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Commentary: College football playoff would be step in right direction

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By Doug Harris, Staff Writer 12:42 AM Thursday, February 9, 2012

The decision-makers in college football actually might be close to agreeing to a playoff, according to media reports. It doesn’t mean we’ll get one, but they appear ready to engage in some serious discussion, which is a departure from the past.

Having two SEC teams in the BCS title game may have been the tipping point for significant change. There was a sense that eventual winner Alabama didn’t really earn its place there, compared to some conference champions. And anything preventing that scenario from happening again is definitely a plus.

The Big Ten reportedly is on board with a four-team tournament with the semifinals being hosted by the higher-seeded teams and the title game being played at a neutral site. The BCS system of having two teams playing for the crown has never quite satisfied most fans, and four may not be much better, but at least it’s a start.

The Big Ten idea also has merit because I’ve always felt bowl results were skewed since warm-weather schools had built-in advantages by playing in their backyards. Let’s see how the SEC and PAC-12 do in the colder climates of Middle America.

I’ve been slow to warm to a playoff because I’ve thought it would diminish the regular season. March Madness is great, but it’s taken some of the luster from January games between college basketball powers.

I’ve grown weary, though, of the SEC bias among poll voters, who play such a big part in deciding the title match. Yes, the Big Ten and other leagues may have lagged behind, but let’s make the SEC prove its superiority on the field.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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