College Football Selection Takeaways: Did Bama Get Robbed, Hoosier State Showdown and more

1. SMU gets in over Alabama

The SMU Mustangs earned selection to the field of 12 even after suffering an agonizing defeat against Clemson in Saturday’s Atlantic Coast Conference Championship game. Clemson kicked a 56-yard field goal as time expired to claim victory.

But nerves remained. Could the Ponies outshone Alabama, an established powerhouse that had only missed two playoff berths since beginning play in 2014, regarding selection committee voting? Only time would tell.

This issue presented a difficult test for the committee during the inaugural year of an expanded field: Would teams that played in their conference championship game but lost be penalized in favour of brand-name programs that did not make it to Championship Saturday?

By inviting the Ponies into the playoffs, the committee set a precedent.

Although Alabama will find this difficult, fans who cherish traditional conference championship games will rejoice when the committee recognizes their value in this new system.

Oregon, Georgia, Boise State and Arizona State all claimed conference championship games this weekend and will now enjoy some much-needed time off before facing quarterfinal opponents in March.

2. The Top 4 seeds are an issue

The top four seeds should go to the best four teams; that’s not how this turned out. Boise State and Arizona State both get byes into the second round of the tournament. Does a team like Boise deserve a bye for winning the Mountain West Conference? Put it like this: would Boise State be favored against Ohio State? No, they would be a touchdown underdog. I can see a conference champion getting an automatic bid into the field, but not ranking the top four seeded teams is not how this should work.

3. The Ryan Day Hot Seat is about to get hotter

A first-round matchup that caught our eye was one between college football bluebloods.

The Ohio State University Buckeyes and University of Tennessee Volunteers under the lights at 8 p.m. ET on December 21. Ohio Stadium’s legendary “Horseshoe” arena has witnessed many classic moments over time, creating an intimidating environment.

The last time Ohio State left Columbus Stadium after playing the University of Michigan in a rivalry game, they had just suffered another heartbreaking defeat in the final minute—their fourth straight setback since September 2019. Over 100,000 fans were clearly shocked and disgruntled after watching this eventful finale unfold at Columbus Stadium.

The atmosphere was electric throughout this game as the Buckeyes struggled against an inferior Michigan team. They lost out on playing for a Big Ten title and receiving a first-round bye.

The Tennessee Volunteers will likely be disappointed to play outside Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, but they are ready for any challenge that awaits them. In recent years, they have shown tremendous signs of life after suffering through an extended dark period in program history under Josh Heupel, who will have his team prepared.

At Ohio State, concerns have arisen about whether head coach Ryan Day can take the Buckeyes to the promised land of a national championship.

4. The state championship of Indiana

Who would have thought at the start of this season that the Indiana Hoosiers would be playing the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the College Football playoffs. The Irish are more than a touchdown favorite, but that seems too big to me. The Hoosiers have an excellent quarterback and weapons all over an explosive offense. The Hoosier’s defense is also good, and this looks to me to be one of the best matchups of the first round of this tournament. It gets the spotlight on Friday night, December 20th. Don’t be surprised if the Hoosiers win this game.

5. Texas is not that good

I’m sorry, but the Longhorns in Vegas are the favorite with Georgia to win this tournament, and I don’t see it with either team. The Longhorns played one excellent team, Georgia, and they lost both games. They got blown out at home in the first matchup and lost in overtime against Georgia playing with a backup Quarterback for more than half of the game.

6. Longshot Darkhorse Arizona State Sun Devils

Big 12 champion Arizona State was an unlikely recipient of a first-round bye, as its Sun Devils have played inspiring football behind running back Cam Skattebo and quarterback Sam Leavitt this season. The Sun Devils first game will be against either Clemson or Texas, so experience on the biggest stage could be an issue, but I think Arizona State can advance to the semifinals against either of those teams. The Sun Devils are well-coached and could become the story of this tournament.

7. Alabama is pissed, should they be?

No, they shouldn’t be pissed, they didn’t just lose three games, they lost to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma. The Oklahoma game was a beating that should not happen to any playoff team. These are not the sooner of Switzer; they barely even made it to a meaningless Bowl game. Bama has no bitch because they did this to themselves.