Okay, fine. I’ll write something about the College Football Playoffs. But I’m not happy about it! But first, a look back at the first round of games and surprise surprise ratings and excitement were down this year.
Alabama-Oklahoma, 8 p.m. (Friday): 14.9 million (ABC/ESPN)
Miami–Texas A&M, noon: 14.8 million (ABC/ESPN)
Tulane–Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m.: 6.2 million (TNT Sports)
James Madison–Oregon, 7:30 p.m.: 4.4 million (TNT Sports)
The first two ratings are actually very good which just shows people will watch anything, if it includes big enough names in the sport. That includes Alabama gaining only 260 yards in a 10-point win and both the Hurricanes and Aggies being allergic to the end zone. Both Alabama and Miami were outgained, each totaled 12 first downs, and won anyway.
The other two games are a big yikes, not helped by both power programs jumping out to convincing early leads. Although in the interest of journalistic integrity we have to point out these games were going up against (and got dwarfed by) regular season NFL matchups.
Either way, it’s been interesting to see the discussion surrounding the inclusion of G5 teams in the playoffs and what that should look like moving forward. One side is claiming that these G5 teams are weaker than ever and the power imbalance is getting worse each year. Another side is claiming the addition of the G5 teams makes college football special, and avoids anti-trust litigation. Both sides are correct.
With all the drama surrounding the selection process, the history books might eventually coalesce around a pair of G5 teams making it into the playoffs as the craziest/dumbest aspect–and there seems to be real motivation moving forward to make sure this never happens again.
Miami [+9.5] vs. Ohio State
Cotton Bowl Classic
Wednesday, December 31, 7:30 PM, ESPN
No college football games this past weekend and a break of 12 days since the first round began in Norman, because tradition. We kick things back off with a bowl game that was moved back to “major” status just over a decade ago, at night, on New Year’s Eve, inside a NFL stadium. Here, the Buckeyes look to keep things rolling towards a defense of their National Championship coming off a stinging loss in the Big Ten Championship. They’ve been here before in this “you’re kind of doubted but not really” and played these cards well.
Remember this one from 2003?
Miami will hope for an ugly low-scoring affair like in College Station, and maybe a couple bounces will go their way. A couple of top 10 defenses duking it out inside Jerry World. I think the Bucks get a few explosive plays that will make a big difference on the scoreboard.
Ohio State 23
Miami 10
Oregon [-2.5] vs. Texas Tech
Orange Bowl
Thursday, January 1, 12:00 PM, ESPN
The New Year’s Day triple headers begins with a west coast and western Texas team down in Miami for a Noon kickoff. Well, this is a bit weird. Once again, it’s a matchup between top 10 defenses and Texas Tech has built its reputation this year around its fearsome defensive play. The Ducks aren’t too shabby in that department either.
The remaining bracket.
I’m focused on the Tech offense, though. Did you know they lead all power teams in scoring and are 2nd in the SP+ offense rankings? But, I swear you’d never imagine that watching them play and FEI has them a far more humbling 35th offensively. What a huge difference! If Oregon holds the Red Raiders under mid-30’s in points guess who moves up into the top average scoring offense among power programs (unless one of these playoff offenses go absolutely off) in 2025? Your Fighting Irish, who did not make the playoffs.
Oregon 24
Texas Tech 18
Alabama [+6.5] vs. Indiana
Rose Bowl
Thursday, January 1, 4:00 PM, ESPN
They (Alabama) can’t keep getting away with this! The playoff’s most controversial team now heads up against the no. 1 team in the country and should get their comeuppance, right?
I have a bad feeling.
Will there be Heisman pressure?
In the interest of not picking all favorites, and being darkly funny, I wonder if the Tide put together their best performance of the season for some SEC pride. Or maybe, the Hoosiers wilt under the pressure and play one of their worst games. I don’t truly believe this should happen. Watch Kalen DeBoer end up signing a huge extension based on this, though.
