College football fans, media berate CFP format as Oregon routs James Madison
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At least the 41-10 win for Ole Miss over Tulane earlier in the day was competitive for a bit. The Rebels had just a 17-3 lead at the halftime break.
Oregon had a 20-3 lead on James Madison just 20 minutes into the game. The Ducks scored touchdowns on each of their first 5 possessions. None of those drives needed more than 5 plays to score, and all of them covered more than 60 yards.
As 5-seed Oregon built a 34-6 halftime lead over the champions of the Sun Belt, the internet decided this year’s opening round of the College Football Playoff marked the official end of the Group of 5’s inclusion in the field.
Because Duke beat Virginia to swipe the ACC title, both James Madison and Tulane made their way into the field. Tulane lost by 31. James Madison trailed by 28 after 30 minutes. Oregon averaged 14.4 yards per play and had more points than plays run in the first half.
Very few enjoyed the show. LSU coach Lane Kiffin shot off a sarcastic quip about the level of entertainment. On3’s Ari Wasserman stated that the G5 should still have access, but they shouldn’t have a guaranteed spot in the field for the highest-ranked champion.
Remember, Boise State, last year’s G5 representative, lost to Penn State in its first game, 31-14.
Others simply called for something to change with the format going forward.
It might be difficult to eliminate the automatic berth for the Group of 5 without eliminating guarantees for other leagues. And there will be those at the power conference level who won’t support a format without any protections.
What is clear is this: No one, except Oregon fans, enjoyed the first half of the CFP nightcap on TNT.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
