College Football Playoff Exec Dir Bill Hancock yesterday said FBS schools are "not even thinking" about expanding the postseason to eight teams, according to Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY. Hancock said, "We wanted there to be stability in the system. We wanted people to grow to love it and understand it. And we did 12 years on purpose. In our group of commissioners, I don't sense anybody wanting to go to eight -- or our board, the presidents. They're delighted with where we are." Hancock continued, "The regular season is just so meaningful with four. And if you went eight, 16 or 24, at some point the regular season would be diminished. We just can't have that in college football. We won't have it." ESPN President John Skipper said, "These guys were quite clear to us. We were thrilled to get 12 (years), because we wanted to go long-term. So when they suggested they wanted to put a stake in the ground and this is what it's going to be for a long time, we enjoy being the beneficiary of that." Skipper said that the network "will have no seat at the table" during CFP selection committee meetings, which will "be held without an ESPN representative present." Skipper: "We're not the decision-makers or influencers in what goes on in the room" (USA TODAY, 5/14).
BOWLED OVER: Alabama coach Nick Saban said of the selection process for bowl games, "I think we have to change the whole system." He added, "I think on the other end of it, the committee that's going to pick the top four teams for the playoff are really picking the top 12 teams for all six sort of championship bowl games, whatever they call it now. Well, why don't we do it like basketball and let them pick all the teams for all the bowl games. Then it doesn't matter what your record is." Saban thinks that they "should rethink who is allowed to play in bowl games in general." He said, "Who's to say having six wins and having a 6-6 season is what qualifies to go to a bowl game" (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 5/14).
FIVE FOR FIGHTING: In Hartford, Desmond Conner notes the AAC "might not be a Power 5 conference," but Commissioner Mike Aresco "is not backing down." Aresco said, "We're playing (Power 5) teams quite a bit and we feel that we present great competition and we will be a force to be reckoned with. And we think a win against our conference is a high quality win. I want to make sure people understand how strong our conference is and how competitive it is." He added, "We think it's the most challenging nonconference schedule of any FBS conference" (HARTFORD COURANT, 5/14).
