Storyline: Why not take the subjectivity out of selection process? You can’t get into the CFP unless you win your conference. To do otherwise inserts plenty of politics in a selection process that’s too political as it is. Written by Clay Himmelberger, Endicott, NY
Who’s In? OSU (photo, The Spun)
The final College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings are out and Ohio State is part of the national playoff. Penn State and Wisconsin are not. Because that’s the selection system we have there won’t be a recount. But bellyaching? Sure! The outcome begs the question: “Why Even Play the Games?”
Championships were played last weekend in the Power 5 conferences. Washington (PAC-12), Clemson (ACC) and Alabama (SEC) prevailed and will move on to the national playoff. Oklahoma won the Big 12 title, but (with two losses) the Sooners were already out of consideration.
That leaves the Big Ten. Four teams–Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Penn State–were in the mix going into championship week. But only two of those teams–Wisconsin and PSU–would square off in the conference championship game.
PSU is in … no, out. The Rose Bowl instead(photo, 6ABC.com)
The reality, though? Winning the league championship didn’t matter. It wouldn’t matter who won the conference title, either #6 Wisconsin or #7 Penn State. The Committee already had chosen the Big Ten representative: Ohio State was to the playoff.
That’s a great outcome for a team that didn’t win the conference. And it meant that the only way another Big Ten team was going to get into the CFP was via a loss by Washington or Clemson (or both) in their respective conference championship games. (Alabama would have probably gotten in even if it had lost its championship game to Florida).
While subjectivity is needed in the selection process–especially if an independent or non-power conference team becomes a contender–nothing is served by having a team “in” before conference championship games are played. The CFP Committee would say that OSU wasn’t in until they were named, but (really) they were in.
Changes are needed in the selection process (photo, tampabay2017.com)
So this year’s Big Ten champ, Penn State, is on the outside looking in. Wisconsin would have been in the same position had the Badgers won. The Nittany Lions have won nine consecutive games, a streak that includes beating OSU. And PSU won the rugged Big Ten East, the same division that includes OSU and the other contender, Michigan.
Good luck in your bowl, PSU. OSU got in by watching you play from their couches. The Buckeyes, not you, will carry the league’s banner into the playoffs.
Why not take the subjectivity out of selection process? You can’t get into the CFP unless you win your conference. To do otherwise inserts plenty of politics in a selection process that’s too political as it is.
Let’s settle things on the gridiron. not at the committee table…for the good of the game. Otherwise, why even play the games?
