College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 5 As it Should Be

The Rules: No Bias, No Bull College Football Rankings

What a great weekend of college football. It started with Utah losing to USC and continued on through the dog fight between Georgia and Notre Dame. Michigan was exposed as fools gold and UCF saw their playoff hopes fly out the window. Saturday could have been a perfect slate of games had Clemson and Alabama played competitive teams. Week 4 in college football provided a lot more information about teams in the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 5 As it Should Be.

There is no more unbiased ranking out there than Unafraid Show’s College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 5. I get criticized from time to time by people who only want to see the college football world through the lens of the AP Poll. These rankings are not going to look like the AP Poll. Open your eyes to see a different view of evaluating the top 10. Most polls including the College Football Playoff Committee give college blueblood teams a massive “benefit of the doubt.” I don’t believe in that. Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. After the preseason rankings, only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games.

I re-rank the top 10 every Sunday from scratch. The previous week’s rankings do not factor into the next week. So, the rankings will change, sometimes drastically every week because we will have new information. So make sure to come back every Sunday. For reference, you can check College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 4.

College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 5:

Next Up: Florida, Notre Dame, Cal, Penn State

10. Oregon Ducks (3-1)

Last Week: 21-6 at Stanford (W)

After their week one loss to Auburn, the Ducks have bounced back in a major way. Their defense has not allowed a touchdown in three straight games. Justin Herbert also NCAA leading extended his touchdown streak. If you are looking for a team that may crash the College Football Playoff, its the Ducks.

9. Texas Longhorns (3-1)

Last Week: 36-30 (W) vs Oklahoma State

Another complete performance by Texas. They took OSUs best shot and responded came out with a solid conference victory. The concern with Texas is that they have given up 45 and 30 points in their two Power 5 games. Sam Ehlinger is poised and is in full command of his team. He will need to be in top form all season because Big-12 play will not be a cakewalk like the ACC for Clemson.

Check out our Pac-12 Football Podcast, Pac-12 Apostles:

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8. Wisconsin Badgers (4-0)

Last Week: 35-14 (W) vs Michigan

The Badgers dominated Michigan in every way possible and UCF lost, so it’s only natural that Wisconsin jumps into the top 10. Jonathan Taylor only played half the game and still rushed for 203 yards and two touchdowns. This is clearly not the same Wisconsin team that started the season ranked #4 last year but finished unranked. Their ability to pass the ball efficiently to complement their rushing attack makes them dangerous.

7. Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0)

Last Week: 76-5 (W) vs Miami (OH)

Ohio State got a glorified week off before Miami (OH) this week. The Buckeyes are in the same position as Alabama. They haven’t played any real competition, but they have obliterated every team in their way. Justin Fields and JK Dobbins look unstoppable. We will see if they can dominate next week against Nebraska.

Sidenote: We can just make OSU 5-0 now because it’s clear they won’t be losing to Michigan.

6. Auburn (4-0)

Last Week: 28-20 (W) vs Texas A&M

Auburn got a quality win against a Texas A&M, but it was not pretty. Bo Nix still has not has a good passing day, and their offense finished with less than 300 total yards. I’m not sure how much longer they can win games without putting together good offensive performances. Their defense appears as good as advertised. I had to move Auburn ahead of Ohio State because they have two quality wins.

5. Oklahoma Sooners (3-0)

Last Week: IDLE

Oklahoma finished non-conference play with maximum level dominance. The only question about this team is their defense. How much have they improved since last season?

4. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0)

Last Week: 49-7 (W) at Southern Miss

Nick Saban cried about the heat and the 11 am start time for their game against Southern Miss. There was also a big deal made about Alabama starting 5 freshman due to injuries. In the end, it didn’t matter. The Crimson Tide are too powerful to be even slowed down by their competition. If there is any concern for this team it is their ability to run the football. Bama has been able to run the ball at will for the better part of a decade, but this year has not been quite as dominant.

I am still extremely frustrated that Bama is so good and so talented but we have to watch them play four non-conference

3. Georgia Bulldogs (3-0)

Last Week: 23-17 (W) vs Notre Dame

Georgia makes a huge leap in the top 10. They have been dominant all season, and now they have a quality win. Their key to beating Notre Dame was their ability to stop the run. The Bulldogs controlled the second half and were able to hold on for a win against a good football team. They say if you want to beat UGA, make Fromm throw the ball more than 30 times. Teams will be keying on the run game so he will have to win one or two games with more than 30 pass attempts to win the SEC.

2. LSU (4-0)

Last Week: 66-38 (W) vs Vanderbilt

My mind is completely blown watching LSU’s passing offense. If Les Miles had an offense this competent we would be talking about him instead of Nick Saban as king of the SEC. The Tigers scored 66 points with Joe Burrow throwing for 398 yards and 6 touchdowns. Ed Orgeron is proving that he deserved this job and can compete with Alabama this season.

1. Clemson Tigers (4-0)

Last Week: 41-6 (W) at Charlotte

Clemson already has wins over two Power 5 teams and has displayed dominance only paralleled by Alabama. They got a gimmie against Charlotte and showed out offensively and defensively. Their schedule has no teams left that are currently ranked or have a chance to be ranked. Unlike other teams who have bad schedules because their non-conference games are bad, it’s Clemson’s conference schedule that is poor. If they lose any games, you will see them miss the playoff.

With all that said, It is clear why the Tigers are #1.

Check back next Sunday morning for the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 5.

College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 4 As it Should Be

in the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 4

The Rules: No Bias, No Bull College Football Rankings

Week 3 in college football provided a lot more information about teams in the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 4 As it Should Be. However, without any top 25 games, the top teams naturally cruised to easy victories. It was chalk, chalk, and more chalk. I do not project forward with the rankings of a team’s schedule, but as a fan, I can be damn excited.

There is no more unbiased ranking out there than Unafraid Show’s College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 4. I get criticized from time to time by people who only want to see the college football world through the lens of the AP Poll. These rankings are not going to look like the AP Poll. Open your eyes to see a different view of evaluating the top 10. Most polls including the College Football Playoff Committee give college blueblood teams a massive “benefit of the doubt.” I don’t believe in that. Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. After the preseason rankings, only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games.

I re-rank the top 10 every Sunday from scratch. The previous week’s rankings do not factor into the next week. So, the rankings will change, sometimes drastically every week because we will have new information. So make sure to come back every Sunday.

For reference, you can check College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 3.

