College Football Playoff Delivers Mixed Bag: Thrillers Up Top, Blowouts Down the Stretch
Friday night gave us the kind of College Football Playoff action fans dream about. Alabama and Oklahoma set the tone with a game that felt like a heavyweight bout-big plays, big moments, and a finish that lived up to the stakes. It was the kind of football that reminds you why this sport owns Saturdays in the fall.
Heading into Saturday, the expectation was more of the same. Miami vs.
Texas A&M looked like another potential thriller, and while the game didn’t always shine from a quality standpoint, it delivered where it mattered most: drama. It came down to the final play, keeping fans locked in until the last whistle.
But after that? The wheels came off.
Group of 5 Teams Overmatched in Prime Time
The final two games of the day saw Ole Miss and Oregon steamroll their opponents, and let’s be honest-those matchups were never really in doubt. The Group of 5 teams, Tulane and James Madison, earned their way into the Playoff under the current format, but once they hit the field, the gap in talent and depth was glaring.
It’s not just fans who were left underwhelmed. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin didn’t hold back, taking to social media with a sarcastic jab at the Playoff product, posting simply:
“Riveting ……. @CFBPlayoff”
Kiffin’s frustration echoed what many were thinking. The Playoff is supposed to showcase the best teams in the country going head-to-head. Instead, we got two late-night blowouts that felt more like warmups than postseason battles.
Why the Committee’s Hands Were Tied
Now, to be fair to the Playoff committee, this wasn’t entirely on them. The system, as it stands, has rules in place that prioritize conference champions-including the Group of 5.
The assumption has always been that the Power 4 champions would take care of business and hold those top spots. But when Duke unexpectedly won the ACC, it threw everything into chaos.
That opened the door for Tulane and James Madison to slide into the final two spots, even though no one truly believed they were top-12 caliber teams. And while their inclusion was historic and meaningful for their programs, the scoreboard told a different story.
The At-Large Teams Did Their Part
To the committee’s credit, the at-large selections hit the mark. Alabama vs.
Oklahoma? Instant classic.
Miami vs. Texas A&M?
Not perfect, but it delivered a nail-biter. And Ole Miss and Oregon?
They looked every bit like National Championship contenders, even if their opponents didn’t.
The problem isn’t with the top-tier teams-it’s with the structure that let two overmatched squads into the mix. And that’s where the conversation is headed next.
Change Is Coming-And It Needs To
This weekend’s lopsided results are going to force some tough conversations. Whether it’s expanding the Playoff field or rethinking how automatic bids are awarded, something has to give. Right now, the format is leaving some of the best teams on the outside looking in, while others are getting in based on technicalities rather than true national standing.
There’s a lot to love about the College Football Playoff. But if it wants to be the ultimate showcase of the sport’s elite, it can’t afford many more weekends like this. The margin for error is too small, and the stakes are too high.
Friday reminded us what the Playoff can be. Saturday reminded us why it still has work to do.