Should we go to eight teams?
That's always the first question after the College Football Playoff rankings are released, and this year is no exception after the committee put Alabama in the No. 4 spot ahead of No. 5 Ohio State. This year, we have No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Georgia in the Rose Bowl Game and No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 4 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
MORE: Committee chose Bama over Ohio State for right reasons
Now, we're questioning whether there should be more (or fewer) teams in than the current four-team format. Sporting News takes a closer look at what a two-, four-, six-, eight- and 16-team playoff would look. Check it out:
Two teams
No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 2 Oklahoma
Lowdown: This would be the old BCS model, and in this season this matchup would be fit. You would get the defending national champion against the likely Heisman Trophy winner in Baker Mayfield.
Four teams
No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 4 Alabama
No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Georgia
Lowdown: This is the format we have now, and it's the format we must live with. Alabama gets in over two conference champions in Ohio State and USC. This is the first season that two teams from the same conference made it, and it's still the best format right now.
Six teams
No. 1 Clemson (bye)
No. 2 Oklahoma (bye)
No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Wisconsin
No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 5 Ohio State
Lowdown: This format would work — unless, of course, you're a Pac-12 fan. It still doesn't get all the Power 5 champions in, and there will be years when two, or maybe even three teams from one conference, can get in. The Big Ten vs. SEC matchups, however, would be off the charts.
MORE: Complete CFP top 25 rankings
Eight teams
No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 8 USC
No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 5 Ohio State
No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 7 Auburn
No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Wisconsin
Lowdown: This still doesn't get UCF in, but if you want to sub the Knights in for Auburn or USC, we'd be down with that. Our biggest request for this format? Put the first-round on campus.
16 teams
No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 16 Michigan State
No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 15 TCU
No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 14 Notre Dame
No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Stanford
No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 12 UCF
No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 11 Washington
No. 7 Auburn vs. No. 10 Miami
No. 8 USC vs. No. 9 Penn State
Lowdown: Too many teams, and too many games. It would be fun to see how it plays out, but it would de-value the regular season too much. Also, note the rematch between No. 3 Georgia and No. 14 Notre Dame.