College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 4:

Next Up: Oregon, Utah, UCF, Florida

10. Michigan Wolverines (2-0)

Last Week: IDLE

There are few times that coaches catch more heat after a win than Jim Harbaugh did after beating ARMY. Michigan needed to have an open week more than any other team in the country. The Wolverines need all the time they can to practice and clean up all the unforced errors. This week they travel to Wisconsin. A win would hold the critics at bay for a while, but a loss would bring “overrated” chants.

9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-0)

Last Week: 66-14 (W) vs New Mexico

Just like every other team who plays non-competitive games, there is not a lot to be learned. Ian Books’ numbers were spectacular though. He had over 400 yards of total offense and 6 total touchdowns. Surprisingly, the Fighting Irish did not run the ball well against New Mexico. Maybe they were just working on things in the passing game for Georgia?

Check out our Pac-12 Football Podcast, Pac-12 Apostles:

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8. Texas Longhorns (2-1)

Last Week: 48-13 (W) vs Rice

Texas put the screws to Rice, as they were supposed to. A lot of times when college football teams lose heartbreaking games, they let that carry over to the next week. Tom Herman made sure his team put the LSU loss behind them and came out firing on all cylinders. Sam Ehlinger completed 23 of his 27 pass attempts. If he can keep that kind of efficiency, they will make a run at the top of the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 4.

7. Georgia Bulldogs (3-0)

Last Week: 55-0 (W) vs Arkansas State

I must applaud UGA and their fans for the “pink out” in honor of Arkansas State’s head coaches late wife. That was a great gesture and put life over football.

I cannot wait till next week against Notre Dame to see what this team is made out of. Their first three weeks have been a breeze, but they have been extremely dominant. The Bulldogs wide receiving core will need to step up in a major way. It is always good to see talented football teams play quality football games. Us fans deserve them. My mind says that Georgia is treating the regular season as a formality. They want Bama. Hopefully, they don’t overlook anyone in the process.

6. Auburn (3-0)

Last Week: 55-16 (W) vs Kent State

The Bo Nix hype has turned into 3-0 despite the play not being to the level Auburn will need to compete for the SEC crown. Next week they get a real test as they head to Texas A&M. Gus Malzahn has bet on himself calling plays this year and it has worked out so far. I am less confident about this team than I was after the Oregon win, but they still have the 2nd best win of any top 10 team. They did show a high level of dominance this week.

5. Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0)

Last Week: 51-10 (W) vs Indiana

They tried to hype up this matchup against Indiana, but it wasn’t even close. Ohio State had guys running wide open for Fields to throw to. And when they wanted to run it, JK Dobbins couldn’t be stopped. I’m not sure how we are supposed to find the four best teams when so many are elite. I’m interested to see how Justin Fields responds in a close game or when his team is down. We may not see that opportunity until the CFB Playoff.

4. Oklahoma Sooners (3-0)

Last Week: 48-14 (W) vs UCLA

Jalen Hurts and the Sooners cut through UCLA like a hot knife through butter. It was a light day of work for Hurts. He “only” accounted for 439 yards of total offense and 4 touchdowns. Lincoln Riley’s offense makes me want to ask for an internship at Oklahoma so I can learn it. Their defense does look better than last season. But it’s like an improvement from a 5-out-of-10 to a 6.5. There is still a lot of improvements that need to be made. But, their offense is so amazing that it may not matter.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide (3-0)

Last Week: 47-23 (W) at South Carolina

Finally a real opponent for Alabama. South Carolina put up a real fight for a half and was not scared of the Crimson Tide. Nick Saban is always pissed about something. So he can’t be happy about the times South Carolina just marched the ball down the field easily. Bama also is having difficulty running the football. I can’t remember the last time they were held to under 100 yards rushing in an SEC game. The passing game is working remarkably. Tua threw for 444 yards and 5 touchdowns. Dominance was there against a real opponent.

I am happy that we finally get so see Bama play a real opponent. I’m still afraid that their lack of consistent competition will cause them to get knocked off in the SEC championship.

2. LSU (3-0)

Last Week: 65-14 (W) vs Northwestern State

I am still in shock by what I am seeing by the LSU offense. In consecutive weeks Joe Burrow has thrown for 470 and 370 yards. They are a real live offense in 2019. For the first time in a long time, I believe LSU may be better than Alabama. Their November matchup will be an epic showdown. It should be a shootout because neither defense looks untouchable.

1. Clemson Tigers (3-0)

Last Week: 41-6 (W) at Syracuse

In three games against Georgia Tech, Texas A&M and Syracuse, Clemson has only given up a combined 30 points. I refuse to call teams unbeatable, but this team is on the verge of making me change my policy. They are destroying everybody and Trevor Lawrence is not even playing his best football. Syracuse picked him off twice and he was just not as sharp as last season. The Tigers wide receivers and running backs are capable of scoring every time they touch the football.

It is clear why the Tigers are #1.

Check back next Sunday morning for the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 4.

College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 3 As it Should Be

College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 3 As it Should Be

The Rules: No Bias, No Bull

There is no more unbiased ranking out there than Unafraid Show’s College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 3. I get criticized from time to time by people who only want to see the college football world through the lens of the AP Poll. These rankings are not going to look like the AP Poll. Open your eyes to see a different view of evaluating the top 10. Most polls including the College Football Playoff Committee give college blueblood teams a massive “benefit of the doubt.” I don’t believe in that. Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. After the preseason rankings, only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games.

I re-rank the top 10 every Sunday from scratch. The previous week’s rankings do not factor into the next week. So, the rankings will change, sometimes drastically every week because we will have new information. So make sure to come back every Sunday.

Week 2 provided a lot more information about teams in the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 3 As it Should Be. However, highly regarded teams like Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Georgia have yet to face any stiff competition.

For reference you can check College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 2

College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 2:

Next Up: Oregon, Michigan, Utah, Florida

10. Michigan Wolverines (2-0)

Last Week: 24-21 OT (W) vs ARMY

Michigan is the Florida of the Big Ten. They should be a top team but have looked sloppy, undisciplined. The only reason the Wolverines are 2-0 is that they played Middle Tennessee State and Army. If Michigan plays like that versus any Big Ten opponents they will get absolutely run out of the building. I’m not sure whether to blame Shea Patterson or Jim Harbaugh for the offensive struggles. Either way, they better get it fixed fast because a game at Wisconsin is next up.

