Chuck Todd: Despite expansion to 12 teams, the College Football Playoff is still broken
The College Football Playoff committee has created a system that is exclusive, not inclusive, writes Chuck Todd.
To say college football has never gotten their postseason right is an understatement. And, once again, despite what appears to be a successful expansion of the college football postseason in 2024, the powers that be have created a system that is exclusive, not inclusive. Ultimately, it’s a system that could shrink the world of college football in a way that, long term, will cost everyone.
All any college football fan has wanted over the last 40 years is to create a better way to crown a champion. And all the “powers that be” have done is find a way to benefit the biggest programs more and more, while potentially starving and shrinking anyone else that is not part of the two largest conferences.
A prime example is Miami, a school I’ve been a fan of since childhood. It appears the Hurricanes will be left out of the 12-team playoff field (it will be announced on Sunday), with their 10-2 record in favor of a 9-3 Alabama team. Miami plays in the ACC with a smaller fan base and smaller TV contract. Alabama plays in the SEC with a larger fan base and a larger TV contract. The rationale the playoff committee had for ranking No. 11 Alabama ahead of No. 12 Miami despite having one less win and one more loss was they had “better” wins and “better” losses against stronger competition.
The problem with that rationale, as Stuart Mandel of The Athletic meticulously pointed out this week, is that what truly matters to the committee changes from year to year, and even week to week.
Most years, a close loss is considered a good thing compared to a blowout loss. But this season, Alabama, who was destroyed 24-3 by a 6-6 Oklahoma team two weeks ago, is considered to have a better résumé than Miami. The Hurricanes, for comparison, have two losses and both were by a combined nine points!
Rating: 5