RJ MacCallum

I believe I've found the best long-term playoff model for college football: The Conference Champions Series. 🏆🏈 Here's my challenge: Can anyone come up with a playoff plan that: ✅ Risks less money ✅ Creates more long-term revenue ✅ Preserves the history and traditions of the Power 4 conferences In this model, Conference Championship Games aren't eliminated—they become part of the playoff bracket. Instead of weakening conference competition, this strengthens it. Conference Championship participants automatically qualify for the playoff and are seeded based on the championship game results. They're placed on opposite sides of the bracket, giving both teams a legitimate path to the National Championship while creating the possibility of an incredible conference rematch on the biggest stage. With a 16-team playoff, there are still 8 at-large bids in addition to the two spots each Power 4 conference earns through its championship game. If conferences agree to use CFP rankings (after head-to-head) as their final tiebreaker, those championship participants will almost always come from the Top 16 or be very close, making automatic qualification a logical reward. The model also keeps the current postseason calendar—starting around December 4 and ending around January 17—and can even expand to 24 teams without adding weeks to the schedule compared to the current format. Most importantly, it preserves the roughly $250 million generated by Conference Championship Games instead of eliminating that revenue stream. It builds conference pride, protects the Power 4 structure, and creates a postseason unlike anything we've seen. I honestly believe this could become the greatest postseason in sports. If you'd like to see the full concept, the book takes about 20 minutes to read: a.co/d/02K6UbGj So I'll ask the question again: Is there another playoff system that preserves more tradition, protects more revenue, creates a stronger long-term business model, and still delivers a better playoff? Save the Power 4. Save the Conference Championship Games. Elevate conference competition. The Conference Champions Series. 🏆

The "talent vs. wins" debate doesn't require a conspiracy theory. People see one conference still leading in talent composite and NFL Draft picks while other conferences are winning more big games, and therefore assume the recruiting rankings or strength of schedule metrics must be biased. But what if the game has simply changed? For decades, the formula was straightforward: acquire the most talent and you'll usually win. Today, NIL, the transfer portal, and constant roster movement have made team building just as important as talent acquisition. Those are two different skills. It shouldn't surprise anyone that the conference which dominated talent acquisition for decades is still the best at talent acquisition. That doesn't mean it's automatically the best on the field every season. Likewise, it shouldn't surprise anyone that some coaches and conferences have adapted to the new era faster than others. The answer doesn't have to be "the system is rigged." It can simply be that one group is still winning the talent battle, while another is doing a better job turning talent into wins. That's not a conspiracy. That's college football evolving.

Let's make it a real challenge. Between all the P4 conferences. Top 2 seeded in separate brackets (conference championship game attendees, according to the outcome of those games) Assign points for playoff wins, and award a champion of Conferences. Let's settle it on the field, give an award and start stacking trophies instead of comparing stats. Start at 16 teams, 8 at-large. Everything is the same with 24, just no bye week for conference champs. Same calendar and same max number of games per team as 2025

If only there was a way to figure out how teams in the middle of the B1G and SEC are vs each other so we could end this! Oh wait, B1G is 8-2 vs SEC in Bowl Games the last 2 years The gap is getting bigger and ESPN is realizing they made a bad investment in a failing conference

Then let's make it a real challenge. Between all the P4 conferences. Top 2 seeded in separate brackets (conference championship game attendees, according to the outcome of those games) Assign points for playoff wins, and award a champion of Conferences. A natty doesn't make one conference better than the other, we all know that. So let's settle it on the field, give an award and start stacking trophies instead of comparing stats. Start at 16, works with 25 too Same calendar and same max number of games per team as 2025

This account is so terrible

Then let's make it a real challenge. Between all the P4 conferences. Top 2 seeded in separate brackets (conference championship game attendees, according to the outcome of those games) Assign points for playoff wins, and award a champion of Conferences. A natty doesn't make one conference better than the other, we all know that. So let's settle it on the field, give an award and start stacking trophies instead of comparing stats. Start at 16, works with 25 too Same calendar and same max number of games per team as 2025

You can’t argue that the top of the big ten has been better than everyone the last three years. Just like you can’t argue that their middle and bottom are ass juice. The nfl draft shows you that. Their bottom tier teams absolutely do not have the same talent.

