ESPN/College Playoff conflict of interest

[Quest4Twelve]

In the grand scheme of everything it's not (shouldn't be) a big deal, however only in college football do we hear over, over and over again predictions for the CFP. It seems that is all ESPN talks about and I would think it would subliminally get in the heads of voters, coaches and players. In no other sport do they ad nausea talk about who will be in the playoff or win the championship. They let the season play out like it should. I just think there are too many unknown determining factors of who gets in and the network that broadcasts it shouldn't be pimping teams just yet!

Just my $.02.

 

[SALittleGiant513]

You must not be seeing all the NFL live "who is going to make the NFL Playoffs" coverage on ESPN either. Its different because voters don't pick the NFL playoff teams but its the preseason, what do you want the media to do if they aren't going to preview the season.

 

[NDSMC78]

I dunno. I don't follow college hoops all that closely until the NCAA tournament, but all you hear from January on is the "bracketology" of different prognosticators.

 

[SALittleGiant513]

Agree

 

[captstabbin]

I dunno. I don't follow college hoops all that closely until the NCAA tournament, but all you hear from January on is the "bracketology" of different prognosticators.

Yeah.....but those teams PLAY their way in. CFB teams get voted in. Big difference.

 

[SALittleGiant513]

Less then half of those teams play their way in.

 

[Irish Grandeur]

I don't see the subliminal part (maybe a slight skew for their partner conference) as much as I see the viewer part. ESPN needs viewers and viewers want predictions - we want to see how the end of the season plays out before it starts

 

[NDSMC78]

Yeah.....but those teams PLAY their way in. CFB teams get voted in. Big difference.

Yes and no. While there are a lot of automatic qualifiers, there are also a lot selected by the tournament committee. Every year, there are teams griping and moaning that they didn't get selected.

 

[captstabbin]

Less then half of those teams play their way in.

Not saying you are wrong, but my feeble mind can not follow that thinking....elaborate please and thanks.

 

[SALittleGiant513]

I am defining a team playing their way in as gaining an automatic bid. Obviously there are teams that are considered "locks" going into selection Sunday by the experts but those teams aren't guaranteed a right to be in the tournament. Currently there are 31 auto bids in the tournament but 68 actual bids.

 

[NDEwing18]

Not saying you are wrong, but my feeble mind can not follow that thinking....elaborate please and thanks.

I think there are only about 32 or so automatic bids into the NCAA men's D-I basketball tournament. The rest are voted on by committee.

 

[captstabbin]

Yes and no. While there are a lot of automatic qualifiers, there are also a lot selected by the tournament committee. Every year, there are teams griping and moaning that they didn't get selected.

I was talking about then NFL vs. the CFB.

 

[NDSMC78]

I was talking about then NFL vs. the CFB.

Huh? Your first post on this thread was in response to mine, in which I referred only to NCAA hoops.

 

[IRISHJD98]

I don't see the subliminal part (maybe a slight skew for their partner conference) as much as I see the viewer part. ESPN needs viewers and viewers want predictions - we want to see how the end of the season plays out before it starts

Its not just about giving viewers what they want though. The playoffs end up being an ESPN TV product, so ESPN has a vested interest in generating playoff interest. Not that ESPN had anything to do with it, but Ohio State's playoff appearance probably helped ratings more than Baylor or TCU would have. And the controversy of leaving TCU and Baylor out gives ESPN fodder to beat the drums for an expanded playoff, which would again benefit ESPN.

ESPN spends a lot of time trying to convince college football fans of things that benefit ESPN. And they're pretty effective.

 

[captstabbin]

Huh? Your first post on this thread was in response to mine, in which I referred only to NCAA hoops.

I know.....I saw the posters above you talking NFL....CFB....I assumed that is what you were talking about without reading your post close enough. I was in the middle of 5 things on this computer at the time. Sorry....a mistake.

 

[Irish Grandeur]

Its not just about giving viewers what they want though. The playoffs end up being an ESPN TV product, so ESPN has a vested interest in generating playoff interest. Not that ESPN had anything to do with it, but Ohio State's playoff appearance probably helped ratings more than Baylor or TCU would have. And the controversy of leaving TCU and Baylor out gives ESPN fodder to beat the drums for an expanded playoff, which would again benefit ESPN.

ESPN spends a lot of time trying to convince college football fans of things that benefit ESPN. And they're pretty effective.

Not disagreeing with your assessment but OSU deserved to be in the final four for obvious reasons - they won it all on the field of play. There was a time (albeit brief) that the talking heads were projecting all four spots to come from the SEC West. Fortunately, that was quelled when every team from the SEC West lost their bowl games to OOC foes. I do not see ESPN able to push that sort of agenda again for some time.

