College football has long been a beloved sport, with its own set of rules and traditions. However, the issue of conference divisions and tiebreakers has been a topic of much debate. In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of conference divisions and tiebreakers, and propose a simple solution to the current dilemma. Unraveling the Complexities of College Football Tiebreakers
College Football Functions Without Conference Divisions
College football functions just fine without conference divisions. Games like Ohio State at Oregon and Georgia at Texas prove that teams can compete against each other without being in the same division. Television ratings suggest that fans enjoy these matchups, and eliminating divisions means that such games would occur more frequently.However, the price of axing divisions is logjammed conference standings. In some cases, messy tiebreaker rules will be needed to determine conference championship matchups. Within the SEC, a six-way tie for first place remains in play, and the SEC's complex tiebreaker rules include the phrase "capped relative scoring margin."Lane Kiffin's Suggestion for Tiebreakers
Lane Kiffin's suggestion makes sense: Incorporate CFP rankings to break messy ties in conference standings. This simple three-step system would determine conference championship matchups by considering conference records, head-to-head record among tied teams, and if teams with identical conference records remain tied, using the College Football Playoff rankings.At least we could understand this system, and if we trust a committee to choose playoff teams, why shouldn't that committee be qualified to settle a deadlock in the conference standings? Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin agrees, saying that it would have been easier to use the CFP rankings to determine conference champions.The History of Conference Divisions
Conference divisions started as a business opportunity. Roy Kramer, after becoming the SEC's commissioner, seized on a little-known NCAA rule that allowed a conference to conduct a football championship game if that conference included at least 12 teams and split into divisions.Other conferences followed the SEC's lead by expanding, splitting into divisions, and hosting conference championships. But decades later, the NCAA modified its rules, and now conferences of any size can conduct a conference championship game without splitting into divisions.By changing the rules surrounding conference championships, the NCAA eliminated the reason why divisions were created. Most leagues unified the conference, and starting this season, the Sun Belt is the only Bowl Subdivision conference still split into divisions.The Coaching Carousel in College Football
This shapes up as a quiet Power Four coaching carousel. SMU's Rhett Lashlee has steered the Mustangs to success in their ACC debut and is in the thick of the playoff hunt. While Indiana's Curt Cignetti has earned fanfare, Lashlee's feat is often overshadowed.Lashlee played quarterback at Arkansas and was Auburn's offensive coordinator when its 2013 team reached the national championship game. Arkansas and Auburn could become two of several "Super Two" conference jobs open next year.Emails of the Week
Mike writes about how teams like South Carolina, Florida, and Alabama have improved, while Tennessee seems to be stagnant. The CFP selection committee seems to share this view, as Tennessee ranks behind fellow two-loss SEC teams.Lar responds with a unique comment, and Jim agrees that Notre Dame is overrated and that the SEC is the toughest conference.Three and Out
1. Deion Sanders dismissed speculation about leaving Colorado, and blue-chip quarterback Julian Lewis committed to the team. This indicates that Coach Prime may stay put.2. Coaches of playoff-positioned teams may prefer not to earn a selection for their conference championship game, but most players would prefer to win the conference crown.3. A low-key odd development from Tuesday's CFP rankings was Alabama leapfrogging Miami after the Tide's blowout win over Mercer.Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer. The "Topp Rope" is his football column published throughout the USA TODAY Network. Subscribe to read all of his columns.
