The College Football Playoff’s first round served two competitive games and two blowouts. The reaction to that: Many fans and media types are demanding a change to the playoff bracket format.
Is that an overreaction to two lopsided games, or a worthy response? Let’s remember, last year’s playoff served up four first-round duds.
So, at least this year provided an upgrade. That doesn’t mean it’s perfect.
On this edition of ‘SEC Football Unfiltered,’ a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Matt Hayes weigh in on the big CFP debate — just how badly does this format require revision?
Is this CFP format worth saving?
TOPPMEYER: We must face this reality: There’s no escaping blowouts. We had blowouts in the Bowl Championship Series era. We had them in the four-team playoff era, and now in the 12-team installment. You can’t pin it all on the Group of Five, either. Even the bluest of blue bloods have gotten blown out of a playoff game.
Tinkering with the CFP format is worth considering, but that won’t change the playoff’s unfixable problem: It’s not the regular season. That’s a bug that cannot be solved.
The playoff cannot match the splendor of 50 games occurring on a fall Saturday. The season peaks in November. The playoff format can be improved, but it still won’t trump Thanksgiving rivalry week.
This playoff is what it is. What it is, is this: better than the four-team playoff but inferior to the regular season.
HAYES: Fixing the CFP bracket format isn’t hard. Here’s what you do. First, get rid of participation ribbons.
Decide your number — 12 or 16 teams, I don’t much care — and then pick the best teams, period. No charity cases. If the Group of Five produces a team that proved itself worthy of selection (see 2024 Boise State), then, by all means, it should be included in the bracket. But, we don’t need guaranteed spots for any conference.
You know what else we don’t need? Athletic directors involved in the selection process. Fire the ADs off the CFP selection committee. What business do they have choosing the playoff field? Have a combination of former coaches and media members select the field.
No automatic bids. All at-large bids. Play your way in.
Imagine if Notre Dame and Texas had been in this playoff bracket instead of Tulane and James Madison. Right there, that’s how you improve the playoff.
Not so hard, is it?
TOPPMEYER: I’m open-minded to this idea of ditching automatic bids. I’m also open to 16 teams, although I prefer sticking at 12.
The idea I like best: Get the ADs off the selection committee. Their inclusion inserts bias, or at least the illusion of bias. Plus, nobody should be juggling a coaching search and selecting a playoff field at the same time.
Later in the episode
∎ The hosts preview the quarterfinals. They examine Miami’s potential to upset Ohio State and debate whether Alabama is for real or not.
CFP quarterfinals picks against the spread!
Hayes pinch-hit for cohost John Adams on this week’s podcast episode, but Adams is still submitting his CFP picks as he tries to maintain his lead.
Toppmeyer’s CFP picks (picks in bold):
∎ Miami vs. Ohio State (-9.5)
∎ Oregon (-1.5) vs. Texas Tech
∎ Alabama vs. Indiana (-7)
∎ Mississippi vs. Georgia (-7)
Season record: 39-40 (2-2 last week)
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Adams’ CFP picks (picks in bold):
∎ Miami vs. Ohio State (-9.5)
∎ Oregon (-1.5) vs. Texas Tech
∎ Alabama vs. Indiana (-7)
∎ Mississippi vs. Georgia (-7)
Season record: 42-37 (1-3 last week)
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Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. John Adams is the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, and check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox