The resolution to postpone the release of this year’s school football playoff rankings through November 24 was driven by Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott, who asked to be started a week later than originally planned to allow Pac-12 groups to play more games before starting qualifying, a user familiar with the arrangement told USA TODAY Sports.
The user granted anonymity because it is not legal to talk about it.
The playoff standings were originally scheduled to begin on November 17, which would have allowed Pac-12 groups to play only two games. month a calendar of seven games starting November 7.
Moving from the first qualification to November 24 allows Pac-12 groups to play and provide a third point of knowledge to the variety committee. In doing so, the convention expects to increase its number of groups in the most sensitive ratings and where the groups are in the Top 25.
The schedule change can also be the Big Ten, which starts playing on October 24, and Mountain West, which also begins on October 24 and hopes to position its champion in a Six Year’s Six bowl.
While playoff ratings do roll over from week to week, infrequently in dramatic ways depending on the weekend’s results, the initial rating has an effect on the resulting weeks and potential momentum for the national semifinals. In particular, the committee will use its own ratings. to praise the strength of a team’s schedule.
The Pac-12 will have even less to showcase the committee than the other Power Five leagues. Despite the delayed start, Big Ten groups will have played two more games than pac-12 until November 24. he began playing on September 12, while the SEC opened its season on September 26.
Scott was the proposal to expand this year’s playoffs to eight groups at this week’s playoff control committee meeting, which includes all Commissioners of the Bowl Subdivision Convention and Notre Dame Sports Director Jack Swarbrick.
The proposal rejected through the control group, playoff executive Bill Hancock told USA TODAY Sports.
“After a thorough, respectful and civilized discussion, they said the most productive outcome would be not to replace the format, because this would have been such a significant replacement and would bring many challenges, especially since the season is already underway,” Hancock said. .
Scott asked the committee to consider an expansion due to the effect of COVID-19 in the 2020 season, adding how restrictions and various start dates result in many betting meetings on other game numbers. has already been cancelled due to COVID-19 cases.
Follow Paul Myerberg, a journalist at USA TODAY universities, on Twitter @PaulMyerberg