Alabama 33
Indiana 31
Ole Miss [+6.5] vs. Georgia
Sugar Bowl
Thursday, January 1, 8:00 PM, ESPN
Our only rematch from the regular season during the quarterfinals and it’ll have to wait until the primetime evening slot for the eastern time zone, live from the Caesars Superdome. Ole Miss will feel like they need to finish the job this time after leading at halftime and coming close to beating the Dawgs in Athens earlier this year. That would’ve been only the 2nd home loss for Georgia over the last 6.5 seasons–the other one coming this year to Alabama.
Can the Rebels keep this going with head coach Pete Golding taking over this job without Kiffin?
He’s not losing to a Kiffin-less team.
I doubt it.
Before the playoff’s began I was set with Georgia as my pick to win it all. I think this will be the least competitive game of the quarterfinals with a thorough win from the Dawgs.
Georgia 38
Ole Miss 20
For whatever reason, I like Ole Miss over GA.
Nailed it!!!!
I sure hope your Alabama upset prediction is just the jinx needed to make sure that game is actually the most lopsided of these four.
Until Alabama is officially dead and buried for the 2025-26 season, I will not be able to start the healing process from our 11th hour CFP committee snub.
Here are my preferred 2026 CFP Champs, from most to (obviously) least:
1. Texas Tech
2. Indiana
3. Ole Miss
4. Oregon
5. (T) Ohio State / Georgia
7. Miami
8. Alabama
Miami has played a tougher schedule than TT. I think they are overrated. Their OOC games were garbage,the Big 12 has been garbage OOC. They crushed the second best team twice. Their only loss was when their QB was out. I am rooting for Oregon. The TT coach and his comments have annoyed me.
I don’t know much about the coach, but Cody Campbell seems like an interesting fellow in that he wants to save College Sports. However, also willing to put up his money for NIL to make TT football relevant, until a better system comes along.
1. Texas Tech
2. Indiana
3. Oregon
4.Miami
5. Ole Miss
6.Ohio State
7.Georgia
8. Alabama
Do you feel the strong vibes against the SEC?
I keep thinking of this memo of understanding between ND and the NCAA. I don’t agree with it in the sense that it gives preference to ND over a higher ranked team. I wonder if ND threatened Anti-trust (being independent) or something else to get that signed. ND does bring more eyeballs to the playoffs, and I would have preferred to see them in there vs James Madison, however, I do believe the teams should earn their place (not that JMU did).
They playoff should be the top 11 teams, and group of 5, or the top 12 teams if a group of 5 happens to land in that ranking. No conference champion preference, no autobids, and no committee deciding who’s 1 and who’s 25. Put it back in the circuits of the computers, come up with a formula that everyone agrees with and let the bots do it. Heck, isn’t that where the argument for SOR come from, computers saying one team has a better record than another?
The problem with a committee is objectivity. We don’t need a salesman in the committee conference room. We don’t need a biased booster acting like he knows football better than, well, anyone. Right now college athletics is broken. It’s enough to make me move my eyeballs to the NFL.
I used to laud the purity of CFB. But that is long gone. I feel as if ND still has a bit of moral high ground, but maybe I’m just deluding myself.
Wasn’t the MOU a case of the cart being put before the horse? I thought it was intended for when the playoff went to 16 teams but, got leaked early, before the field was expanded. If that’s the case, then it’s a big tadoo about nothing, no? Or at worst, just another CFB hierarchy screw up. I can see where it riles up “conference” fans, even though they want 4-5 auto bids, and don’t see the hypocrisy in that.
ND Forever,
1, I’m with your handle. Stay on it, because…
2, We do have some moral ground. Our kinds go to class, and they are made to rub elbows with our student body as a whole, and that’s always been a good thing. There is a sense of values, and we have fought the good fight against some of the trends that are disquieting to say the least in CF. Nothing’s perfect, but we’re still trying.
Very, very glad you jinxed the Tide. Best feeling I’ve had since the “Selection” fiasco.
So I’ll just uselessly launch on what might have been….
We would’ve been seeded where Miami wound up, so we would’ve gone for the rematch at College Station and whipped up on the Aggies.
Next stop the OSU, which we would have had a very good chance to beat as well.
That would leave us in the semis vs Old Miss, bring ’em on.
Not sure we win vs IU or Oregon in the Finals, but we’d a had a shot.
All of which just fires me up to… LND next time through!