I am certainly not trying to cover for ESPNs homerism but, rather, attribute it to building their viewer base.

 

[Toby Smart]

ESPN can be A source of information but should never be the one and only source. I've seen too many times analysts who speak uninformed. I've seen agendas, lots and lots of agendas. I am in the minority but I am totally against the way the Little League World Series has been elevated to epic proportions by ESPN. Oh, yes, it's all for the kids. So, any individual can be in control with what sports info they consume. Take a little here and a little there then form your own opinion.

 

[Quest4Twelve]

Not disagreeing with your assessment but OSU deserved to be in the final four for obvious reasons - they won it all on the field of play. There was a time (albeit brief) that the talking heads were projecting all four spots to come from the SEC West. Fortunately, that was quelled when every team from the SEC West lost their bowl games to OOC foes. I do not see ESPN able to push that sort of agenda again for some time.

I am certainly not trying to cover for ESPNs homerism but, rather, attribute it to building their viewer base.

Regardless of the end result I still don't think OSU should've been given the chance to win it on the field. If anything it should've been TCU, OSU, FSU and Oregon. TCU proved they belong because they went out and whipped Ole Miss in the bowl game!

 

[Irish Grandeur]

Regardless of the end result I still don't think OSU should've been given the chance to win it on the field. If anything it should've been TCU, OSU, FSU and Oregon. TCU proved they belong because they went out and whipped Ole Miss in the bowl game!

There were times I didn't agree with who was selected in the title game. LSU with two losses...etc. The point is that OSU won twice against higher ranked teams and earned to NC. I am no OSU fan in any shape or form but I'm a little tired of 'one and done' football games for the NC.

 

[IRISHJD98]

ESPN can be A source of information but should never be the one and only source. I've seen too many times analysts who speak uninformed. I've seen agendas, lots and lots of agendas. I am in the minority but I am totally against the way the Little League World Series has been elevated to epic proportions by ESPN. Oh, yes, it's all for the kids. So, any individual can be in control with what sports info they consume. Take a little here and a little there then form your own opinion.

Completely agree on the commercialization of the Little League World Series.

 

[IRISHJD98]

Not disagreeing with your assessment but OSU deserved to be in the final four for obvious reasons - they won it all on the field of play. There was a time (albeit brief) that the talking heads were projecting all four spots to come from the SEC West. Fortunately, that was quelled when every team from the SEC West lost their bowl games to OOC foes. I do not see ESPN able to push that sort of agenda again for some time.

I am certainly not trying to cover for ESPNs homerism but, rather, attribute it to building their viewer base.

I get what you're saying, but if TCU or Baylor had won the National Championship in place of tOSU, the same statements could have been said about them as well.

 

[Irish Grandeur]

I get what you're saying, but if TCU or Baylor had won the National Championship in place of tOSU, the same statements could have been said about them as well.

But that didn't happen. Why so much hate and discontent? MSU lost to OSU and went on to beat Baylor.

 

[IRISHJD98]

But that didn't happen. Why so much hate and discontent? MSU lost to OSU and went on to beat Baylor.

I haven't offered any hate or discontent whatsoever. tOSU definitely established that it was the best of the 4 playoff teams selected to compete for the National Championship. I just disagree with your suggestion that tOSU's playoff success means it was more deserving of the playoff opportunity than TCU or Baylor.

 

[TurnoverMachine]

ESPN can be A source of information but should never be the one and only source. I've seen too many times analysts who speak uninformed. I've seen agendas, lots and lots of agendas. I am in the minority but I am totally against the way the Little League World Series has been elevated to epic proportions by ESPN. Oh, yes, it's all for the kids. So, any individual can be in control with what sports info they consume. Take a little here and a little there then form your own opinion.

Charles Arbuckle is a perfect example. Rips on ND for playing UMass. Who is ND supposed to play in the middle of Georgia Tech, Clemson, Navy, and USC? Sheesh, the ignorance is overwhelming on that network.

 

[Irish Grandeur]

I haven't offered any hate or discontent whatsoever. tOSU definitely established that it was the best of the 4 playoff teams selected to compete for the National Championship. I just disagree with your suggestion that tOSU's playoff success means it was more deserving of the playoff opportunity than TCU or Baylor.

JD98, apologize for the 'hate and discontent' comment - it was wrong on my part. Agree that TCU and Baylor were deserving as well. Last year was a tough year for picking since there were good (deserving) teams left out.

 

[perseverare]

whether conspiracy - chance or whatever , that end of it all in 2014 was that the best CF team did in fact become the NC.