College Football Playoff Selection Committee Makes Mockery of the Game over Money

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

For weeks it appeared that the fix was in, but there was still hope that the College Football Selection Committee would do the right thing. The selection committee made no bones about their outward love for Ohio State and Michigan essentially predetermining one of if not both of college football’s bluebloods would get a spot in the Final Four for weeks leading up to Championship Weekend.

On Sunday, the committee determined Ohio State was deserving of a playoff berth, over Penn State, despite the Nitanny Lions beating the Buckeyes 24-21 just seven weeks ago.

As is, Alabama (13-0) is the No. 1 seed with Clemson (12-1) earning the No. 2 seed, after winning the ACC Championship Game, Ohio State (11-1) at No. 3, and Washington (12-1) slipping in the last spot after topping Colorado in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Alabama will play Washington in the Peach Bowl and Clemson gets Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl setting up a ratings bonanza and advertising money haul with a presumed Alabama vs. Ohio State national championship game.

The Selection Committee’s Failure

Penn State was docked for two losses in their first four games falling to in-state rival Pittsburgh 42-39 in Week 2 on the road and a 49-10 road loss to Michigan in Week 4. Since the loss to the Wolverines, PSU has reeled off nine consecutive wins which includes the upset win over Ohio State, won the Big Ten East Division, and toppled Wisconsin 38-31 in the Big Ten Championship Game. Ohio State was given a present into the playoff despite not winning any part of their conference outright or otherwise.

Pundits for Ohio State will point to their one loss over Penn State’s two losses and to strength of schedule. The Buckeyes, per USA Today, have the seventh toughest schedule in college football. But the Nittany Lions are not far behind at No. 16. PSU’s loss to Pitt turned out to not be that bad of a loss. The Panthers ended the season 8-4, with a 43-42 win over Clemson, a playoff team.

Both teams now have 11 wins. Penn State played three Top 10 ranked teams to get their 11 wins as did Ohio State. Worth pointing out that one of those wins for OSU, a 62-3 whipping of Nebraska did not hold up. The Cornhuskers were not ranked by season’s end, with just three games to play after their defeat by the Buckeyes.

Ohio State’s big non-conference win was a really nice 45-24 trouncing of Oklahoma in Norman. For what it’s worth, Houston (9-3) beat that same Oklahoma team by 10 (33-23) to start the season. Their other win was a 30-27 overtime home victory against bitter rival Michigan. Still Penn State, by season’s end beat the team that beat them… should that not count for something?

If OSU fans can say Oklahoma got better as the season went along and OU’s Big 12 Championship title means something, should that same argument not mean something for Penn State?

Like it or not, we, as college football fans, are back to the 2012 BCS National Championship Game seeing Alabama against LSU, or what the people in charge want us to see all for the money. The push for a playoff system was in large part because fans did not want to see a rematch of two SEC teams playing for a national title. At the end of the 2011 season, LSU was 13-0 with a 9-6 overtime win against No. 2 Alabama earlier in the year. Oklahoma State and Stanford ended the season 11-1 before their respective bowl games. Alabama did their part beating LSU 21-0 claiming the nation title but that is not how fans wanted to see the season end.

Ohio State may pass the “eyeball test” and be deserving of their spot in the playoff. They may even make a run claiming the nation championship as seen in 2014 proving their inclusion was worthy, much like what Alabama did against LSU in the 2012 championship game, but that is not what the majority of fans want. The selection committee has thrown out the importance of winning a conference championship and head-to-head wins deciding who they feel is worthy of a playoff berth on their criteria alone – money.

Did the selection committee get it right? Share your thoughts!

Photo credit: foxsports.com; Penn State beats Wisconsin in Big Ten Championship Game.