James McIngvale, better known as “Mattress Mack,” is back in the spotlight. This time, he’s taking aim at the College Football Playoff (CFP) Committee’s choices.
Mack’s loyalty to Texas sports is legendary, and his latest comments have stirred up quite a storm among college football fans and pundits. His main gripe? Powerhouse teams like Texas and Notre Dame got snubbed, while Tulane and James Madison are in. That just doesn’t sit right with him—or, honestly, with a lot of people.
This blog takes a closer look at the CFP selection process, Mack’s outspoken critique, and what it all might mean for the sport.
The Controversial CFP Selections
The CFP Committee’s announcement of this year’s 12-team lineup has left a lot of folks confused. Tulane and James Madison, champions of The American and Sun Belt Conferences, made the cut.
This happened because of a new rule: the five highest-ranked conference champs are guaranteed a spot. The idea is to give smaller conferences a shot, but, unsurprisingly, it’s sparked plenty of debate.
Mack’s Critique
Mattress Mack didn’t mince words—he says the CFP Committee has *officially lost its mind*. According to him, Texas and Notre Dame would be heavy favorites over Tulane and James Madison.
He thinks leaving out those big-name programs will tank TV ratings. Who really wants to watch what he calls *blowouts disguised as ‘Cinderella stories’*?
The Selection Process
The CFP Committee tries to balance merit and opportunity. The top four seeds are the highest-ranked teams, regardless of whether they won their conference.
This year, three of the top four seeds—Indiana (Big Ten), Georgia (SEC), and Texas Tech (Big 12)—were conference champs. Seeds 5 through 12 went to teams like Oregon, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Miami.
Notable Exclusions
Notre Dame and Texas missing out has caused a lot of noise. Notre Dame finished 10-2 and was ranked above Miami for a while, mostly thanks to its tough schedule.
But the committee picked Miami, pointing to their head-to-head result. Texas, with three losses but several wins over ranked teams, also got left out. Fans and analysts aren’t exactly happy about it.
The Impact on TV Ratings and Fan Engagement
Mack’s main worry is that leaving out marquee teams will hurt TV ratings. The Texas-Texas A&M game pulled in a record 13 million viewers—the biggest weekday college game ever.
Tulane and James Madison just don’t have that kind of pull. That gap could really affect the playoff’s popularity and, let’s be honest, its bottom line.
The Case for Change
Mack’s comments have fired up the debate over how teams are picked for the playoff. Some say the system, even if it means well, doesn’t always bring in the best teams.
ESPN’s Holly Rowe even said teams like BYU, Notre Dame, and Texas should’ve gotten more love. There are louder and louder calls to rethink the whole format.
The Path Forward
The committee’s decisions are locked in for this season. Still, all this drama shows something probably needs to change.
Some people are pushing to expand the playoff, hoping to avoid more big snubs. Others want the selection process to be more transparent and straightforward. Either way, it’s starting to feel like the system needs a shake-up if we want the best teams to get a real shot at the title.
Conclusion
Mattress Mack’s outspoken critique of the College Football Playoff Committee has drawn a lot of eyes to the flaws in the current selection process.
The exclusion of high-profile teams like Texas and Notre Dame has kicked off a bigger debate about fairness, merit, and the future of college football.
Fans, analysts, and pretty much everyone involved are still weighing in.
It feels like the CFP Committee has some work to do if they want people to keep trusting—and caring about—the playoff system.
Want to get into the details? You can check out the full article on the Chron.
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