5 Ways the NCAA Can Make College Football Better In 2015

By Jerry Landry

5 Ways the NCAA Can Make College Football Better In 2015

College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy — Don’t let the arguments and complaints dissuade you; college football is still awesome. The College Football Playoff made it even better, and it’s really exciting to see where this game can go. But as always, there is room for improvement. Here are five ways the NCAA can make college football better in 2015.

5. Keep the Four-Team Playoff System

Alabama Crimson Tide vs Ohio State Buckeyes College Football

5. Keep the Four-Team Playoff System

Alabama Crimson Tide vs Ohio State Buckeyes College Football — I have never been as excited for bowl season as I was for this one. “Letting eight teams into the playoff would end the argument,” is the common remedy voiced by the common college football fan. This misses the point entirely. The heated arguments are what makes college football so great. The added pressure and importance has elevated otherwise insipid regular season matchups into big games and transformed the big games into colossal events.

4. Establish Tougher Scheduling Guidelines

Jameis Winston Florida State Seminoles Football Quarterback

4. Establish Tougher Scheduling Guidelines

Jameis Winston Florida State Seminoles Football Quarterback — Here’s my proposal: Every team must play at least eight bowl eligible teams in order to be considered for the Playoff, guaranteeing a decent strength of schedule. Here’s the lone caveat: If you play a team that finishes the regular season in the top 15, then that contest would count as two games against your eight-game balance, incentivizing big-time matchups. Even though calculated in hindsight, if you schedule hard, you’ll have no problem.

3. Eliminate Clock Stoppages On First Downs

T.J. Yeldon Alabama Crimson Tide Running Back First Down

3. Eliminate Clock Stoppages On First Downs

T.J. Yeldon Alabama Crimson Tide Running Back First Down — Instant replay does enough to drag the pace of college football, so we don't need brief stoppages while resetting the chains dragging it out even farther. Perhaps only apply this rule in the final two minutes of each half, or perhaps don’t apply it at all and let us enjoy the game in under four hours.

2. Allow Players To Transfer Immediately If Their Coach Leaves

Jim McElwain Former Colorado State Head Coach

2. Allow Players To Transfer Immediately If Their Coach Leaves

Jim McElwain Former Colorado State Head Coach — Don’t leave this up to the next coach, and don’t force a player to disinvest a year of his football career. If the coach leaves or is let go, let the player leave if he likes. Stop calling them student-athletes and more accurately describe them as athlete-students. Sorry Alabama, but your players don’t attend for academics; they enroll in order to get to “The League.” And sorry NCAA bylaws, but these kids have careers too.

1. Eliminate Cross-Division Conference Championships

Alabama Crimson Tide vs Missouri Tigers SEC Championship

1. Eliminate Cross-Division Conference Championships

Alabama Crimson Tide vs Missouri Tigers SEC Championship — The conference championship should pit the two best teams from that conference against each other based on record. Enough with the East vs. West, North vs. South, Legends vs. Leaders, etc. They play enough inter-divisional games to establish who is No. 1 and who is No. 2. Now have them duke it out at a neutral site. I’m tired of watching Alabama throttle Missouri 42-13.

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