Getty Image / Justin Casterline
We are less than three weeks away from the first full-fledged Selection Sunday in College Football history. Penn State and head coach James Franklin are one of the teams in great position to make the twelve-team College Football Playoff next month.
As long as Penn State takes care of business this weekend on the road against Minnesota and at home next week against Maryland, they’re essentially a lock to make a playoff experience. But, Franklin still felt the need to make sure the committee heard from him that the SEC and Big Ten teams should make up the majority of the teams.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the format, here’s a quick refresher. The four highest ranked conference champions will receive byes to the quarterfinals. There will be a G5 team included, as well, though they could either be one of the eight at-large selections or as one of the four highest conference champions. seeds five through twelve will play first-round games at the better seed’s home stadium.
Right now, most of the at-large spots are being taken up by Big Ten and SEC teams. Here’s the bracket if the season ended today according to the most recent College Football Playoff rankings.
HOW WE FEELIN?
Projected CFP bracket as of RIGHT NOW pic.twitter.com/mDGiMvIyGo
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 20, 2024
BYU is the only team not in the Big Ten and SEC that has an at-large spot. As it stands right now, Boise State would get the fourth conference championship spot ahead of them.
James Franklin seems to think that the committee is getting it right by valuing the SEC and Big Ten teams highly.
James Franklin on the Big Ten and SEC and how the conferences factor in the College Football Playoffs.
“We should have the most teams in” pic.twitter.com/F19UbRyeed
— Lyle Alenstein (@LAlenstein) November 20, 2024
I don’t think we need to take shots in the Big 10 at at the SEC, because that’s been proven over time, and I don’t think the SEC should be taking shots at the Big 10. We’re in a really, really good position, both conferences. I don’t think there’s any argument there. And the reality is, whether people’s feelings are hurt or not, these two conferences need to have, you know, the biggest number and the biggest presence in the playoffs, because we’ve earned it throughout the season
People will get mad at this statement, but James Franklin isn’t wrong. Those are the best two conferences by leaps and bounds, and they should get the at-large spots.