ABOUT (Saving College Football) -   It's about what changes are needed to ensure the proper administration of college football.  It's also something about me.  - But if you're strictly looking for this week's CFCS TOP 25 BY PLAYOFF / INVITATIONAL POINTS, first go to the CFCS INVITEES element. You should then return to ABOUT element to see how all this came to be.

     The American Heritage Dictionary of The English Language defines the word "cartel" as being:   "A combination of independent business organizations formed to regulate -----; a group of parties, factions ----, united in a common cause, a bloc". 

     Since the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) 2014 thru the present 2023 college football seasons (excluding COVID-19's 2020), there would've been one-hundred and eight (108) opportunities for twelve (12) highly ranked college football teams per year to be selected to participate in a playoff  for a "National Championship". 

     What happened with the teams that were actually ranked one through twelve during that period of time was that only once, from an underdog "Group of Five" American Athletic Conference member University of Cincinnati in 2021, was a "non-elite" conference team selected to play toward achieving that title. Teams were ranked and ultimately four "selected" each year by what can be loosely defined as a  cartel , The College Football Playoff Co. (CFP) with its thirteen member "expert" Selection Committee. - The point is that one-hundred and seven (107) college football teams from "elite" Power Five conference blocs, including a major midwestern independent university, would 've been selected by that same cartel.

     The American Heritage Dictionary of The English Language defines the word "crusade" as being:  "A vigorous concerted movement for a cause or against an abuse".

     For the past nineteen seasons a personal crusade has been waged against two cartels, The CFP Co. for nine seasons, and for seasons 2004 thru 2013 with its predecessor, The Bowl Championship Series (BCS). You're about to bear witness to that crusade, The CFCS Project. 

     For those of the coming generations who aspire to seek a career in athletics; for those who are prepared to defend what remains of the innocence of amateurism in athletics; and, to those who've already made their individual sacrifices toward these ends, I dedicate this work.

                                                        WELCOME TO THE CFCS PROJECT

     The College Football Championship Series "project" invites you to join in the effort to save FBS Division College Football - but first a reminder that you should not attempt to read or text about what follows if you are driving. Please retreat to wherever you can safely use your mobile, your lap-top, or a desk-top. - Thanks for coming. - Now read and be made aware.

INTRODUCTION:

      I'm a senior freelance writer passionate about college football.  I'm about to provide you with the recent update of my "hypothetical" that represents a continuation of a nineteen-year-old crusade.  It's a lengthy crusade whereby college football would be rescued from the greed for wealth and power by the elite and their favored conferences within college sports, and the resultant mismanagement thereof. For more than two decades this amateur sport has been held in ransom after having been turned over in 1998 by a weak and compliant NCAA to the "moneychangers" of sports and their media associates.  Having kidnapped FBS Division College Football, it appears their idea of a "ransom" is for every decade or so to reluctantly appease the American sports public with their latest modification of a "playoff".  - One that will not sufficiently detract from the original goals of the special interest groups nor their benefactors. - They rely upon the gullibility of modern-day sports fans to accept prognostications over facts. Therein we have the implied inability for us blue collar football fans to discern what constitutes fair-play, equal opportunity, and good old commonsense over some spoon-fed temporary fix.

FOR WANT OF A BETTER WAY:

     FBS Division College Football is in a present state of unfinished disarray, yet it has the potential of being a masterpiece awaiting artist completion.  Whereas the game formerly represented a personification of "scoring success", a goal of millions of us sports fans, currently it suffers from a lack of direction.  It lacks leadership imagination to sponsor a better system of championship determination. In an ever-growing atmosphere of political and social unrest American sports programs need to remain as a symbol of unity and achievement. Moreover, sports have become the attainable personification of "scoring success" for thousands of minority participants. Revenue from college football largely finances minor sports programs at universities. With competent leadership dedicated to the principle of fair distribution of college football wealth throughout the existing conferences the sport and its participants are assured reasonable financial and personal success. - And, in the eyes of an American sports public will remain on its easel, finally completed and there to be admired by future generations.

     Back in 1998, and under the influence of an elite corps of university presidents, The NCAA sold out Division I (now FBS Football) to what was then known as The Bowl Championship Series (The BCS). For fifteen seasons controversy followed the BCS until it was replaced by its "sister", the current College Football Playoff Co. (The CFP). Totally ignored by both entities, were pleas for a more fair and equitable system of "playoff administration". - My own personal nineteen-year crusade, The CFCS Project, is ignored in favor of a stingy four-team selection process to determine a "National Champion". We are facing a proposed 12 team playoff coming within two years which might only create more criticism, and the inequity of having provided "byes" for the already favored teams of The Power Five. 

