Ah, college football. The most pure form of the greatest of sports. Invented by students at Harvard University in the 1800s, even today it is widely liked and well watched. And as the thing that determines the national champion of college football, the College Football Playoff is also something of note.
This year’s CFP will follow the 12-team format begun last year. For those who haven’t figured it out (it’s confusing) here is how it will work. The 8 lowest ranked teams in the playoff will play the first round’s 4 games. The higher ranked seed will host the game on its campus. Number 5 Oregon will play Number 12 James Madison, Number 6 Ole Miss will play Number 11 Tulane, Number 7 Texas A&M will play Number 10 Miami, and Number 8 Oklahoma will play Number 9 Alabama (Roll Tide). The winners, which are projected in my own mind to be Oregon, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Alabama (again, Roll Tide) will take on in the quarterfinals some of the highest ranked teams in bowl games on or close to New Year’s Day. Oregon (if they win) will take on Number 4 Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl, which is quite close to us at Hard Rock Stadium, Ole Miss will play Number 3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, Number 2 Ohio State will play Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, and Number 1 Indiana will play Alabama (again, Roll Tide) in the Rose Bowl. The winners of the Orange Bowl and the Rose Bowl (likely Alabama for the latter, Roll Tide) will face in the semifinal Peach Bowl and the winners of the Cotton and Sugar Bowls will play in the Fiesta Bowl. The winners of the semifinals will then play in the National Championship Game at Hard Rock Stadium.
There was a lot of controversy regarding which teams were selected to play this year. This year’s season was absolutely crazy with a lot of teams in contention and a lot of ups and downs. Yes, somebody is always going to be disappointed. This year, Notre Dame, which is beloved by all Catholics around the world, was unfortunately excluded in favor of the convicts of Coral Gables. Oh well. And the team America was rooting for, the lovable underdogs of Vanderbilt were dumped and my sweet baby boy Diego Pavia unjustly denied a Heisman. Oh well. And Arch Manning, the next in the Manning family of quarterbacks and Texas team aren’t in it, despite winning out in impressive fashion by defeating at the time undefeated number 3 Texas A&M, and their only losses being by one touchdown to Number 2 Ohio State, to Number 3 Georgia, and a loss to Florida. Oh well. Some teams gotta lose for some to win. At least the playoff still promises some entertainment.
At the time I am writing this, none of the games have been played yet, and all predictions are but speculation. Perhaps, you, the reader, reading this in the future, know the outcome and are laughing at some of my silly predictions above. But perhaps the cries of I, a lonely voice from the past, will be heard by you with at least some truth. Until then, enjoy the craziest football season of recent history!
