How Alabama May Serve CFB Playoff Better By Missing It
By Erik Lambert
No football program in the United States has more prestige or political sway than mighty Alabama, and that could prove useful in the coming months.
Why? There is a strong chance that the Crimson Tide could miss the College Football Playoff for the first time since its implementation in 2014. There is still a chance of course but were this to happen it would undoubtedly cause a fierce ruckus. Not just among Alabama fans but also many in the national media who feel the team, with just one loss (to a top ranked opponent) and recent history of dominance can’t be left out.
On the other hand there’s an argument to be made that them being left out this year could serve a greater long-term purpose. One of the nagging issues many have with the current playoff format is it’s way too narrow. Only four teams represented? That’s not nearly enough. It’s felt that should be doubled to an eight-team format.
College football needs to go to an 8 team playoff. The winner of the power 5 conferences is an automatic berth and then 3 at large teams. Would settle most of the issues we have these days.
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) December 3, 2017
Alabama enters the picture from a political point of view. What better way to get the ball rolling towards a change in the playoff format than the best program in the country being left out? It’s similar to how Tom Brady managed to sway some of the most recent rules protected quarterbacks in the NFL. Businesses lose money when he’s not on the field. College football loses visibility when Bama isn’t in the picture.
Alabama sway in CFB politics can spark playoff expansion
Some people will argue that not having Alabama in playoff once in a while is a good thing. It mixes things up. At the same time there are few things that garner greater interest than seeing if a team can slay the mighty Crimson Tide under high pressure conditions. Just look at the national championship against Clemson last season. It was one of the biggest spectacles seen in years and that’s because Bama was part of it.
They’re basically the Yankees of college football. Sure it’s not fun seeing the Yankees win a lot, but it’s a ton of fun watching them suffer in brutal defeat. Missing the playoff for one year as a way to get it expanded so making the cut is easier long-term? That has to sound like an appetizing idea for Crimson Tide faithful.
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At the same time it would make college football even more compelling than it already is, lending even more teams an opportunity at the big prize.