LSU head coach Brian Kelly is making the case for how the College Football Playoff selection committee should decide which teams deserve a spot in the postseason.
Unsurprisingly, his argument benefits teams in the SEC.
Appearing on The Paul Finebaum Show, Kelly emphasized that strength of schedule should play a decisive role in determining the playoff field.
According to Kelly, focusing solely on win totals can be misleading and unfair, particularly to teams from competitive conferences like the SEC.
“More wins doesn’t mean that you’re a better football team… Strength of Schedule has to be the indicator,” Kelly said.
Kelly’s LSU Tigers have faced SEC playoff hopefuls Alabama, South Carolina, and Ole Miss this season – teams currently sitting just outside the projected playoff field.
Kelly argued that overlooking SOS would penalize stronger teams who took on tougher schedules in favor of programs with inflated records from weaker competition.
“I don’t know that the walking orders of the committee are going to be quite right because you’re going to have teams that are going to have tougher strength of schedules and have better football teams and they may get left out,” Kelly said.
“More wins doesn’t mean that you’re a better football team.”
Kelly compared the CFP selection process to college basketball’s tournament selection system.
He noted that in college basketball, committees heavily weigh strength of schedule when deciding which teams earn berths in March Madness.
“I think basketball kind of went through this and they figured out strength of schedule is really the best indicator,” Kelly continued.
“That’s why they use the RPI. That’s why they use that and rely on it heavily to make decisions on who’s in the tournament and who’s not in the tournament.”
Although Kelly referenced the RPI, basketball selection committees have transitioned to using the NET ranking system in recent years.
His broader point, however, remains relevant: teams from stronger conferences often face stiffer competition and should not be penalized for having fewer wins than programs from weaker leagues.
“There’s going to be a hue and cry that’ll be real that some teams get left out because they didn’t have one extra win and I think it’s wrong and I think there’ll be an adjustment and I think that adjustment will take place next year,” Kelly added.
The latest CFP rankings were just announced and go as follows…
#1. Oregon
#2. Texas
#3. Penn State
#4. Noter Dame
#5. Georgia
#6. Ohio State
#7. Tennessee
#8. SMU
#9. Indiana
#10. Boise
#11. Alabama
#12. Miami
#13. Ole Miss
#14. South Carolina
#15. Arizona State
What are your thoughts on Kelly’s comments?
Looking ahead, which team do you predict is going to get screwed the most???
