Title: Eight CFP Contenders Fall in the Conference Title Chase, Leaving Only Two Playoff Winners
The five conference champions participating in the initial 12-team College Football Playoff suffered a disappointing defeat, with only two of the eight conference title game participants securing a playoff victory. Cheers to Penn State and Texas for their success, despite falling short in their respective conference championship games.
Upon finalizing the specifics of the expanded playoff last February, it became apparent that teams might benefit from skipping the conference championship after a grueling 12-game regular season. A guaranteed spot in the dance following a win is appealing, as is the opportunity to take a week off to recuperate. Participating in the conference title match could mean playing an additional five games beyond November, which is half a season's worth of postseason dates. This battle of attrition is challenging, especially during a potential 17-game season.
Notable examples include Penn State and Texas, who overcame their conference championship setbacks by winning two playoff games, despite losing the bragging rights. Penn State took down SMU in the first round, followed by a win over Boise State. Unfortunately, their semifinal encounter with Notre Dame ended in heartbreak. Texas, too, triumphed over Clemson in the opening round and held off Arizona State's fervent comeback in the quarters before meeting their match against Ohio State in the semis.
Unfortunate, indeed, were the fates of Oregon, Georgia, Clemson, Arizona State, and Boise State, the Group of Five representative. Although they had between two and three weeks off due to their ranking as conference champions, all but Clemson (the lowest ranked champion) were eliminated in the first round. Four of these teams lost by at least 13 points.
Protecting Conference Success
SMU's memorable debut season as an ACC member saw the team go undefeated in conference play and finish 11-1. However, a 34-31 loss to Clemson in the conference championship left the Mustangs uncertain about their future. To shield teams like SMU from similar predicaments, the ACC is considering several potential modifications to its championship game format. These changes include providing the regular-season champion with a bye and having the second- and third-ranked teams compete in the championship game to determine the qualifying third team for the playoff.
Such a format might leave room for unexpected scenarios, like a third-place team with an uninspiring 5-3 conference record. In 2022, Florida State would have fallen into this category after losing three consecutive conference matches, resulting in a 2-3 conference record.
Potential Matchups
The College Football Playoff committee's initial expanded playoff format needs further refinements, including tweaks to seeding prior to the next season. For instance, it might be beneficial to prevent teams that meet in a conference championship from facing off again in the playoffs. However, implementing such a change would prove complicated.
Consider Clemson and SMU, who met in Charlotte for conference supremacy. Both teams made the playoff cut, with their bracket placement setting them up for a potential rematch in the championship game. Similarly, Georgia and Texas, as well as Penn State and Oregon, could have met for a third time. While the bracket ensured that rematches in these instances wouldn't occur until the championship, the Longhorns and Bulldogs still had the potential for a third confrontation.
Enrichment Data:
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is considering several modifications to its championship game format to shield teams from jeopardizing their playoff chances while still maintaining competitive fairness. The proposed changes include:
- Regular Season Champion Bye: Providing the regular-season champion with a bye, followed by a matchup between the second- and third-ranked teams in the ACC Championship Game to determine the third qualifying team for the playoff.
- Semifinal System: Implementing a semifinal system where the top four ACC teams compete during the last weekend of the regular season. The winners of these matches would then proceed to the championship game.
These changes aim to protect high-performing teams while aligning with the evolving College Football Playoff structure.
- In the proposed 2024 college football season, the ACC is contemplating alterations to its championship game format to protect teams like Penn State, who despite losing in the conference title game, went on to excel in the College Football Playoff.
- The new format may provide teams like Texas Longhorns football with a guaranteed spot in the playoff following a win, allowing them to rest and recuperate before potential playoff matches, similar to their 2023 success after losing in the conference championship game.
- Jim Phillips, the ACC commissioner, will likely discuss these modifications with the CFP committee, aiming to prevent heartbreaking losses like those experienced by teams such as Oregon, Clemson, and Georgia in the 2023 CFP bracket.
- These changes could potentially affect the CFP bracket, as teams like Florida State, who had a 2-3 conference record in 2022, might have a chance to compete in the playoffs, providing unexpected matchups for the college football season in 2024.
