4 team playoff approvals brings historic day for college football

Twelve university CEOs, 11 conference commissioners, and one athletic director made history on Tuesday when they approved a four-team tournament in major college football that will begin either December 31, 2014, or January 1, 2015. “The worst thing about the playoff,” Georgia offensive lineman Chris Burnette tweeted, “is that it doesn’t start until I leave college football.”

College football leaders believe the decision on Tuesday was 40 years in the making. The turning point among the decision makers came this past December, when the announcement of an all-SEC BCS title game convinced Big 12 leaders they needed to put their support behind a playoff. The details SI.com reported on Friday remains standing. A 12-year deal with six bowls rotating as semifinal hosts and a championship game, similar to the NFL Super Bowl, will be hosted by cities that submit the most favorable bids. A formation of a selection committee was also approved by the presidents. “We’ve got a great regular season. I think it’ll be more exciting than it has been. It’s hard to believe that, but I don’t think it hurts that one bit,” said Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany.