The New, 12-Team College Football Playoff
The new, 12-team College Football Playoff brings with it a promise to be bigger, more exciting, more lucrative. Perfect or 100% fair? Well, nobody ever believed that.
Alabama Comes Up Short in the Bracket’s Biggest Debate
The Big Ten will lead the way with four teams in the tournament, followed by the SEC with three and the ACC with two. The lasting memory from the inaugural bracket will involve the decision that handed the ACC that second bid.
Alabama of the SEC didn’t play Saturday. SMU of the ACC did. The Mustangs fell behind by three touchdowns to Clemson before coming back to tie. But they ultimately lost 34-31 on a 56-yard field goal as time expired.
Crimson Tide AD Gracious, but Looking for Answers
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne was gracious, up to a point.
“Disappointed with the outcome and felt we were one of the 12 best teams in the country,” he said on social media.
Georgia, Boise State and Arizona State Join Oregon with First-Round Byes
Georgia, the SEC champion, was seeded second; Boise State, the Mountain West champion, earned the third seed; and Big 12 titlist Arizona State got the fourth seed and the fourth and final first-round bye.
Automatic Byes and Bids Made the Bracket Strange
The conference commissioners’ idea to give conference champions preferable treatment in this first iteration of the 12-team playoff could be up for reconsideration after this season.
What the Matchups Look Like
No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, Dec. 21. Clemson is riding high after the SMU upset, while Texas is 0-2 against Georgia and 11-0 vs. everyone else this season. The winner faces… Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. Huh?
Conclusion
The new, 12-team College Football Playoff has brought about a mix of excitement and controversy. While some teams may feel they were unfairly left out, others are eager to take the field and compete for the national championship. As the tournament progresses, it will be interesting to see how the brackets shake out and which teams emerge victorious.
FAQs
Q: Why did Alabama get left out of the 12-team playoff?
A: Alabama’s strength of schedule was not enough to overcome their three losses, while SMU’s comeback against Clemson impressed the selection committee.
Q: How did the conference champions fare in the bracket?
A: Georgia, the SEC champion, was seeded second, while Boise State, the Mountain West champion, earned the third seed. Arizona State, the Big 12 titlist, got the fourth seed and a first-round bye.
Q: What is the format for the 12-team playoff?
A: The tournament will feature a first round, followed by quarterfinals at bowl games, semifinals, and the national championship game on January 20.
Q: Will there be any changes to the playoff format after this season?
A: The conference commissioners may reconsider the automatic byes and bids given to conference champions in the first iteration of the 12-team playoff.
