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By: Charles W. Boatright
Validation of 12-Team CFP Playoff Met– Four teams that would have been chosen under previous CFP criteria lost in the Quarter Finals. Having a perfect or 2 lost season wasn’t a factor in determining the teams that reached Semifinals
I hope the tenets governing the CFP will be revised after this and next year that I hope will also eliminate the automatic bids for teams winning their conference championships. I understand the reasoning behind the Automatic Championship Bid to get buy-in from the various conference commissioners. But it proved not to be a factor.
But automatic bids or team’s records don’t reflect the competitiveness level among the 12- teams selected by the CFP Committee. The College Football Playoff teams SHOULD NOT be about equity or even inclusion; but about the highest qualified teams to be in the playoffs, whether that is a 12 team playoff presently; or possibly a 16 team playoff in 2027.
I Agree with Coach Lane Kiffin on Championship Games
I totally agree with Coach Lane Kiffin, Head Football Coach of Ole Miss, assessment that the Conference Championship Games has lost its importance, meaning, that only expose players to injuries. The Championship Game is a relic of the past where now the focus should be given to teams with the best strength of schedule, then secondly the best records that should be used to determine RANKINGS for the NCAA National Championship starting in first week of November and continue to the last week of November.
Most teams last game is the last Saturday of November. Have the FIRST ROUND schedule for the second Saturday of December. This would give the 16- Teams selected two weeks to prepare for the FIRST ROUNDS of the NCAA CFP.
The Risk of Playing Championship Games
This risk of playing a Championship Game was proven in the 2024 SEC Championship Game between Texas and Georgia when Carson Beck, Quarterback for Georgia, received a season ending injury in the last part of the fourth quarter to his elbow. This made Carson Beck unavailable for the Quarterfinals games where they would be playing the first round to be with Notre Dame, where Georgia lost in the Sugar Bowl.
NOTE: Carson Beck instead of entering that NFL Draft, oped instead to entered the Portal for his last year.
There are three points that I would like to raise in this article, with the FIRST one as I just made, eliminating Championship Games. The SECOND- The need to have the 2nd string quarterback take snaps under actual game-day experience during the season. THIRD- The need to have an offensive backfield with a triple threat options and to have a full backfield. I hope to make a valid case for the last two reasons in the following part of this article-
So What Next After the 12-Team CFP
I’m not a proponent of a 64- Team Playoff like in NCAA basketball, that the late Coach Mike Leach made, because basketball doesn’t have the physicality of football has. Football places a lot more of a toll on the body even that of young men in their early 20’s. A 16- Team CFP would work and would fit the post season play perfectly if the second Saturday was reserved for first rounds playoffs; and eliminate the championship games. As was discussed on the Paul Finebaum Show in early November of 2024. These 8 games could be held on the campuses of the higher seed school.
The second Saturday in December could be suitable for the FIRST ROUND of the 16 teams playoff to be reduced the 16- teams down to 8- teams for the QUARTERFINALS to be played in bowls games during last week of December. This would give a number of bowls a higher significance and bring economic stimulus to communities.
This 16- Team CFP format would give significant to campus games for fans during this first week when a lot of people are on holiday and vacation. Then reserve various bowls games for the third week of December for the 8- Team playoff schedule. The revenue generated during these games on campus games and during these bowl games would give new significance to these bowls.
ARMY – NAVY GAME
The ARMY-NAVY GAME– Because I’m a Veteran like so many of my brothers and sisters that proudly served our great country, have the Army – Navy Games played during the first Saturday of December to give the 16- Teams a bye week in the CFP as a break for R&R, Rest and Recovery. This would allow for other divisions games to be played that morning and that night of the first Saturday. Than have the classic ARMY vs. NAVY Game to be played exclusively at 15:00 hrs EST on the first Saturday of December. This is another way we can honor our Veterans and active duty military personnel.
I can’t think of a better way to cap off the regular College Football Season than with the ARMY – NAVY Game that draws interest of those that served our country and give them our appreciation for their sacrifice and service.
Quarterfinals Last Week of December and New Year’s Eve & Day– The 8- Teams from the 16-Team First Round, the committee would select 4 Bowls to play the Quarterfinals. This would allow the Quarterfinals to where 4 Teams would play on New Year’s Eve and 4 Teams would play on New Year’s Day to determine the Final 4-Teams to be played on the third Friday and Saturday in January allowing for two weeks of R&R break.
The Final Championship Game could be played on the last Friday or Saturday of January.
Why Strength of Schedule should Trump Team’s Record
Grant it, if we didn’t have the 12-Team CFP, we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to watch one of the more exciting CFP games played between Texas Longhorns and Arizona State Sun Devils. This was played during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Game that offered a great matchup. I know that some sportscasters were critical of this matchup, but like in the NCAA Basketball bracket, the higher seed teams are matched up with the lower seed teams.
I would like to offer into evidence why selecting teams based on Strength of Schedule first and foremost offers far better outcomes than just using records only that should be secondary!