Then let's make it a real challenge. Between all the P4 conferences. Top 2 seeded in separate brackets (conference championship game attendees, according to the outcome of those games) Assign points for playoff wins, and award a champion of Conferences. A natty doesn't make one conference better than the other, we all know that. So let's settle it on the field, give an award and start stacking trophies instead of comparing stats. Start at 16, works with 25 too Same calendar and same max number of games per team as 2025

youre gonna have to die mad then buddy

Seen this post 1,000 times... Why is no one laying attention to the solution to it all. Then let's make it a real challenge. Between all the P4 conferences. Top 2 seeded in separate brackets (conference championship game attendees, according to the outcome of those games) Assign points for playoff wins, and award a champion of Conferences. A natty doesn't make one conference better than the other, we all know that. So let's settle it on the field, give an award and start stacking trophies instead of comparing stats. Start at 16, works with 25 too Same calendar and same max number of games per team as 2025

Coach Cignetti talking about the Big Ten not running a hype machine at the same time Purdue is listed as a notable game for Indiana. Classic.

Then let's make it a real challenge. Between all the P4 conferences. Top 2 seeded in separate brackets (conference championship game attendees, according to the outcome of those games) Assign points for playoff wins, and award a champion of Conferences. A natty doesn't make one conference better than the other, we all know that. So let's settle it on the field, give an award and start stacking trophies instead of comparing stats. Start at 16, works with 24 too Same calendar and same max number of games per team as 2025

Top 10 teams from each conference last year. I think this settles it: Indiana > Georgia Ohio State >>>>>> Bama Oregon > Ole Miss USC > Texas AM Michigan <<<<<< Texas Iowa > Oklahoma Illinois > Vandy Minnesota < Missouri Washington > Tennessee Nebraska < LSU Big Ten: 7 SEC: 3

Then let's make it a real challenge. Between all the P4 conferences. Top 2 seeded in separate brackets (conference championship game attendees, according to the outcome of those games) Assign points for playoff wins, and award a champion of Conferences. A natty doesn't make one conference better than the other, we all know that. So let's settle it on the field, give an award and start stacking trophies instead of comparing stats. Start at 16, works with 24 too Same calendar and same max number of games per team as 2025

The new SEC motto

Then let's make it a real challenge. Between all the P4 conferences. Top 2 seeded in separate brackets (conference championship game attendees, according to the outcome of those games) Assign points for playoff wins, and award a champion of Conferences. A natty doesn't make one conference better than the other, we all know that. So let's settle it on the field, give an award and start stacking trophies instead of comparing stats. Start at 16, works with 24 too Same calendar and same max number of games per team as 2025

"In my mind, we're not defending the national championship, we're starting a new season." Curt Cignetti joins SportsCenter and discusses the upcoming @IndianaFootball season 🏈

Then let's make it a real challenge. Between all the P4 conferences. Top 2 seeded in separate brackets (conference championship game attendees, according to the outcome of those games) Assign points for playoff wins, and award a champion of Conferences. A natty doesn't make one conference better than the other, we all know that. So let's settle it on the field, give an award and start stacking trophies instead of comparing stats. Start at 16, works with 24 too Same calendar and same max number of games per team as 2025

Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers aren't shying away from the target on their backs after winning it all last season 🎯

Then let's make it a real challenge. Between all the P4 conferences. Top 2 seeded in separate brackets (conference championship game attendees, according to the outcome of those games) Assign points for playoff wins, and award a champion of Conferences. A natty doesn't make one conference better than the other, we all know that. So let's settle it on the field, give an award and start stacking trophies instead of comparing stats. Start at 16, works with 24 too Same calendar and same max number of games per team as 2025

"The SEC has lost this verbal battle just like they lost the battle on the football field." @finebaum gives his input on the Big Ten vs. SEC debate after Curt Cignetti's statements 😳

Then let's make it a real challenge. Between all the P4 conferences. Top 2 seeded in separate brackets (conference championship game attendees, according to the outcome of those games) Assign points for playoff wins, and award a champion of Conferences. A natty doesn't make one conference better than the other, we all know that. So let's settle it on the field, give an award and start stacking trophies instead of comparing stats. Start at 16, works with 25 too Same calendar and same max number of games per team as 2025

And yet plenty of people will say some SEC team is the best in football after playing 0 games.

