Avast ye mateys! From the jolly championship weekend, we have learnt that the 12-team playoff be needin' hurryin'!
2023-12-06
Arrr, mateys! 'Twas a week of conference championship that brewed chaos in the sport of college football! Florida State, a mighty undefeated ACC champion, be left out of the CFP! Blow me down, the seas be rough for these poor lads o' the gridiron!
As soon as Alabama won the SEC championship, chaos ensued in the college football world. The Crimson Tide's victory over Georgia, a team that had won 29 straight games and back-to-back national championships, made them a one-loss Power 5 champion. This win marked Alabama's 11th straight victory and came against the team that had been ranked as the top team in the country for the past three weeks by the College Football Playoff committee.For the committee to be put in a no-win situation, all that was needed was for Florida State to defeat Louisville and finish the season undefeated, claiming the ACC championship. The Seminoles did just that with a third-string freshman quarterback, setting up a long night for the playoff committee.
In the final year of the four-team playoff, the committee was faced with the impossible task of choosing four teams to compete for the national championship. This meant that deserving teams would be left out, with Florida State being the team with the biggest gripe. However, they were not alone in their disappointment.
The issue lies in the approach the committee takes in selecting the four teams. The concept of choosing the "best teams" is flawed, as teams can evolve significantly from September to December. Alabama is a prime example of this, as their lone loss came in Week 2 when their quarterback situation was not as strong as it is now.
The debate about whether teams should be selected based on their future performance or their deservingness is ongoing. ESPN analyst Dan Mullen believes that winning should be the ultimate factor, as winning teams are the best teams.
Overall, the selection process for the four-team playoff has caused controversy and dissatisfaction among fans and analysts. The introduction of a 12-team playoff next year is eagerly anticipated as it will alleviate some of these issues and allow for more deserving teams to have a chance at competing for the national championship.