Check out our Pac-12 Football Podcast, Pac-12 Apostles:

9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Last Week: OPEN

Those who watched Notre Dame and Louisville past the 1st quarter got a good feel for how much fun their matchup with Georgia will be. The Fighting Irish defense is talented and disciplined. Ian Book looked about the same as he did last year. His best asset is his running ability, but he can make most of the throws and correct reads to make ND a top tier team.

8. Texas Longhorns (1-1)

Last Week: 38-45 (L) vs LSU

Texas had a shootout against LSU. The Longhorns offense was fantastic. I would have thought 38 points and 500 yards of offense with no turnovers would be enough to beat LSU. It was very clear in the game that we were watching two of 2019’s college football heavyweights. I am left with questions about a defense that gave up 45 points. Big 12 defenses often get a wrap for being swiss cheese with great offenses. But, maybe LSU’s offense is Big 12 worthy.

7. Georgia Bulldogs (2-0)

Last Week: 63-17 (W) vs Murray State

Why is Georgia at #7 despite being one of the most talented teams in the country? They haven’t played anybody. Their dominance gets high points but their schedule and lack of quality wins get them very few points. Next week won’t help much either. However, it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. The Bulldogs will have plenty of opportunities to land in the coveted #1 spot of the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings.

6. Auburn (2-0)

Last Week: 24-6 (W) vs Tulane

Now that we have more information Auburn is ranked a lot closer to where they should be. Their schedule and quality win last week had them at #4. But, this was not the offensive performance the Tigers wanted to follow up their win against Oregon with. Bo Nix didn’t have a good day passing the ball, but they won. They have a glorified bye week against Kent State next week, but it should provide a confidence boost before they play Texas A&M the following week.

5. Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0)

Last Week: 42-0 (W) vs Cincinnatti

Cincinnati won 11 games last year so this was not a cupcake game for Ohio State. However, they steamrolled from the beginning to the end. The defense didn’t allow a single point. The Buckeyes are a scary team and look better than the team last year that finished the season one for the four best teams despite not making the playoffs. It is clear why they are rising in the College Football Top 10 Week 3 as it should be.

4. Oklahoma Sooners (1-0)

Last Week: 70-14 (W) vs South Dakota

Another week, another 700 yards of offense for Oklahoma. If the Sooners ever get a real defense, they will be unstoppable. Imagine how good life is for Lincon Riley that he gets Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and now Jalen Hurts at quarterback over the last three years. The team is fun to watch. They will probably continue to break scoreboards and offensive records all season.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0)

Last Week: 62-10 (W) vs New Mexico State

I am so frustrated by the Crimson Tide. They are so talented at every single position that I want to see them play quality competition. I feel like that as a college football fan I am being robbed of seeing greatness. I can’t imagine Alabama fans enjoyed watching their team play against one of the worst FBS teams in the country. Bama’s schedule is terrible and they have no quality wins, but damn are they dominant. I’m afraid that their lack of consistent competition will cause them to get knocked off in the SEC championship.

2. LSU (2-0)

Last Week: 45-38 (W) vs Texas

LSU went from unranked in week two to #2 of the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 3. I am completely shocked. The Tigers look completely different offensively than we have seen in the last 20 years. They iced the game against Texas through the air instead of on the ground. Joe Burrow threw for 471 yards and four touchdowns. My only concern is the 530 yards and 38 points they gave up, but Texas is one of the better offenses in the nation. The game against Alabama will be competitive this year.

1. Clemson Tigers (2-0)

Last Week: 24-10 (W) vs Texas A&M

Clemson checked all three boxes this week. They got a quality win, their schedule so far is good, and they were absolutely dominant. The defense was like a boa constrictor wrapped around Texas A&M. Their squeeze just kept getting tighter and tighter with every quarter. Trevor Lawrence aka “Touchdown Jesus” played under control and led his team to a dominant victory. Barring an injury to Lawrence it looks like the Tigers are a shoo-in for the College Football Playoff top 4.

College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 2 As it Should Be

College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 2 Ap Poll

Making the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 2 As it Should Be was a little more difficult than usual this week. It seemed the theme for Week 1 in college football was “eating cupcakes”. The majority of the teams from the preseason top 10 had non-competitive games. There were only a handful of good matchups. So, we weren’t able to gain a ton of information on the College Football Top 10. However, we did learn that the future is bright at Auburn with Bo Nix at quarterback. Oregon is a team that may be able to creep back into the conversation. Florida State has no chance of making the top 10 in 2019. The transfer portal has benefited college football. Jalen Hurts is must-see tv, and it would have been a crime for him to be stuck in Alabama behind Tua. Justin Fields and Jacob Eason would still be at UGA. Ohio State and Washington would not be nearly as good.

I could not be any more excited to see the matchups in week 2.

The Rules: No Bias, No Bull

There is no more unbiased ranking out there than Unafraid Show’s College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 2. I get criticized from time to time by people who only want to see the college football world through the lens of the AP Poll. These rankings are not going to look like the AP Poll. Open your eyes to see a different view of evaluating the top 10. Most polls including the College Football Playoff Committee give college blueblood teams a massive “benefit of the doubt.” I don’t believe in that. Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. After the preseason rankings, only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games.

I re-rank the top 10 every Sunday from scratch. The previous week’s rankings do not factor into the next week. So, the rankings will change, sometimes drastically every week because we will have new information. So make sure to come back.

There are two Power 5 games in the books, but neither one affected my college football preseason top 10.

College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 2:

10. Washington Huskies (1-0)

Last Week: 47-14 (W) vs Eastern Washington

After one game Huskies fans are excited about the possibilities with Jacob Eason at QB. Chris Pedersen’s defense looks good despite losing their top four players to the NFL draft. They have a cupcake “SEC- like” non-conference schedule. So moving up the College Football Top 10 won’t be easy until conference play unless they show extreme dominance. The Pac-12 north will be a dog fight for the Huskies.

9. Michigan Wolverines (1-0)

Last Week: 40-21 (W) vs Middle Tenn State

Michigan just trampled MTSU. If there is something to be learned from this game it is that Jim Harbaugh seems to willing to open up the offense more. I’m praying that predictable running plays on most first downs will be a thing of the past. If Shea Patterson is allowed to push the ball downfield more often Michigan will actually have a shot to beat Ohio State.

