CFB Postseason Drama 

By Sarah McVeigh

If you are a regular reader of this column, then you should know that I am much more of a college football fan than I am of the NFL. Right now, there is so much tea brewing in college football, we must discuss!

This past weekend brought the college football conference championships. The champions of some of the major conferences were James Madison University for the SBC (who?), Tulane for the AAC, Texas Tech for the Big 12, Indiana for the Big Ten, and Georgia for the SEC. I would like you all to note how I purposely listed the teams. I decided to write them in order from worst conference to the best. Yeah, yeah, the Big Ten has the top two teams. I don’t care. The SEC is now, and forever will be, the best conference in football. The Big Ten can have the basketball title.

The College Football Playoff (CFP) bracket was announced on Sunday, December 7. If you live under a rock, you should know that the playoff system is done completely differently than it used to be. Pretty much what happens now is that the five highest-ranked conference champions (see above) are automatically in the playoffs. Then a group of football fanatics — mostly just rich men — sit in a room and choose the other seven “at-large” teams they think should make the cut. Supposedly, the committee looks at the teams’ record, who they played, blah, blah. However, I think it was pretty obvious that a statement was being made.

Of course, Rockaway is all up in arms because the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame were left out of the playoffs after having a 10-2 season. Notre Dame refuses to join a conference, and I think these “all-powerful selectors” wanted to show Notre Dame that being an Independent is no longer an option. Notre Dame then threw a tantrum and decided to pull themselves from bowl game contention. Like, okay? Other teams that were noticeably left out of the college playoffs were BYU (Don’t get me started on my hate for this team, but they had a great season), Vanderbilt, and Texas. There are already rumors that the selectors are discussing changes to the process of picking the teams for next year, so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

Now for some good ole (see what I did there?) gossip, let’s review Lane Kiffin for a minute. He was the Ole Miss head coach from 2020-2025. He has had multiple successful seasons as a Rebel, this year going 11-1 and being ranked #4. Now, Kiffin is a POS, as I imagine most football coaches are. He chases money and fame and has little team loyalty. He recently accepted the head coach position at LSU. He is not allowed to coach Ole Miss throughout the playoffs, which is causing a big uproar.

My question is this: How much does a head coach actually do? If I’m a tackle, I have several O-line coaches that guide me, review film with me, and whatever else I need. I have a hard time believing that players rely on their head coach for support leading up to a game. Maybe I’m crazy. I know Kiffin called the plays, but how many other guys are involved in that process? There’s a whole team in a box, plus guys down on the field. If this guy wants to leave, I say, “Sayonara!” Now he can’t take credit for whatever success the team has throughout the playoffs.

But the Lane Kiffin drama brings up an interesting debate. What is the expectation for coaches leaving and players entering the transfer portal during the post-season?

Some juicy college tea that might only interest me and my mother is the absence of ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt from the end-of-year banquet. Apparently, each captain got up on stage and gave a little speech. Head coach Dillingham told the audience that he wished Leavitt the best in the future. Sam, what a little nerd! He gets hurt, barely attends the games after that, and then doesn’t go to the end-of-year banquet and thank everyone who got him to this point?

It is so normal for players to transfer, and I’m not naive enough to pretend that ASU has some amazing football program. Talented players want to play for talented teams — I get that. But come on, you should still be expected to finish the year out with your teammates.

I would love some letters to the editor on how you think coaches and players should be acting at this point in the year. It’s an interesting debate!

That’s all the college drama that I could fit, without taking up too much room in the paper. College playoffs begin December 19th. Who will finish on top?