Getty Image
College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark spoke at Big 12 media days this week, previewing the first playoff field to include 12 teams.
While speaking on the new format, Clark commented on things that will be examined when prepping host sites. Those remarks have caused a sense of hysteria within fanbases of non-SEC schools.
Clark was asked about preparations and precautions that will be taken when getting host sites ready for action. With just a two-week turnaround from the end of the college football season, he wants to have each venue in the best possible condition for the flood of visitors to come.
When looking at the new 12-team College Football Playoff, we see a stark change from the days of old. The first round now allows for universities to host on their home campuses rather than travel to a predetermined bowl location.
From the CFP official site:
The eight teams seeded No. 5-12 will play in a first round with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds either on campus or at other sites designated by the higher-seeded institution (No. 12 at No. 5, No. 11 at No. 6, No. 10 at No. 7 and No. 9 at No. 8.).
So, if Penn State gets the 5th seed and Liberty the 12th, the Flames would travel to Beaver Stadium for their first game.
Or will they…?
Rich Clark says weather, hotels, and ticket sales will all be evaluated for College Football Playoff hosts.
Terrible out of context quote.
Not at all about “picking” first round home teams. About helping the teams host a first round matchup pic.twitter.com/6G2LaBJQ7F
— Tyler Vesely (@TylerVesely) July 10, 2024
“There’s a lot of factors that are going to go into this,” Clark said when asked about prepping host sites. “Weather is going to be a factor that they’re going to have to consider, because this game is going to be later in the year, in the winter.
“Hotels are a factor. Do they have the level of hotel that would be expected for a playoff game, and do they have the availability when we need it?
“Practice space. Those are the kinds of things that people need to keep in mind.”
Clark’s comments centered, again, around prepping those already selected hosts for the games to come. Many immediately, however, took the criteria as another way of placing SEC programs in the most advantageous spots.
They are setting up the playoffs so they can rank all the SEC teams above the northern teams.
Given last season’s playoff selection result, with one-loss Alabama snatching the last slot from undefeated Florida State, fans are weary. SEC bias is claimed year in and year out from those on the outside looking in. It starts with the preseason rankings and typically persists through the national title contest.
Rich Clark provided those fanbases yet another reason to give the narrative life.