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You can love it, you can hate it, but the 24-team playoff in college football is going to arrive all the same.
Yes, the announcement was finally made last week that after just three seasons of the already expanded 12-team playoff, we are likely going to expand again, doubling that total to 24 teams beginning with the 2027. After not changing basically anything for 100 years, college football continues to try to fit 100 years of progress into as short a window as possible, all in an effort to make the people at the top of the sport filthy stinkin’ rich.
Now, do any of the fans want this?
None that I’ve talked to.
Are there 24 teams actually good enough to win a national title during any given year?
Maybe once a decade if that.
Will more Group of Six schools get a chance to compete with the big boys for a seat at the table?
Probably not. There’s certainly a lot to be unhappy about with this change. I mean, we just got to 12 teams a couple of years ago, it seems to be working well so far. We’re really going to go as extreme as doubling that total before we spend enough time to take a breath and see if 12 teams is already enough? Just last year two G6 teams made it because there weren’t enough Power 5 teams good enough to qualify. Now we need to make sure even worse teams are going to have a chance?
When I look at what happened in college football last weekend, with three top five teams falling and five of the top 10 going down. Twenty years ago, when we were still in the BCS era, that would have been the end of the line for all of those schools as national title contenders. In the four team playoff era, they would be in some serious trouble with little room for era the rest of the way. Now, they still have a shot as long as they finish with what appears to be the magic number of two losses. But in an era with 24 teams making the playoffs? Who cares? All of those teams, even the lifeless Texas Longhorns, will be playing in the postseason.
The more room for error that is allowed in a sport that used to penalize it more than any other, the less the marquee games that the brand has been built on matter. Who cares about when Ohio State and Michigan clash in the final game of the season? There’s a 50% chance they meet up in two weeks anyway. Georgia is facing off against Alabama in early October. Why watch that game when it’s going to be a quarterfinal contest down the road?
Sure, for a school like Missouri who is not a perennial playoff team by any means, this gives the Tigers a chance to play for the biggest prize in the sport, something that has not happened in a very long time. But part of the reason that the national championship holds so much weight is the exclusivity behind it. You want a seat at the table? Earn it. There’s no chance that there are going to be 24 playoff worthy teams every year. Two thirds of that would be the best case scenario if you ask me. Say Mizzou finishes 8-4, gets a 20 seed and loses in the first round. I’m supposed to be pumped up?
Long gone are the days of conference championship games, rivalry contests and bowl games with wacky gimmicks that for some team, was the highlight of their year. No, college football has to become NFL lite, where everybody makes the playoffs, nobody is developing because they transfer at the first sign of adversity and the almighty dollar reigns supreme. Will I still watch? Undoubtedly. But that’s because I’m a freak who tries to name the old Pac 12 teams before bed instead of counting sheep. How much longer will the average Joe want to try to keep up with all of these changes? I’m not sure.
What I do know is that these changes are only beginning. Like I said earlier, college football is still trying to make up for not changing at all for a century by changing as much as possible as fast as possible. Not only that, but they are doing it with no leadership at the top. No commissioner, nobody to keep these mega conferences in line, nobody to be the final say when one of these ridiculous proposals come out. We’re just drifting on a raft at sea. The Big 10 and the SEC have cornered all of the food and water and what they say goes. Will the rest of us survive? Only time will tell.
Let’s move on to this week’s picks. I went 2-3 last week, as a late touchdown by the Raiders doomed me in the afternoon slate. Not what we’re looking for, but also not the worst thing in the world either. Let’s get back over .500.
FAVORITE FAVORITE
Denver Broncos (-4.5) at Arizona Cardinals
A lot has been made about Bo Nix’s play so far this season, but the Broncos are still playing winning football. The Cardinals are coming off of a big win themselves after downing the Rams in LA as double digit underdogs last week. I like what Arizona is building, but I could see this being a game where they really struggle. The Broncos defense is still among the best in the league and I bet Nix is fired up to prove some people wrong. Denver takes this one by at least a touchdown.
The Pick: Broncos -4.5
BIG DAWG GOTTA EAT
New York Giants at Houston Texans (-10.5)
The Texans are definitely playing better football as of late, but they still don’t have the defense that took them to the playoffs last year. The Giants and JJ McCarthy should be able to move the ball pretty well. Unfortunately for them, Houston will be able to as well. I think the Texans take the game but it’s a closer game than eleven points.
The Pick: Giants +10.5
BEAR DOWN
New England Patriots at Chicago Bears (-3)
The Bears welcomed Caleb Williams back with open arms last week, as Chicago got back into the win column with a victory in Atlanta. After some early season struggles, Drake Maye and the Patriots appear to be getting back on track, especially on the offensive side of the ball. This is a tough one for me to pick, because these are two very good football teams. The Bears just seem to get it done at home during this Ben Johnson era, so I will go out on a limb and say the get the victory at Soldier Field on Thursday night.
The Pick: Bears -3
THIS IS OUR COLTS
Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings (-6.5)
The Colts are approaching disaster status awfully quickly, having fired GM Chris Ballard earlier this week after Indy fell to the previously winless Titans. It’s getting late early for the Colts, and going up against an undefeated Minnesota team and their top defense is not going to be an easy task. However, the Vikings have struggled mightily on offense themselves. I’m not saying Indy is going to win, but I could see this being a close one. Everybody and their mother is zigging on the Colts. I gotta zag.
The Pick: Colts +6.5
GAME OF THE WEEK
Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks (-2.5)
The Seahawks are not playing the football they would like coming into this game, having dropped a couple in a row with Sam Darnold just not playing that well. The Chiefs are still undefeated after handling the helpless Chargers at home last Sunday. I know Seattle is at home in this one, but I am still somewhat surprised to see this line based on how the past couple of weeks have gone for these teams. Kenneth Walker has looked like one of the best running backs in the league thus far and he’s coming back to Seattle for some revenge. Give me the Chiefs to keep the Seahawks sliding.
The Pick: Chiefs +2.5
Thanks as always for reading. Go and have yourself a great day.
Last Week’s Record: 2-3
Season Record: 14-16
