The College Football Playoff is finally here, and with it comes the kind of fireworks-and controversy-we’ve come to expect from the sport’s biggest stage. Saturday night’s 41-10 blowout by No. 6 Ole Miss over Tulane wasn’t just a statement win for the Rebels-it reignited a familiar, fiery debate: Should multiple Group of Five teams have a seat at the playoff table?
From the opening whistle, Ole Miss left little doubt. The Rebels came out swinging, piling on points and building a 41-3 lead before Tulane managed a late touchdown. It was a dominant display in every phase of the game, and it left fans and analysts alike questioning whether the current playoff format is setting up some teams to fail.
Jesse Palmer, on the broadcast, didn’t mince words. While he acknowledged the importance of giving Group of Five programs a shot, he made it clear that he believes there’s a ceiling to how many should be included.
“I’m all about inclusivity and I’m fine with one Group of Five team making it into the 12-team playoff,” Palmer said. “That team deserved to be Tulane. But as a fan, I want to see the other 11 teams that have a legitimate chance of winning a national championship.”
That sentiment speaks to a broader concern that’s been simmering since the expanded format was announced: balancing opportunity with competitiveness. Palmer specifically referenced traditional powerhouses like Notre Dame, which were left out of this year’s field, as examples of programs that might offer more resistance-and more intrigue-on the national stage.
Tulane, for its part, earned its way into the playoff. No one’s questioning their season or their right to be there.
But when the scoreboard reads 41-10 in a first-round game, it opens the door to criticism-especially when another Group of Five team, James Madison, is still waiting to face off against a top-tier Oregon squad later in the day. If that game ends in similar fashion, expect the calls for reform to grow even louder.
This isn’t a new conversation. The tension between access and excellence has been part of the College Football Playoff discourse since its inception. But this year, with Notre Dame on the outside looking in and Ole Miss flexing its SEC muscle, the debate feels more urgent.
Palmer’s comments weren’t just off-the-cuff-they reflect a growing sentiment among fans and insiders who want to see the playoff deliver not just inclusivity, but elite competition from top to bottom. And while the 12-team format is still in its early stages, nights like this one will shape how it's viewed-and potentially how it evolves.
For now, Ole Miss moves on, looking every bit like a team that could make a serious run. Tulane heads home, proud of its season but left to wonder what could’ve been.
And the College Football Playoff committee? They’ve got some questions to answer-because the conversation isn’t going away anytime soon.