      Instead of learning the lessons of virtually all other amateur and professional sports that have adopted some form of fair and logical playoff, wherein all participants have reasonable opportunity to play toward a nationally recognized "championship", FBS Division College Football remains steadfast in its belief that "selection" by committee and national polls is better than "on the playing field" physical competition. - Anything short of a sixteen team "playoff/invitational" will continue to deny this sport of richly deserved viewing enjoyment.  - All the while fan interest, particularly from a regional rivalry standpoint, is replaced with chaos. Needless to say, the mad race to greed and power by college football's elite conferences has done little for the individual athlete as to assuring them of a successful life career to fall back upon when there exists for them no professional pot of gold. - A career which might emancipate them from the sacrifice of their bodies willingly used to help fill their schools' coffers. 

     I'll keep trying to gain the attention of The CFP with my proven proposal for a better way, just as I've done for the past nine seasons and the ten seasons before that with a defunct BCS. Thus far I've been totally ignored which is mostly the case when underdogs deal with sports and political dynasties; eventually, as with our current political and social discord, to be solved as long as people are willing to read and listen.

     So here we are, with 133 FBS Division football teams split approximately 50% elite membership conferences (The Power Five)" and 50% non-elite membership conferences (The Group of Five); and, about to enter another round of "musical chairs" conference jumping ("navigate" onto ARCHIVES element for 12 conference or independent affiliated changes in 2023). - Yes, you read correctly, twelve with more on the way. - It's totally unnecessary, and of minimal relief to the viewing interest of heretofore regional college football fans. - Folks, what we are seeing here is a true DEFINITION OF INSANITY, doing the same thing year after year, all the while expecting a different result.

     But of course, as February 2024 begins to wane away toward another season of manufactured assurance of financial success for the elite "Power Five" Conferences - now "four" with the coming demise of the Pac-12 Conference - The CFP Board of Managers again rides in to save the day with its proposed "12-team College Football Playoff". Supposedly, it will contain a format providing five spots for the five highest ranked conference champions. The remaining seven will come as a selection of the next highest ranked teams in the CFP standings. -  No mention is made by the CFP as to the fact that over the period of seasons 2014-2019; 2021-23; which would equate to 108 total opportunities for 12 yearly "selects", only once (Cincinnati in 2021 from The American Athletic Conference ) was a non-elite "Group of Five" Conference Champion "selected" as a Final Four participant. Worse yet, as a "highest seven or better" ranked team. Chances are that the lot of the Group of Five "underdogs" will not sufficiently improve with but only one team (a conference champion) being chosen by The CFP Co. "Expert" Selection Committee.  

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:

     Should the Group of Five Conference membership take legal action (possibly what the State of Florida proposes since their undefeated ACC "Power Five" conference Florida State team was overlooked for the "playoff four" this year)? - Probably not, especially if the non-elite conference leadership is complacent enough with a sometimes less than 20% guarantee they receive each year from the CFP handout, and from the meaningless minor post season bowls. Money, enough of it placed in the right hands, has a way of discouraging legal action. It's particularly effective when it's aided by the inability of various conference commissioners to come to agreement on a better way of college football mismanagement.

     Should a "Czar" of FBS College Football, or someone of international interest (unaffiliated with either of the nine conferences and/or a major Independent), arise from the discord to assume professional control of this supposedly amateur sport? - But from where? Bobby Knight has passed on too early as to bring more common sense and practical experience than what we've seen in today's top sports management roles. Former President Trump might've been a great candidate what with his business acumen, save for the fact that he fell victim to a political "swampland". Ironically, one the current administration of college football is beginning to resemble.

     Should FBS Division College Football steal a page from professional football's NFL, when back in the '60s the NFC and AFC split to go their separate ways, thereby creating a national event, - The Super Bowl? - Would a joint commission of elite and non-elite Conference Commissioners seeking independence from The CFP Board of Managers be able to resolve their differences to see such a thing through. - Doubtful In that cries of "professionalism" would arise from the hypocrisy of the academia, and from the well-heeled bowl administrators living under lengthy CFP and major college football conference bowl contract commitments.

     Should The CFP, University Presidents and Chancellors, Athletic Directors, Coaches, and College Football Bowl CEOs take a long look at the ongoing CFCS Project, now approaching its twentieth year of being totally ignored by an issue avoiding NCAA and by what formerly was an investigative sports media? Consider all of the movement within the former ten existing conferences that came prior to 2023. Consider what's transpired during 2023 which appears in the ARCHIVES element of The  CFCS Project website.  Compare it to the possible solutions of a return to stability; to a renewal of local fan interest; to dedication to the ideals of loyalty and commitment (away from transfer portals); and, mostly away from the promise of greener pastures so far away from what heretofore was "home field". - Whenever and if ever the chair music stops, many of the potential conference "switchers" need weigh the benefits of those who've moved before them against how it affected those teams' win/loss records; and do they regret not having returned to their original "chairs."  This must be considered by The Pac-12 Conference as their formerly successful teams move eastward toward the uncertainty of change.

