The College Football Playoff committee has been roasted pretty heavily by fans and many members of the media alike after the release of the third edition of CFP rankings on Tuesday night. The Canes moved
up from 15 to 13, but they remained 4 spots behind Notre Dame, who everyone knows they defeated 27-24 back in Week 1.
The comments of CFP chairman Hunter served as a catalyst for much of the controversy.
“I think when you look at Notre Dame and Miami, we really compare the losses of those two teams,” Hunter Yurachek said after the rankings release. “Miami has lost to two unranked teams. Notre Dame has lost to two teams that are ranked in our top 13.
“And so, we really haven’t compared those two teams. They haven’t been in similar comparative pools to date, but Miami is creeping up into that range where they will be compared to Notre Dame if something happens above them.”
Well, like many, Paul Finebaum – someone who has not exactly been a Miami fans over the years – scoffed at the ranking and the explanation on ESPN’s Get Up on Wednesday.
“It rubs me beyond the wrong way,” Finebaum said. “I’ll continue my rant about Notre Dame. I’ve been hearing, and you’ve been hearing because you live near Notre Dame growing up, that Notre Dame there’s a bias. There is a bias. Let’s just go ahead and admit it. And this committee, I have no earthly idea why they can’t move beyond it because they’re supposed to be objective.
“And I feel badly for Miami. They got knocked out last year. They were the last team out along with Alabama. They did some it themselves. But they beat Notre Dame. Shouldn’t head-to-head matter in college football or in any sporting event? But apparently to this committee, it does not matter at all.”
Mic drop there. And he’s right.
I cannot get over the absolute nonsense that it is to compare losses of teams with identical records and comparable resumes WHEN ONE OF THE TEAMS IS ONE OF THE OTHER TEAM’S LOSSES!!!!! WHAT. ARE. WE. DOING. HERE?!?!
What has become crystal clear to me is that the committee obviously wants Notre Dame in the playoff field come hell or high water, and they’re going to make whatever tweaks or maneuvers they need in order for it to happen. If Miami crawls within a spot or two of Notre Dame, they’re not going to move Miami in front. Because. They. Don’t. Want. To.
So, for anyone hoping Miami will knock Notre Dame out, well, that’s cute. Ain’t happening, and it’s crappy, but this committee isn’t interested in what’s fair. If they were, Miami wouldn’t have started off 8 spots behind the Irish on November 4. That was done, I’d bet, largely to allow Notre Dame to eventually be far enough ahead so the Miami head-to-head factor wouldn’t have a chance to play out. But I think even if it does – if BYU and Utah lose – they will put their hands over their years like Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumber and go “la la la la la la la la” while everyone screams at them how ridiculous they are being.
I hope Miami can make the ACC title game, because putting anything in this committees’ hands right now is an exercise in favoritism and an absence of logic and fairness. And that’s not a good place for the Canes to be existing.
