IMO, the conference championship games are no longer necesssary or helpful. They are a relic of the days before the CFP.

The final rankings of the CFP will be announced on Sunday Dec 7.
The Conference Championship Games are Saturday, Dec .6.

There is no advantage for the then higher ranking team to go into Saturday's conference championship game, only a disadvantage in case of a loss.

Yes, there is an argument that the CFP comittee should not consider the results of the conference championship game. But this only give evidence that the conference championship game is useless.

From a macro level you have some points.

But from a micro Texas A&M level, and in the NOW, getting to that game and winning it would be MASSIVE for this program and the narratives that have always existed around this program. It would crush the "can't win anything big" narrative, it would be huge for recruiting, and it would open the NIL floodgates for us. Sure, long term if it goes away it's fine but right now it would be a major major program pivot point if we can win it.

Is there a financial incentive for the teams involved?

That might be a fix for the future.

For example, the winner gets X and the loser gets Y?

Otherwise, I agree with OP

Why is it any more or less useless than say the 1998 Big 12 championship game? Based on this view, our win was meaningless and the game only mattered because Kansas State could be eliminated?

Go to 16 teams first weekend is CCG championship weekend and guarantee All power 4 conferences get 2 reps

I think for our team, the CCG is pretty important. Winning it could be huge for our program. I know we have real national championship aspirations this season, but an SEC title is still a pretty big deal.

Agreed, since the SEC is by far the strongest conference in the land.

JJxvi said:

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Why is it any more or less useless than say the 1998 Big 12 championship game? Based on this view, our win was meaningless and the game only mattered because Kansas State could be eliminated?

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Well, apparently viewers disagree with you.

I believe data will show that viewership for conference championship games has declined since the expansion of the College Football Playoff system

Agreed, in the current playoff landscape it does not improve a team's position by playing in it. But emotionally, and psyche wise, it would be a huge win for the program.

Sq 17 said:

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Go to 16 teams first weekend is CCG championship weekend and guarantee All power 4 conferences get 2 reps

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Not necessarily as there are no autobids in a 16 game CFP. In fact, even for this year, it is done by ranking. The ACC is such a mess, Duke could actually win the conference with 4 losses already but their ranking is too low to be in the playoffs.

It's useless if both teams are undefeated or safely in the playoffs. Had we beaten tu it would have been extremely important for us last year. It would have been a play in game for the playoffs.

If we go undefeated in the regular season, I feel it is a useless game for us because we should have a top 4 seed sewn up. I would hate for someone to have an injury in that game that knocks them out of the playoffs.

It would still be cool to win a conf championship but risking injury if we have a top 4 seed locked up is not cool. Cuz I want the natty!

I want to win the SEC

The players who play the seasons deserve a shot to say they are the SEC champs. Even if they then go lose in the first playoff game. If this Aggie teams wins the SEC championship the players on this team, no matter their role, will be immortalized in Aggie lore. If they won every single person on this team gets to put 2025 SEC Conf Champion on some form of resume which could be the thing separating them from getting an interview or not if in a pool with a ton of applicants. So potentially it could be a complete life changer for that person. Obviously they would have to have job skills as well, but it definitely separates them if they were in a toss up situation for a job especially if it's an Aggie doing the hiring…..so yes it matters. Also some of yall have either forgotten or never experienced a chance at some form of championship back in high school or maybe even college days. It matters.

Conference championship games made sense when conferences had divisions.
With no divisions they don't make any sense to me, other than it's another game to watch that generates more revenue. Think I just answered my own question about they continue.

Orlando Ayala Cant Read said:

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From a macro level you have some points.

But from a micro Texas A&M level, and in the NOW, getting to that game and winning it would be MASSIVE for this program and the narratives that have always existed around this program. It would crush the "can't win anything big" narrative, it would be huge for recruiting, and it would open the NIL floodgates for us. Sure, long term if it goes away it's fine but right now it would be a major major program pivot point if we can win it.

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Not if you lose the game or a key player in the process. Then it's less time to rest and prepare for the playoffs. Something any team that just dominated an SEC conference schedule could use more than another high stress, high wear and tear game that doesn't help with the playoffs.

Quote:

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I believe data will show that viewership for conference championship games has declined since the expansion of the College Football Playoff system

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time will tell. not much drop off in year 1. but the matchups are key. Alabama v UGA in 2023, so even with tu replacing Alabama, that is still usually going to be a drop off TV wise.

