College Football Playoff Expansion

Jonathan Jarvis, Staffer • October 23, 2024

Since 2014, NCAA (National Collegiate Athletics Association) has used a four team playoff format, in which the top four teams in the nation play each other. With only four teams playing in the College Football Playoffs (CFP) it created a snubbing problem (a team coming up short from entering the playoffs that should have made it) and a 12 team playoff is supposed to fix this problem .

“Justice for Florida State, I think they had a shot at winning it all,” senior Stella Keiningham said.

The original College Football Bracket used since 2014 set up with four teams. (Jonathan Jarvis)

The 2023 FSU Seminoles were snubbed from the CFP. They went undefeated, but in their third to last game, their quarterback at the moment, Jordan Travis, broke his leg against Northern Alabama. In the next game, their backup quarterback, Tate Rodemaker, helped beat the Florida Gators, but he sustained a head injury, causing him to be sidelined for the last game. Third string quarterback, Brock Glenn, led the Seminolos to a 16-6 win against Louisville in their final game of the season. The NCAA committee didn’t think they were a strong enough team to play in the CFP. They became the first undefeated power five team to not be put into the CFP.

“There’ll be some teams that will still get snubbed, but I think that it’ll ease the controversy on some teams being left,” Keiningham said.

Junior, Camden Marshall, standing in the middle of the hallway with a janitor in the background (Jonathan Jarvis)

Back in the 2017 season, another team was snubbed, the USF Knights went undefeated with 12 wins, yet they were only ranked 12th in the nation, but they still played Auburn who was ranked seventh in the Peach Bowl outside of the CFP. Auburn went 10-4 in the 2017 season with wins against Alabama and Georgia, the two teams in the CFP finals. In the game, UFC ended up beating Auburn 34-27. Now the NCAA recognizes them as theoretical champions.

“I like them making the playoffs bigger because it gives the players [outside of the power five] something better to get… and a better chance to get it,” junior Camden Marshall said.

With the CFP expanding, it allows eight more teams to play in the CFP and instead of three games being played there will now be 11. The top four teams get automatic byes meaning they don’t have to participate in the first round.

The seeds playing each other in the first round: nine seed plays the eight seed and the winner goes on to play the one seed. The ten seed plays the seven seed and the winner plays the two seed, 11 seed plays the six seed and the winner plays the three seed, 12 seed plays the five seed and the winner plays the four seed. The winner of the one seed game and the four seed game plays each other and the winner of the two seed game and three seed game play each other.
(Jonathan Jarvis)

“I think the expansion is definitely here to stay, and I think it’ll keep growing in size,” Keiningham said.

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About the Contributor

Jonathan Jarvis, Reporter/Photographer

This is Jonathan’s second semester on The Lion’s Roar. He plays both basketball and soccer for the school. In his free time he enjoys working out and bettering himself.