Apocalyptic College Football Playoff Bracket Would Leave Georgia, Alabama in the Cold

The College Football Playoff is undergoing a major expansion in 2024 and beyond, and while the specifics of the new format have yet to be finalized, one thing is for sure: the current system is on its way out

Georgia clinched its second straight national title after dismantling TCU, 65-7, in an embarrassing rout in this year’s Championship Game. The Bulldogs joined Alabama as the only multiple champions of the College Football Playoff era, but both programs could be left on the outside looking in when the playoff field expands to 12 teams

The SEC’s Dominance Faces New Threat

Since the inception of the College Football Playoff in 2014, the Southeastern Conference has dominated the field. The SEC has had at least one team in the playoff every year and has won three of the nine national championships awarded. Alabama and Georgia have been the SEC’s standard-bearers and remain the two most successful teams in the country, but the expanded playoff could threaten their dominance.

The current playoff format gives automatic bids to the six highest-ranked conference champions. The remaining six spots are filled by at-large teams selected by the College Football Playoff Committee. Under the new format, the six highest-ranked conference champions will still receive automatic bids, but the remaining six teams will be selected from the remaining pool of teams, regardless of conference affiliation. This means that teams from smaller conferences will have a better chance of making the playoff, and the SEC’s dominance could be diluted.

New Format, New Opportunities

The expanded playoff format will provide more opportunities for teams to compete for a national championship, but it will also make it more difficult for teams to qualify for the playoff. The addition of six more teams means that the margin for error will be smaller, and teams will need to be nearly perfect in order to make the field.

The new format will also create more opportunities for chaos. With more teams in the mix, there will be more chances for upsets and unexpected results. This could make the playoff more exciting for fans, but it could also make it more difficult for the best teams to reach the championship game.

The Future of College Football

The expanded College Football Playoff is a major change for the sport, and it is unclear what the long-term impact will be. The new format could level the playing field and make it more difficult for the traditional powers to dominate. It could also create more opportunities for chaos and excitement. Only time will tell what the future holds for college football, but the expanded playoff is sure to make the sport even more unpredictable and exciting.