College Football Playoff Expansion Faces Criticism Over Selection Challenges

The new 12-team format has reignited debates about fairness, conference disparities, and subjective criteria in determining playoff spots.

The first year of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff has highlighted ongoing issues with subjective selection processes, leaving some teams and conferences frustrated.
Miami's exclusion from the playoff field, despite a strong season, has drawn sharp criticism from its athletic director and ACC officials, who question the ranking of three-loss Alabama above the Hurricanes.
Boise State's placement as a top-four seed, due to its status as the highest-ranked Group of Five conference champion, has created controversy, potentially displacing Power Five champions from higher seeds or playoff spots.
The playoff committee's reliance on subjective evaluations and inconsistent scheduling across conferences has intensified calls for more transparent and objective criteria, such as adjusted wins and losses or tier-based rankings.
With the final playoff bracket to be announced after conference championships, unresolved tensions over rankings and seeding are expected to shape the future of the expanded format.