Last night, the first-ever game of the 12-team College Football Playoff took place, and well, it was what the CFP committee did not want—a one-sided game that had most neutral fans switching to another channel.
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin was highly vocal before and after the final selection of the 12 teams competing in the CFPs. Kiffin suggested that the best teams had not made it in, and last night's game between Notre Dame and Indiana supported his argument.
In his usual fashion, Kiffin took to his social media to deliver a sarcastic comment after the Fighting Irish made it 27-3 late in the third quarter. He made sure to tag the CFB account in the post.
Really exciting competitive game @CFBPlayoff 🧐. Great job!! https://t.co/HEjQ1AcXba
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) December 21, 2024
Will Lane Kiffin's comments change anything for the 2025 season?
Lane Kiffin is not the only one who has been vocal about the College Football Playoff selection process. Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer, and others have criticized it.
Will comments from some of college football's biggest names change how the committee selects the 12 teams? It's possible, but it's just one game. The real questions will be asked when the quarterfinals occur, with the best Group of 5 teams, Boise State, and Big 12 champions, Arizona State, hosting games.
Both these teams will be heavy underdogs, and if they are dominated, Lane Kiffin and others will be on hand to keep yelling, "I told you so." SMU faces Penn State later today, which is another game that could be one-sided.
Plenty of media and fans are for the selection process, maybe with some tinkering. They argue that it gives the smaller programs from the Big 12 and Group of 5 a chance to compete with the best on the biggest stage.
The biggest objection for most fans is that those teams should not have a first-round bye because they are conference champions. However, let's see how the bracket plays out, and then we will see if changes take place.
That won't stop Lane Kiffin from hollering at the committee throughout if we see one-sided games. If Georgia wins it all, I'm sure he will have something to say, as Ole Miss beat the Bulldogs convincingly in the regular season.