INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 09: Director of Athletics Josh Brooks, head coach Kirby Smart and Stetson Bennett #13 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrate after defeating the TCU Horned Frogs in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at SoFi Stadium on January 09, 2023 in Inglewood, California. Georgia defeated TCU 65-7. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S BIG PROBLEM
College football repeatedly cannot field 4 competitive teams for its college football playoff. Between the National Championships and semi-final playoffs, we've had twelve monster blow-outs since 2015. I have long argued we struggle to field 4 competitive teams. Dating back to the BCS, where the goal was to get the best two teams to play each other for the National Championship, we would frequently argue about a "third" team that was left out. That's why we transitioned into a 4 team playoff. We almost never argued about a "fourth" or "fifth" team being left out of the mix. But most everyone was happy with the resolution.
Still, we seem to have about three worthy teams with a legitimate chance at a championship each year. Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio State were all very good. But, as Monday's results proved, TCU was not in the same league as Georgia. If TCU and Georgia played 10 times, Georgia would go 10-0. FACT!
Also, there's the business related problem to these blowouts. In Monday's championship, ESPN collectively had about 22 million viewers. By the end of the game it was down to 10 million. That's not good.
And, don't even get me started on how playoff expansion will make Conference Championships and season ending rivalries less important. It just will. Plain and simple.
So, that is why my headline is: College Football's big problem !
FOLLOW THE MONEY
Money hungry pinheads think more is better. College football WILL expand its playoffs to 12 teams. Later, I'm sure it will expand further to 16 teams. Why? So we can have more blowouts?? I'll be honest, I was upset I had to watch that garbage for four hours Monday night. The idea is to crown a champion. And Georgia is a worthy back to back champion. Adding more teams to the playoff mix is not going to produce better, meaningful football. Alabama, Tennesse, Penn State, Washington, Tulane, Utah, Florida State, USC, Clemson or Kansas State were not going to beat Georgia this year. That's a fact!
Hence, if you want more blowouts, just keep adding sacrificial lambs to the mix. I'll just wait until the end of the playoffs to start paying attention.
With that in mind, let's have some fun and take a look at some of the biggest blowouts during recent college football playoffs and play Wiki-Pete-ia on the Shemon and Sheppard Show on ESPN Southwest Florida!
In case you are not fortunate enough to be lucky caller number nine at 239-337-ESPN, then you are in luck! Play at home and dazzle your family! Stump your co-workers with useless knowledge! Amaze your friends with your newfound intelligence! Below are the actual questions AND ANSWERS heard during Wiki-Pete-ia on our show!
Good Luck!