Below, I have listed in order of seeds from the 12th (lower) seeds to the first (higher) seeds and each team’s during the regular season record, I did not include championship games in order to evaluate each team equally. I bolded the teams that made it to the semifinals, right in the middle of the pack, all had at least one lost:
12. CLEMSON: 9-3
11. SMU: 9-3
10. INDIANA: 11-1
09. TENNESSEE 10-2……………………. FINALS
08. THE OHIO STATE: 10-2………THE OHIO STATE
07. NOTRE DAME 11-1> ………….NOTRE DAME
06. PENN STATE: 11-1 OUT
05. TEXAS: 11-1 OUT
04. ARIZONA STATE 10-2
03. BOISE STATE 12-1
02. GEORGIA: 11-1
01. OREGON: 12-0
The Need for Teams to Develop the Offensive Backfield
Cam Skattebo, running back for Arizona State, made one of the Peach Bowl’s most interesting plays that highlighted the need to develop the triple threat. It was so significant that I wrote an article, below, describing how a triple threat running back should be utilized by more college teams. Gone are the days where a coaching staff used just one quarterback without giving 2nd and 3rd string QB’s game-day snaps or providing a running backs with an option to pass.
Georgia vs. Notre Dame Proves Experience
Not having an experienced QB was proven during the Sugar Bowl where tremendous pressure was placed on 2nd String QB, Gunner Stockton, that took very limited snaps during the regular season. Gunner Stockton took one of those few limited snaps during the SEC Championship Game after the injury to Carson Beck during the closing moments of the game.
With the physicality and speed of modern-day defenses around the Nation where 300 plus linemen are just as fast and quick as backs are, a coaching staff might be facing where their 2nd or even their 3rd string quarterback might very well become their 1st string quarterback when the1st QB is injured.
Here is something for college coaching staff around the Nation to consider this offseason in how they develop their quarterback and running back corps and the playing schemes to develop a triple threat.
Go Back to 2015 Sugar Bowl
Remember when Ohio State in 2015 won over Alabama where Ohio State won with a 4th string quarterback. Also recall how ASU running back, Cam Skattebo, demonstrated the importance of the triple threat by rushing for more yards than the Texas offense did, with catching passes, and also passing for a 42- yard touchdown pass, like it was routine for him. Running backs passing shouldn’t be considered a trick play, but a regular play in their playbooks.
If Cam Skattebo didn’t complete the 42- yard pass to Malik McClain, wide receiver for ASU; ASU would have lost that game by at least two touchdowns to Texas in the Peach Bowl. The triple threat by using the flea flicker executed by Skattebo to McClain made the Peach Bowl one of the best games during the first and second rounds of the 2025 CFP. Texas won in two overtimes.
How College Coaching Staffs can Develop The Offensive Their Backfield
Even during the tough games, the coaching staff will have to consider playing at least their 2nd string quarterback in the last half of the games or at least part of the fourth quarter on a regular basis. Every position on offense is important, but one of the more violable positions on the offense side of the ball is the quarterback. This also develop the 2nd string quarterback’s game-day experience for next year. That way it gives the 2nd string quarterback certain areas that they need to develop during the summer.
The team’s 1st string quarterback is only one injury away from the 2nd string quarterback becoming the team’s 1st string quarterback. This was realized too late by Georgia in the Championship Game. As I have stated previously, above, this is another reason why the championship game shouldn’t be played.
I can’t even imagine how Gunner Stockton felt taking snaps facing the defensive line and backfield defensive backs of Notre Dame that just beat Penn State in the Semifinals at the Orange Bowl. The Offensive Coach, Coach Mike Bobo, didn’t do Stockton any favors by not calling a complex offensive game that was meant for Carson Beck.
2nd String Quarterback, Gunner Stockton, didn’t have time or experience to gain his confidence; and the Notre Dame Defense wasn’t going to offer Stockton that opportunity. As anyone who has rehabilitated from an injury knows all too well, you have to start off with really simple elements first, like should have been used in this game with a simple dumb passes or short 10- yard slants. Especially with an offensive line that didn’t allow Stockton time in the pocket to throw deep pass routes. This goes to my next point, below.
I’m Going to date Myself
I’m going to date myself here, but I like the Wishbone backfield formation, not for every play, but to help protect the quarterback in the pocket with two running backs to help with blocking assignments, with one of the running backs running a pass route. The nose running back in the Wishbone formation doesn’t have to be the designated blocker for one of the two wing backs. The nose running back can take a handoff from the QB then redirect their direction to follow in behind the other two wings backs blocking after a misdirection run.
The nose back can also do a slip block after the snap, or motion or shift out before the snap to shift out to the wideout position to run a pass route with the other two wings backs blocking for the QB. I never like the empty backfields, you asking your QB to take a hit, even if it is determined as a late hit and flagged by the referee. Like I say, the QB position is too much of a violable position that the team can ill afford to have their QB be injured.
The Wishbone can also be used as it was designed by Hall of Fame Coach Emory Bellard, Assistant Coach at Texas, to run options where the QB has three pitchout options, that became really popular when I played the Wishbone as a running back in high school. The running back that takes the pitchout can also pull up to the line of scrimmage to pass as in the case with Cam Skattebo did.
Please develop your backfield coaches, You’re paying your QB 2 and 3 now during regular season will contribute to the team performance. Remember skill and talent doesn’t beat or replace game-day experience. This would be the Next Man Up for Y’all option!
Here’s an ending note- You can’t have the next man up that doesn’t have experience!
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My List of Books on Kindle under my name, Charles W. Boatright:
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01-THE QATSPY® MELIORA Health & Fitness Program Turbocharged DIET w/ Age-Defying Results!