The College Football Playoff (CFP) format’s been catching some heat lately, especially when it comes to first-round byes for higher-seeded teams. In the first two years of the 12-team CFP, those top seeds with byes have posted a pretty ugly 1-7 record.
It almost feels like the system’s punishing the very teams it’s supposed to reward. Why is this happening, and what could actually fix it?
The Struggles of Higher-Seeds with First-Round Byes
When the 12-team CFP started, the top four conference champs got first-round byes. Seemed fair on paper, but reality hit fast.
Those higher seeds went 0-4 in the quarterfinals the first year—ouch. Even after switching to seeding by final rankings, the problem didn’t just go away.
2025 Quarterfinal Performance
In 2025, only No. 1 seed Indiana looked the part, crushing No. 9 seed Alabama 38-3. The rest? Not so lucky:
- No. 2 seed Ohio State lost 24-14 to No. 10 seed Miami
- No. 4 seed Texas Tech got blanked 23-0 by No. 5 seed Oregon
- No. 3 seed Georgia dropped a 39-34 game to No. 6 seed Ole Miss
It’s tough to ignore how much these teams seem to struggle after sitting out that first round.
The Impact of Extended Breaks
That long break between conference championships and quarterfinals? It’s a killer. The NFL only gives top seeds a week off, but the CFP’s break drags on for over three weeks.
For teams used to the rhythm of weekly games, it’s a big ask to stay sharp.
Coaching Insights
Matt Patricia, Ohio State’s defensive coordinator, has seen his share of playoff runs with the Patriots. He says it’s just not the same as an NFL bye week.
The layoff in college football throws off preparation in ways you can’t really simulate.
Practice vs. Game Intensity
Teams try to ramp things up in practice with “good on good” drills, but let’s be honest—it’s never quite like the real thing. Actual games bring a different energy, and teams playing in the first round seem to carry that into the next week.
Case Studies: Ohio State and Miami
Look at Ohio State in the 2025 quarterfinals. They started slow against Miami and were down 14-0 at halftime.
Even though coach Ryan Day said they prepped as hard as possible, they just couldn’t match the intensity of Miami, who’d already played a postseason game.
Momentum from First-Round Games
Miami came in hot, riding the momentum from their first-round win. That edge was obvious—they took advantage early and never really let Ohio State get back in it.
Potential Solutions for a Fairer Playoff
So what now? The CFP’s got a few options if it wants to even the playing field.
Reduce the Layoff Period
Shortening the gap between conference championships and quarterfinals could help. Teams would stay in rhythm, and maybe we wouldn’t see so much rust.
Restructure the Playoff Schedule
Or, why not just line up the playoff schedule more like the NFL? Play every week after the conference titles and keep everyone in game shape.
Home Games for Higher Seeds
Another idea: give the higher seeds home-field advantage in the quarterfinals. If you’re going to reward regular-season success, make it count where it matters most.
Conclusion
The current CFP format gives higher-seeded teams a longer layoff, which was supposed to be a reward. Instead, it sometimes ends up hurting them. You really see these struggles pop up in the quarterfinals.
Maybe it’s time to rethink how the postseason works. Shortening the break, changing the playoff schedule, or even letting higher seeds play at home could make things a lot more balanced.
If you want to dig deeper, you can check out the full article on 247Sports.
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