     A return to stability, maybe? - Notre Dame retaining its "independence" by staying with NBC dollars, its CFP annual guarantee, and its contractual obligation to The Atlantic Coast Conference to play five games each season against overall weaker competition. - Western Kentucky moving from Conference-USA to replace Nebraska in The Big Ten  Conference - New team James Madison replacing Western Kentucky - Nebraska returning to The Big 12 Conference replacing West Virginia - West Virginia replacing Texas A&M in The Southeastern Conference - Texas A&M returning to The Big 12 Conference - The Big 12 Conference granting membership to Houston - Tulsa and Houston being replaced in The American Athletic Conference by Independents Army and Massachusetts - Tulsa moving to The Sun Belt Conference to be joined there by Independent Liberty who replaces "gone Idaho" - New Mexico State leaving Independents to replace Boise State in The Mountain West Conference - The recently disbanded Pac-12 Conference becoming the "Pac-14" with the addition of Boise State from The Mountain West Conference and Brigham Young from Independents - Finally, the return of Connecticut to The American Athletic Conference from where it originally sought 'independence".

     HOWEVER, will any of these solutions escape the possible death sentence to college football's amateur status as we once knew it, the mind boggling "Transfer Portal".

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     To fully understand what THE CFCS PROJECT is all about you need read with an open mind - unbiased so as to fully comprehend its logical and fair approach to "solution" - the CFCS INVITEES and RULES AND POINTS elements of the website. "Navigate" there to see how and why the sixteen "invitees" were extended their invitations. 

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ABOUT CFCS CREATOR: 

      Jim "Pops" Stack (On Twitter - Visit with at CFCS Project "Pops" @pops_stack).

    He is also the author of the non-fiction parody, Impeachment For "Dummos" (Breakfasts with Maxie and Jerry) by: "Anonymous Pops." - The first of my "trilogy" of books was Prelude to The Playoff:  by Jim Stack, a child of the greatest generation." - (Limited distribution pending re-write) - His latest offering is Underdogs by Jim "Pops" Stack. It was published on May 27, 2021. It's available through Amazon Kindle, Amazon Bookstore, Barnes and Noble, Noble Nook, and Apple Books both as electronic, and hard or soft copy.  

     I love this life with all of its parallels and twists and turns. More so, I love its people and long for the opportunities that wait to be bestowed upon them that particular segments of our society are capable of giving. American sports, with its College Football, that operate as catalysts for the beginning of success in fulfilling “underdog aspirations.” To this end I’ve, for the past nineteen years, worked in bringing a fair and logical solution to the current dysfunctional administration of choosing a “National Champion” in this cherished American sport.

It's time to start over and do it "right". - This project was undertaken with the full understanding that there are life issues far more important than a single sport of a single country; nevertheless, consideration should be given to finding a better way for resolving the smaller issues. By doing so, it will strengthen our confidence as we encounter the larger problems in life.  We cannot undo whatever mistakes were made in the past, nor the unforeseen obstacles that've been placed before us as we move on with our lives.  We can, however, move forward with what we've learned from the past to help restructure our destinies for a better future.

     Visit this website frequently for updates to The CFCS Project. By all means, come back each week beginning with the fourth week of the season to view "CFCS Pops" 2024 Top 25 Teams by P/I Pts.  - See You in September.

Donations?

     I do not ask that you make personal donations directly to this website nor to me. - Donate your efforts to contacting those empowered to make "change for the better" to our favorite game.

     By obtaining AND reading Underdogs you'll better appreciate where "I'm coming from." It certainly will assist me in continuing this project, this "crusade." - My hope is that my book, Underdogs, will reward me via the merits offered by the solutions in Parts One and Three to current issues, both in and out of the world of college football, which need be addressed. "Issues" understandably insignificant as they might seem to the many within our society of "underdogs" as they struggle to meet their daily needs; yet so important to the young generations to come. That "solutions" be rationally applied with common sense in order that their own future struggles might be lessened.

     Any personal $ donations you desire to make should be to your favorite charities, and in the spirit of the "preservation" of college football for our kids to grow to enjoy. I'd suggest St. Jude's Children Hospital in Memphis, TN., Shriners Hospitals; or if like I, both a kids and animal lover, the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and for our elders, especially those currently afflicted with dementia. Let us not forget Alzheimers Research.

     The biggest help would be for you to direct to your relatives and friends this website address - www.thecfcsproject.com - particularly if they are an aspiring college athlete.  Join the fight to save college football by making your voices heard, and by making certain that the "non-elite" underdog football conferences get a fair shake in sharing the financial gain that The CFCS Project seeks for all.