On Tuesday afternoon, NCAA presidents approved a plan - presented by conference commissioners - that would institute a four-team, seeded playoff to determine college football's national champion. The new deal would begin with the 2014 season and run through 2025.
WVU would have still been playing in the Orange Bowl (or similar BCS game) last season even with a four-team playoff.
The four teams would be chosen and seeded by a selection committee, with the semifinals held as current bowls and the National Championship to be bid out each year. Although the exact bowls were not released, the presidents did state that the semifinals would rotate between a set of six bowl sites.
The financial parameters were established - and believed to be in the billions, with a "b" - but the details were not made public.
So the question on Mountaineer fans' minds is: how does this effect West Virginia?
First, let's take a look back....
If this setup were in place over the last few decades, it would have had very little, if any, impact on West Virginia's post season chances.
In 1988, the Mountaineers were already selected for the National Championship game, so the four-team tournament would have made things more difficult. No. 1 Notre Dame would have faced off against No. 4 Florida State, while No. 2 Miami battled No. 3 West Virginia.
In 1993, instead of being relegated to a Sugar Bowl game against Florida, West Virginia would have been in the playoffs, avoiding the lopsided matchup against the Gators. Instead, the No. 3 Mountaineers would have played No. 2 Nebraska, with the winner playing either No. 1 Florida State or No. 4 Notre Dame. No offense to Robert Walker and company, but that may have turned out just as bad as the Sugar Bowl against UF.
As for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2011 - all double digit wins in recent years - West Virginia finished off their seasons with victories in major bowls in order to earn their lofty ranking. However, pre-postseason, the Mountaineers were too far down in the polls to be considered legitimate options for one of the top four teams.
How about going forward....
A four-team playoff chosen by a selection committee that takes into account strength of schedule is definitely a plus for West Virginia - and really any team in the Big 12 or Southeastern Conference. Take this season for instance. If WVU and Oklahoma were to both go 11-1 with the Sooners losing in Morgantown and the 'Eers losing in Austin, both preseason Top 10 teams would have a legitimate case to be included in the new "final four" of college football, regardless of what records other teams possess.
With the BCS still in place the next two years, one or both of those teams would be on the outside looking in if that scenario were to play out this fall.
Going forward, the Mountaineers will be presented with a greater chance of winning a National Championship than they would have if that current BCS system were to remain intact.
- Chris Anderson
- WVU & BC Insider - 247Sports