@KevinScarbinsky Arkansas, a week or two after knocking off #1 Florida.

On the short list of the most embarrassing defeats of Tuberville's tenure.

Then let's make it a real challenge. Between all the P4 conferences. Top 2 seeded in separate brackets (conference championship game attendees, according to the outcome of those games) Assign points for playoff wins, and award a champion of Conferences. A natty doesn't make one conference better than the other, we all know that. So let's settle it on the field, give an award and start stacking trophies instead of comparing stats. Start at 16, works with 24 too Same calendar and same max number of games per team as 2025

wins one season and starts talking like prime Saban 💀 the unraveling will be generational

Then let's make it a real challenge. Between all the P4 conferences. Top 2 seeded in separate brackets (conference championship game attendees, according to the outcome of those games) Assign points for playoff wins, and award a champion of Conferences. A natty doesn't make one conference better than the other, we all know that. So let's settle it on the field, give an award and start stacking trophies instead of comparing stats. Start at 16, works with 24 too Same calendar and same max number of games per team as 2025

You can’t humble a guy who went 16-0 at Indiana in Football 😂😂

Then let's make it a real challenge. Between all the P4 conferences. Top 2 seeded in separate brackets (conference championship game attendees, according to the outcome of those games) Assign points for playoff wins, and award a champion of Conferences. A natty doesn't make one conference better than the other, we all know that. So let's settle it on the field, give an award and start stacking trophies instead of comparing stats. Start at 16, works with 24 too Same calendar and same max number of games per team as 2025

There isn’t a debate anymore the SEC has Texas and then no other first tier teams. The B1G has 3-4 first tier teams. The B1G also has a better second tier of teams The ACC dominated with 1 team for a decade and a half with celebrity shots by Georgia and LSU. B1G has had 3 different teams win it all in the last 3 years

I’m so exhausted by this SEC vs Big Ten debate, can we just put them in a 12 team playoff and let them decide who is the best.

Then let's make it a real challenge. Between all the P4 conferences. Top 2 seeded in separate brackets (conference championship game attendees, according to the outcome of those games) Assign points for playoff wins, and award a champion of Conferences. A natty doesn't make one conference better than the other, we all know that. So let's settle it on the field, give an award and start stacking trophies instead of comparing stats. Start at 16, works with 25 too Same calendar and same max number of games per team as 2025

@AdamKing10TV 😂😂 They did! The SEC had almost half the spots, and still couldn’t get one team, in the National Championship game.

Then let's make it a real challenge. Between all the P4 conferences. Top 2 seeded in separate brackets (conference championship game attendees, according to the outcome of those games) Assign points for playoff wins, and award a champion of Conferences. A natty doesn't make one conference better than the other, we all know that. So let's settle it on the field, give an award and start stacking trophies instead of comparing stats. Start at 16, works with 25 too Same calendar and same max number of games per team as 2025

Then let's make it a real challenge. Between all the P4 conferences. Top 2 seeded in separate brackets (conference championship game attendees, according to the outcome of those games) Assign points for playoff wins, and award a champion of Conferences. A natty doesn't make one conference better than the other, we all know that. So let's settle it on the field, give an award and start stacking trophies instead of comparing stats. Start at 16, works with 25 too Same calendar and same max number of games per team as 2025

You’d think the Nerds would be more likely to wait on real-life data before trying to make a claim based on absolutely no data but here we are. Shame on the Nerds!

Then let's make it a real challenge. Between all the P4 conferences. Top 2 seeded in separate brackets (conference championship game attendees, according to the outcome of those games) Assign points for playoff wins, and award a champion of Conferences. A natty doesn't make one conference better than the other, we all know that. So let's settle it on the field, give an award and start stacking trophies instead of comparing stats. Start at 16, works with 25 too Same calendar and same max number of games per team as 2025

In 2023 Michigan didn’t play a ranked opponent until Week 11 of the season. The second week of November, but yeah man that Week 13 game in the SEC was the boogeyman for sure.