The 2024 College Football Playoff expansion to 12 teams proved to be a resounding success, delivering thrilling matchups throughout the quarterfinals, semifinals, and culminating in an exciting National Championship Game.
Despite the first round featuring several lopsided contests, the competition in the later rounds more than made up for it, reinforcing the CFP Committee’s decision to expand the field from four to twelve teams.
Among the surprises, Ohio State, entering the playoff as the eighth seed, defied expectations. The Buckeyes dominated their path to the title, claiming their first national championship in a decade.
However, despite the playoff’s overall success, former Florida and Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer suggested the CFP could benefit from a seeding overhaul going forward.
Meyer, speaking on The Triple Option podcast, expressed concerns about the seeding structure, particularly regarding teams like Boise State and Arizona State, who received first-round byes despite not fully earning them through their season performance.
“Obviously, the seeding is, I don’t want to belabor it, but when you start seeing Boise and Arizona State, great year, great season, they did not earn that bye. I’ve already heard that’s not going to happen again,” Meyer said.
The top four seeds in this year’s CFP were awarded byes into the quarterfinals: Oregon (the Big Ten champion), Georgia, Boise State, and Arizona State.
All four teams, however, were eliminated in the quarterfinals, sparking debate about the fairness and effectiveness of the system.
Meyer’s comments reflect broader dissatisfaction among college football fans and media, who questioned whether a bye should be automatically granted to teams based on seeding alone.
This will likely be a key issue for the CFP Committee to address during the offseason, as the expansion format continues to evolve.
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Ohio State will aim to defend its national title, with their season opener scheduled for August 30 against Texas. (Think that one might do decent ratings?)
Of course, Meyer is in the majority with his stance. As he said, the Boise State’s of the world deserve credit, but it’s pretty clear where they stood in the big picture of college football.
What are your thoughts on Meyer’s comments? … What do YOU think should be done to improve the playoff system???
