When I was growing up, the hottest ticket anywhere was to the Atlantic Coast Conference basketball tournament. There were only eight teams in the league, and no matter how good the field, you had to win the tournament to get into the NCAA tournament.
The pressure was immense. The atmosphere was incredible. It was must-see basketball every year, every game.
Then came perhaps the best college game every played: Maryland and N.C. State, with the likes of David Thompson, Tom McMillen, Tommy Burleson, John Lucas, Monte Towe, Len Elmore, etc., playing for the ACC Tournament title. State won 103-100 in overtime and went on to win the NCAA Tournament.
Maryland went home.
Because of that, changes were made. Conferences were allowed two teams in the NCAAs. Then three. Then four or more. Leagues expanded so the ACC Tournament that started on Friday at noon and went for three pressure-packed days eventually started on Tuesday and seemed to go on forever. Tickets that were handed down in peoples’ wills because they were so valuable started going unsold. Empty seats in the early rounds were plentiful.
People still watched if they had nothing else to do. But it was no longer special. It was just another set of basketball games played in March except maybe to the fanbase of the tournament-winning team.
I mention this because I believe this is exactly the same road college football is now traveling with its 24-team expanded playoff field.
Seems like it’s only a matter of time before they eventually reach the same destination…
