For all that’s set to change in college football come 2024, the size and makeup of the College Football Playoff selection committee will remain the same. So, this is a plea to the 13 men and women who will be tasked with selecting and seeding teams in the first season of the 12-team Playoff: Don’t screw this up.
The selection committee will have a second chance at a first impression as the CFP expands from four teams to 12. This is a real opportunity for a reset, a reevaluation of values and a chance to prioritize certain criteria. In short, it’s time for the selection committee to make a point about strength of schedule.
Reward the teams that play tougher nonconference schedules than their peers. Reward the teams in leagues that play nine league games over those in conferences that opted to stay at eight.
Make. A. Point.
Strength of schedule was supposed to matter back at the start of the four-team CFP era, but it soon gave way to ease. And the easiest way for any Power 5 team to make the CFP was to go undefeated. Didn’t matter who a team played or didn’t, or how many conference games were listed on the schedule. That made things easy for the selection committee, too.
No team has ever made the four-team field with two losses, not even the good teams that tested…
