Week 2: CFBPlayoff Expansion
Playoffs? We’re talking about Division 1 College Football Playoffs? Yes, Jim. We are. The CFBPlayoff Playoff committee announced that the number of playoff participants is expanding from the current four-team model to twelve teams beginning in 2026 (or 2024 if they find the money, er work out the details).
Here is an overview of some of the major changes coming:
- Teams will still be ranked by a CFP selection committee.
- The four highest seed conference champions will receive first-round byes.
- The first-round games will be played at the higher seed home stadiums.
- Quarter and semifinal games will be played on a rotating basis in bowl games.
- The Championship game will be played on a neutral field.
The announcement is similar to the deal that Greg Sankey, Bob Bowlsbey, and Jack Swarbuck announced last July. The playoff expansion is good for the sport and should bring more interest and eyes to the games.
Here are the four things I am most looking forward to with the expanded playoff.
Greater access
The committee announced that the six highest-seeded conference champions will automatically qualify for the playoffs. We can finally stop the tired Power-5 versus Group-5 debate.
The SEC and Big Ten should be able to lay claim to two of those four spots, leaving the other eight conferences in a Game of Thrones situation to try to find their way to a bye.
This should make for an exciting contest between the next tier of college football conferences: the ACC, Pac 10, Big 12, AAC, Moutain West, and the Sun Belt. The incentive here will be two-fold. Sorry to the MAC and CUSA, you will be on the outside looking in more often than not.
We will truly have a national playoff where the entire country will be represented, rather than just parts of the southeast and midwest.
Second, more teams will have a chance to break through the glass ceiling. Take Utah’s loss this weekend, for example. Utah will have to be perfect the rest of the season if they are going to hope to have a chance at making the playoff. In an expanded playoff, they can afford a tough loss and focus on winning their conferences, whatever that may be or look like in the future, and still have a great shot at making the playoff.
Conference Games Matter
Conference games now will take on added meaning in the expanded playoff. I have heard some say that the SEC Championship wouldn’t have mattered in an expanded playoff last year. I couldn’t disagree more. At stake was a first-round bye and having to play an additional playoff game.
All of the conference games will play an important role in deciding which conferences make the playoff. A Cinderella story could win a conference championship, but not end up ranked high enough to secure a bid. This will add additional intrigue and expand in reality expands the number of teams with an opportunity to secure a playoff spot.
Realignment Carousel
The last two offseasons have been rocked by the realignment carousel. Last year, Texas and Oklahoma announced that they were leaving the Big12 for the SEC.
This summer USC and UCLA announced they were leaving the Pac12 for the B1G. The moves placed the SEC and B1G on a different playing field from the rest of the conferences. The dollars that those two will make will more than double their next closest competitors.
The question becomes now if you are Clemson or Oregon, do you still want to make the move to one of the power conferences, if offered? Can the money you are giving up be offset by having a better opportunity and access to the playoff? I don’t think this will be a simple yes or no. With tightening budgets all around college athletics, I think many schools would be hard-pressed to pass up more/assured dollars for a potential playoff bid.
Home playoff games
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Finally, the thing I am most excited about with the expanded playoff games is the fact that the first round will be played on the home field of the higher seeds. While bowls had their time in the sun, or dome if you are in Detroit, these games need to be on college campuses.
The atmospheres in Austin, East Lansing, Euguene, and South Bend are going to be electric for those first-round games. My only fault with the committee is that the quarterfinals didn’t find their way onto college campuses. Those top-rated teams should be doubly rewarded with both a bye and a home playoff game of their home. Let’s hope they can figure this out by 2026.
The sport is changing, too fast for some. Change is inevitable, it’s all about how we adapt. I can’t wait. More quality playoff games are coming to a TV near you.
Stat of the Week: The QB err Transfer Portal
Remember when we had the tired argument that transfers were damaged goods and quit on their team? Oh, you still hear that. Again I say, adjust with the changes. Enjoy the game. I loved this stat from the Transfer Portal King Max Olzon. Sometimes the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, but who are we to deny someone a change to look?
