Should colleges play non-counting preseason games so they don’t go from intrasquad scrimmages to, say, a top-25 matchup to start the season like Oregon at Boise State Thursday? That was a discussion posed on ESPN First-Take this morning. I agree the premise makes sense — let the starters get a couple full-speed quarters in against an equitable foe before teeing it up and making it count.
The problem is, you can’t do that until you have a playoff system. You can’t say it’s a meaningless exhibition game when the bulk of your postseason is based on voters and their impressions. The results will get noticed, plain and simple. Now, could you do it and not keep score, not wear game uniforms, not sell tickets? Sure, but call it a scrimmage and don’t keep score. But the suggestion was sell the game out and fill the stadium. It won’t work unless there’s a playoff system.
Schools can get around it by scheduling cupcakes — Oregon State is opening against Portland State Saturday. But those aren’t equitable matchups and they ding you in the computer analysis and court of public opinion.
