Championship Week Recap

This Recap is a bit different than the previous ones. Thhis week there were only two games that mattered in the scheme of determining the playoff teams. Really there was only one. Clemson took care of business as expected and that’s really the only takeaway from the ACC Championship.

The SEC Championship is the one that really mattered. Alabama’s remarkable come from behind win, enabled by the galactically stupid fake punt attempt that gave Alabama the ball at midfield, sealed the Tide’s place in the playoff. Georgia proved they could stay on the field with Bama but can their presence in the playoff be justified?

Looking at the résumés of Oklahoma, who struggled with Texas again, and Ohio State, the options are Georgia and two teams who aren’t prepared.

It could be justified to just let Clemson and Alabama play, or even have the Tide play the winner of a Clemson/Notre Dame bowl game. After today, it’s likely anticlimactic.

This is why expanding the playoff is a terrible idea. In some years there just aren’t the teams to fill a bracket. The trophy was cheapened last year when the national champion not only failed to win their conference, yet didn’t even win their division. If the goal is to crown the best team that season, excellence is a priority. If it’s just about ticket sales and flashy ceremonies, by all means, expand it.

As of now, only three teams have qualified for a four team playoff. The fourth spot will be awarded to a Georgia team who can compete but didn’t win their conference or to a conference champion who can’t compete on that level.

The committe has a difficult task ahead of them.