College Football’s New 12-Team Playoff Format Faces Praise and Criticism

The expanded playoff system brings excitement and inclusivity but raises concerns over seeding, scheduling, and structural flaws.

The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff has been launched, offering broader access and representation across college football markets.
Controversial decisions included selecting two-loss SMU over three-loss Alabama for the final at-large spot, a move praised for prioritizing performance over brand power.
Critics highlight flaws in the seeding process, which granted top-four seeds and byes to conference champions, leading to mismatched paths for higher-ranked teams like No. 1 Oregon.
Suggestions for improvement include reseeding after each round, eliminating automatic byes for conference champions, and increasing transparency in the selection process.
The format has been recognized as a step forward for parity in college football, with potential for further expansion and refinement in the future.