Confirmation

      It is absolutely essential for FBS football to expand its playoff.  One major example of this is Central Florida.  UCF had a perfect 12-0 record in 2017 and 2018 (ucfknights.com).  In 2017, they were the only FBS team to have an undefeated season.  However, they still failed to qualify for the College Football Playoff in both seasons.  On January 1, 2018, 12th-ranked UCF was set to play 7th-ranked Auburn in the Peach Bowl (ESPN.com).  This was the second time in the playoff era that a Group-of-Five team had gone undefeated (Western Michigan did it before, but their strength of schedule was very poor).  Many were upset by UCF not making the playoffs, but being ranked 12th with decent opponents in the schedule was arguably disrespectful.  UCF proved that their ranking was far too low, beating Auburn 34-27.  This win proved to the critics that UCF was a legitimately good team.  Many have argued that the 2017 UCF team would have had a decent chance in the playoff, yet the conference they played in prevented them from having any chance, no matter how good they really were.

     Unsurprisingly, college football is the primary way for players to make it to the National Football League.  It has been nearly 30 years since a player made it to the NFL without playing in college.  (Pro-Football-Reference.com 6).  Playing in the College Football playoff is a great way for players to show their skills against top opponents.  One example of this is Tua Tagovailoa.  In the 2018 CFP national championship, he came off the bench to lead Alabama to a comeback overtime win (cw.ua.edu 1).  Without the playoff, he may have never gotten that chance.  Because of this chance, he became Alabama’s starting quarterback and was selected fifth overall in the NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.  How many other athletes are missing chances like this because of an unexpanded College Football Playoff?

    As shown in the image above, an overwhelming majority of FBS athletic directors support expanding the college football playoff.  Although not shown on this chart, 66% of athletic directors from this survey support an automatic bid for the highest-ranked non-Power Five team (watchstadium.com 2).  These numbers clearly mean something.  The College Football Playoff Committee is supposed to represent the athletic directors of the FBS.  If these athletic directors support expanding the playoff, then this should obviously be done.  One Power Five athletic director put it this way: “More teams in the playoff is good for fans and student-athletes,” (watchstadium.com 7).  The athletic directors have spoken; now it is time for a change.