The landscape of college football has undergone a seismic shift over the years, evolving from a time when there was no definitive national championship (Auburn 2004) to the introduction of a playoff system. Initially, this system seemed to the South Eastern Conference (SEC) invitational giving SEC teams the benefit of the doubt, but now, every team believes they have a fighting chance at the title. But how realistic is this newfound optimism?

The journey to a more inclusive playoff system has been a long one. For decades, the national champion of college football was determined by polls and computer rankings, which often led to controversy and debate (which we love). The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) attempted to solve this by matching the top two teams in a championship game, but it’s complicated formula, bias toward margin of victory and the occasional convenient strength of schedule argument opened the door for  major criticism, as it still relied heavily on rankings and did not always represent the most deserving teams.

The turning point came with the establishment of the College Football Playoff (CFP), a four-team bracket that aimed to settle the national championship on the field. However, the CFP was not without its issues. Critics argued that it was biased towards the SEC, a conference said to have strong football programs and passionate fan base. This perception was fueled by the revisionist history frequent inclusion of multiple SEC teams in every playoff and their success in winning championships. When the SEC has only had two teams in the CFP on two different occasions.  However, the SEC won six national championships in the first ten years of the CFP while the Big Ten conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference won the other two national championships.

Fast forward to the present, and the CFP has expanded to a 12-team format, a change that has been met with enthusiasm and hope. This expansion means that every major team knows exactly what they must do to play for the championship: win their league and they’re in. Moreover, every mid-major conference team now has a shot, as one champion from among those leagues will automatically enter the playoff.

The new system has been hailed as the best ever, promising to make the 2024 season the most exciting in college football history. It’s a competition, not an election, where teams will earn their spot through performance and results, not votes or television appeal. The strength of schedule has become even more critical, with the CFP selection committee using a variety of metrics to balance who you played with how you played.

So, is it realistic for every team to believe they have a shot at the national championship? Absolutely not but it feels more likely than in previous years. The expanded playoffs have democratized the process, giving teams from all conferences a clearer path to the title. While the SEC may still be seen as a powerhouse, the playing field has been leveled a bit more, allowing for unexpected results and underdog stories.

The 2024 college football season is poised to be a historic one, with the potential for more Cinderella stories and dramatic upsets. The excitement is palpable, and the sense of possibility is in the air. Every game matters, every team has a chance, and every Saturday will be filled with anticipation of what could happen on the road to the national championship once again and I for one cannot wait for it.

The evolution of college football’s playoff system from an SEC-leaning structure to an inclusive format has opened the door for all teams to dream big. The 12-team playoff is not just a change in numbers; it is a change in mindset, where every team starts the season with the belief that they can be champions. And that, dear readers, is the true spirit of college football.

 Written by: Curtis Wilson Jr

References:

: MSN

: Sporting News

: FOX Sports