I was thinking about this the other day. It can't ever happen for about one trillion reasons, but it would be so cool to restrict selection to conference-sponsored and sanctioned bowl games to only those teams from the conference who actually win at least 50% of their in-conference games.
So, using this thesis, I looked up the 2018 results of the Power 5 Conferences to get an idea of what that might mean.
ACC: Nine of their 14 total teams would still have been eligible under the new rule (Clemson, Syracuse, NC State, Boston College, Pitt, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Miami, Virginia Tech). Two of their teams who did qualify and who played in Bowls would not have been eligible (Wake Forest, Duke)
Big XII: Only 4 of their 10 total teams would still have been eligible (Oklahoma, Texas, Iowa State, West Virginia). Three of their teams who did qualify and who played in Bowls would not have been eligible (Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma State).
Big Ten: Only 8 of their 14 total teams would still have been eligible (Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State, Northwestern, Iowa, Wisconsin, Purdue). Only Minnesota would have become ineligible to play under this revised selection rule.
PAC-12: Only 6 of their 12 total teams would have been eligible (Washington State, Washington, Stanford, Oregon, Utah, Arizona State). Only California would have been made ineligible under this rule.
SEC: Ten of the 14 SEC teams would have been eligible. Only Auburn would have been made ineligible under this rule.
The Power 5 Conferences would have only produced 37 eligible Bowl teams (eligible for play in conference-sanctioned Bowls). Eight Power 5 teams who had been eligible would no longer have qualified. And, of course, the 19 other teams who didn't qualify under the old rule would have still not qualified under the revised rule. The Big XII and ACC would be the big losers.
I honestly think it would be a great rule. But it would never be adopted. Too many more losers. Everyone needs a participation badge.
So, using this thesis, I looked up the 2018 results of the Power 5 Conferences to get an idea of what that might mean.
ACC: Nine of their 14 total teams would still have been eligible under the new rule (Clemson, Syracuse, NC State, Boston College, Pitt, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Miami, Virginia Tech). Two of their teams who did qualify and who played in Bowls would not have been eligible (Wake Forest, Duke)
Big XII: Only 4 of their 10 total teams would still have been eligible (Oklahoma, Texas, Iowa State, West Virginia). Three of their teams who did qualify and who played in Bowls would not have been eligible (Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma State).
Big Ten: Only 8 of their 14 total teams would still have been eligible (Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State, Northwestern, Iowa, Wisconsin, Purdue). Only Minnesota would have become ineligible to play under this revised selection rule.
PAC-12: Only 6 of their 12 total teams would have been eligible (Washington State, Washington, Stanford, Oregon, Utah, Arizona State). Only California would have been made ineligible under this rule.
SEC: Ten of the 14 SEC teams would have been eligible. Only Auburn would have been made ineligible under this rule.
The Power 5 Conferences would have only produced 37 eligible Bowl teams (eligible for play in conference-sanctioned Bowls). Eight Power 5 teams who had been eligible would no longer have qualified. And, of course, the 19 other teams who didn't qualify under the old rule would have still not qualified under the revised rule. The Big XII and ACC would be the big losers.
I honestly think it would be a great rule. But it would never be adopted. Too many more losers. Everyone needs a participation badge.