Check out our Pac-12 Football Podcast, Pac-12 Apostles:

8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Last Week: 35-17 (W) at Louisville

Those who watched Notre Dame and Louisville past the 1st quarter got a good feel for how much fun their matchup with Georgia will be. The Fighting Irish defense is talented and disciplined. Ian Book looked about the same as he did last year. His best asset is his running ability, but he can make most of the throws and correct reads to make ND a top tier team.

7. Texas Longhorns (1-0)

Last Week: 45-14 (W) vs LA Tech

Another game in the long list of tune-up games for the top teams. Sam Ehlinger was polished and poised. The Longhorns look like the team I picked to crash the College Football Playoff. Tom Herman has done a wonderful job. The only things that stand in the way of Texas and the top 4 is Oklahoma and LSU. And LSU is the easier of those opponents.

6. Georgia Bulldogs (1-0)

Last Week: 30-6 (W) vs Vanderbilt

If you read the top 10 last week, you know I had Texas ranked ahead of Georgia. I still believe they are better. However, Texas played LA Tech while Georgia played a conference game (even though Vandy is not a notable opponent). Schedules and wins will always trump cakewalks. Jake Fromm did look really good but we will get a real feel for this team against Notre Dame.

5. Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0)

Last Week: 45-21 (W) vs FAU

It was hard for me to gather an accurate assessment for the Buckeyes. Justin Fields had a field day in what looked like a glorified scrimmage. His receivers were often open by 10+ yards and he was never under duress or had to fit balls in small windows. However, they were extremely dominant and no one else played anybody either. So, they stay in the top 5 of the College Football Top 10 as it should be.

4. Auburn (1-0)

Last Week: 27-21 (W) vs Oregon

Competition and schedules matter. This ranking feels a little high. But at this point, Auburn has played the toughest schedule in the nation and they won. It wasn’t pretty at times but Oregon is a team I expect to finish highly ranked. The hype surrounding Auburn’s defensive line is warranted. Bo Nix is going to be a top tier quarterback. He’s a program changing player. Auburn will be a real threat for the SEC championship for the next three years.

3. Oklahoma Sooners (1-0)

Last Week: 49-31 (W) vs Houston

JALEN HURTS was phenomenal. He had great games at Alabama, but nothing like this. He threw for 3 TDs and rushed for another three in the same game. Lincoln Riley is an offensive juggernaut. It is scary what he can to with athletic big arm quarterbacks. The bad news is that Oklahoma’s defense doesn’t look any better than it did last season. It is still porous. The Sooners dominated the game but against a top tier offense, it will be a shootout.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (1-0)

Last Week: 42-3 (W) vs Duke

Alabama just leaned on Duke until the dam broke. Once it broke it seemed like the Tua led offense could have scored 70. Maybe Saban didn’t want the game to get too far out of hand so people don’t keep about their embarrassing non-conference schedule. Truthfully they don’t deserve to be in the top 5 until they win some SEC games. However, they are so freaking dominant that you can’t keep them out. I feel bad for their fans that for the last two seasons. After this season they will have had to watch 8 games out of 24 games be non-competitive. I believe that is why Bama got their doors blown off by Clemson last year in the national championship. They were not battle-tested. Same problem this season, but can Nick Saban overcome that?

1. Clemson Tigers (1-0)

Last Week: 52-14 (W) vs Georgia Tech

Clemson is so good at pretty much every position. Trevor Lawrence had a terrible game and they still won by 38. He finished with 168 yards, 1 touchdown and a pair of interceptions. Dabo Swinney needs to get in Lawrence’s ear because he was pressing way too much. He will need to be better next week because Texas A&M comes to town and 205 yards from Travis Etienne alone may not be enough. It will be hard to find a scenario where an undefeated or 1-loss Clemson doesn’t make the College Football Playoff or is not atop the College Football Power Rankings.

Colson Yankoff vs Washington, Pac-12 Stadiums Ranked, Recruits Leaving Pac-12 Country

Colson Yankoff vs Washington, best Pac-12 stadiums Ranked, Recruits Leaving Pac-12 Country, Pac-12 Podcast
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In Episode 3 of the Pac-12 Apostles Podcast, they deal with George Wrighster’s tweet about Colson Yankoff that sent Washington Huskies fans into a tailspin. They rank the best Pac-12 stadiums and tell everyone what is going on with recruits leaving Pac-12 states for other conferences.

Colson Yankoff is a former QB for Washington who transferred to UCLA.  Huskies coach Chris Petersen refused to grant a waiver allowing Yankoff to appeal to the NCAA for immediate eligibility at UCLA. Both Ralph and George hate the hypocrisy in the NCAA system. The NCAA claims the players are student-athletes who need to be protected but regularly treats them like employees. It is ridiculous that coaches can move as they please from school to school, but the players have restrictions. (0:00-11:59)

Recruiting matters in college football. The teams with the most talent have the best chance to win the CFB Playoff and National Championship. There are 64 recruits in the 2020 class with either 4-5 stars who live in Pac-12 states or neighboring states. With the exception of the Oregon Ducks and Washington Huskies, the conference is falling behind in the recruiting rankings for the class of 2020. The early signing period is not until December, but the USC Trojans are ranked between 60th and 68th depending on which recruiting site you like. (12:00- 23:41)

The greatest Pac-12 podcat in all the land also ranks the best Pac-12 stadiums from #12 to #1. Will the historic sites get the top spots, or will the stadiums with the biggest home-field advantage prevail? (23:42-End)

Download the Pac-12 Apostles Podcast on any platform.

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Two Ways to Improve College Football Playoffs and the Pac-12

Pac-12 College Football Playoff

Recently, Larry Scott said it was “painful” that the Pac-12 once again missed College Football Playoffs. It’s a regular lament because it seems like the Pac-12 is always left out. Every college football fan, athlete or staffer knows that the Pac-12 is the odd one out. Washington and Oregon are the only teams from the Pac-12 to make it. Just 2 out of 24. Not good for the Pac-12.

So, the idea of expanding the college playoffs or bringing more parity to the selection process sounds perfect. First off, College Football Playoffs are a huge success. It was a long time coming and fans of all programs and divisions love it. With a four-team playoff, rather than selecting just two teams, college football moved to greater competition. From that, it was easier to conclude with the rightful champion.

Now, in its sixth year of success playoffs, the FBS needs to evolve further. For the sake of fans, collegiate programs and football itself.

