College Football in Crisis: A Call for Change to the Playoff and the Future of the Sport

The College Football Playoff (CFP) has been a controversial topic since its inception in 2014. Critics argue that the current system is unfair, as it excludes deserving teams and often results in mismatches in the semifinals and national championship game. Others argue that the CFP is necessary to ensure competitive balance and determine a national champion. In this article, we will examine the complexities of the CFP and provide a nuanced perspective on its impact on college football.

The Case for Expansion

One of the most common criticisms of the CFP is that it is too exclusive. With only four teams qualifying for the playoffs, there is little margin for error for teams to make a mistake during the regular season. This has led to several controversial scenarios in which deserving teams have been left out of the playoffs, such as the 2014 Ohio State team and the 2017 Alabama team.

Proponents of CFP expansion argue that increasing the number of teams in the playoffs would give more teams a chance to compete for a national championship. It would also help to reduce the impact of a single loss, as teams would have more opportunities to make up for a bad performance during the regular season. Additionally, expansion could help to increase interest in the sport, as more fans would be invested in the playoff race.

The Case for Preserving Tradition

Opponents of CFP expansion argue that it would water down the value of a national championship. They argue that a smaller playoff field creates a sense of urgency and importance that would be lost if more teams were included. Additionally, they worry that expansion would lead to more conference scheduling, which could reduce the number of out-of-conference games and make the regular season less interesting.

Proponents of preserving the status quo also argue that expansion would be unfair to the Group of Five conferences. These teams already have a difficult time competing with Power Five schools, and they would be further disadvantaged if the playoff field were expanded. Expansion could also lead to even more consolidation in college football, as the Power Five conferences would become even more dominant over the Group of Five schools.

Other Issues

In addition to the debate over expansion, there are several other issues that need to be addressed with the CFP. These include:

• The selection committee: The CFP selection committee is responsible for selecting the four teams that will participate in the playoffs. The committee has been criticized for being biased towards certain conferences and for not using a transparent process to make its decisions.
• The schedule: The CFP schedule is very demanding, and it can be difficult for teams to make it through the regular season and playoffs without suffering injuries. The schedule could be revised to give teams more time to rest and recover.
• The revenue distribution: The CFP generates a lot of revenue, but it is not evenly distributed among all FBS schools. The revenue distribution could be revised to give more money to the Group of Five schools and to help them compete with the Power Five schools.

Conclusion

The CFP is a complex issue with no easy solutions. There are valid arguments to be made both for and against expansion. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to expand the CFP will be up to the College Football Playoff Management Committee. Whatever decision they make, it will have a significant impact on the future of college football.

The CFP has been a positive development for college football. It has created a more exciting and competitive playoff race, and it has helped to increase interest in the sport. However, there are also some issues that need to be addressed with the CFP. These issues include the exclusivity of the playoff field, the bias of the selection committee, and the demanding schedule. The CFP Management Committee needs to address these issues in order to ensure that the CFP is fair and competitive for all teams.

The future of the CFP is uncertain. The CFP Management Committee is currently considering expanding the playoff field to 12 teams. This would be a significant change, but it is one that could help to address some of the issues with the current system. It is important to remember that the CFP is a relatively new system, and it is still evolving. The CFP Management Committee will continue to make changes to the system in order to make it as fair and competitive as possible.