The NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee apparently did not think too highly of a proposal that would have allowed Army and Navy to play an additional regular season game.
Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk confirmed to The Capital Gazette that the committee tabled the request during a recent meeting in which the matter was discussed.
American Athletic Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti informed Gladchuk of the committee’s decision without providing specific reasons why. CBS Sports, citing a source familiar with the meeting, reported there was “no support” among the Oversight Committee members to honor the request.
“I’m not privy to all the discussion that went on, but in my judgment it was unfortunate because there is rationale to justify Army and Navy playing a 13th game,” Gladchuk said. “I’m disappointed and not sure what the thinking might be.”
Gladchuk and former Army athletic director Mike Buddie had jointly submitted the petition to the NCAA asking for the ability to schedule a 13th regular season game. Both said their reasoning was because the Army-Navy Game is played six days after the College Football Playoff field is determined.
That means the College Football Playoff committee can only consider 11 results for Army and Navy as opposed to 12 for every other Football Bowl Subdivision program.
Buddie pointed out that when the College Football Playoff was a four-team field, there was language in the agreement that accommodated the Army-Navy Game. With the advent of the 12-team playoff, that special provision was removed.
Gladchuk said the proposal put forth to the NCAA Football Oversight Committee was aimed at creating an “apples-to-apples” comparison, a 12-game schedule versus a 12-game schedule.”
Buddie and Gladchuk argued that playing 12 games prior to championship weekend was “fair and equitable” and gave Army and Navy a better opportunity to qualify for the College Football Playoff.
Presently, NCAA Bylaw 17.11 sets the maximum number of regular season FBS games at 12. An affiliated bylaw allows a 13th game for teams that play a regular season game in Hawaii.
Had the Division I Football Oversight Committee approved the request, it would then have to introduce legislation to be considered for passage by the NCAA Council. According to CBS Sports, the 26-member committee that is chaired by South Florida athletic director Mike Kelly felt such legislation would be difficult to approve because of the impact on the regular season.
Buddie and Gladchuk argued that only being able to play 11 games before the College Football Playoff field is selected puts Army and Navy at a disadvantage. Buddie said it was important for the two institutions to have an extra “data point” in regard to CFP consideration.
Buddie has since left Army to become athletic director at Texas Christian University and has been replaced by Tom Theodorakis.
Army and Navy were both in contention for a College Football Playoff berth into November last season. The Midshipmen fell out of contention with losses to Notre Dame, Tulane and Rice. However, the Black Knights boasted an 11-1 record after capturing the American Athletic Conference championship and thus were still in consideration for the Group of Five berth.
That bid ultimately went to Boise State, which went 12-1 after winning the Mountain West Conference. The Broncos finished as the top Group of Five school in the final CFP rankings.
Army’s regular season lone loss came to Notre Dame, while Boise State’s lone loss came to Oregon.
Buddie wondered if playing one less game hurt Army in its comparison to Boise State. Gladchuk, who just completed a term on the College Football Playoff committee, said such a concern is legitimate.
“One game most certainly can be a factor. Every single game is considered by the committee,” he said. “One game carries a lot of weight when it comes down to fine-tuning the Top 25 rankings. One game, one result can make the difference between being in and out.”
Had Army and Navy been allowed to play 13 regular season games, Gladchuk said he would have scheduled a nonconference matchup with a Power Four opponent or top tier Group of Five school.
Doing so would have required Army and Navy to forfeit one of three bye weeks during the season.
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