Expand College Football Playoffs to Eight Teams

First off, the easiest way to increase the likelihood of crowning the just champion is to increase the sample size. Honestly, the NFL has 32 teams and still lets 12 into the playoffs. On the other hand, the FBS has 130 football programs (64 from Power-Five conferences) and only selects four. From such an abundant source of talent and diversity, the current four-team playoffs is restrictive.

Considering how slow and/or unwilling college football is to change, it’s best to keep an expansion small. Adjusting College Football Playoffs from four teams to six or eight is ideal. With six teams, the first and second-ranked teams are afforded a bye. Essentially, With eight teams, playoffs would be similar to the NCAA basketball tournament seeding. But, drastically smaller.

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With each set up, there would be three rounds of College Football Playoffs. This would work best for multiple reasons. First, as said above, expanding to more teams gives college football a clearer, less controversial champion. Additionally, it would add to revenue. As everyone knows, the NCAA loves money (even though it only pays college athletes more than a 550 dollar gift for bowl participation). So, instead of just three playoff games, there would be five to seven. Fundamentally doubling the amount of big-time matches and viewers.

Does Larry Scott support expansion?

Yes. But also no.

“I completely get that it would really release the pressure of being the one that’s been on the outside looking in the most in the first six years to say that automatically we’ve got our champion [in],” Scott said Thursday. “But we also have agreements through 2026 [the championship game] that I think will be very challenging for us to all agree how we’re going to amend and change.”

Larry Scott

Even though expanding playoffs to six or eight teams increases the odds the Pac-12 makes it in, Larry Scott needs a guarantee. He supports an eight team expansion only if each Power-Five conference champion gets a spot in the tournament. This makes sense for Scott because he wants to end the Pac-12’s embarrassing record of playoff participation.

However, he’s wrong in his idea. For two major reasons. First and foremost, expanding the playoffs automatically helps the Pac-12. It lowers the risk of a Pac-12 snub. Because the Pac-12 has little leverage in the situation, he can’t ask for more. Additionally, he’s misguided because mandating that each Power-Five conference champion gets in lowers college football parity. What if the overall competition of the ACC or Big Ten was significantly lower than Pac-12, SEC or Big 12? That hurts the playoff picture.

Granted, an eight-team playoff model like Ross Dellenger depicted would be extremely exciting. Five auto-bids, two at-large and one group of five sounds excellent. Nonetheless, greater freedom in selection creates a chance for greater competition.

Larry Scott refuses to give up the Rose Bowl

Also, of note, Larry Scott and the Pac-12 would be protective of the Rose Bowl. Yes, history is on his side. The Rose Bowl and the Pac-12 have over a century of history together. Nonetheless, Scott needs to be willing to change, to adapt and to give in order to gain. Yes, the Rose Bowl means a great deal for Pac-12 fans. It’s a monumental bowl game. With that being said, the audience would grow substantially if the Rose Bowl had greater competition. If the FBS combined the Rose Bowl, college football’s oldest bowl game, with playoffs each year, ratings and excitement would follow.

Yes, Scott and the Pac-12 have every right to be protective of the Rose Bowl. It’s ours. However, in order to increase the chance of a Pac-12 champion, the Pac-12 must be willing to sacrifice it’s most historic safety blanket. Keep in mind, there could also be a happy medium. If a Pac-12 team gets into the playoffs, they could get automatic entry into the Rose Bowl game. And if they missed the six or eight team playoff selection, they would sacrifice the Rose Bowl. It’s a risk, but one the Pac-12 needs to take.

Play at Least 10 Power-Five Opponents

In addition to Scott, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby also added his own idea. Bowlsby suggested a new requirement for College Football Playoff selection.

  • Each Power-Five team has to play at least ten Power-Five opponents

Excluding conference championship games, only Clemson and Oklahoma played nine, regular season, Power-Five opponents. Ohio State chose to play Florida Atlantic, Cincinnati, and the Miami Redhawks. Likewise, LSU scheduled Georgia Southern, Northwestern State, and Utah State. If they played one more Power-Five team, it’s completely possible they would have an additional loss.

In order to make College Football Playoffs, each team selected needs to have at least ten (excluding conference championships) games against Power-Five opponents. If 2018 Notre Dame can do it, any program should be able to.

Trevor Lawrence Should be Able to Receive his Worth While at Clemson

Trevor Lawerence

On Monday, Clemson decisively defeated Alabama for the College Football National Championship. The Tigers overcame the Crimson Tide 44-16. Not only did Clemson defeat the almighty “Bama,” Clemson sent a strong message defeating them by 28 points. Leading Clemson to victory was true freshman quarterback Trevor Lawerence. Lawerence undisputedly emerged as the star of the game. He threw three touchdown passes and amassed 347 passing yards. Accordingly, Lawerence’s performance was truly unprecedented. He defeated the most powerful team in college football who boasted a Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback.

After the game, sports fans and commentators began criticizing the fact that Lawerence is ineligible for the upcoming NFL draft. Critics argued that it is unfair that players do not have the option to enter the draft when they see fit. Similarly, they argue that is not fair that elite athletes are told when they may go professional and make money off of their athletic abilities.

Division 1 college football is a billion dollar industry. However, the athletes who propel that industry receive essentially no compensation above a cost-of-attendance scholarship. However, the coaches make millions of dollars each year. Perhaps, the real issue is not when Lawerence or other similarly situated players should be eligible for the NFL draft. Perhaps the real issue is why playing professionally is the only option such players have to make money for their athletic abilities?

Why is Trevor Lawerence Ineligible for the NFL Draft?

Lawerence is ineligible for the draft because the NFL’s rules say a player is not draft eligible until he is three years removed from his high school graduating class. Proponents of the rules argue that they are in place to protect future NFL prospects from prematurely entering the league before they are physically ready. However, opponents believe that it is unfair that Lawrence and other NFL prospects do not have the option to start their professional careers whenever they see fit. Accordingly, fans and critics argue that Lawerence and other NFL prospects should have the ability to chose when to start their NFL careers.

Perhaps elite athletes should have the ability to freely decide when to turn pro. However, this issue is not the real injustice. The real injustice is the fact that elite NFL prospects cannot make money off their athletic abilities while in college. This is especially true given the fact that the coaches make millions off of the labor of the athletes.

Coaches Make Millions Off of the Labor of Elite Talent, While the Talent has to Wait for a  Professional Career That May Never Manifest.

