But when there are 12 teams…

I keep thinking that when 12 teams are in the college football playoffs (next season), the drama from how this season is ending will all but disappear. That’s what many people are saying, too. It makes sense– playing for the coveted 4^th spot in a 4-team playoff certainly creates more tension than getting the 12^th spot in a 12-team playoff. But it seems as though the committee’s decision to leave Florida State out, one of only two undefeated teams in the top 10, has exposed corruption (or the possibility of corruption) that we, as fans, didn’t know was there or just didn’t pay attention to.

What happen to the Seminoles can never be undone. It’s pretty shocking that one team ranked #8 made the playoffs and another team accused of a major cheating scandal made the playoffs, too. It just happens to be that those two teams have rich fanbases and where there is money, opportunity follows.

Years from now when Michigan’s wins are vacated from this season, it won’t matter in the present day, in 2023. Their punishment should’ve been swift and harsh. But the NCAA is greedy and it’s clear more now than ever that the only thing that matters is the dollar.

I’m still in favor of capitalism and the free market, but fairness ought to always outweigh greed. If a dozen or so committee members can make rulings that benefit a chosen set of people, then why does anything matter? In terms of football and bowl games, I guess things don’t matter anymore… unless you’re one of the teams invited to the playoffs, of course.

-Out of the Wilderness