Syracuse Orange: Time for a discussion… about that College Football Playoff

There’s a huge problem with the College Football Playoff and there’s no bigger example than UCF. ITLH breaks down the issue and how the Syracuse Orange can benefit.

Okay, I just had to get this off my chest. I’ve been fuming about it for over a week now and still it bugs me.

How could the Committee that oversees the College Football Playoff just disregard the University of Central Florida’s accomplishments this year?

The team was undefeated, and was the only team to be so, so how are they not even considered for the Playoff?

Look, I get it. UCF is not from a Power 5 Conference like the ACC, Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, or Pac-12. However, winning every game, regardless of the opponent is not easy. So shouldn’t that undefeated record in the regular season mean something?

I understand UCF stunk a couple of years ago much like the Syracuse Orange did (and still does). Therefore, I can understand the committee’s doubts that UCF is not one of the best four teams in the nation. However, is it fair to let perception based on the past and a weaker conference keep a team from a national championship?

Let’s take Syracuse Football for example. They are in a Power 5 conference and yet, if next year they went from zero to hero and went undefeated by the end of the season, can you honestly tell me they’d get respect in the playoff discussion?

The Orange are in arguably the second or third best Power 5 conference in terms of opponents, yet if they beat every team on the schedule would they be guaranteed a spot in the Top 4? Probably not.

The Committee says that they would, but I have my doubts. Check out what the NCAA said via Bleacher Report about UCF being excluded from the Playoff:

"“The selection committee respected UCF. After all, they’re the group that put the Knights in the Peach Bowl. To qualify for the playoff, teams need to play tough schedules against good teams—that is the way for all teams to stand out and be ranked high by the committee. UCF is an excellent team, but you still have to take into account who each team played and defeated during the regular season.”- College Football Playoff Director: Bill Hancock"

When I heard this quote on television the other day, I was like are you kidding me? They “respected UCF” by placing them 12th and putting them in the Peach Bowl? Some consolation prize to a group who is the only team worthy of saying we are undefeated…. and a team that feels like they deserve to be called national champions. On a side note, that is exactly what UCF is proclaiming on its Twitter feed. Their Display name and pic reads: 2017 National Champions.

Still if we ran these requirements by a team such as Syracuse, wouldn’t it have the same result? If Syracuse beat ranked teams like Virginia Tech, Clemson, and NC State, among others, would that really be enough to beat out a one loss or two loss Big Ten or SEC Team, a Notre Dame, a USC, or an Alabama juggernaut squad? Would Syracuse still qualify as one of the best four for the playoff at the end of the season? I have my doubts.

Syracuse Football has been a travesty for years, so if they suddenly started making noise, all they would get is ‘respect’ from the polls, but not love. That’s my humble opinion.

Maybe i’m wrong and the committee would show Syracuse love unlike UCF, but if that was the case, then that’s an awful shame! To give credit to a Power five school for an undefeated season and not Syracuse?!

I get the quality of opponents are much better for Syracuse and not as easy as UCF’s were this year, but still. I can’t stress enough how hard it is for any team to go undefeated in college football. The last time was TCU in 2010 according to SBNation.com who suffered the same fate as UCF- no chance to compete in a national championship. Others like 2006 Boise State also come to mind as teams that got passed over by bigger more known schools from the Power 5.

I was impressed thoroughly by UCF in there victory over Auburn in the Peach Bowl. They totally deserved to play in the game if not something better. I truly believe beating Auburn showed the committee how foolish it was to slot them 12th when they should have been much higher.

They beat a Tiger squad that has beaten both teams in the national championship game: Alabama and Georgia.

Now that doesn’t guarantee UCF would beat either of those teams anyways, but I’d at least like to see them get the chance to try and take them down. Everybody loves an underdog. After all, isn’t that why the playoff has four teams to give more teams a chance to win the the national championship? If that’s not the reason, then why the heck do we have that system?

Do I think UCF would beat any of the four teams in the playoff this year? No. Did UCF deserve to be called one of the best four teams? Questionable. Does their record mean it should be given the chance? Yes.

As a Syracuse Football fan who has gone through a lot with this team over the years, if my team went from cellar dweller to top of the heap and undefeated in one season, I sure as heck would want a chance to prove I belonged and compete for a national championship whether people think I deserve that chance or not.

Next: Syracuse Basketball: Top 30 Players in School History

UCF deserves the same treatment and that’s all i’m going to say on the matter. Agree or disagree- its up to you, but as a loyal fan of any team its hard not to want the best for your team. That’s a fact!