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We need to abolish the CFP selection committee after yet another embarrassment | Ian Miller
The author argues that the College Football Playoff selection committee should be abolished after its first rankings drew criticism for inconsistent and opaque decisions. The rankings matter more than media polls because they shape access to the playoff, so the author says the committee’s approach risks undermining confidence in the selection process.
The article questions Alabama at No. 5, Kentucky at No. 6, Indiana at No. 4 and UCLA at No. 8, despite UCLA being the only undefeated team in the Big Ten or SEC. It also contrasts Ohio State at No. 12 with the team that beat it, ranked No. 20, and criticises the committee’s explanations of “quality wins” as circular when those wins are judged by the committee’s own rankings. The author calls for transparent, clearly defined measures instead.
In short
- The author says the CFP rankings lack consistency and transparency.
- Several team positions are singled out as questionable.
- The article calls for clear, objective selection measures.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The committee’s early rankings appear inconsistent: teams with strong records or head-to-head wins may be placed below less successful opponents, while claims about “quality wins” can depend on the committee’s own rankings. Because these choices affect access to the playoff, abolishing the committee in favour of transparent, clearly defined measures could make decisions easier to scrutinise and trust.
The case against
A selection committee can weigh context that fixed measures may miss, including schedule strength, injuries, performance and the relative quality of opponents. Early rankings are provisional, and apparent inconsistencies may be resolved as more games are played; reforming the criteria and requiring clearer explanations could preserve informed judgement while addressing concerns about transparency.