Like a lot of college leaders, Michael F. Adams, president of the University of Georgia, has long opposed a Division I-A football playoff.

Now he wants one, and he may just have the clout to pull it off, says The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

In a letter to Myles Brand, president of the NCAA, Mr. Adams, chairman of the NCAA’s executive committee, says TV networks have become too powerful in postseason play, and colleges need to “regain ownership” of their football teams.

He advocates a seven-game, single-elimination tournament run by the NCAA, and proposes reducing regular-season schedules by one game.

Mr. Adams believes his proposal has a “50-50” chance of being adopted by the athletics association.

“I do think I’m in a position where I can get a formal conversation started at the point where it needs to take place,” he told the newspaper. “Ultimately, I think we can come up with a better system.”

Incidentally, President Adams says his team’s failure to qualify for the national-championship game last night had nothing to do with his change of heart about a playoff. —Brad Wolverton