The College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee was able to avoid controversy this year, thanks to a game-winning 56-yard field goal as time expired in the ACC Championship game. The committee’s bracket, as a result, was as fair as could be hoped for. While there are still small issues to address, the committee made the right call by rewarding SMU for making it to the conference championship game, even though they lost. Last week, I noted that rewarding a team with three losses, but no championship appearance, over a 10-win team would set a bad precedent. Fortunately, the debate was rendered moot by the dramatic finish.
That said, one can’t help but wonder if the committee would have been as lenient toward SMU had they not staged a dramatic comeback from a 17-point deficit to tie the game. The committee chair even mentioned that SMU’s losses to ranked teams were weighed against Alabama’s losses to unranked teams, which raises some questions. Likewise, the possibility of selecting a nine-win SEC team over an 11-win ACC team is troubling for programs outside the two dominant conferences.
Had the committee picked Alabama over SMU, it would have sent a discouraging message about the value of conference championships, undermining their importance altogether. Thankfully, that scenario was avoided.
The broader question remains: Is the CFP designed to further entrench the dominance of the rich, powerful programs? I don’t ask this to provoke but rather to understand the motivations behind the CFP’s structure. Other leagues that have expanded their playoffs, such as Major League Baseball with its wild card spots, have done so to enhance engagement in cities and regions that may not have traditionally been in playoff contention.
But so far, the CFP committee’s decisions seem to favor the SEC and Big Ten. The argument is often made that the SEC schedule is extremely tough, but it’s worth considering that other conferences also feature difficult road games. The home-field advantage in places like Louisville, Morgantown, and Blacksburg is formidable. The SEC isn’t the only conference where a perfect record is hard to achieve.
The SEC’s programs invest the most money and produce the highest number of NFL first-round draft picks, which is impressive. However, as football fans know, having the best players doesn’t always translate to having the best team. Football is a game of strategy, where smart coaching and scheming can overcome sheer physical dominance.
For now, the current CFP format will hold for one more season in 2025, and after that, the committee will decide whether to maintain it, shrink it (unlikely), or expand it (more likely) for the 2026 season. More playoff games generally mean more money for everyone involved, and there’s a clear incentive for this.
If the playoff expands to 16 teams, one major issue will be the conference guarantees. The SEC and Big Ten will demand at least four slots each, which may not seem fair, but given their power, they have the leverage. Ideally, a system based on merit would be used, where the conference strength is ranked at the end of the season and 12 out of 16 slots are awarded based on those rankings.
For example, a 16-team playoff under this system might look like this: the SEC would have four teams (Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama), the Big Ten would have three (Oregon, Penn State, Ohio State), the ACC would have two (Clemson, SMU), the Big 12 one (Arizona State), the Mountain West one (Boise State), and the AAC one (Army). There would also be four at-large bids, which could include Notre Dame, Indiana, Miami, and Ole Miss. It’s likely that debates would arise over teams like South Carolina versus Ole Miss, but with more focus, the committee could make a fair decision.
If this 16-team format were implemented, the first-round matchups could be as follows:
- Oregon vs. 16. Army
- Georgia vs. 15. Clemson
- Texas vs. 14. Ole Miss
- Penn State vs. 13. Miami
- Notre Dame vs. 12. Arizona State
- Ohio State vs. 11. Alabama
- Tennessee vs. 10. SMU
- Indiana vs. 9. Boise State
Looking at these matchups, it’s easy to see how a 16-team playoff could help address much of the controversy that has plagued college football for years, as long as the spots are awarded fairly, based on merit.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Blacksburg was in West Virginia. It is, in fact, located in Virginia.
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In another political update, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s latest attempt to bring down the minority Liberal government via a non-confidence vote was defeated Monday, with help from the New Democrats (NDP).
The Conservatives’ motion cited NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s criticisms of the Liberals over labor issues and called for a non-confidence vote. However, Singh and the NDP voted against the motion, despite earlier remarks that the Liberals’ handling of labor matters was inadequate.
Singh, absent during the vote, cast his vote remotely and explained that he wasn’t supporting the Conservative motion because it was “playing games.”
On the same day, MPs voted on an NDP opposition motion to permanently remove the GST from essential goods, which also called for the expansion of a proposed $250 “working Canadians rebate” to include retired seniors and people relying on disability benefits. The motion was defeated, with the NDP and Greens as the only parties in support.
The Liberals had initially linked the rebate and GST measure together, but after the NDP demanded changes, they separated the two into different bills. The proposed GST cuts and rebates are expected to be implemented next spring, assuming the required legislation passes. The NDP is open to negotiations on how the legislation can be improved, including expanding its scope to help seniors and people living with disabilities.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives have another motion scheduled for Tuesday, which would call for the removal of the GST on homes priced under $1 million. This motion is expected to be debated after question period.
In addition to the political activity, the ongoing Canada Post strike, which has now lasted over a month, continues to frustrate Canadians. Many are turning to private couriers like UPS, FedEx, and Purolator as alternatives, but with mixed results. Prices for shipping with these services can be exorbitant, with some businesses feeling the pinch.
Canada Post, a Crown corporation, is currently at odds with its union, which is seeking better wages and benefits, among other improvements. Despite being a for-profit entity, Canada Post’s losses over the past six years suggest it may need government support in the near future to stay afloat. Meanwhile, private courier services have been adjusting prices based on demand, especially during the holiday season, which has added to the frustration of Canadians relying on their services.
Overall, the strike and the rising costs of shipping continue to cause significant challenges for consumers and businesses alike.