.

Just play the damn games.

[bigticket1]

The NCAA is supposedly announcing a decision regarding the FCS playoffs tomorrow.

[goon]

The NCAA is supposedly announcing a decision regarding the FCS playoffs tomorrow.

Annoucing ndsu champs again basically nullifying the need for a season.....what a nightmare.....or daymare. For that matter.

[Mr_Tibbs]

Aaaaaaaaannnnnnnddddd... The ambiguity continues:

https://mobile.twitter.com/SamHerder...36987848359941


The NCAA is such a joke. Just make a decision. How can all these teams expect to jump all in on fall camp this week and next, knowing that their season might get cancelled on the 21st? Absolute cowardice. There is a clause in their statement that if 50% or more of a divisions teams postpone fall sports, the championship will not occur. Right now, there are 6 FCS conferences (of 13 total) that have made that call. However, even within those conferences, there are still a few schools that are going to try to play. If we can keep 65 schools as a go for the fall, maybe we can play it out. The Valley and Big Sky account for 24 teams alone. The Big South and OVC add 16 more, for a total of 40. The Pioneer adds 9 and the Southland 11, for a running total of 60. The Socon adds 9, but their are rumors that several schools don't want to proceed this fall. Add in the Independents (3), JMU, Nova, and Elon and the best possible total is 75 schools.

If one more conference fold this fall, or enough schools decide to cancel on their own, its all over. The CAA postponing really killed it.

[yoteforever]

Big Sky AD’s have recommended to their presidents a spring schedule. 2020 is TOAST

[Jacked_Up]

I suspect you're right, YF. It's increasingly difficult to see how football can be safely played this fall, at least at non-pro levels. The spring of 2021 might be a pipe dream, too. Today's news includes reports that eight UCLA players have tested positive for the virus. Covid-19 cases appear to be on the upswing across the U.S.

[bigticket1]

Reports out that both Big Sky and Pioneer are not playing this fall. That should just about do it.