Just throwing this out there, our league has been a 10 team league for 20 years (it started in 1995, back when scores were figured with pencil and paper).
Next season we are expanding to 12 by adding back in 2 original members.
Currently we are setup in 2 5 team divisions. We play our own division twice, other division once, for a 13 week regular season. 6 teams make the playoffs with the championship being in week 16.
We do not want to move the championship to week 17 due to players being sat PLUS we do a "loser bowl" in week 17 where the goal is to score the lowest amount of points in the league with a valid lineup (the 'winner' wins like $50).
So, what is a good divisional/schedule setup for a 12 team league that ends in week 16?
So far we have 3 ideas...
2 6 team divisions, play everyone once but play 2 'rotating' teams in your division twice (changes on a yearly basis), playoff structure the same as now (division champs get bye in 1st round, 4 WCs)
3 4 team divisions, play everyone once but play 2 'rotating' teams in your division twice (changes on a yearly basis), top 2 division winners get byes, 3rd division winner is seed 3, and then 3 WCs.
3 4 team divisions, play everyone once but play the 3 teams in your division twice, 3 division winners and only 1 WC (4 total) make playoffs, playoffs are only 2 weeks in stead of 3.
The league is voting on those 3 options, so far the first two are the most popular (no one likes the last one, even though the schedule is cleaner, no one wants a 4 team playoff).
Any other setups/ideas out there? I have only played in a 12 team league once and it was a 17th week championship, so the format will be different in ours.
The first one is probably the most sensible IMO. Ours is structured similar, except no divisions and the 2 you play twice just rotates, top 6 get in
This is what my league does. Works out well.