Big-time college football is breaking new ground this year by holding its first four-team playoff. This is exciting news, but eventually, it will become old news.
When that happens, the playoff field will expand because it means more money, and more title opportunities, for everyone involved. (It'd also increase the value of a title.)
Mark Schlabach of ESPN broke it down thusly:
In the span of about 60 years, the NCAA men's basketball tournament field has expanded several times. It began with eight teams in 1939 and has grown at a healthy rate since, reaching 64 teams in 1985 and its current format of 68 teams in 2011.
I think a sixteen team tournament would be awesome. And yes, I know, "THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMEBODY COMPLAINING THEY GOT LEFT OUT," but does America really care about the tears of the perceived 17th best team in the country? I sure as hell don't.
But still, others will say, "Golly gee, it'd ruin the regular season!" as if we suddenly won't watch every minute of every game like we already do.
Of course, we could also maintain regular season integrity by playing early round playoff games at the higher seed's stadium. (Show me an Ohio State fan that hasn't fantasized about hosting an SEC team in early December, and I'll show you a lying sack of trash.)
Down to their last arrow, the concern trolls will bellow, "But does the 16th best team in the tournament deserve a chance at the title?" Well, if they win every tournament game leading up to the championship game, they most certainly would.
That's how tournaments work, after all.
