College football kicked off back in 1889, and it’s changed a ton since then. Still, one thing keeps tripping everyone up: how do you crown a national champion in a way that feels fair?
People keep trying new systems, but the playoff setup is always a lightning rod. Expanding to a 12-team playoff was supposed to fix things, but honestly, it’s just made people even more riled up. Let’s wade into the mess that is the current playoff system and poke at some of the choices that have folks grumbling—especially if you’re a Notre Dame or BYU fan.
The Evolution of College Football Playoffs
It’s wild to look back at how things started. Back then, they picked champions by voting, almost like electing a class president.
That was messy—so subjective, and it sparked plenty of arguments. Eventually, they tried a two-team championship game, but even that was based on votes.
It didn’t really solve much, and plenty of worthy teams still got snubbed. So, the four-team playoff came along, promising a fairer shot.
The Introduction of the Four-Team Playoff
Adding a four-team playoff felt like progress, but it wasn’t a cure-all. With more than 130 teams in the NCAA, narrowing things down to just four seemed pretty harsh.
People kept complaining, so in 2024, they bumped it up to 12 teams. That was supposed to be the big fix, but—surprise, surprise—it’s not quite working out as planned.
The Controversial 12-Team Playoff Selection
When they rolled out the 12-team playoff, it was billed as the answer to all the fairness gripes. But picking the teams this year has stirred up even more drama.
The system gives automatic spots to the five highest-ranked conference champs, plus the next seven top-ranked teams. Sounds clean, but the actual selections have left people scratching their heads.
Automatic Bids and Their Consequences
The automatic bids for conference champs are maybe the most hotly debated part of the whole thing. Take this year: Tulane (American Conference champ) and James Madison (Sun Belt champ) both got playoff invites, even though they were ranked 20th and 24th.
Meanwhile, teams like Notre Dame (ranked 11th) and BYU (12th) were left out in the cold. That doesn’t sit right with a lot of folks.
- Tulane: Champion of the American Conference, ranked no better than 20th.
- James Madison: Champion of the Sun Belt Conference, ranked 24th.
- Notre Dame: Ranked 11th, excluded from playoff.
- BYU: Ranked 12th, excluded from playoff.
The Role of Reputation and Name Brand
Here’s another sore spot: big-name programs seem to get the benefit of the doubt. Alabama, for example, had three losses and was ranked ninth, but they still made the playoff.
BYU, with a better 11-2 record, got sent to the Pop-Tarts Bowl instead. Makes you wonder what the real criteria are—because it sure doesn’t feel totally objective.
Case Study: Alabama vs. BYU
The Alabama vs. BYU situation is a head-scratcher. Both lost their conference championship games, but Alabama’s defeat to Georgia (28-7) was pretty rough compared to BYU’s 34-7 loss to Texas Tech.
Yet, Alabama’s storied tradition and huge following probably tipped the scales for them. It’s hard not to feel that name recognition counts for more than it should.
- Alabama: Ranked 9th, three losses, included in playoff.
- BYU: Ranked 12th, two losses, excluded from playoff.
The Impact on Bowl Games
The ripple effects don’t stop at the playoff bracket. Notre Dame, frustrated with being left out, decided to skip bowl season altogether.
That move not only robbed fans of a possible Notre Dame vs. BYU matchup, but it also put a spotlight on just how fed up some teams are with the process.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl
BYU, even after an 11-2 season, got slotted into the Pop-Tarts Bowl. That feels like a pretty underwhelming reward for all their work.
It’s just another example of how the playoff and bowl selections are leaving a lot of people—players, coaches, and fans—wanting something better.
- Notre Dame: Opted out of bowl games in protest.
- BYU: Relegated to Pop-Tarts Bowl despite strong season.
Conclusion: The Need for a Better System
The college football playoff and bowl system just isn’t cutting it. Expanding to a 12-team playoff was supposed to fix things, but honestly, it feels like it’s just stirred up more drama.
Biases are still baked in. There are higher-ranked teams getting snubbed while lower-ranked conference champs slide in, and, let’s be real, some of these big-name programs—Alabama, for example—always seem to get a leg up.
People are still arguing about it, probably louder than ever. Maybe it’s time for college football officials to admit the system needs a real overhaul, not just tweaks around the edges.
It’s hard to imagine a perfect solution, but a fairer, more open selection process would at least be a start. If you’re curious for more details or just want to see the numbers, check out the original article on Deseret Sports.
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