It finally happened, after years of tolerating a sub-par BCS bowl selection system, the first ever College Football Playoffs’ matchups have been set.
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide were selected as the top seeded team to enter the inaugural College Football Playoffs. The University of Oregon Ducks were selected to be the 2nd overall seed. The reigning champion Florida State University Seminoles earned the 3rd seed after a narrow victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the ACC championship game. Finally, earning the 4th and final seed, are the Ohio State University Buckeyes, who earned a blowout victory in the Big 10 conference championship game over Wisconsin.
While, much like the now old BCS selection system, there are still some deserving teams left on the outside looking in on the playoff picture. Both the TCU Hornfrogs and Baylor Bears have made strong cases for themselves this year, the selection committee has chosen, and many feel like they have chosen well.
The Crimson Tide will face off against the Buckeyes in the All-State Sugar Bowl, while the Oregon Ducks are set to face off against the Florida State Seminoles in the Rose Bowl. Both of these games will take place on New Year’s Day along with some other big bowl games.
While it remains to be seen which of the teams or conference, will come out of the playoffs with a championships, all 4 conferences that have a team featured, the SEC, PAC-12, ACC, and Big 10, will all receive $6 million for having a team being selected for the playoffs.
While those conferences will certainly be pleased to receive the bonus, the Big-12, the power 5 conference that didn’t have any teams in the playoff, has to be feeling like that caught the short end of the stick as both Baylor and TCU made strong cases to be a part of the playoff.
While there will certainly be debate ass to if the proper selections were made, there can be no question that fans of college football have a lot to look forward on New Year’s Day when the inaugural College Football championships finally kick off.