College Football: The Year the Playoff System Breaks

Thus far in the history of the College Football playoff controversy has not arisen over the selection of the four teams. In 2014 Ohio State snuck in as a four seed, but hard to argue with the selection as the Buckeyes went on to beat Alabama and Oregon impressively in route to winning the National Championship. 2015 had a de facto play-in game with Michigan State edging out Iowa 16-13 for the Big Ten title in an instant classic. Last season four teams emerged as clear-cut playoff contenders and won their respective conference championship games with ease. This is the season that the four-team playoff system gets broken.

Alabama, Miami, Oklahoma, and Clemson rounded out this week’s top four with Wisconsin, Auburn and Georgia coming in at #5, #6, #7.

The next few weeks of games are going to start the chaos. Starting with Michigan and Wisconsin this Saturday at Camp Randle. Michigan is by far the best team the Badgers have played this year, and have an outstanding shot at scoring an upset. One loss does not derail the Badgers playoff hopes, but losing to Michigan then again in the Big Ten title game against either Ohio State or Penn State would certainly eliminate the Badgers playoff hopes. Wisconsin has to win out to be in the playoffs; the Committee has already shown what losing in the Conference Championship game does to your playoff hopes (Iowa 2015). The worst case for the committee would be for Wisconsin to lose to Michigan this weekend then win the Big Ten Championship creating a plethora of one-loss teams that have an agreement to be in the Playoff

Conference Championship weekend will break the playoff system. Starting in the ACC between Clemson and Miami. If Clemson wins then they will obviously be in the playoff but what about the Canes? a one loss Miami team with wins over Virginia Tech and Notre Damn have at least an argument to be in the playoffs. I have mentioned the Big Ten earlier in the article as Wisconsin has Michigan and most likely Ohio State left. Lose to Michigan and win the title game and the Badgers are in but what if they lose both games? or lose in the title game. Big 12 now has a title game and will feature Oklahoma and either Oklahoma State or TCU. The Sooners have beat both those teams by double digits during the regular season and will undoubtedly be in the playoff with a win, but what if the Cowboys or Horned Frogs pull the upset? Lastly, the SEC could have another 2011 year. If Auburn wins the Iron Bowl and advances to the SEC Championship Alabama can potentially earn a playoff bid anyway.

This will be the year that five or six teams have a resume worthy of the playoff. Alabama, Wisconsin, Clemson, Miami, Oklahoma could either be undefeated or have one loss when the final selection comes out. If Wisconsin, Miami and Alabama all have one loss for the final selection which one-loss team gets in? Will a two-loss conference champion get in? After this season the Committee will have to reconsider only allowing four teams for the playoff.

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