The Big-12, SEC, Big Ten and ACC championship games marked the final hurdle for the College Football Playoff committee on Saturday. Its final rankings are due less than 24 hours after the conclusion of the final contests between Clemson, SMU, Penn State and Oregon.
Even though there are multiple scenarios that could impact the final field of 12, the majority of the committee watched the games without any kind of laptop or notebook. Fans were furious.
Heather Dinich of ESPN is on site at the committee’s watch party. She posted a video of their setup, which featured four televisions and two large speakers with only the audio from the largest T.V. Members of the committee sat in leather chairs at the center of what looks like a hotel ballroom/convention center.
A few things were missing. First and foremost, the aforementioned lack of note-taking devices was astonishing. Perhaps more importantly, there was not a single snack in sight.
#BTS @CFBPlayoff selection committee watching the @Big12Conference champ game @ASUFootball @CycloneFB pic.twitter.com/jktDl9o9oW
— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) December 7, 2024
Obviously, these are men and women at work. They are not watching the college football games from the same state of mind as the folks on their couches at home. However, it seems like there was room for a little buffalo dip.
How can we trust the College Football Playoff committee?!
Jokes aside, the real frustration amongst fans stemmed from the singular laptop in the viewing room.
Chris Ault, Chet Gladchuk, Jim Grobe, Randall McDaniel, Gary Pinkel, Mack Rhoades, Mike Riley, David Sayler, Will Shields, Kelly Whiteside, Hunter Yurachek and committee chair Warde Manuel watched the games with only their eyeballs. Carla Williams stood in the back with her laptop. Credit where credit is due.
On one end of the conversation, it is curious to think that the only people who determine what teams can play for a national championship don’t need to take notes on the games they are watching. On the other end, there is an argument to be made that notes are not necessary.
Regardless of where you stand on the debate, I cannot believe that every member of the College Football Playoff committee didn’t come prepared with a notebook. At the very least, it would improve optics. The current visual makes it seem like they already decided on what is going to happen or they are just winging it. Brutal.