From BCS to CFP: A Look Back at the History (and Controversies) of the College Football Playoff

The roar of the crowd, the electrifying atmosphere, and the fight for gridiron glory – college football is a sport steeped in tradition. But how are the national champions decided? Enter the College Football Playoff (CFP), a relatively young system that has already sparked its fair share of debate.

This post dives into the history of the CFP, exploring its evolution and the controversies that have dogged its path. This will provide valuable context for appreciating the current landscape of college football betting and the potential future of the playoff system.

History of the College Football Playoff: A Look Back at History and Controversies | MyBookie’s Look Back to the Past of College Playoffs

2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season | 155th season of college football in the United States
August 24, 2024 – December 14, 2024

Changes in 2024 College Football Playoffs

The College Football Playoff expands this season from 4 teams to 12.

The expansion allows the CFP Selection Committee to prevent controversies like what happened last season from ever happening again.

Let’s be serious, though. College Football Playoff controversies will always happen.

For example, what if six teams in the SEC end up with 2 losses and the Big 12 titlist and runner up has 12 losses?

Will the CFP Selection Committee really put 6 SEC squads into the playoff? Controversies like that have plagued the College Football Playoff since it’s inception in 2014.

Keep reading for the top five controversies in the College Football Playoff’s history.

College Football Playoff History and Top Controversies

First CFP in 2014 Also had One of its Most Controversial Decisions

Fifth-ranked Ohio State had a tall hill to climb to make it to the College Football Playoff.

Four ranked teams were ahead of the Buckeyes: 1 Alabama, 2 Oregon, 3 TCU, and 4 Florida State.

Not only that, but Baylor ranked sixth in the nation as was the co-Big 12 Champion along with TCU.

Also, in the Big Ten Championship, Ohio State had to beat Wisconsin with a backup quarterback in Cardale Jones.

Not only did the Buckeyes win the Big Ten, but they absolutely smashed Wisconsin to bits, dominating the Badgers by in an impressive 59-0 rout.

The CFP Selection Committee decided to leapfrog Ohio State ahead of TCU, even though the Horned Frogs had dominated Iowa State 55-3 in their final regular season game.

The move turned out to be the right one because the Buckeyes upset Alabama in the semifinal and then beat Oregon to win the National Championship.

Ohio State Benefits Again in 2016. This Time Over a Big Ten Rival

The second time the CFP Selection Committee decided to award Ohio State over another deserving team didn’t go so well.

The committee went with Ohio State over 2-loss Penn State even though the Nittany Lions beat the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship.

Ohio State had a single loss, which was the committee’s reason for rewarding Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes over the Nittany Lions.

Penn State was upset and for good reason.

Not only did the Nittany Lions beat their rivals, but Ohio State lost to eventual champ Clemson 31-0 in their semifinal game.

Penn State pointed to the loss and then decried the fact that the selection committee had played favorites.

In 2017, 11-1 Alabama Sets the College Football Playoff Nod Over Three Deserving Teams

During the 4-team College Football Playoff, the selection committee loved two teams, Ohio Sate and Alabama.

If the committee could put the Buckeyes and the Crimson Tide into the playoff, they were going to do so.

In 2017, Alabama had lost to Auburn in the annual Iron Bowl, the rival between Bama and the Tigers.

The loss meant Alabama couldn’t play against Georgia in the SEC Championship.

No worries. The CFP Selection Committee decided to reward Alabama with a spot in the College Football Playoff.

This time, the committee left out 2-loss Ohio State, the Big Ten winner.

No doubt, the committee’s decision to send the Buckeyes to the CFP in the previous season instead of Penn State led to the decision to reward Bama over Ohio State in 2017.

Alabama proved the selection committee made the right decision by beating 1 Clemson in the CFP Semifinal and then beating 3 Georgia in the National Championship via freshman Tua Tagovailoa’s legendary overtime pass to Calvin Ridley.

A 6-0 Ohio State and 10-1 Notre Dame Plays in the COVID-19 CFP of 2020, Excluding 8-1 Texas A&M

2020 was a mess. So we have to forgive the College Football Playoff Selection Committee for going with 6-0 Ohio State and 10-1 Notre Dame over 8-1 Texas A&M.

That season, the Aggies’ lone loss came against eventual champion Alabama.

But the Aggies thought they had a shot agianst Bama in any rematch while Ohio State only won 6 games and Notre Dame built a record of 10-1 berating up on mostly bad football teams.

To make things more difficult to handle for the Aggies, the Tide beat both Notre Dame and Ohio State to win the title and the games weren’t close, 31-14 over Notre Dame and 59-24 over Ohio State.

In 2023, Undefeated Florida State, and the ACC Champion, Also 1-loss Georgia Gets Locked Out of the College Football Playoff

The most glaring controversy happened in last season’s College Football Playoff.

Not 1, but 2 deserving teams got locked out of the playoffs.

Florida State went undefeated and won a Power 5 Conference title.

The College Football Playoff Selection Committee decided to send Nick Saban and Alabama to the playoff even though Bama had fallen to Texas earlier in the season.

Texas, the Big 12 champ, was a lock.

So was undefeated Big Ten Champion and eventual titlist Michigan.

But Bama over an undefeated ACC Champion caused massive controversy.

Not only that, but Georgia had been ranked number one in every week during the season until a close loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship.

Georgia, for sure, was also worthy of a College Football Playoff spot.

The controversies from last season propelled the CFP to install a 12-team playoff for the 2024-2025 season.

We shall see what happens when the College Football Season kicks off on August 2024.

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From its inception, the College Football Playoff has been a focal point for passionate fans and strategic college football betting.

With the CFP’s future constantly debated, there’s no telling what twists and turns await.

Sign up for an account today and stay ahead of the game! Explore our comprehensive college football betting page to analyze upcoming matchups, odds, and potentially place your winning wagers on the next national champion!

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