The Playoff Mess: Inconsistency, Snubs, and a Format in Need of Fixing

The committee has spoken and the playoffs are finally set. The committee has one of the hardest jobs in all of sports and this leads to disagreements. The first round matchups consist of rematches, possible blowouts and bad scheduling. Many teams that were in the conversation to make the playoffs are left out due to a poor format. 

Playoff Arguments 

All of the conference commissioners are lobbying for their teams to make the playoffs. There is a simple solution for teams, win and get in! The committee has changed their criteria throughout the years and it can greatly impact your chances of making the field. 

Notre Dame vs Miami

This season was filled with drama going into the final rankings as head to head matchups were not being taken into consideration. The Miami Hurricanes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish were neck and neck throughout the season but Miami was behind the Irish even with a head to head victory. The committee eventually honored that victory and put the Hurricanes in the playoffs. This will cause arguments, disagreements and confusion as the Irish were ahead of the Hurricanes for the last five weeks. I agree with the decision as head to head matchups should be honored but Notre Dame will be disappointed with the outcome as they are now left out of the field. 

Alabama and BYU 

The committee has made it clear that the conference championship games will not greatly impact the final rankings. After BYU and Alabama both struggled in their conference championship games the college football world wondered if the committee would change their minds. It turns out they would only change their mind for BYU as the Cougars would drop a spot which eventually prompted Miami to make the field. The committee just displayed inconsistency as they ranked Alabama #9 instead of dropping them a spot as well. The Crimson Tide has a great resume but the committee will lose some credibility after this decision as they didn’t follow their own criteria. 

Format Changes? 

Conference Championships

The conference championship games are starting to lose their luster as teams are questioning a better path to a National Title. This season solidified this theory as some of the conference title games meant little to nothing. The committee's job would be much easier if the conference championships consisted of the top ranked teams from each conference rather than the teams with the best conference records. This would decrease the chances of ranking chaos and solidify the best teams. 

Group of 5 Teams 

The playoff format allows the G5 teams a chance at making the field. Most fans and programs would like to see the 12 best teams in the playoffs rather than the “most deserving”. This season is different as both James Madison and Tulane will be in the playoffs due to automatic bids. It’s an exciting time for the smaller programs but the format needs to change. Early betting lines are out for the playoff games and both G5 teams are double digit underdogs. The growth of the sport can increase if we keep this format but the playoff will be watered down. I believe if you're a G5 school you need to earn your spot in the playoffs like everyone else. The teams that are just on the outside looking in would be heavy favorites against both of these teams which means the committee failed to take the best 12. How can G5 teams earn their spot? Well they need to schedule power four teams in their non conference schedules to prove they belong as well as winning their conferences. They need to force people to believe that they belong and compete against the best teams on a yearly basis. Right now, I don’t feel like the games against Tulane and James Madison will be very competitive. 

On the bright side, the rankings are set and final which means we are closer to crowning a champion. Most fans want changes to the format and schedule but for now we can relax and enjoy the final weeks of the season.