Champions Crowned, But at What Cost?
The confetti has been swept away, and the Ohio State Buckeyes have been crowned national champions. Their dominant performance in the College Football Playoff (CFP) solidified their position as the best team in the country. However, as we bask in the glory of their triumph, it’s essential to examine the implications of the 12-team CFP system.
A System Designed for the Buckeyes
Ohio State’s journey to the title serves as the perfect poster child for the expanded playoff. Despite losing their final regular season game, they were able to regroup and defeat top-ranked teams en route to the championship. This is precisely what the system was designed for – to give talented teams a second chance. But at what cost?
The Regular Season Takes a Backseat
Remember when the outcome of the Michigan-Ohio State game would have had significant consequences? A loss would have relegated the Buckeyes to a meaningless bowl game. Now, it seems like a distant memory. The 12-team CFP has rendered the regular season almost irrelevant. Ohio State’s loss to Michigan no longer carried the same weight, and the team was still able to coast into the playoffs.
Meaningful for Whom?
Proponents of the expanded playoff argue that it makes the regular season more meaningful. But for whom, exactly? Certainly not for Ohio State, who benefited from the system’s leniency. Perhaps it made games like Arizona State-Kansas State more intriguing for casual fans. However, is that worth sacrificing the significance of results like Michigan’s upset win in Columbus?
A Sliding Scale of Merit
Last year, Georgia was arguably the best team in college football but missed the CFP due to a narrow loss in the SEC Championship Game. There was no widespread outcry in support of the Bulldogs. Yet, now, teams with nine wins are being given a chance at the national title. If we’re going to make the entire season a mere precursor to the CFP, why stop at 12 teams? Who’s to say Ole Miss wouldn’t have gone on a similar run if given the opportunity?
A Deserving Champion, But at What Cost?
Ohio State’s championship is well-deserved, but it raises questions about the system that allowed them to participate. For decades, a loss to Michigan would have disqualified them from national title contention. The “earn it on the field” mantra seems to apply only to the playoff, not the regular season.
A Shift in Priorities
It appears that many college football fans are willing to sacrifice the significance of games like Michigan-Ohio State for the sake of an expanded playoff. The CFP was entertaining, but it came at a cost. Let’s not pretend that this new system is an improvement when, in reality, it’s merely a trade-off.
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