Ohio State president Gordon Gee said it would be “silly” to hold a playoff to determine an NCAA Division I football champion.
Gee is the Big 10’s new representative on the Presidents Commission, which sets policy for college athletics.
The commission has opposed a playoff system for the country’s biggest universities. Many coaches and media have supported a playoff for Division I, the only division that doesn’t have one.
“Well, those who are just supportive of football playoffs just got another vote against them,” Gee told the Columbus Dispatch in a story published Sunday.
Gee said the attention surrounding the undefeated records of Nebraska and Penn State last season was good for college athletics. The Associated Press and CNN/USA Today polls voted to give Nebraska the national championship after its victory over Miami in the Orange Bowl.
“This notion we have to have a winner is quite silly,” Gee said. “I think it’s great we had some arguments over Penn State and Nebraska.”
On other subjects, Gee said:
– Skyboxes are coming to Ohio Stadium, but he does not know how soon. The luxury boxes could increase the stadium’s 91,470 capacity by as many as 10,000 seats.
– Expansion of the Big 10, now with 11 members, is not a priority.
“One of the reasons we would expand would be for the television and radio markets. The Big 10 has just concluded what is probably the best television package in the country. We find ourselves very much in the driver’s seat.”