BarnacleBill said:

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Conference championship games made sense when conferences had divisions.
With no divisions they don't make any sense to me, other than it's another game to watch that generates more revenue. Think I just answered my own question about they continue.

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Not when a 16 team playoff appearance pays the same?

My hatred for expanding the playoffs from 4 has always been known as I made no secret about the gaping pitfalls in doing so. But when the PAC 12 killed itself, on purpose I might add, the debate was over. Too many "brand" teams were going to be left on a desert island. And they were not having any of that, oh no nuh sir.

BUT, I do think this private equity play the B1G is trying is a massive mistake for a lot of reasons. Shortsighted for one. Loss of control long term for another. Partnerships wtih media partners make financial sense for both parties. One generates content, the other makes money broadcasting that content.

But the CALIFORNIA PENSION FUND? Really?

AgLA06 said:

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Orlando Ayala Cant Read said:

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From a macro level you have some points.

But from a micro Texas A&M level, and in the NOW, getting to that game and winning it would be MASSIVE for this program and the narratives that have always existed around this program. It would crush the "can't win anything big" narrative, it would be huge for recruiting, and it would open the NIL floodgates for us. Sure, long term if it goes away it's fine but right now it would be a major major program pivot point if we can win it.

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Not if you lose the game or a key player in the process. Then it's less time to rest and prepare for the playoffs. Something any team that just dominated an SEC conference schedule could use more than another high stress, high wear and tear game that doesn't help with the playoffs.

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This.
You made an important point. Those qualiying teams which did not have to enter the Championship games have an advantage.

If the top 4 teams got to play their first playoff game at home, it would be worth it. There's not much upside as it stands.

only 6 schools have won the SEC championship game in its 33-year history

Orlando Ayala Cant Read said:

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From a macro level you have some points.

But from a micro Texas A&M level, and in the NOW, getting to that game and winning it would be MASSIVE for this program and the narratives that have always existed around this program. It would crush the "can't win anything big" narrative, it would be huge for recruiting, and it would open the NIL floodgates for us. Sure, long term if it goes away it's fine but right now it would be a major major program pivot point if we can win it.

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Not if we win the national championship. Then it really didn't matter. We would have already won the regular season, which is what matters now, and then won the playoff. Ccg wouldnt mean a hill of beans

MisterJones said:

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Is there a financial incentive for the teams involved?

That might be a fix for the future.

For example, the winner gets X and the loser gets Y?

Otherwise, I agree with OP

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Elko will get $1.6m plus an extra year on his contract for winning the SEC

If bama and A&M both go u defeated I. Conference play, who is the sec champ?

Without a ccg it would have to come down on to some arbitrary tiebreaker

NyAggie said:

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If bama and A&M both go u defeated I. Conference play, who is the sec champ?

Without a ccg it would have to come down on to some arbitrary tiebreaker

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what if both teams are within the the top four? what happens if there isn't a conference championship game? does the committee lower the ranking of the team not voted conference champ without losing a game?

W said:

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only 6 schools have won the SEC championship game in its 33-year history

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And Texas A&M needs to make it 7.

If this team wins a championship how confident do you think they will be going into the playoffs?

How much resolve will they show to bring it all home?

A SEC championship game appearance is much more prestigious than a playoff appearance.

SEC Championship is a huge accomplishment. I also think it's a big advantage to play as opposed to having to sit at home multiple weeks.

You can have your opinion that National title is all that matters, I find that to be an entitled and arrogant opinion.

My only concern for the SEC championship game is not wanting injury to a player during SEC C game since we really don't want to jeopardize or limit our play off run to national championship.

AgLaw02 said:

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A SEC championship game appearance is much more prestigious than a playoff appearance.

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sure, cfp be damned. lets risk injury and wear down our players for a sec trophy instead of a nattie.

if we have a bad game, there goes the advantage of having an extra week to prepare.

but **** it, the sec trophy is more important.

jaxisback said:

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SEC Championship is a huge accomplishment. I also think it's a big advantage to play as opposed to having to sit at home multiple weeks.

You can have your opinion that National title is all that matters, I find that to be an entitled and arrogant opinion.

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If nothing else it got Carson Beck hurt and forced Georgia to rip the scab off heading into this season. While Georgia may dispute how big of an advantage it was for the Bulldogs to lose their multi year starting QB in a conference championship game before the playoffs , at least he's significantly worse at Miami than a couple of years ago notwithstanding the Hurricanes also getting over on Notre Dame.

But for the SEC championship game last year Georgia could still be hamstrung.