Take the two coaches who were in the championship game for instance. Those two coaches were Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and Alabama’s Nick Saban. Saban’s base salary was $7.5 million. He made an additional $400,000 for appearing in the CFP semifinal game. Even though the Crimson Tide lost, Saban still cleared an additional $600,000 just for appearing in the championship game. Swinney’s base salary for the season was $6 million.  He received an additional $200,000 for his CFP semifinal appearance.  Since Clemson won the championship, Swinney will receive an additional $250,000.

Meanwhile, the labor force (the football players) that makes these incredible salary numbers possible receives a very small amount in comparison. A scholarship for a college education is invaluable. However, when compared to coaches salaries, television deals, and other sponsorships, does it really seem fair that athletes are limited to their scholarship?

The Focus Should be on Lawernce’s Inability to Profit off his Athleticism in College Instead of on his Inability to go to the NFL

It is not fair for athletes to have wait to reach the NFL to be adequately compensated for their athleticism. What if a player suffers a career ending injury before he is eligible for the NFL? Such a player would never have the opportunity to be adequately compensated for his athletic ability.  It is for this reason that the conversation should be focused on college athletes rights to receive adequate compensation in college.

Yes, an injured player may have a degree.  It is also true that the degree could yield high earnings for the player in the future. However, the injured player would still have missed the opportunity to be adequately compensated for his athleticism in college.  Meanwhile, his coach made millions in games that the injured player’s labor largely contributed to.

There is a lot of money in Division 1 college football.  This is evident from the coaches salaries.  More of that money should be funneled down to the labor force who makes it all possible.  It would be nice if Lawerence had the ability to opt for the NFL. However, it would be better if he could receive more for the fruits of his labor while in college. At the very least, Lawerence and other similarly situated athletes should be allowed to profit off of their own name, image, and likeness.  Therefore, the conversation should be about Lawerence’s ability to receive his worth while in college instead of his ability to go to the NFL.

Alabama vs. Clemson: How Each Team Can Win The National Championship

Alabama Clemson

Alabama vs. Clemson, Part IV. Sign me up. For the third time in the last four years, the final two teams standing are Alabama and Clemson. That should come as a surprise to no one because these two teams happen to have the two best coaches in Division I football, Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney. Both Alabama and Clemson come into the National Championship undefeated and motivated to add to their recent history of success. Both teams can win tonight and here’s how it can happen.

Alabama Can Win If…

Tua is Tua

  •  Tua Tagovailoa is the best quarterback that Nick Saban has ever coached at Alabama. The numbers speak for themselves. 3,671 yards and 41 touchdowns would have been good enough for the Heisman Trophy had it not been for Kyler Murray. That being said, Tua exacted his revenge on Murray as the lefty threw for 318 yards and 4 TDs to defeat Oklahoma in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. What Tua can do on a football field is special. He can make every throw, keep plays alive with his legs, and change the course of the game at any moment. If Tua is his usual self, it will be a long day for the Clemson Tigers.

Quinnen Williams Plays Like A Superstar

  • Clemson may have the depth at defensive line, but they don’t have Quinnen Williams. The Alabama defensive lineman has had a meteoric rise this past season as he became the best defensive lineman in the country. Williams accumulated 67 tackles, 8 sacks, and 18 tackles for loss. Williams is the best player on the field at all times and is currently projected to be taken in the top 3 of this year’s NFL Draft according to NBC Sports. If Williams wreaks havoc on the interior line, it will be a long night for Clemson.

Good Luck Stopping Alabama’s Pass Catchers

  • The best phrase to describe the Alabama receiving corp is “Pick your poison.” Seriously, this unit is a five-headed monster. It all starts with Jerry Jeudy, who was a first-team All-American and the Biletnikoff Award winner, which is awarded to the nation’s top receiver. After Jeudy, a quartet of talent awaits as Henry Ruggs III, Jaylen Waddle, Irv Smith Jr., and Devonta Smith all have over 6 touchdown catches each. You cannot stop this group. You can only hope to contain it.

Nick Saban Shows Why He’s the Greatest Coach Of All-Time

  • For my money, Nick Saban is the greatest coach of all-time. Although he’s tied with Bear Bryant for national championships with 6, Saban has won titles with two schools, which is why I give him the edge over Bryant. There’s a reason why Alabama is 55-3 since 2015 and are making their fourth straight appearance in the National Championship game. Saban and the Tide make little to no mistakes throughout the game. No one adjusts better at halftime than Saban. Look at last year as Saban inserted Tua in at quarterback over Jalen Hurts. Most coaches play checkers. Saban plays chess. If Saban throws his headset again, Clemson should give up on the spot.

Clemson Can Win If…

Trevor Lawrence Thrives Under Pressure

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence has drawn many comparisons to his idol, Peyton Manning. However, Lawrence has been described as “Peyton Manning, but a better runner.” That’s a lethal combination, and it very well is the winning formula for defeating Alabama. The true freshman took over as the starter for Kelly Bryant in September and hasn’t looked back since. Lawrence has thrown for 2,933 yards and 27 TDs to only 4 INTs. Without a doubt, Alabama will be the toughest defense that Lawrence has faced all season. If the freshman can limit the turnovers and convert on third downs, then Clemson keeps Tua off the field, which may be the difference in the end.

Clemson Defense Proves They’re The Better Unit

When asking the casual fan about the team with the better defense, one might assume that it’s Alabama because of their recent history of dominance. However, that’s not true this season. The Clemson Tigers defense is statistically better than the Alabama defense. Clemson is ranked 2nd in the country in total defense while Alabama ranks 13th. Alabama might have the best defensive player on the field in Quinnen Williams, but Clemson has the better defensive line. Even without Dexter Lawerence, Clemson still boasts two consensus All-Americans in Clelin Ferrell and Christian Wilkins. Add Austin Bryant and Albert Huggins into the mix, and the Tigers defensive line can disrupt Tua and the Alabama offense all night.

