What the 2011 NCAA Playoffs could look like.

Based on the playoff proposal, here are several versions of what the 2011 playoffs could look like.

The eight teams involved would be LSU (#1 - SEC), Oklahoma State (#3 - Big 12), Oregon (#5 - Pac-12), Wisconsin (#10 - Big 10), Clemson (#15 - ACC), West Virginia (#23 - Big East), TCU (#18 - highest ranking non-AQ champ), and Alabama (#2 - wildcard).

If we seeded the teams strictly on BCS standings, and then paired them up 1 vs. 8, etc, we would have these matchups in the first round:
-LSU vs. West Virginia
-Alabama vs. TCU
-Oklahoma State vs. Clemson
-Oregon vs. Wisconsin

If we gave preference to the AQ conferences, seeding them in ranking order, and then placing the non-AQ at #7, and the wildcard at #8, we would get this:
-LSU vs. Alabama
-Oklahoma State vs. TCU
-Oregon vs. West Virginia
-Wisconsin vs. Clemson

If we kept the wildcard at 8, and incorporated the non-AQ champ into the seeding order based on rank, we would get these matchups:
-LSU vs. Alabama
-Oklahoma State vs. West Virginia
-Oregon vs. TCU
-Wisconsin vs. Clemson

Finally, if we kept certain tie-ins with current BCS bowls, here's how I project the first round would go:
-Rose Bowl:  Oregon vs. Wisconsin
-Fiesta Bowl:  Oklahoma State vs. TCU
-Sugar Bowl:  LSU vs. Alabama
-Orange Bowl:  Clemson vs. West Virginia

As you can see with that last set of matchups, we already have three of those four games in the current BCS bowls.  Plus, it happens to work out this year that the teams stay relatively regional.

Then, perhaps the Rose and Fiesta winners play against each others, while the Sugar and Orange victors face off.

More than likely, that last scenario would be the one to play out, since those games would probably generate the most money, and three of the four are current BCS matchups.