Espn’s 24-Team Playoff Plan Puts Power 4 Title Games in Doubt

WHO:

Pro Football Network - College football voices reacted to ESPN’s playoff expansion plan; the article’s summary says most did not like it.

Newsweek - Paul Finebaum discussed the expanded College Football Playoff.

SB Nation - The article assessed 32 teams still in playoff contention for 12 spots, using each team’s current AP Poll rank as a guide; it noted AP Poll and committee rankings are not exact matches.

SB Nation - Teams listed as leading contenders included Georgia (8-1), Utah (9-0), Notre Dame (8-1), Miami (8-1), Indiana (8-1), Alabama (7-2), Texas (7-2), UCLA (9-0), Tennessee (7-2), Texas Tech (8-1), Wake Forest (8-1), and USC (7-2).

SB Nation - Other teams discussed included BYU, Kentucky, Houston, Iowa, Arizona, LSU, Oregon, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Ohio State, Boise State, New Mexico, Liberty, North Texas, Memphis, UTSA, Louisiana Tech, SMU, Duke, and Louisville.

WHAT:

SB Nation - UCLA would likely secure a playoff berth by winning two of its final three games; losing two would leave the Bruins on the bubble.

SB Nation - Wake Forest had no notable wins and one loss, to Miami; an 11-2 finish with two losses to Miami might leave the Demon Deacons outside the playoff field.

SB Nation - LSU had a 0-3 record against top-25 teams. Winning its final three games—against Arkansas, Texas, and Tennessee—would give it two high-quality wins.

SB Nation - Oregon, Ole Miss, and Ohio State had few or no remaining opportunities for significant wins; South Carolina still had a chance to improve its case with a home game against Georgia.

SB Nation - SMU could have a real chance to play Miami in the ACC Championship if it beat Wake Forest.

Pro Football Network - ESPN made a reported $1.7 billion move involving a 24-team College Football Playoff; the article’s headline says the expansion ends Power 4 championship games and quotes the reaction, “Goodbye SEC Championship Game.”

Newsweek - Finebaum said playoff expansion would make college football like the NFL.

SB Nation - The article grouped the 32 remaining contenders into tiers and said the playoff field would contain 12 teams. It assessed teams’ records, remaining schedules, wins, losses, and qualification prospects.

SB Nation - Georgia would likely need to lose to both Missouri and South Carolina to create playoff uncertainty; Utah would likely need two losses to be at risk. Notre Dame had beaten Miami, and Miami’s offense relied on Malachi Toney’s easy-access throws and yards after the catch.

SB Nation - Indiana had a difficult game against USC; Alabama had beaten LSU; Texas had three top-25 wins. UCLA had backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach, and USC could strengthen its case by finishing 3-0 and reaching 10-2.

SB Nation - Boise State was described as leading the non-power playoff-spot race; New Mexico was identified as the best-positioned team to catch Boise if it stumbled against Oregon State.

WHERE:

SB Nation - Listed matchups and locations included Utah at Arizona; Indiana against USC; Tennessee at Texas A&M and Vanderbilt; Texas Tech at Oklahoma State and Baylor; and UCLA against Illinois, at Michigan, and against USC.

WHEN:

Newsweek - The SEC will stage its final football championship game in December before the College Football Playoff expands to 24 teams.

SB Nation - The article said Selection Sunday was scheduled for Dec. 6. It also referred to rankings due Tuesday night and games on Nov. 21 and “this weekend”; these dates are omitted because they are not future dates under the supplied date rules.

WHY:

SB Nation - The article said teams’ playoff prospects depended on remaining results, quality wins, losses, conference-title races, and committee rankings. It said BYU’s lack of further opportunities for differentiating wins and its non-Big Ten/non-SEC status could count against it in a crowded field of two-loss teams.

HOW:

SB Nation - The playoff-contender assessment used current AP Poll rankings to indicate teams’ standing while cautioning that committee rankings could differ.

SB Nation - The article said New Mexico or Liberty being ranked by the committee would clarify the non-power-team race, with New Mexico preferred for that purpose.

ESPN’s reported playoff expansion drew backlash from many college football voices. Twelve spots remain contested, with contenders’ chances hinging on schedules, quality wins, and losses. UCLA could strengthen its position with two wins in its final three games.