Before we can get around to fixing the college football playoff structure, let’s start at the bottom and work our way up.
The very bottom.
We all know how inane the questions are that get asked by sideline reporters before games, during games and after games. The next time something of significance comes out of these probing interviews will be the first time.
So it should come as no surprise that these frivolous questions bring about a never-ending series of mesmerizing answers.
Moments before Miami was to take on Texas A&M Saturday in a CFP quarterfinal game, we got a chance to hear from Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal, who was asked what the key to the game was going to be.
“We just have to play Miami football,” Cristobal said before immediately departing.
Of course! Miami football!
In case anybody thought that they might play Ohio State football or USC football, those fears were alleviated.
By the way, what happens if North Texas decides to play Miami football in the New Mexico Bowl? Do people get their money back?
And what if Miami plays Miami of Ohio football? Does that suffice?
It’s always been obvious that these on-the-fly interviews have zero redeeming value and there’s an easy way to solve the problem.
Eliminate them.
There … that was easy. Now let’s move to the top of the CFP food chain where there also seems to be an easier solution that more people agree on than simply wanting Miami to play Miami football.
Last year, the uproar was over the seeding process, which landed first-round byes for Boise State and Arizona State. The ridiculousness of that quickly became evident, so the CFP powers that be did a quick end-around faster than you can say “Miami football” and changed it up for this season.
But all that did was trade one problem for another.
There’s no need to go over the convoluted reasons why Tulane and James Madison got into the playoff and Notre Dame, Texas et al. didn’t, but it quickly became evident that both were non-competitive in their first-round games. (And keep this in mind – had they not changed the process from last year, Tulane would have been the No. 4 seed. Yuk.)
Here’s a concept even more novel than Miami playing Miami football – and one that has the overwhelming support of the college football public. How about putting the best teams in the playoffs?
Doesn’t matter how many there are. If it’s 12 teams, then the best 12. You want to go to 16 teams? Go right ahead and fill those spots with the best 16.
It’s as simple as Miami playing Miami football.
No automatic bids (have a seat SEC and Big 10).
No memorandums of understanding (sorry Notre Dame).
No “play-in” games, as the Big 10 commissioner has suggested in an obvious muscle-flexing move.
Choose it however you’d like – computers, humans or some combination thereof – and let the chips fall. If a Group of 5 school makes it on their own ball, then welcome to the party. If three of them qualify, y’all come on and gitcha sum.
As somebody has said, college football is great, no matter how much they try to screw it up. That’s what’s happening here; the power brokers are so determined to wallow in their own self-importance that they fail to see the obvious.
By the way, everyone also seems to love playing at campus sites in the opening round. How about a little more of that?
See how easy this is!
How about somebody/entity just step up and doing what’s easiest – and best – for college football? Then we can get back to seeing if Miami can play Miami football.
Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com