Trevor Lawrence via Getty Images

Travis Etienne Finds Success On The Ground

Alabama has depth in the backfield, but the best running back on the field wears orange and white. His name is Travis Etienne. The Clemson sophomore rushed for a jaw-dropping 1572 yards and 22 TDs this season. That’s 700 more yards than the leading Alabama running back. Plus, Clemson has three running backs that average over 7 yards per carry while Alabama has none. If Etienne find success on the ground, then it will open up the offense and put less pressure on Trevor Lawrence

The Clemson Coaching Staff Orchestrates The Game Of Their Lives

Nick Saban is in a league of his own, which is why it’s going to take a team effort from the Clemson coaching staff to defeat Goliath. There is a reason why Brett Venables is one of the highest paid assistants in college football. Venables is the best defensive coordinator in Division I, and he’s worth every penny. Venables’ defense ranked second in total defense and provided the anchor for this undefeated team. However, it all starts at the top for the Tigers. Their success is credited to their energetic and passionate head coach who is the only man to ever defeat Nick Saban in the National Championship. That coach is Dabo Swinney. Swinney has turned Clemson from an average team to a national powerhouse during his tenure. If there’s one coach who could disrupt the Alabama dynasty, it’s Dabo.

Alabama vs. Clemson. Tua vs. Trevor. Saban vs. Dabo. This is the heavyweight fight that college football fans deserve.

Read Up: College Football Playoff Ponzi Scheme

Pac-12 Conference: Five Things Must Change to Keep Pace in College Football

Pac-12 conference larry Scott

The Pac-12 is called the “Conference of Champions” because it boasts the most national championships in all of college athletics. That statement is true. Yes, it’s nice and fun to win track, volleyball, softball, baseball, and golf championships. But the reality is that college football is king and the Pac-12 conference hasn’t won a national championship since USC in 2004. If the leadership stays on the current course, only God knows when it will happen again. I will examine the problems the conference faces and the steps it needs to take to remedy them. I promise not to even mention the officiating and replay drama.

1. Admit There is a Problem/Speak Up

The first step to recovery is admitting there is a problem. It seems that everyone outside of Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott realizes the Pac-12 is at the beginning stages of a free fall behind the other four power 5 conferences. Public perception, revenue-sharing payout projections, television contracts, officiating, and conference play schedules are all bad.

The Big Ten and Big XII commissioners have been outspoken when they believe their teams have been slighted by the CFB Playoff committee. They are 100% right to do so because the reality is that there is a tremendous imbalance in the schedules which affects rankings. The ACC and SEC play eight conference games while the Pac-12, Big Ten and Big XII all play nine. In contrast, when Pac-12 teams get slighted the conference just takes it in stride and makes no waves. Here was commissioner Larry Scott’s statement about Washington State being left out of the New Years’ Six Bowls:

“Washington State University had a fantastic season, a very strong record, and captured the attention of the nation with their thrilling style of play and remarkable competitiveness in every game.  While we are disappointed that they were not selected for a New Year’s Six bowl, we made the case for Washington State to the selection committee through the established communications protocols, and we were aligned in our approach with Washington State in this regard.  At the same time, we know that the selection committee has difficult decisions to make, and we respect the committee and its members.”

Does this sound like the statement of anyone who is willing to demand change? Or does this seem like the statement of someone who just takes what they can get? My mom always said the squeaky wheel gets the oil. The Pac-12 is not making enough noise or disruption to cause change. The Big Ten has been left out of the CFB Playoff for three straight years. Their commissioner Jim Delany sees the bias and is now demanding an 8-team playoff. Guess which commissioner is more likely to get something done to help his conference?

2. Fix Pac-12 Network and TV Contracts

The problems with the Pac-12 network are accessibility and revenue generation. Pac-12 fans cannot watch if they have DirectTV or have streaming service providers like Hulu TV or YouTube TV. In the era of cord-cutters, that is a total disaster. The conference doesn’t even have an app on Apple TV or Amazon Fire Stick. To make matters worse, their contract with Uverse was not renewed. If the Pac-12 cannot be seen by most college football fans, the perception of the conference suffers.

The Pac-12 loves to boast that it is the only conference that wholly owns its own network. Fox owns 49% of the Big Ten Network. The SEC and ACC Network are entirely owned by ESPN. Who cares if the Pac-12 owns the entire network if it is not generating the revenue the other conferences do? More revenue means more resources for coaches and recruiting. Better players and coaches lead to more success which comes full circle to more money.

When payments are made for this year, the Pac-12 will be last amongst the Power-5 conferences in distributions to their member schools. Over the next five years, the conference will fall even further behind and won’t even reach $38 million in payouts per school until 2023.

By comparison, the Big Ten is expected to provide payouts to schools this year that exceed $51 million. The SEC is currently at $42 million, and the Big 12 is at $38. Even the Atlantic Coast Conference is expected to pass $40 million after previously ranking last. Each of those conferences future projection increases are larger than the Pac-12.

The Pac-12 has to find a way to generate significantly more revenue in a hurry. The schools and Pac-12 leadership need to do away with the arrogant attitude that the conference can achieve success equal to the Big Ten and SEC on a “lean” budget. Success in football drives the revenue for all conferences. Can the Pac-12 have the success necessary on the football field to warrant a network shelling out big cash to air their games?

Jon Wilner does a great job detailing more about the Pac-12 finances.

3. Poorly Designed Schedules Hurt the Pac-12

Pac-12 football schedules are set with a three-step process. The individual teams set their own non-conference schedules. Those are then sent to a company that builds the conference schedules around those. The athletic directors then view and approve the schedules.

The Pac-12 is already playing at a disadvantage to the SEC and ACC by playing nine conference games. I detail how the amount of conference games dramatically affects rankings here. The conference does not do itself any favors by creating competitive disadvantages during conference play. The SEC schedules its teams for success. Their biggest rivalry games are almost always preceded by a bye week or FCS opponent. The LSU-Alabama, Auburn-Alabama, and Florida-Georgia games are prime examples. And they would never have one team coming off a bye playing a team on a Friday night or in the conference championship. The conference’s most important rivalry games are typically played toward the end of the season for the committee to talk about. The Pac-12 literally does the complete opposite of this.

Oregon-Washington, USC-UCLA, USC-Stanford, and any other combination of those games should be highlighted by the conference. Instead, most of these games are at the beginning of the season in 2019 and will be forgotten by the time the committee decides the top four. Stanford plays three of its most critical Pac-12 games against USC, Oregon, and Washington in the first six weeks of the season without a bye. Washington and Oregon are projected to be some of the best teams in the Pac-12 but have similar situations. How on earth does this make sense?

Imagine if the conference scheduled those games towards the end of the season when those teams are 7-0 or 6-1 like the SEC does. You would have “epic matchups of college football heavyweights.” And the loser would fall minimally in the rankings. The Pac-12 has to be more strategic with scheduling because it drastically impacts perception, rankings, and ability to make the playoff.

