Why I think a College Football Playoff could Ruin the Sport

It seems college football is finally heading towards a playoff format, and at the very least, a plus one situation. With that said I can not help but feel very nervous for the future of this beloved sport. While critics of the BCS and in general the media (not to mention ESPN's horribly overdone coverage on the 'situtation every fall') have been screaming for a playoff to begin, the loudest voice belongs to the money to be had by TV, stadiums, cities, and a very small percentage of colleges (almost all college football programs lose money every year). So here are a few things I wish they would keep in mind when it comes to a college football playoff:

PROS

• This will definitely help decide a clear cut champion. The most used argument against the BCS is its failure to crown a 'true' champion in a lot of years. I believe it was 2003 when an undefeated LSU team was paired up with a one loss Oklahoma team for the national title. Critics, and again ESPN, almost broke into riot when USC, also with one loss, was kept out of the game in favor of the Sooners. In a playoff system, USC would have had a 'fair' shot at being crowned champions. (on a small note, the following year Auburn was left out of the national title game despite finishing the season undefeated).
• This ALMOST guarantees the SEC a spot in the playoffs every year. In the last five years of dominance by this conference, it has become commonplace to believe the SEC will always reign supreme over any other conference. A playoff system will protect the SEC, the infinitely superior and toughest conference, against being left out of the national title picture forever. A two, possibly even three loss SEC team will undoubtedly earn one the four spots in most years over a one loss major conference team and definitely over an undefeated minor conference team. I list this very cynically but also very sincerely. The college football world is so enamored currently by the SEC this would be considered a "PRO" for many.
• The money generated by a playoff system will be mind boggling. After years clamoring to create this system, bowls will surely fork over multi-millions to host these games and in turn create revenue from the actual event. In addition, it seems under the current proposed system, cities will bid for the right to host the championship game, with the winner being the highest bidder. This is very much like the current Super Bowl system. And finally, TV will come out as the biggest winner, with ESPN (who has first bid rights) raking in billions in revenue. 

CONS

• Rematches will still happen. How long will it honestly take before the top 4 ranked teams are two SEC and two Pac-12 teams? My guess is this scenario will not take long. A playoff does not solve this problem, only enhances it because now you have to let the one loss Michigan's and Alabama's and USC's in, regardless of who else is there. I would imagine within 5 years the top four teams will be LSU, Alabama, Ohio State, and Michigan.
• If its not conference champions, whats the point? Under the proposed system, the top 4 ranked teams will be in, regardless if they win their conference. So if an undefeated Texas loses in the Big 12 championship game against a two loss Kansas team who cares? It won't matter and the games will lack enthusiasm. Further, this creates multiple situations such as this past year when a team that finishes tied for 3rd in their division (not conference) will leap frog conference champions. Obviously it was not the best situation this year. 
• Somebody will still get left out. Every year commenators argue about the teams that get left out. They say if only we had a playoff then this wouldn't happen. It seems almost to obvious to state that someone will always get left out. The only difference with a four team playoff is its the 5th best team. It's Oklahoma State getting left behind as #5 instead of #3. Basketball has a HUGE bracket and they still have this issue. 
• Teams such as Pittsburgh, Louisville, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Houston, East Carolina, Boise State, Connecticut, Cincinnati, South Florida, Central Florida, Oregon State, Minnesota, and many more will become irrelevant and never have a shot at winning a title. What do they do when all but four conferences collapse? The Big Ten becomes the Big Twenty. Every week will see epic match ups, but the competition will be so insane and schedules so tough that weaker squads will have no chance at finishing close to the top. Dominant teams will become more dominant. Not to mention the polls will continue to favor the traditional powerhouse teams with multiple losses over the conference champion with multiple losses.
• The college football season will expand to 16+ games. Eventually the four team playoff will just not be enough to satisfy the folks at ESPN, and so the format will grow to include 6 teams, then 8, then 12, etc... With that length of season players will move on to the NFL with more wear to their bodies. The average career of a professional player will drop below 10 years, injuries will become rampant, and a decline in sport participation will result. A couple of weeks ago LaDanian Tomlinson retired after 11 years. That's a somewhat lengthy career for an NFL running back right now. I bet if he played in a college football playoff era it would have been more like 8 years. 8 YEARS. Imagine retiring after 8 years. Seriously.

The BCS system is definitely not the greatest system. While it has USUALLY crowned a National Champion, to many teams get left out to many years. But a playoff system as they are proposing will devastate college football and numerous programs. I don't have the solution, but neither do they, not yet. More time needs to go into this with student-athlete well fair in mind, not just money.