Week 2 Picks
Times and point spread courtesy of ESPN. Last week was so much fun, my picks weren’t great, but that’s not the point. I added a new stat this week, the 2022 Talent Composite from 247. Week 2 is a new week, as Billy Napier would say:
🎟 Alabama (1) (-20) 🆚 Texas (6)
📍 DKR Memorial Stadium
⏰ 12:00 PM
📺 Fox
💰🐘 #RollTide
An Amazing stat from the 🐻, @ChrisFallica Since playing for the 2009 national title, Alabama is an FBS best 151–17 and has won five national titles. Texas is 84–67, which is one win better than Northwestern. In fact, Alabama has more wins by at least 24 points — 92 — than Texas has won in that span. Saban and the Tide are on a collision course with the Dawgs for another shot at the SEC title and National Championship. Ewers and Robinson will be good this year, but not enough to keep up with the Tide. I’m looking forward to the GameDay picker this week.
🎟 (96) App State 🆚 (4)Texas A&M (-18.5)
📍 Kyle Field
⏰ 3:30 PM
📺 ESPN 2
💰 🏔 #GoApp
The talent composite says that the line is probably right for this game. Jimbo Fisher is SLOWLY building a team that can compete with Alabama and Georgia. Something always seems to be missing with the Aggies and 9–3 seems more likely than 11–1 and 12–0. App State had a track meet with UNC last week and nearly pulled off the upset. The Mountaineers play hard for Coach Shawn Clark and this clip shows why. A sluggish or slow start by the Agiggies allows App to keep it close.
🎟 (19) Tennessee (-6.5) 🆚 (45) Pitt
📍 Heinz Field
⏰ 3:30 PM
📺 ABC
💰 🟠 #RockyTop ⚪️
Josh Heupel could have won SEC coach of the year last year. Nobody expected much from the Vols and he turned around an anemic offense and finished the season at 7–6. The Vols got off to a fast start in their opener last week against Ball State and showed they will be ready to keep flying this year. Pitt won a nailbiter last week in the Backyard Brawl against West Virginia. Pitt will not have an as easy a time getting after Hendon Hooker as they did JT Daniels last week.
🎟 (57) Houston 🆚 (44) TexasTech(-3)
📍 Jones At&T Stadium
⏰ 4:00 PM
📺 FS1
💰 🐆 #GoCoogs
Houston needed a handful of overtimes to put UTSA away last week in their opener against San Antonio. The Cougars stay on the road this week and travel to Lubbock for the game against the Red Raiders. Joey McGuire is going to have a quick rebuild in Lubbock. This game should be highly entertaining and high-scoring. Look for this one to go down to the wire and Holgo and company to come out on top. Vodka and Red Bulls are on me.
🎟 (27) Kentucky 🆚 (12) Florida (-5)
📍 #TheSwamp
⏰ 7:00 PM
📺 ESPN
💰🐊 #GoGators
This should be a classic as the Gators play another home game at night in Gainesville. Anthony Richardson was elusive last week and made a number of plays to keep the Gator’s hopes alive and helped them to their win. Kentucky knocked off Miami (Oh.) in less than impressive fashion. The Wildcats knocked off the Gators last year in Lexington and helped contribute to the Dan Mullen spiral. Billy Napier and the Gators find their revenge.
Let’s go for two!
Two more for Week 2.
🎟 (27) Iowas State 🆚 (61) Iowa (-3.5)
📍 Kinnick Stadium
⏰ 4:00 PM
📺 BTN
💰🟡⚫️ #Hawkeyes
How is a team whose defense outscored their offense and the opposing team in Week 1? Because Phil Parker has that good of a defense. Kirk Ferentz is 5–0 against Matt Campbell in the Cy-Hawk game. This game won’t be pretty and will feature plenty of punts. Perfect for a Saturday afternoon nap. Maybe Matt Campbell will have better luck next year at Nebraska!
🎟 (41) Baylor 🆚 (107) BYU (-3)
📍 LaVell Edwards Stadium
⏰ 10:15 PM
📺 ESPN
💰🐻 #SicEm
This should make for a fantastic nightcap Saturday night. Dave Aranda guided Baylor to the Big 12 last season, aided by former BYU OC Jeff Grimes. Provo can get weird at night. Exactly what we need.
Last week ATS: 4–9–1
Overall: 7–11–1
Grab your 🍿 and enjoy the games!
