Playoff Turmoil and a Heisman Showdown: College Football’s Most Chaotic Finale Yet
The college football regular season has officially concluded and most teams will now start building for next season or preparing for their bowl games. This season was quite special as it featured big matchups, coaching vacancies, and even some conference drama. The sport has set an all time high for viewership this season and will continue to eclipse new heights throughout the playoffs. Fans all across the country enjoyed watching their favorite teams compete for a chance in the playoffs. The playoffs have not been finalized but it has been the tightest, most controversial race that we have ever had.
Playoff Format Flaws
As we reach the end of the regular season, the committee will have difficult decisions to make as the race for the playoffs continues. Many fans around the country are concerned about the playoff format as the top five highest ranked conference champions earn an automatic bid. The ACC championship game can change the landscape of the playoffs this season as the Duke Blue Devils will have a chance to win the conference this weekend. The Blue Devils have a measly 7-5 record going into the game and will most likely be held out of the playoffs even with a victory. The committee will have to make a decision and possibly grant the auto bids to two G5 champions instead of the ACC champion. If this happens, I would expect fans to be upset as the G5 teams are known to be less talented than the others creating possible lopsided affairs. I believe that this will cause chaos as well as a decrease in viewership. The format needs to change as the gap in conference skill/talent is much different throughout the country.
THE HEISMAN GAME!
The Big Ten championship will be a battle of the only undefeated teams in the country. The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Indiana Hoosiers will be facing off this weekend but for much different stakes. As the two best teams in the country they will make the playoffs and most likely get a first round bye no matter the outcome. The Indiana Hoosiers are seeking their first conference championship since 1967 while the Buckeyes haven't won the conference since 2020. The story of the game will be the Heisman trophy as QBs Julian Sayin and Fernando Mendoza are the current frontrunners for the award. Many believe the winner of the game will also have the best chance at the Heisman. I wouldn’t be surprised if this isn’t the only matchup we witness between these two teams this season. Both teams have been dominant this season and will have a great chance to win the national title and may meet again later on.