USC, UCLA, and Stanford typically put together schedules of 11 Power-5 games which no other teams from any other conference would attempt, especially the SEC. This year Stanford plays ZERO FCS opponents and plays 11 Power-5 teams plus UCF. I applaud these schedules and believe every team in college football should follow suit. However, they do need to include strategically plans bye weeks.

4. Game Times

East Coast Bias is real, but the Pac-12 exacerbates the problem with atrocious start times. “Pac-12 After Dark” is always a trending topic on fall Saturday nights, but it’s a thing that nobody on the east coast or midwest sees. These 10p ET kickoffs mean east coast college football fans would be on their 13th hour of games when they end at 1-2a ET. It is unreasonable to expect that fans and media east of the Mississippi will watch. It does a complete disservice to some of the best teams and players in the nation.

Christian McCaffrey didn’t win the Heisman trophy in 2015 because of “Pac-12 After Dark”. Seven of his games started after 10p ET that season. He had one of the most incredible seasons when broke Barry Sanders single-season NCAA all-purpose yardage record (3250), but didn’t get the hardware.

When rankings and postseason accolades are affected, clearly a change has to be made.

5. Make it Matter More to Fans

Pac-12 fans as a whole are just not engaged and invested at the same level as SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 fans. As a Pac-12 fan, it is frustrating and sad to admit that. The schools have to find a way to ignite the rabid nature of fans. It is time to do away with the casual kind of fandom. There is no reason that USC and UCLA games are quiet as a church mouse until something good happens. Fans have to live and die with the games. That is the only way to get respect from the rest of the nation.

The Pac-12 has some of the best football in all of college football, but until these things are fixed, it will continue to be underappreciated.

UCF: CFB Playoffs Can Never Be Better than March Madness Until Cinderella Gets In

The College Football Playoffs committee’s failure to pick the University of Central Florida (UCF) for the second year in a row is proof that the tournament will never be as exciting as March Madness. Every year when March Madness begins fans are at the edge of their seats waiting to see what likely championship contender will fall prey to the tournament’s “Cinderella” team. For example, in last years tournament, the very unlikely University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) knocked off the University of Virginia. The emergence of a “Cinderella” team is a major part of what makes March Madness so exciting.  However, the College Football Playoffs (CFP) is unlikely to ever experience the excitement of a  “Cinderella” team. The committee’s failure to give UCF a bid in the tournament for two years is proof of this.

For the last two seasons, UCF has been unstoppable. UCF finished their 2017 and 2018 seasons undefeated for a combined 25-0 record. Despite having two perfect seasons and knocking off Auburn after they beat Alabama, UCF was not extended the opportunity to be the possible “Cinderella” team in the College Football Playoffs (CFP) either year. If UCF beats LSU in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 30 they would have defeated the SEC elite in back to back seasons. With two perfect seasons, why is UCF being overlooked? The structure of the CFP is to blame.

Participants in the college football playoffs are chosen by the CFP committee.  The committee considers a number of factors. Those factors are not favorable to teams, like UCF, who are not in Power Five conferences. Accordingly, the CFP structure does not allow a team such as UCF to be eligible for the tournament no matter how perfect their season. Therefore, it is extremely unlikely that the CFP will ever experience the excitement of a “Cinderella” team swooping through the tournament and upsetting the most likely championship contender. This is precisely why the College Football Playoffs needs to be expanded to include more teams.

College Football Playoffs Structure Neglects Non-Power Five Schools

General success during the football season does not equate to automatic CFP eligibility – obviously. The CFP committee considers several factors in addition to on-field performance.  The committee considers the number of games lost, the point spread in games, and the strength of each schools schedule. The strength of the schedule is judged based on the teams each school faces. Schools with tougher schedules are given more weight during CFP selections.

In most cases, schools in the Power Five conferences are considered to be the tougher schools. Due to this, schools that are not in Power Five conferences, like UCF,  are unlikely to get a real chance at the CFP. Group of Five schools, such as UCF,  find it difficult to schedule games with Power Five schools.  The lack of such games on the schedule makes it extremely difficult for Group of Five schools to clinch a spot in the CFP. This is exactly where UCF fell short in the CFP considerations.  A substantial amount of UCF’s victories were not against what is considered a “strong” school.

Group of Five Schools Must Face the “Right” Power Five School

It is not sufficient for a Group of Five School to face just any Power Five school. The school must face the “right” Power Five school.  This is also evidenced by UCF.  Over their last two seasons, UCF successfully faced the University of Maryland of the Big 10 and the University of Pittsburgh of the ACC.  However, these games were not enough to give UCF a leg up in the strength of schedule category.

Some may argue that UCF should have been given serious consideration by the CFP committee for the 2018 CFP based on their win against Auburn in last year’s Peach Bowl.  Auburn beat Alabama in last year’s SEC championship.  Alabama went on to win the CFP last year. Accordingly, some argued that UCF could possibly be defending the CFP title this year. Unfortunately, the fact that UCF defeated Auburn in last year’s Peach Bowl had no bearing on the CFP committee’s considerations in 2018.

However, that did not stop fans from fantasizing about what would have happened if UCF had been given their due. Some fans made the logical leap that UCF may have defeated Alabama in the CFP if given the opportunity. Some UCF fans went as far as to attempt to bait Alabama into facing UCF to settle the debate regarding who is the true national champion. As exciting as that game would be, it will probably never happen.

Since Such a Match-up is Unlikely to Happen, the CFP will Never be as Exciting as March Madness

Since the CFP structure does not favor “underdog” teams, the tournament will always have a certain level of predictability. A tournament that is too predictable simply is not exciting. That is the beauty of the March Madness tournament, its unpredictable nature.  Yes, there are teams that are in it every year. Teams such as North Carolina, Duke, and Kentucky are almost certain to make an appearance every year.  At the same time, any of those teams could get knocked off by the most unlikely opponent.

For example, in 2012 the underdog Norfolk State University beat Missouri.  Missouri was heavily slated to go to the Final Four and was unpredictably knocked off by the most unlikely opponent. Games like that are the excitement of the March Madness Tournament. The CFP is unlikely to ever know that excitement as long as underdogs like UCF are never given a chance to play on the CFP stage. For this reason, the CFP should be expanded to give more teams an opportunity to play on college football’s grandest stage. As long as the qualifications for CFP consideration remain, the CFP will never be as exciting as March Madness.