No matter what changes are forthcoming, shutting out the FSU Seminoles shows the NCAA may never connect the dots when it comes to deciding a National Champion
Well, the College Football Playoff is set, and using mathematics even Albert Einstein could figure out, the NCAA found new and exciting ways to screw yet another deserving team. This time it’s the undefeated Florida State Seminoles, who finished ranked #4 at the end of the season.
So it would only make sense that the Seminoles (13-0) would get one of the four seats at the table, right? After all, they went wire-to-wire in that fourth spot all season long, they survived the year and won their conference, so now it’s time they get rewarded, right?
Not as the NCAA sees it, however, as we learned over the weekend that the Seminoles will NOT have a shot. Which to many around college football, is pure and utter bullshit.
Undefeated Michigan and Washington are deservedly in. However, leapfrogging unblemished FSU are one-loss teams Alabama and Texas. And while that’s ridiculous, we shouldn’t be surprised. We have seen this same clown show for years, and it’s always the brainiacs at the NCAA who are wearing the clown shoes.
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For over a half-century, the various news organizations voted on the national championship, which led to many seasons where there were co-titleholders or calamitous controversy. Then, we had the Bowl Coalition, Bowl Alliance, and Bowl Championship Series… none of which were worth a bowl of soup.
Once again, this ‘newest system’ is showing flaws – ones that are supposed to be remedied when the playoffs expand next year to 12 teams. But it’s not likely that will change much. There is always going to be some kind of controversy when it comes to seedings and shutouts.
Because the problem isn’t the number of teams or the format. It’s the FBS and the awkward algebra they have come up with to ensure certain teams are always getting top priority, particularly those from the SEC.
It’s not like FSU are the poor sick cousins in all this, either. They are a dynasty as well. It’s more the confounding way that the average fan can look at a system that says to them: “Don’t believe your eyes… records don’t matter”.
Then, they show you numbers that they have twisted and turned like a Rubik’s Cube to get the same outcome they always get. To involve the teams that are the most high-profile, or whose roster looks like a bunch of kids who will be on your fantasy football team someday. Not about who’s better on the field.
The system is weighted for one reason, and one reason only: Economics. It’s why the ACC Champs don’t matter nearly as much as the SEC Champs. It’s why small conference schools have to almost destroy the world like Thanos to even get considered.
There have been arguments on both sides of the FSU debate, but it’s irrelevant. Is the Seminoles getting a shut-out sign that the system was a bit ‘broken’ this year? Yes. But that shouldn’t surprise anyone. Because it’s been like that forever and it always will be.
It’s why Florida State isn’t considered one of the top four teams, despite finishing fourth. Because the NCAA doesn’t care about competition. They know their ‘bad math’ only leads to bigger bucks. And unfortunately… paper champions.
Ryan Boman is the author of the 2023 book, Pop Music & Peanut Butter: A Collection of Essays about Embracing Life with Laughter & Love (… AND A FLORIDA STATE FAN). Follow him on social media @RyanKBoman
