With all the fuss around the Michigan-Florida fiasco and playoffs and what not, I have my own idea that can probably be shot down pretty easily.

Why not have an “optional” playoff?

Instead of worrying about a “plus one” setup and getting a bum matchup, or the same mess we have this year (and in years past), why not have a playoff available “if necessary”? Write up a list of guidelines that would help separate up to four teams from the pack, and have venues available to play a mid-December “play-in game”. If only two undefeateds remain (or if Florida loses to Arkansas and Michigan is a clear #2), then scrap the game. If three teams are tight at the top, #2 plays #3 for the right to play in the title game. If four teams are within a set range in BCS percentage, then it’s a four-team playoff. Make ’em home games, or have a semi-centralized indoor stadium (Indy, STL, etc.) on hold for a game. You’d know what the NFL schedules were by then, and you could probably watch the BCS line up and think there might be a need, so get ’em ready. No doubt they’d sell out. Travel planning and stuff might be tricky, but I’m sure it could be done. Still not “ideal”, but until they scrap the regular season and just line up everyone from 1-119 and make each year a tournament, there’s never going to be an ideal way.

Personally, I’m tired of the BCS, I’m tired of the money that it dishes around to keep the rich richer, and would love to see everything go back to how it used to be. Since that ain’t gonna happen, it might as well make sense.

Now, while I’ve got changes on the brain, how about those clock rules?

They suck.

However, while everyone seems to be in agreement that they’re a bane to the game, they don’t seem to be the hot button topic they once were at the beginning of the season. I had a moment of clarity on this a couple weeks ago, but it seems to be gone. The gist of my idea to change them, however, remains.

How hard would it be to make the punt/kickoff return rules like catching a pass? If you get out of bounds, the clock doesn’t start until the snap of the ball. If you stay in, the clock starts when it’s spotted. Or start a 40 second play clock when it’s spotted, and the game clock starts at the snap or the 25 second mark, whichever comes first. I think what we’ll see is them instituting a “last two minutes of a half” type ruling, but I don’t think that’s enough. They also need to stop starting the clock when the ball is kicked, if only to piss Brett Bielema off.